Bilibili
Chinese video platform for anime, gaming and creator videos, known for its scrolling on-screen comments.
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 5
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
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About Bilibili
Bilibili is one of China's largest video sites, started around anime, comics and gaming fans and now covering almost every topic, from tech reviews and study vlogs to documentaries and esports. Its signature feature is danmaku: viewer comments that fly across the video at the moment they were posted, so watching feels like a shared live chat. Most videos come from independent creators (called UP主), who earn through ad sharing, tips and fan programs, and the site also licenses anime series, Chinese animation, films, TV dramas and documentaries. Most watching is free; a paid membership unlocks member-only series, higher quality streams and earlier episodes. The site and apps are almost entirely in Chinese, and some licensed shows are only available in mainland China. Apps are offered for Android, iPhone, iPad, PC, TV and even cars. A separate international site, bilibili.tv, serves South-East Asia with a smaller anime-focused catalogue.
Best for: Chinese-speaking viewers and anime, gaming or tech fans who like watching with live comment overlays.
Pros and cons
What works
- Danmaku comments make videos feel like a shared viewing
- Large library of creator videos plus licensed anime, films and dramas
- Free to watch, with an optional paid membership
- Apps for phones, tablets, PCs and TVs
Why people leave
- Interface and most content are in Chinese only
- Many licensed shows are region-locked to mainland China
- Commenting and uploading require phone verification
Top Bilibili alternatives
See all 5- 1
YouTube66.5The global equivalent for creator videos, with far more non-Chinese content and no regional account limits.
- 2
Netflix59.6A paid, ad-free home for licensed anime and series, available worldwide in many languages.
- 3
FreeTube59.4Watch YouTube creators on desktop without ads or a Google account, a privacy-friendly route to similar videos.
- 4
Stremio57.5Collects series and films from many sources into one player if you came to Bilibili for licensed shows.
- 5
TikTok54.4Better for short, vertical clips if you mainly watch Bilibili's bite-sized videos.
Why people left Bilibili
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Bilibili: common questions
Is Bilibili free?
Bilibili has a free plan and paid plans.
Is Bilibili open source?
No, Bilibili is not open source. Open-source alternatives include FreeTube and Stremio.
What platforms does Bilibili run on?
Bilibili is available for Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
What are the best alternatives to Bilibili?
The highest-ranked Bilibili alternatives right now are YouTube, Netflix and FreeTube. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.