Quick answer
iQIYI is the official international streaming app from iQIYI for watching Chinese and other Asian dramas, anime, variety shows and short dramas on Android. The latest iQIYI APK is version 8.10.0, updated October 21, 2026, and needs Android 6.0 or newer. It's free with ads, and VIP membership unlocks more.
| App name | iQIYI - Drama, Anime, Show |
|---|---|
| Developer | iQIYI |
| Latest version | 8.10.0 |
| Updated | Oct 21, 2026 |
| Requires Android | 6.0 and up |
| Package name | com.iqiyi.i18n |
| Category | Entertainment |
| Price | Free |
| Contains ads | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes |
On this page
What is iQIYI?
iQIYI is a streaming service best known for Chinese dramas, and its international Android app brings that catalogue to viewers outside mainland China. The app on Google Play is published by iQIYI and runs alongside the iq.com website, which uses the same account.
You'll find C-dramas, Korean and Thai series, anime, variety shows and a growing section of short dramas, the bite-sized vertical episodes that have taken off on phones. iQIYI also makes its own series, branded iQIYI Originals, which you won't find on other services.
It's one of the legal streaming apps for this kind of content, which matters: much of what you'll find searching for "Asian drama APK" is pirate streaming apps. iQIYI is free with ads, and a VIP membership removes ads and gets you new episodes sooner.
What's new in iQIYI 8.10.0
iQIYI 8.10.0 arrived on Google Play on October 21, 2026. The release notes on Play say only that the update contains bug fixes, performance updates and stability improvements.
iQIYI uses that same note for most of its updates and doesn't publish a detailed changelog, so the developer hasn't said what changed in this version specifically. New shows and features usually appear in the app on the server side, without needing an app update.
Key features
A big Asian drama library
The catalogue leans heavily on Chinese costume dramas, romance and suspense series, with Korean, Thai and Japanese content alongside. You can browse by genre and by region from the home screen.
Short dramas
Short dramas are series of one- to three-minute episodes made for watching vertically on a phone. They have their own tab in the app, and you swipe up for the next episode, much like a social video feed.
Subtitles in several languages
Most titles have subtitles in English and other languages. Tap the screen while a video plays and open the subtitle option to switch languages. Some shows also offer dubbed audio.
Offline downloads
Many episodes have a download button on their detail page, so you can save them for a flight or a commute. Downloads play inside the app only. Some titles and higher video qualities are limited to VIP members.
VIP membership
VIP removes ads, unlocks VIP-only titles and higher quality streaming, and gives you new episodes of airing series earlier than free viewers. Play lists in-app purchases from $0.49 to $304.99 per item, which covers everything from single titles to long subscription periods.
Which iQIYI app should you install?
There are two iQIYI apps on Android, and it's easy to grab the wrong one. The one on this page, with the package name com.iqiyi.i18n, is the international version. It has an English interface, subtitles in several languages, and accounts that work with iq.com.
The other, com.qiyi.video, is the mainland China app. It's built for viewers in China, with a Chinese-language interface and a separate account system and catalogue. If you live outside mainland China and want subtitles, the international app is the right one.
How to install iQIYI APK on Android
The easiest way is to install iQIYI from Google Play. If your phone doesn't have Play Store, you can sideload the official app.
- Get the APK from Google Play or iQIYI's official site at iq.com. Avoid "iQIYI VIP" files on download sites: they're not official.
- If you downloaded the file from APKPeer, check that the SHA-256 matches the one on this page. For now we link to Google Play only, so there's no APKPeer file for iQIYI.
- Open the APK and allow your browser or file manager to Install unknown apps when Android asks.
- Tap Install and open the app. You can browse without an account, but you'll need one to buy VIP or sync your watch history.
- Go to Settings → Apps → Special app access → Install unknown apps and switch the permission off again for the app you used.
iQIYI 8.10.0 needs Android 6.0 or newer.
Is iQIYI APK safe?
The official iQIYI app is safe to install. It's published on Google Play by iQIYI, a large streaming company listed on the Nasdaq, and it's been on Play since May 2019 with more than 100 million installs. Android won't install a file signed with a different key over the official app, which protects you from tampered updates.
Like most free, ad-supported streaming apps, iQIYI collects data about what you watch and about your device to recommend shows and target ads. Its privacy policy on iq.com explains what's collected. If that bothers you, browse without signing in and turn off personalized ads in your phone's Google settings.
Google Play rates the app Teen, with a note that content varies by title. Parents should know some dramas include violence or mature themes.
The real risk comes from "VIP unlocked" copies on download sites. They're modified builds that often carry adware, and they break whenever iQIYI updates its servers. APKPeer only lists the official app.
iQIYI vs alternatives
- WeTV from Tencent Video has a similar mix of Chinese dramas and its own originals. Which one is better depends on which exclusive series you want to watch.
- Viki focuses on Korean dramas, with community-made subtitles in many languages. Its Chinese catalogue is smaller than iQIYI's.
- Netflix has a curated selection of Asian dramas with excellent production quality, but no free tier and far fewer Chinese series.
If C-dramas and short dramas are what you watch most, iQIYI has one of the deepest free libraries you can get legally.
Version history
iQIYI 8.10.0Latest
Frequently asked questions
How do I install iQIYI on Android?
Open Google Play, search for iQIYI and check the developer is iQIYI before tapping Install. It needs Android 6.0 or newer. It's free to install, and Play keeps it updated automatically, so you never need to download an APK by hand. Avoid copies from other sites: they aren't from iQIYI and may be altered, so the safest way to use iQIYI is the official listing.
Is iQIYI free to watch?
Yes, much of iQIYI's library is free to watch with ads. Newer episodes, some exclusive titles and ad-free viewing need a VIP membership, which you can buy as an in-app purchase. Free viewers often get episodes later than VIP members on series that are still airing.
Is the iQIYI app safe?
Yes. The official iQIYI app from Google Play or iq.com is a signed app from iQIYI, a large streaming company listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. Like most streaming apps, it collects viewing and device data for recommendations and ads, which its privacy policy on iq.com describes.
Does iQIYI have English subtitles?
Yes. The international iQIYI app offers subtitles in several languages, including English, on most of its catalogue. You can switch the subtitle language from the player while a video is playing. Availability depends on the title and your region. Some shows also offer dubbed audio tracks.
Can I download iQIYI videos to watch offline?
Yes, iQIYI lets you download many episodes inside the app to watch offline. Downloads stay in the app rather than as normal video files, and some titles or higher qualities need VIP. Downloading copies outside the app isn't supported. Check the download quality setting first, since higher qualities use more storage.
