Why a WeTV subscription is a good deal and when it isn’t – should you pay for one?

Now, I have had a WeTV subscription (aka Tencent’s international streaming service) for over 21 months already.

And, while some things irritate me about paying for a WeTV subscription, I am still here to say I recommend doing so. For most people, at least.

In other words, if you are wondering whether a WeTV monthly, quarterly or annual subscription is worth it — especially if you are a fan of Asian dramas, movies, variety shows, or Chinese donghua — the short answer is: yes.

Especially as, for many users, being a WeTV VIP member offers excellent value for the money spent, with only a minority of subscribers not really reaping the benefits.

Here then is a breakdown of what makes a WeTV subscription a good deal and, in a few cases, why it is not.

Perks of a WeTV VIP subscription — monthly, quarterly or annually

1. Ad-Free Viewing and High-Quality Streaming

The big thing for me is that having a WeTV annual subscription eliminates interruptions from ads. That means you can binge-watch episode after episode of your favorite drama, and not have to waste time watching never-ending ads.

Just like I did this week, when I finished watching the last 9 episodes of The Princess’s Gambit in one evening.

Meanwhile, while free users of WeTV only get access to 720p, you can also enjoy 1080p Full HD with a WeTV annual subscription.. And with some regions even offering 4K content.

For connoisseurs of Asian dramas, that extra definition can be a really big deal.

2. Early Access to Episodes

VIP members get new episodes sooner than free users — usually on the same day as release.

Meanwhile, free users will only have access to two or three episodes of a new drama when it drops, if that. With later episodes being available weeks even months, or not at all. And that’s a big plus if you’re eager to stay current.

3. Offline Downloads & Fast Speeds

As I travel so much, a huge bonus to having an annual WeTV subscription for me is that I can download content to watch offline. That makes it perfect for flying either domestically or internationally, or when Internet access is spotty.

On a typical trip from Austria where I currently live to the U.S. to visit my parents for instance, I can download an entire C-drama before I set off and, by the time I arrive at my parents’ house in the U.S., I have watched 15 or 16 episodes of it.

That means, on my last trip, I was able to watch the first 14 episodes of the new C-drama Legend of the Female General, while on the trip before that the Boys’ Love series Word of Honor kept me occupied for my entire 9 hour flight.

VIP users also usually get faster download speeds as well.

4. Watch on Two Devices Simultaneously

While this benefit does not affect me at all, as there is only me in my immediate family who is interested in Chinese entertainment, for those whose family members enjoy the same things they do, having a WeTV subscription allows your family or even a friend to share your subscription.

That means, while you are watching a WeTV program on one device, a loved one can be watching the same program, or a different one, on a different device.

5. Access to Exclusive Content

VIP subscribers have VIP-only access to dramas, films, and original content, plus behind-the-scenes extras or bonus clips.

This includes dorm diaries and BTS clips that aren’t available to free users.

I reaped the benefit of that this week when C-drama Twelve Letters premiered, and I was able to watch the first nine episodes back-to-back days before someone who doesn’t pay for WeTV VIP.

6. Wide Asian Content Library

While I usually only watch C-dramas, with the occasional Thai series thrown in, WeTV’s library of streaming series and films includes Chinese, Korean, Thai, Japanese, Indonesian, and Filipino content across multiple genres: dramas, anime, variety shows, and more.

In other words, if you enjoy watching Asian entertainment like current ongoing Thai series Shine, Chinese dramas like Guardians of the Dafeng,  The Prisoner of Beauty or The Legend of Shen Li , or even donghua (Chinese anime) like Perfect World or Renegade Immortal, you will have access to hundreds of different types of series and films every month on WeTV.

With even more dropping weekly as well.

7. WeTV Offers a User-Friendly Experience

Personally, I think WeTV offers a simple, intuitive interface — with features like skipping intros/recaps for binge-watching ease., along with a service that, for me at least, has always been incredibly reliable.

WeTV also offers subtitles in many languages (English, Thai, Malay, Spanish, Portuguese, etc.) and sometimes even dubs.

I have even noticed the platforms’ AI-generated translations are, for the most part, excellent and easily understandable.

Why Annual Is Often the Best Value

While WeTV offers monthly, quarterly and annual subscriptions, I have only ever paid for an annual option as, when you compare the monthly or quarterly cost, an annual WeTV VIP subscription is just way more cost effective.

Cost Efficiency: The annual plan, for instance, is typically priced at around $56.99 for the first year, then bumps up to around $71.99 or higher for subsequent years.

That works out much cheaper per month than the monthly option, which at $7.99 a month, would cost you $95.88 for a year. Some regions even see rates as low as $35–40/year for annual VIP. So an even better deal for some viewers.

Promotional Savings: Sales around holidays (e.g., Black Friday, Lunar New Year etc) also offer discounts of up to 20%, plus you can stack telecom bundles or referral bonuses for added value.

Better ROI if You Watch Often: Frequent viewers (over 5 hours/week) typically find the yearly pass is much more cost-effective.

Especially when you consider, if you watch a lot of Asian dramas, variety shows and films, you can end up watching an entire series or film for the cost of literal pennies.

The Monthly Plan Offers Flexibility — In fact, just about the only reason not to pay for an annual VIP subscription on WeTV is if you only plan on watching it a few times a year.

The minute you get to 5 to 10 hours a month or more, however, a monthly plan is not cost-effective compared to its annual option.

Things to Keep in Mind Before You Pay for WeTV VIP

App Performance: While some users report bugs, buffering, and poor quality in dark scenes — even when set to 1080p — I have never had a problem with either the WeTV app or their desktop in that regard.

I have also watched it all over the U.S., Europe and South East Asia with zero problems.

In fact, the only problem I suffer via WeTV, and it occurs often, is that if you watch a C-drama or film on desktop, it often doesn’t sync to the app, and vice versa.

That means, if you switch devices, you have to remember what episode of a drama you were watching on your previous device, or if you have already finished a film or variety show.

Annoying, of course, but it’s not a deal breaker. At least for me.

Content Availability Varies by Device/Region: Certain categories (like BL dramas) may not appear on the TV app but can be found on the website.

Yep, that’s a bit odd that you can’t always find a drama, donghua or a variety show on the app, but then it shows up on the website. But, as long as you know to check both before giving it up as a bad job, it’s really not a problem.

Content Fluctuation: Some users feel recent WeTV releases are less appealing or notable compared to the past.

For me, I think that depends on how long you have been watching shows and films on WeTV, but I have never had a month where I felt like there was nothing interesting to watch.

Subscription Management: Beware of auto-renew options — some plans auto-renew at a higher rate unless disabled.

And yes, this can be a problem but, as most subscriptions are processed through Google Play, you just need to make sure you disable the auto-renewal option in your account, which takes about 10 seconds, before it renews.

Final Thoughts

If you’re regularly watching Asian dramas, especially Chinese dramas as they stream so many of them, or if you care about early access, offline viewing, HD quality, and an ad-free experience, then a WeTV VIP subscription, and especially the annual option, is definitely a solid bang for your buck.

Just be aware…

Heavy watchers: Definitely save money and enjoy uninterrupted access with an annual subscription.

Casual viewers: Should probably consider trying a monthly pass to give the service a test. Or wait for promotional deals where you get a substantial percentage discount.

And now, after watching the first few episodes of the new mini-drama The Crime Unit of Tang Dynasty this morning (which is superb, by the way), I am now off to begin watching Be Passionately in Love on the platform, as that youth romance C-drama dropped on WeTV back in May, and I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet.

You can sign up for WeTV’s VIP access via both their app and on desktop.