iQIYI is a Chinese streaming service owned by Baidu. The OTT emerged in the entertainment landscape in 2010 and soon became a household name in China. iQIYI is referred to as the ‘Netflix of China’ for a reason. It has everything that would quench the entertainment craving of a Mandarin streamer. However, the streaming platform is restricted to China and Taiwan, making it challenging for Chinese TV fans to access its content anywhere else.

We bring the solution with a comprehensive guide on how to watch iQiyi from anywhere in the world. Read further to learn everything about using a VPN and unblocking iQIYI worldwide.

 

How to Watch iQiyi from anywhere?

Here are the three simple steps to unblock iQiyi anywhere in the world

  • Subscribe to a VPN app

Download a premium VPN. We suggest you opt for ExpressVPN, SurfShark, or Nord VPN. These three are currently leading as top streaming VPNs in the market.

  • Connect to a remote server

Log in to your downloaded VPN app and connect to a Taiwan’s or Hong Kong’s server. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and SurfShark have extensive server networks with optimized servers in Taiwan or Hong Kong, which gives you plenty of options to unblock iQiyi from anywhere.

  • Start streaming

Open the iQiyi website or download the iQiyi app on your device, sign in to your account, and enjoy watching your favorite Chinese show.

 

Why Do You Need VPN to Access iQiyi Outside China

You specifically need a VPN to generate a Chinese IP address to unblock iQiyi outside China. However, it has several other advantages. The details are as follows:

  • To get a Chinese IP address

IQiyi follows a geo-restriction policy and therefore blocks anyone accessing the streaming platform outside China by detecting the location through the user’s IP address. Since China doesn’t support VPNs, you use a VPN to connect to Taiwan’s or Hong Kong’s server and get a Chinese IP address to spoof iQiyi in believing you are accessing from China. Thus, it lets you stream the iQiyi content without any errors.

  • To ensure security while signing up for an iQiyi account

A VPN passes all your online traffic through encrypted tunnels, hiding your online data from intruding eyes. This way, your payment information remains secure when you enter it on the iQiyi website to sign up for an account.

  • To ensure privacy while streaming iQiyi 

A reliable VPN keeps your online activities private by encrypting your data. If you opt for our recommended VPN apps, you can also benefit from their no-log policy. It means your streaming activity on iQiyi becomes more private and secure since the VPN apps do not record your online activities anywhere.

 

Best VPNs to Unblock iQiyi Outside China

Although China doesn’t support VPN connections, you can connect to servers in Taiwan and HongKong. We recommend the following VPNs because, along with other benefits, they have several optimized servers in these two countries, enabling you to unblock iQiyi from anywhere.

 

  • ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is fast and reliable with an extensive network of 3000 plus servers worldwide and several in Taiwan, HongKong and Macau. The tested download speed to stream iQiyi goes up to 89 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection.

The VPN service has various versions compatible with almost all streaming devices. At the same time, a MediaStreamer feature lets you unblock streaming services even on VPN-incompatible devices.

The reliable security features and a strict no-log policy make your online activity and iQiyi streaming wholly private and secure.

You can get a minimum monthly ExpressVPN subscription @ 6.67 USD, with a further 49% saving on an annual plan. Moreover, you can log in to 5 devices simultaneously with one single account.

The 30-day-money back guarantee allows you to evaluate the services for a month without risking your money. You can reach out to the 24/7 customer service in case of any issue while streaming iQiyi.

 

  • Surfshark

SurfShark is one of the cheapest VPNs in the market, with a minimum monthly subscription of 2.49 USD and an 83% discount on a 2-year plan. The support for unlimited simultaneous connections on one account makes it highly pocket-friendly to stream iQiyi anywhere in the world.

The download speed is sufficiently fast, with around 86 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection, to give you a buffer-free streaming experience.

The reliable security features and a strict no-log policy make your online activity and iQiyi streaming private and secure.

SurfShark has a network of more than 3200 servers worldwide, with several in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau to give you the required IP address and unblock iQiyi content. Various SrufShark apps that are compatible with almost all streaming devices allow you to stream your favorite content on your preferred device.

The 30-day-money back guarantee allows you to evaluate the services for a month without risking your money. You can reach out to the 24/7 customer service in case of any issue while streaming iQiyi.

 

  • NordVPN

Nord VPN is famous for its network of more than 5400 servers worldwide. Due to its worldwide large network, NordVPN has around 450 streaming-optimized servers around China to unblock iQiyi.

The download speed is sufficiently fast, with around 85 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection, to give you a buffer-free streaming experience.

The reliable security features and a strict no-log policy make your online activity and iQiyi streaming wholly private and secure.

Nord VPN also has various versions compatible with almost all streaming devices. At the same time, its Smart DNS feature lets you unblock streaming services even on VPN-incompatible devices.

You can get a minimum monthly Nord VPN subscription @ 3.99 USD, with a further 63% saving on a 2-year plan. Moreover, you can log in to 6 devices simultaneously with one single account.

The 30-day-money back guarantee allows you to evaluate the services for a month without risking your money. You can reach out to the 24/7 customer service in case of any issue while streaming iQiyi.

 

Is It Possible to Watch iQiyi Outside of China With a Free VPN?

China does not support VPN connections. But you can unblock iQiyi by getting a VPN-generated Taiwan or Hong Kong IP address. Although you can use free VPNs for this purpose, we recommend against it. Free VPNs do not have unlimited bandwidth and enough servers due to heavy traffic and limited resources, which limits your streaming experience.

Moreover, your privacy and security are also at risk if you use a free VPN. Free VPNs are ad-supported. They record your online data to sell to third parties who then bombard you with marketing material, analyzing your interest through your online activities. Therefore, we recommend you subscribe to one of the three best VPN apps we have shortlisted. They are reliable, fast, affordable, and optimized for the best streaming experience.

 

What devices are compatible with iQiyi?

Following is the list of iQiyi-compatible devices.

  • Amazon Fire TV
  • Android phones
  • Android Tablets
  • Android TVs
  • Chromecast
  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • LG Smart TV
  • macOS
  • Roku TV
  • Samsung TV
  • Windows

 

How to watch iQiyi on an Android mobile device

  • Subscribe to a VPN app

Download a premium VPN. We suggest you opt for ExpressVPN, SurfShark, or Nord VPN. These three are currently leading as top streaming VPNs in the market.

  • Connect to a remote server

Log in to your downloaded VPN app and connect to a Taiwan’s or Hong Kong’s server. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and SurfShark have extensive server networks with optimized servers in Taiwan or Hong Kong, which gives you plenty of options to unblock iQiyi from anywhere.

  • Create a Google ID

Make a new Google ID with Taiwan or Hong Kong as your region.

  • Download the iQiyi app and sign in

Open the Google Play Store with the new Google ID and download the iQiyi app. Sign up to create an account on the platform.

  • Start streaming

Sign in to your account, and enjoy watching your favorite Chinese shows on your Android device.

 

How to watch iQiyi on an iOS mobile device

  • Subscribe to a VPN app

Download a premium VPN. We suggest you opt for ExpressVPN, SurfShark, or Nord VPN. These three are currently leading as top streaming VPNs in the market.

  • Connect to a remote server

Log in to your downloaded VPN app and connect to Taiwan’s or Hong Kong’s server. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and SurfShark have extensive server networks with optimized servers in Taiwan or Hong Kong, which gives you plenty of options to unblock iQiyi from anywhere.

  • Change your Apple ID location

Open your Apple ID setting and change your location to Taiwan or Hong Kong

  • Download the iQiyi app and sign in

Open the Apple App Store with the revised Apple ID and download the iQiyi app. Sign up to create an account on the platform.

  • Start streaming

Sign in to your account, and enjoy watching your favorite Chinese shows on your iOS device.

 

How to watch iQiyi on Smart TVs and consoles

  • Subscribe to a VPN app

Download a premium VPN. We suggest you opt for ExpressVPN, SurfShark, or Nord VPN. These three are currently leading as top streaming VPNs in the market.

  • Connect to a remote server

Configure your router to connect it with the VPN app and connect to Taiwan’s or Hong Kong’s server. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and SurfShark have extensive server networks with optimized servers in Taiwan or Hong Kong, which gives you plenty of options to unblock iQiyi from anywhere.

  • Connect your device to the wifi

Connect your device to the VPN through Wifi as the router now already has a VPN connection.

  • Download the iQiyi app and sign in

Open your TV or Gaming Console and download the iQiyi app. Sign up to create an account on the platform.

  • Start streaming

Sign in to your account, and enjoy watching your favorite Chinese shows on your big screens.

 

How to sign up for an iQiyi account

You can log in to a free account or sign up for a VIP plan according to your requirement and convenience.

  • Logging in

Go to the iQiyi website (https://www.iqiyi.com/ and log in using the button at the top right of the home page and enter your credentials. Click the “Log In” button to access your account.

  • Using the third party

You can sign up for an iQiyi account using third-party platforms, including Weibo, Baidu, and QQ. Go to the iQiyi website and “Sign Up” using the button at the top right corner of the home page. Select the third-party platform and follow the prompts to log in to your third-party account. Authorize iQiyi to access your information and enter the required details to complete the process.

  • Selecting the package

Even though you can access the free account, you can subscribe to its VIP packages. The VIP membership will give you more content and features, such as ad-free streaming, exclusive content, d early access to new releases. Go to the “VIP Membership” page and select the VIP plan you want to subscribe to, and follow the prompts to make the payment.

iQiyi will immediately activate your VIP membership

Note: Since iQiyi is a Chinese platform, you can pay only using Chinese credit card info. You can ask your Chinese friend to help you access a relevant payment mode.

 

What do iQiyi Subscription plans cost

iQiyi has the following subscription plans:

Standard VIP plan

  • @5.99 USD per month
  • @59.99 USD per year
  • Access to a complete content library
  • Access to the shows as soon as it airs
  • VIP content download
  • Supports 2 simultaneous streams
  • 1080p HD resolution
  • Ad-free

Premium VIP plan

  • @8.99 USD per month
  • @89.99 USD per year
  • Access to a complete content library
  • Access to the shows as soon as it airs
  • VIP content download
  • Supports 4 simultaneous streams
  • 1080p HD resolution
  • Ad-free

 

What to watch on iQiyi in 2023

  • Decreed by Faith
  • Devour Eternity
  • KinnPorsche The series La Forte
  • Love is Sweet
  • My Sassy Princess
  • Qinling Mountain
  • See You Tomorrow
  • Swords Drawn
  • The legends of the Sky Lord
  • The Wind Blows From Longxi

 

Fix for iQiyi Playback Error

After creating an account, you could experience a problem with playback if your device’s updates haven’t caught up yet. You must install the most recent updates to resolve the iQiyi playback problem.

 

Last words

Even though iQIYI is restricted outside of China, you can still access it from anywhere in the world by connecting to a VPN server in Taiwan and Hong Kong. We recommend ExpressVPN, Nord VPN, and SurfShark for the best iQiyi streaming experiences.

 

FAQ

Unfortunately, China doesn't support the use of VPNs. However, you can connect to servers in Taiwan and Hong Kong to get the IP addresses and unblock iQiyi outside China.

Users of iQiyi can watch videos in several other languages, including English, Malay, Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese. Changes to the subtitles are easily made in the player's settings.

iQiyi has an ad-supported free version. The VIP membership will give you more content and features, such as ad-free streaming, exclusive content, d early access to new releases.
About Author

Kyla Ortega

Kyla is a seasoned technology writer with a passion for streaming and security. With over a decade of experience in the industry, John has become an authoritative voice, providing valuable insights and practical advice to readers worldwide.

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