As the popularity of Korean dramas (K-dramas) continues to rise globally, international fans are always on the lookout for the best platforms to access their favorite shows.
Among others, Kocowa and Viki are two of the most popular platforms in the US.
Although both offer comprehensive content libraries, it should be you who should make the final choice between them. And this article will help you make the right choice.
But first, let’s have a look at their features –
What is Kocowa?
Kocowa is a streaming platform established by three of the largest Korean broadcasters – KBS, MBC, and SBS.
The streaming platform targets international audiences, with Kocowa standing for Korean Content Wave.
Kocowa Features
Kocowa offers a range of features designed to enhance your K-drama viewing experience. It’s worth noting that with a subscription plan, you can enjoy K-content without any ads.
1. Ad-Free Streaming: With Kocowa’s subscription plan, users can view K-content without ads. This ensures a seamless, uninterrupted viewing experience.
2. International Access: Kocowa allows you to watch certain content when traveling internationally, enabling accessibility for users living outside South Korea.
3. Wide Device Compatibility: Kocowa is compatible with personal computers through web browsers, Android devices, iOS devices, Roku, and Chromecast. This wide range of device compatibility ensures users can access their favorite K-dramas on their preferred devices.
4. Taste24HR: This special feature is unique to Kocowa, where the latest episodes from select dramas are free for 24 hours after the initial broadcast in Korea.
5. Extensive Catalog: Kocowa specializes in Korean productions such as K-dramas, K-reality, K-variety, and K-pop-related content. With more than 500+ TV shows in its catalog, Kocowa offers a rich selection for K-content enthusiasts.
6. High Definition Streaming: Kocowa offers streaming of all its content in High Definition (HD), ensuring a quality viewing experience.
Nevertheless, it’s important to note that Kocowa does not have parental controls, which could be a consideration for viewers with younger family members.
Kocowa Pros. and Cons.
Kocowa’s Pros:
- Direct access to content: With direct backing from the three major Korean broadcasters, Kocowa often gets the rights to popular content quickly.
- Timely Subtitles: Kocowa typically provides English subtitles within a few hours of an episode airing in Korea.
Kocowa’s Cons:
- Limited content range: Kocowa primarily focuses on offerings from the three big broadcasters. This limits the content variety.
- Geographic restrictions: Kocowa is primarily available in North and South American regions.
What is Viki?
Viki, on the other hand, is part of the Rakuten Group, a global entertainment site. It offers a streaming service of not just K-dramas but also other Asian dramas, movies, and TV shows.
Viki Features
1. Extensive Catalog: Viki provides a catalog of Korean dramas, films, and music videos. It also includes content from Japan, China, Taiwan, and other countries.
2. Multi-language Subtitles: One of the leading features of Viki is its multi-language subtitles. These subtitles are created by a passionate community of volunteer users, making shows of different languages accessible to a broad audience.
3. Viki Pass subscriptions: These are of two types: Viki Pass Standard and Viki Pass Plus. They allow ad-free access to Viki’s content and the privilege to watch it in high definition.
4. Learn Mode: Viki provides an extraordinary feature known as ‘Learn Mode’ to enhance the understanding of the Korean language. In this mode, both English and Korean subtitles display simultaneously, promoting language learning while watching your favorite shows.
5. Timed Comments: In this distinct feature, user comments appear during the playtime they were made, providing a community feeling and interactive experience while viewers watch shows.
6. Mobile and TV Compatibility: The Viki app is available on Android and iOS and is compatible with Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Amazon Fire TV.
Viki Pros. and Cons.
Viki’s Pros:
- Wide content range: With a broad focus on Asian content, Viki offers content variety from Korea, China, Japan, and Taiwan.
- Viki Pass: Viki offers a subscription service called the Viki Pass. It’s available in two tiers – Standard and Plus, which give you access to different content levels.
- Global availability: Viki is available in almost all countries, expanding the potential audience.
Viki’s Cons:
- Delayed Subtitles: Unlike Kocowa, Viki relies on a community of volunteer translators, which means subtitles could take longer to appear.
- Limited availability of certain shows: Some shows are only available on Viki Plus, which can be restrictive if you have a Standard Pass.
Kocowa Vs. Viki: Pricing Comparison
1. Kocowa Subscription Plans
- Daily Plan: $0.99/day
- Monthly Plan: $6.99/month
- Annual Plan: $69.99/year
Each of Kocowa’s plans provides full HD streaming and English captions, with the daily plan being a convenient option for those who want to test the service before committing to a longer-term subscription.
2. Viki Subscription Plans
- Viki Pass Standard: $4.99/month or $49.99/year
- Viki Pass Plus: $9.99/month or $99.99/year
Note – Both platforms provide a 7-day free trial for their monthly plans.
Choosing the Right Platform – Kocowa Vs. Viki
When deciding between Kocowa and Viki, selecting the right choice depends on individual requirements:
- Frequency of Use: Infrequent viewers could save money with Kocowa’s daily pass, while frequent viewers may want a platform with a more diverse range of content, like Viki.
- Content Preference: Kocowa often gets the latest Korean content faster. However, if you’re craving broader Asian content, Viki would be the better choice.
- Community Interaction: Viki offers robust community features, including timed comments and community subtitling, which Kocowa lacks.
Based on either of these requirements, you can easily pick the right platform for yourself.
