Softonic’s headline this week — “you won’t believe which streaming service is the most used in Japan” — is a real story. The answer isn’t Netflix. TVer, the free ad-supported catch-up service from Japan’s broadcasters, is the top entertainment app in the country on Google Play right now. ABEMA, the 24-hour ad-supported live channel, sits close behind. Hollywood services do well, but they don’t own Japan the way they own most of the rest of the world. If you live in Japan, study Japanese, or want to follow Japanese drama and anime at the source, this is the list of Android apps to install in 2026.
What to look for in a Japan streaming app
Streaming in Japan is splintered across more services than most markets. When picking, weigh:
- Free vs paid. TVer and NHK Plus are free with ads. U-NEXT, Hulu Japan, and Netflix are paid. Some hybrid (ABEMA Free vs ABEMA Premium).
- Library focus. Japanese terrestrial broadcasters (TVer, NHK Plus, FOD) vs international (Netflix, Prime, Disney+) vs anime-heavy (Crunchyroll, dAnime — both covered in other Discover guides).
- Region lock. Several apps require a Japanese billing address. Some are usable abroad with a Japanese account.
- Subtitle availability. English subtitles aren’t a given. Most local services are JP-only; international services subtitle a fraction of their Japan-exclusive library.
- Live vs on-demand. ABEMA leans live. TVer is catch-up. The Hollywood services are pure on-demand.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Paid starting | Library focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABEMA | Free live TV, anime, news | Yes | ¥960/mo Premium | 24-hour ad-supported channels |
| TVer | Catch-up on terrestrial TV | Yes | No paid tier | Last 7 days of major networks |
| U-NEXT | Largest library in Japan | 31-day trial | ¥2,189/mo | 290,000+ titles |
| Hulu Japan | Foreign drama plus NTV | 2-week trial | ¥1,026/mo | Strong NTV catalog |
| Netflix | International originals | No | ¥890/mo | Global library + JP originals |
| Amazon Prime Video | Cheap plus shipping bundle | Trial | ¥600/mo | Prime Originals, JP variety |
| NHK Plus | Public broadcaster catch-up | Yes | No paid tier | NHK news, doc, drama |
| Disney Plus | Disney, Marvel, Star JP | No | ¥990/mo | Disney + Star Japan brand |
The 8 best apps for streaming in Japan on Android
1. ABEMA — best free live TV and anime
ABEMA is the closest thing Japan has to a free always-on streaming network. Twenty-four-hour ad-supported live channels covering news, anime, dorama, sports, and variety — plus a deep on-demand library that rotates regularly. The free tier is genuinely usable; ABEMA Premium (¥960/month) removes ads, unlocks the full back catalogue, and adds download support. The app on Android handles Chromecast and Android TV cleanly. ABEMA is the answer when “I just want Japanese TV running in the background” is the actual ask.
Where it falls short: No English subtitles. Some live content is region-locked outside Japan.
Pricing: Free with ads. ABEMA Premium ¥960/month.
Platforms: Android, iOS, web, Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV.
Bottom line: Start here for free live Japanese TV. Upgrade to Premium if you watch more than five hours a week.
2. TVer — best catch-up on terrestrial TV
TVer is the free catch-up service jointly run by Japan’s major broadcasters: NTV, TBS, Fuji TV, TV Asahi, TV Tokyo. New episodes of prime-time shows appear within hours of broadcast and stay up for about a week. The Android app has improved through 2025 — Chromecast support, a cleaner program guide, and a dedicated “MY List” function. The top-ranked entertainment app in Japan’s Google Play store as of mid-2026.
Where it falls short: One-week window means binge-watchers will miss older episodes. Limited library outside of recent broadcasts. JP-only.
Pricing: Free with ads. No paid tier.
Platforms: Android, iOS, web, smart TVs.
Bottom line: The free pick that’s actually free, with the kind of library that explains why it sits at #1.
3. U-NEXT — largest library in Japan
U-NEXT is the heaviest paid catalogue in the market — 290,000+ titles spanning Japanese drama, Korean drama, anime, Hollywood movies, and a sizable adult section. The ¥2,189 monthly fee is the highest on this list, but the subscription includes 1,200 points per month that work as currency for newer films and recent broadcasts. The 31-day free trial is unusually generous. Strong on simulcast Japanese drama.
Where it falls short: Highest monthly price. Some content (the newest films) requires spending points on top of the base subscription.
Pricing: ¥2,189/month after a 31-day free trial.
Platforms: Android, iOS, web, smart TVs.
Bottom line: Pick this if you watch a wide mix of drama, anime, and films, and the breadth is worth the price.
4. Hulu Japan — best foreign drama plus NTV
Hulu Japan is a completely different service from Hulu in the US — it’s owned by Nippon TV (NTV) and focuses on Japanese drama exclusives plus a strong foreign-drama catalogue (Korean, US procedurals, BBC). The 70,000+ title library is half the price of U-NEXT. The Android app is unfussy; the catalogue is the selling point. Recent NTV simulcasts (variety shows, drama) appear faster than on TVer.
Where it falls short: No live TV. Smaller catalogue than U-NEXT. Doesn’t share content with US Hulu.
Pricing: ¥1,026/month after a 2-week free trial.
Platforms: Android, iOS, web, smart TVs.
Bottom line: The pick when foreign drama and NTV exclusives are the actual draw.
5. Netflix — best international originals
Netflix in Japan is the same Netflix everywhere else, with a meaningful local-original lineup (Alice in Borderland, First Love, Yu Yu Hakusho live action). The standard plan at ¥890/month is the cheapest entry point of any Hollywood service in Japan. English subtitles are reliable for the global library; Japanese-original titles have multiple language tracks. The Android app is well-known: downloads, profiles, kids mode, the lot.
Where it falls short: Less back-catalogue depth on Japanese drama than U-NEXT or Hulu Japan. Price tiers were restructured again in 2025.
Pricing: Standard with ads ¥890/month, Standard ¥1,490, Premium ¥1,980.
Platforms: Android, iOS, web, smart TVs.
Bottom line: The pick for international viewers who also want occasional Japanese exclusives.
6. Amazon Prime Video — best value bundle
Amazon Prime Video Japan ships with a Prime membership (¥600/month or ¥5,900/year), which makes it the cheapest entry point to any major streaming service in the country. The Prime Originals (The Last One Standing, the BUSAIKU comedy series, the late-night variety lineup) are popular locally. Free shipping on Amazon, Prime Music, and Prime Reading come with the bundle. The Android app is well-built and supports family profiles.
Where it falls short: Catalogue rotates faster than competitors. Some titles are paid rentals on top of the Prime subscription.
Pricing: Prime ¥600/month or ¥5,900/year.
Platforms: Android, iOS, web, smart TVs, Fire TV.
Bottom line: The cheapest serious option, with a strong-enough catalogue to justify the price on its own.
7. NHK Plus — best public broadcaster catch-up
NHK Plus is the free catch-up service from Japan’s public broadcaster. Live and on-demand access to NHK General and NHK Educational covering news, drama, documentary, and the morning serial drama (Asadora). The Android app requires an NHK account (free; needs a Japanese postal address). Once registered, the lineup is solid and the production values are the highest in the country.
Where it falls short: Registration friction. JP-only. Library focus is narrower than commercial services.
Pricing: Free. Requires NHK fee payment (¥1,275/month for terrestrial-only, separate from the app subscription).
Platforms: Android, iOS, web.
Bottom line: The pick for NHK drama, news, and documentary on the go.
8. Disney Plus — best Disney, Marvel, and Star Japan
Disney Plus Japan bundles the standard Disney+ catalogue with the Star content brand, which carries 20th Century, Searchlight, ABC, FX, and a sizable Japanese drama and anime lineup that doesn’t appear on Disney+ elsewhere. ¥990/month for the standard plan. The Android app handles 4K, Dolby Atmos, and Chromecast cleanly. Disney+ Star Japan exclusives (Shogun-adjacent dramas, some anime simulcasts) are the differentiator.
Where it falls short: Smaller catalogue than U-NEXT or Hulu Japan if you only watch Japanese drama. No free trial in Japan since 2024.
Pricing: Standard ¥990/month, Premium ¥1,320/month.
Platforms: Android, iOS, web, smart TVs.
Bottom line: The pick when Disney IP plus Star Japan exclusives are the actual reason.
How to pick the right one
- If you want to spend nothing: pick TVer for catch-up, ABEMA for live, NHK Plus for public broadcaster.
- If you want the largest paid library: pick U-NEXT.
- If you want NTV drama and foreign series: pick Hulu Japan.
- If you want global originals and Japan-localized content: pick Netflix.
- If you already pay for Amazon Prime: Prime Video comes free.
- If Disney, Marvel, and Star Japan exclusives matter: pick Disney Plus.
FAQ
What is the most used streaming app in Japan?
TVer (the broadcaster catch-up service) is currently the top entertainment app on Japan’s Google Play store. ABEMA sits close behind for free live TV.
Is Netflix popular in Japan?
Netflix is popular but not dominant. Local services (TVer, ABEMA, U-NEXT) lead the rankings, with Netflix sitting alongside Hulu Japan and Amazon Prime Video in the international tier.
Can I use Japanese streaming apps outside Japan?
Most require a Japanese billing address and several geo-restrict playback. ABEMA Premium and U-NEXT work in some regions; TVer and NHK Plus are typically Japan-only.
Which streaming app has the most anime in Japan?
ABEMA leads on free anime. U-NEXT carries the deepest paid anime catalogue alongside drama and films. dAnime Store (not in this list) is the dedicated anime specialist.
Are there free streaming apps in Japan?
TVer, ABEMA (free tier), and NHK Plus are all free. ABEMA monetizes via ads; TVer with broadcaster ad insertion.
Does TVer have an English version?
No. TVer is Japanese-only with no English UI or subtitles.
