Bilibili Goes Global With Android Relaunch, iOS App Coming Soon

Bilibili, widely described as China’s answer to YouTube, is making a more deliberate push beyond its home market, relaunching its international Android app, preparing an iOS release, and building an English-language web experience aimed at global creators and viewers.

The expansion goes beyond simply making the platform available overseas. Bilibili is removing a key signup hurdle, recruiting teams across major international markets, and developing new tools designed to attract creators, advertisers, and audiences outside China.
 

TL;DR

 

• Bilibili has relaunched its international app on Android, with an iOS version expected to follow.
• Overseas users no longer need passport or identity verification to sign up.
• The platform plans to mix Chinese and international content while courting existing video creators.
• Bilibili is hiring globally and developing creator-brand tools and AI-powered content moderation.

 

Bilibili Removes Identity Verification As Its Global App Targets More Creators

One of the biggest changes in Bilibili’s international push is the removal of identity verification for overseas users. Previously, people posting from outside China could be required to provide a passport or another identity document when registering through the company’s main Chinese platform.

That requirement has now been dropped for the relaunched international app, lowering a notable barrier for creators and viewers considering the service.

Bilibili also plans to combine global and Chinese content within the app, rather than keeping international users in a completely separate ecosystem. The platform is reportedly courting YouTubers and other established creators as it looks to increase both content supply and viewership outside China.

An English-language version of Bilibili’s website is also being developed, giving international creators another way to upload and manage videos.
 

 

Bilibili Expands Global Teams And Builds A Creator Marketplace

The company’s ambitions extend into local operations. Bilibili is hiring staff and community managers across markets including Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, São Paulo, Istanbul, and Tokyo, while building broader teams across the US, Europe, Japan, and other major regions.

It is also developing a marketplace that would connect international creators with brands seeking sponsored content opportunities. That could give Bilibili another lever for attracting creators who already monetize audiences on competing platforms.

As the global platform grows, Bilibili is also developing AI-powered content moderation systems designed to help manage content at greater scale.
 

 

Bilibili’s Global Expansion Could Add Pressure To YouTube

A successful international push would place Bilibili in a much more competitive video market. YouTube remains one of the dominant platforms for online video, but it is facing growing pressure as companies including Netflix expand further into creator-focused programming and video podcasts.

Bilibili’s challenge will be turning easier access and creator recruitment into sustained adoption. Its Chinese ownership could also bring greater regulatory attention if the platform gains significant traction in Western markets, particularly following the scrutiny faced by TikTok in the US.

For now, Bilibili is making its intentions clear: it no longer wants to be merely accessible outside China. It wants international creators and viewers actively participating in the platform.