Youku
Alibaba's video streaming platform with TV dramas, films and variety shows.
Youku at a glance
Youku is a website and one of the most visited sites in China, currently ranked #150 in the country. It was founded in 2006 by Victor Koo and is headquartered in Beijing, China. Today Youku is owned by Alibaba Group. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 300 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through subscriptions, advertising. Its closest rivals include iqiyi.com, v.qq.com, bilibili.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 282 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 291 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 300 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 318 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct56%
- Organic search27%
- Referral9%
- Social5%
- Paid3%
Audience & demographics
- Men57%
- Women43%
- Age 25-3432%
- Age 35-4424%
- Age 18-2421%
The audience is concentrated in China, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- China86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 90 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- China
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| youku | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| login | Top 10 | High | — |
| app download | Top 10 | High | — |
| pricing | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the China web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 68% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading technology apps in China
Company information
- Website
- youku.com
- Sector
- Technology
- Owner
- Alibaba Group
- Owner type
- Subsidiary of public company
- Founders
- Victor Koo
- Founded
- 2006
- Headquarters
- Beijing, China
- Employees
- 3,000+
- Ownership
- Alibaba Group controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $2 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- Chinese
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, referral
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $2 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Subsidiary of public company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Youku operates a technology platform focused on China. Alibaba's video streaming platform with TV dramas, films and variety shows. Revenue comes mainly from subscriptions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Subscriptions
- Advertising
Products & services
International presence
- Primary market
- China
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (China)
- #150 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading technology site in China
- Global rank
- 150
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| iqiyi.com | ≈ 180 million / month | #151 class competitor | — |
| v.qq.com | ≈ 135 million / month | #152 class competitor | — |
| bilibili.com | ≈ 90 million / month | #153 class competitor | — |
What is Youku?
Youku (youku.com) is a technology platform serving users in China. Alibaba's video streaming platform with TV dramas, films and variety shows. It ranks #150 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the technology category.
Who owns Youku?
The site is operated by Alibaba Group, founded by Victor Koo. The company was established in 2006 and is headquartered in Beijing, China. It employs around 3,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Youku at roughly 300 million visits per month, about 10 million per day. Around 68% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 5.6 pages per visit with an average session of 5 min.
How Youku makes money
Revenue comes primarily from subscriptions, alongside advertising.
Competitors in China
Its closest rivals include iqiyi.com, v.qq.com, bilibili.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 2006
Youku is founded in Beijing, China.
- Growth phase
Expands its technology offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #150 among the most visited websites in China.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Fast, reliable core product used daily
- Deep local language and market support
- Strong developer and integration ecosystem
- Free tier with broad reach
Cons
- Data collection and privacy questions from advertising
- Feature set can be complex for new users
- Limited direct customer support
- Dependence on advertising revenue
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Youku?
Youku is operated by Alibaba Group. Subsidiary of public company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Youku headquartered?
Youku is headquartered in Beijing, China.
When was Youku founded?
Youku was founded in 2006 by Victor Koo.
How many employees does Youku have?
Youku employs approximately 3,000+ people.
What is Youku's revenue?
Youku's revenue: ≈ $2 billion annual revenue (est.).
Who are Youku's competitors?
Main competitors in China include iqiyi.com, v.qq.com, bilibili.com.
How does Youku make money?
Mainly subscriptions, advertising.
Is Youku publicly traded?
Youku's ownership: Subsidiary of public company.
How many visitors does Youku get?
Third-party estimates place Youku at roughly 300 million visits per month, mostly from China, with 68% mobile traffic.
Is Youku safe?
Youku is an established technology site founded in 2006 and ranked #150 in China; use the official domain youku.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsyouku.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageChina and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos