The tabii app is the official streaming service of TRT, the Turkish public broadcaster, and it has become one of the most direct ways to watch Turkish series on a phone. Because the shows come straight from the producer, the video quality is stable and the episodes arrive with professional subtitles instead of fan translations.
In this guide you will learn what the tabii app offers, how its plans work for viewers outside Türkiye, how to switch on English subtitles, which devices support it and which common mistakes make new users believe the catalog is empty when the series they want are simply listed under a different, original Turkish title.
Direct answer: download tabii from the official store, create an account with your email, choose a plan available in your country and open any series page to pick English subtitles in the player settings. Inside Türkiye the service has been free, while viewers abroad usually need a paid plan, so check the prices shown at checkout.
TRT launched tabii worldwide in 2023 with the goal of taking its dramas to an international audience. The catalog focuses on productions made by or for TRT, including historical epics, family dramas and crime series, and many titles are offered with dubbing or subtitles in several languages, including English, Spanish and Arabic.
A common mistake is searching only for the English title of a show. Many Turkish series are listed under their original Turkish names, so a viewer who types an English translation may get no results and assume the series is missing. Searching by the Turkish title, or browsing the drama category, usually solves the problem quickly.
Next, you will see how the available plans compare, a detailed setup on iPhone and Android, how subtitles and downloads work, which kinds of series you can expect to find, the main limitations that matter for viewers in the United States and quick answers to the questions that new users usually ask before subscribing to the service.
What the tabii app is
tabii is a video on demand platform owned by TRT. Instead of licensing shows from many studios, it concentrates on content from the broadcaster itself, which is why the catalog feels focused. You will find long running dramas with dozens of episodes, shorter series, documentaries and some content for children.
The app works like other streaming services: you browse rows of recommendations, open a series, choose a season and play an episode. Progress is saved to your account, so you can start on the phone and continue on a television that runs the same app.
Plans and prices at the time of writing
Pricing depends on the country where your account is registered. At the time of writing, the App Store listing for the United States showed an ad supported monthly option and a premium option without ads, plus yearly plans. Prices change, so treat the table below as a guide and confirm the final value at checkout.
| Option | What it usually includes | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Ad supported plan | Full catalog with short ad breaks | Viewers who want the lowest monthly price |
| Premium plan | Full catalog without ads, higher quality | Daily viewers and long series marathons |
| Yearly plan | Same benefits paid once a year | Fans who already know they will stay |
| Free access in Türkiye | Catalog available at no cost | Residents of Türkiye only |
Before paying, browse the catalog first. The app usually lets you see series pages and trailers before you subscribe, which helps you confirm that the shows you want are available in your region.
How to start watching on your phone
- Download tabii from the App Store or Google Play using the buttons above.
- Open the app and create an account with your email, Google or Apple login.
- Pick a plan if you are outside Türkiye and confirm the payment method in the store.
- Search for a series by its Turkish or English title, or browse the drama row.
- Tap an episode, open the player settings and select English subtitles.
If the subtitle option does not appear, the episode may not have an English track yet. Try another episode of the same series, because translations are sometimes added in batches.
Subtitles, dubbing and audio
Each episode can have several audio tracks and subtitle files. The available combination depends on the title, so a historical drama might offer English subtitles and Arabic dubbing, while a newer series might only have Turkish audio with English text. Your choice is usually remembered for the next episode.
- Use subtitles in English to follow the original performances.
- Try dubbing when you watch while doing other tasks at home.
- Increase subtitle size in your phone accessibility settings if the text is small.
- Report missing subtitles through the help section of the app.
Downloads and mobile data
Long Turkish dramas can use a lot of data, since a single episode often runs for more than two hours. If your plan allows downloads, save episodes over Wi-Fi and watch them later offline. If not, lower the video quality in the settings to protect your mobile data allowance.
What kind of series you will find
The strongest part of the catalog is TRT drama. Historical epics with battles and court intrigue are popular with international viewers, while family and romance stories attract people who already follow Turkish soap operas on television. New releases are added regularly, and some titles arrive in the app before they reach other platforms.
Limits for viewers in the United States
- The catalog can differ from the one offered in Türkiye or Europe.
- Some series may be available only with Turkish audio.
- Payment is handled by the store, so cancellation happens in your store account.
- Using a VPN to change region may break the terms of service.
Summary: tabii in five points
tabii is the official TRT app for Turkish series, with professional subtitles and a focused catalog. The key points are listed below.
- Official TRT service with dramas, documentaries and kids content.
- Free in Türkiye, with paid plans for most viewers abroad.
- English subtitles available on many titles, chosen in the player.
- Works on phones, tablets, browsers and selected smart TVs.
- Search by the Turkish title when a show seems to be missing.
Frequently asked questions
Is the tabii app free in the United States?
Usually not, because viewers outside Türkiye are asked to choose a paid plan, so check the current price in the store.
Does tabii have English subtitles?
Many series have English subtitles, which you select in the player settings while an episode is playing.
Can I cancel tabii at any time?
Yes, subscriptions made through the App Store or Google Play can be cancelled in the subscription area of your store account.
Conclusion
The tabii app is a safe and official way to follow Turkish series with English subtitles. Compare the plans, test the catalog before paying, search by original titles and download episodes over Wi-Fi to enjoy long dramas without surprises on your bill.