Basics
Short drama apps use one simple model. Bite-size vertical episodes are what you watch. The first few are free. Later ones cost coins or a pass. Most of the confusion starts with that split. These five answers are the place to start.
What counts as a short drama app?
It delivers vertical video that is built for phones. A series is broken into many tiny episodes. Plots tend to favor billionaires, revenge and hidden-identity reveals. Werewolf romances are popular too. ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortMax and My Drama lead the market. China is where the format started, as duanju.
How long is each episode?
One to two minutes is typical True Princess vs Fake Heiress free for most. Shoots in the West often aim for 60 to 100 seconds. There are usually 20 to 100 episodes in a series. Married at First Sight shows 90 in ReelShort’s listing. ReelShort’s hit Double Life series lists 60. A full series can rival a movie in length.
Why do episodes stop at cliffhangers?
That is usually where free episodes end. The first 5 to 15 are usually free, according to ReelShort. Industry reporting gives a figure of 8 to 10. The lock usually land at peak suspense. That very timing is the business model. Viewers also rank it among their top complaints.
Who owns ReelShort, DramaBox and My Drama?
ReelShort is owned by Crazy Maple Studio in Sunnyvale, California. China’s COL Group is the backer of that studio. Singapore’s StoryMatrix, part of Beijing Dianzhong Technology, runs DramaBox. My Drama is a Holywater app, and the company was founded in Kyiv in 2020. Fox Entertainment took an equity stake in October 2025. ReelShort arrived in 2022, and DramaBox followed in 2023.
Can I watch in a web browser or on TV?
Yes, but with limits. My Drama runs a dedicated Apple TV app. No verified ReelShort TV app turned up in our search. Google, Facebook, Apple, TikTok and email logins are all offered on ReelShort’s website. Progress carries over to and from the app. You can get free unlocks only in the app.
What It Costs
Money is the topic people ask about most. The figures given are US App Store prices as of September 2026. They change by country, platform and promotion. Consider every number approximate. Always start by looking at the price screen. This is what listings show.
Is ReelShort free to use?
Partly, and the free part is genuinely free. Anyone searching “is reel short free” or “is reel short app free” wants the catch. There is no charge for the download. Opening episodes come free. Later ones need coins or a VIP pass. Watching ads and checking in gets you free coins.
How do coins actually work?
The currency that unlocks episodes is coins. An episode runs about 60 coins, according to ReelShort’s blog. The smallest pack runs about $4.99 for 500 coins. Larger packs come with bonus coins. A 7-day check-in streak earns 100+ coins. Watching one rewarded ad unlocks two episodes.
Do the coins expire?
It depends from app to app. According to ReelShort, free reward coins usually expire. The coins you paid for do not expire. My Drama handles coins differently. Its terms say coins are forfeited after 12 months of inactivity. Spend reward coins first, and stay active.
How much is a weekly pass?
The usual US price is around $19.99 a week. You will see it listed by ReelShort, ShortMax, DramaWave, GoodShort and My Drama. A few apps show cheaper options. GoodShort starts around $5.99, and ShortMax lists $9.99. These passes all renew automatically. Forgetting it for four weeks costs four times as much.
Are there monthly or yearly plans?
They exist on some apps. ReelShort’s blog puts a yearly plan at roughly $199.99. Its monthly price varies between pages. So that figure remains unconfirmed. DramaWave’s listing shows roughly $36.99 a month. Only weekly passes appear for ShortMax in the US.
Can I watch without paying anything?
Yes, provided you are patient. Each series’ free opening episodes are the place to start. Rewarded ads open up more. Don’t break your daily check-in streak. ReelShort’s official YouTube, TikTok and Dailymotion channels are another option. All four combined go furthest.
Subscriptions and How to Cancel
Until you stop them, weekly passes renew. That comes as a surprise to plenty of people. Cancelling is fast once you know where. Where to cancel depends on how you paid. Store purchases are cancelled through the store. Each company handles purchases made on its website.
Does deleting the app cancel my subscription?
No, and this is a common mistake. According to Apple, deleting an app does not end its subscription. Google makes the same point about uninstalling. That warning is repeated in My Drama’s terms. Until you cancel, the pass keeps renewing. Cancel first, then delete.
How do I cancel a subscription on iPhone?
Open the Settings app to begin. Next, tap your name at the top. Then go to Subscriptions. Find and pick the drama app. Tap Cancel and confirm your choice. To be on the safe side, act a day before the renewal date.
How do I cancel a subscription on Android?
Begin by opening the Google Play Store app. Find your Subscriptions list. There, select the short drama app. Tap Cancel, then follow the prompts. Remember, uninstalling does not cancel anything. Check the list once more to confirm the change.
Can I cancel from inside the app?
Sometimes, but going through the store is safer. An in-app option under About Subscription is mentioned in ShortMax’s terms. They point store buyers to App Store or Google Play. Apple and Google control only what they billed. Website buyers should contact the company. Take a screenshot of every cancellation.
Why did I get charged after a free trial?
The way trials are worded can be confusing. ShortMax’s developer acknowledges that its “free trial” and “24 hours free” labels puzzled people. According to its terms, passes renew 24 hours before expiry. The renewal comes at the same price. Make sure to cancel a day before any trial ends. Then check that the store shows it as cancelled.
Refund Questions
The refund route depends on who took your money. Apple takes care of App Store charges. Play charges are handled by Google. Companies handle website charges. No route promises a refund. This table sets out each path.
| Where you bought | How to cancel | Where to seek a refund | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone (App Store) | Settings, your name, Subscriptions, Cancel | Apple’s Report a Problem page | Removing the app does not cancel |
| Android (Google Play) | Google Play, Subscriptions, Cancel | Google within 48 hours, then the developer | Uninstalling won’t cancel |
| Website | The app company’s account page or support | Only the app company | Often non-refundable, as My Drama’s terms state |
How do I request an Apple refund?
Start at Apple’s Report a Problem page. Log in with the paying Apple ID. Choose the charge, then explain briefly. A reply from Apple usually comes within 24 to 48 hours. The decision is Apple’s, not the app developer’s. Remember to cancel the pass too, or it will renew.
How does a Google Play refund work?
What matters most here is timing. Within 48 hours of buying, Google says you may get a refund. Go directly through Google Play to request it. Contact the developer once that window has passed. ReelShort points users to Profile, then Feedback. When a renewal surprises you, act quickly.
What happens with website purchases?
Those go through the app company. Neither Apple nor Google can help there. My Drama’s terms call web purchases non-refundable except where law requires. Its terms grant EU and UK users a 14-day withdrawal right. Each other company sets its own rules. Before you pay online, read the terms.
Is it possible to refund unused coins?
Usually not, as the terms say. My Drama’s terms call coin purchases final. ShortMax refuses refunds, unless its own fault makes a product unusable. With accidental purchases, a store request may help. Stick to the smallest bundle until a series grabs you. That way, mistakes cost less.
Safety and Copycat Apps
Name confusion is rampant here. Misspellings land you on minor unrelated apps. A few of the downloads are unsafe. Some sites imitate major brands. Sticking to real names protects your money. These answers separate the real from the fake.
Is Real Short an app?
No, not as far as we could find. Real Short is a misspelled version of ReelShort. The same goes for “real short app”, “realshot”, “reel shot” and likely “shot shorts” too. The real name is one word, not two. Its App Store seller is New Leaf Publishing. Make sure of that before downloading.
What exactly are ReelBox, DailyShort and GoldShort TV?
They are small apps, and they are unrelated. ReelBox, reached via “reel box” or “reelbox tv”, has 50K+ Android installs. It is not linked to ReelShort or DramaBox. DailyShort, often typed “daily short”, counts 100K+ installs. GoldShort TV is an Android TV app with 10K+ installs. Most people searching probably mean GoodShort.
Are ShortTV and ShortMax the same app?
Very likely, but unconfirmed. ShortMax’s legal entity is SHORTTV LIMITED in Hong Kong. Its website sends visitors on to ShortTV’s site. Both launched in September 2023. No official rename announcement could be found. Searching “short tv” or “short max” also brings up unrelated apps.
Can mod APKs and coin generators be trusted?
No, and not a single one is official. Mod APKs are modified app copies from outside official stores. One DramaBox look-alike calls its download an unofficial modified version. Coin generators are also unofficial. There is no way for you to verify what they do. Only use official stores and websites.
Why is ReelShort rated so low on Trustpilot?
ReelShort’s Trustpilot page shows a score of 1.3 out of 5 from 250 reviews. Charges after cancelling are a frequent complaint. Complaints about weekly auto-renewals come up often. Other reviewers mention coin prices and refused refunds. Any review site reflects the people who chose to post. Treat it as a list of things to check, not a verdict.
