Getting Started
A single simple model powers short drama apps. You watch bite-size vertical episodes. You get the first few for free. Beyond those, episodes cost coins or a pass. That split drives most confusion. Begin with these five answers.
What is a short drama app, exactly?
It serves up vertical video built for phones. Each series arrives as many tiny episodes. Billionaires, revenge and identity reveals are Cayman Cardiff actor popular plot elements. Popular too are werewolf romances. The leaders are ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortMax and My Drama. The format first appeared in China, where it is called duanju.
How long does an episode last?
Most run one to two minutes. Western productions often aim for 60 to 100 seconds. Usually, a series contains 20 to 100 episodes. For Married at First Sight, ReelShort lists 90. Double Life, a ReelShort hit, lists 60. A full series can run as long as a movie.
Why do episodes end on cliffhangers?
Usually, that is where the free episodes run out. ReelShort says its first 5 to 15 are usually free. 8 to 10 is the figure cited in industry reporting. The paywall tends to land at peak tension. The timing itself is the business model. It is also one of the top viewer complaint.
Who are the owners of ReelShort, DramaBox and My Drama?
ReelShort belongs to Crazy Maple Studio in Sunnyvale, California. China’s COL Group stands behind that studio. Singapore’s StoryMatrix, part of Beijing Dianzhong Technology, operates DramaBox. Holywater is behind My Drama and was set up in Kyiv in 2020. October 2025 is when Fox Entertainment acquired an equity stake. ReelShort arrived in 2022, and DramaBox followed in 2023.
Is it possible to watch in a browser or on TV?
Yes, though there are limits. There is an Apple TV app for My Drama. No verified ReelShort TV app turned up in our search. On ReelShort’s website, you can log in with Google, Facebook, Apple, TikTok or email. Progress syncs with the app. You can get free unlocks only in the app.
Cost
Money questions get asked most. All figures are US App Store prices as of September 2026. Prices differ by country, platform and promotion. Check the pricing screen first, every time. Every number is best read as approximate. Here is what the listings show.
Is ReelShort free?
Partly, and the free part is genuinely free. Anyone searching “is reel short free” or “is reel short app free” is after the catch. The download costs nothing. The opening episodes are free. Coins or a VIP pass are needed for the later ones. You can earn free coins from ads and check-ins.
How do coins actually work?
The currency that unlocks episodes is coins. ReelShort’s blog puts an episode at roughly 60 coins. The smallest pack runs roughly $4.99 for 500 coins. Bigger packs throw in extra coins. One rewarded ad opens two episodes. A 7-day check-in streak earns 100+ coins.
Do the coins expire?
It depends on the app. ReelShort states that free reward coins usually expire. Coins you paid for do not run out. My Drama takes a different approach. Its terms forfeit coins after 12 months of inactivity. Spend reward coins first and stay active.
What is the price of a weekly pass?
Around $19.99 a week is the common US price. ReelShort, ShortMax, DramaWave, GoodShort and My Drama show it. Cheaper tiers show up in some apps. GoodShort starts around $5.99, and ShortMax lists $9.99. Every one of these passes auto-renews on its own. Overlooking it for four weeks costs four times as much.
Are there any monthly or yearly plans?
A few apps offer them. ReelShort’s blog lists a yearly plan at about $199.99. Its monthly price is not the same on every page. So we treat that figure as unconfirmed. About $36.99 a month is what DramaWave lists. In the US, ShortMax shows only weekly passes.
Can I watch without paying?
Yes, provided you are patient. Start with each series’ free opening episodes. Unlock more by watching rewarded ads. Keep up a daily check-in streak. On top of that, ReelShort runs official YouTube, TikTok and Dailymotion channels. You get the most by combining all four.
Subscriptions and How to Cancel
Until you stop them, weekly passes keep renewing. That comes as a surprise to plenty of people. Once you know where, cancelling is fast. How you paid determines where you cancel. Stores handle store purchases. Purchases on a website are the company’s to handle.
Will deleting the app cancel my subscription?
No, and plenty of people make this mistake. According to Apple, removing an app does not end its subscription. Google says the same about uninstalling. My Drama’s terms carry the same warning. The pass keeps renewing until you cancel. Cancel first, then delete.
How do I cancel a subscription on iPhone?
Begin by opening the Settings app. Tap on your name at the top. Then go to Subscriptions. Find and select the short drama app. Tap Cancel and confirm your choice. Do it a day before renewal to be safe.
How can I cancel on Android?
Begin by opening the Google Play Store app. Next, go to your Subscriptions list. There, select the drama app. Tap Cancel and follow the on-screen prompts. Remember that uninstalling does not cancel anything. Look at the list again to confirm the change.
Can I cancel inside the app?
Sometimes, though the store path is safer. In ShortMax’s terms, there is mention of an in-app option under About Subscription. They send store buyers to App Store or Google Play. Apple and Google only control what they charged for. Buyers on the website should get in touch with the company. Save a screenshot of every cancellation.
Why did I get charged after a free trial?
Trial wording can be confusing. ShortMax’s developer concedes its “free trial” and “24 hours free” labels confused people. Its terms say passes renew 24 hours before they expire. You pay the same price for the renewal. Cancel one day before any trial ends. After that, confirm the store shows it cancelled.
Refunds and Money Back
The refund route depends on who took your money. Play charges are handled by Google. Apple handles App Store charges. Companies deal with website charges. No route guarantees a refund. Each path is mapped in this table.
| Where you bought | Cancelling | Refund route | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone (App Store) | Settings, your name, Subscriptions, Cancel | Apple’s Report a Problem site | Deleting the app won’t cancel |
| Android (Google Play) | Google Play, Subscriptions, Cancel | Google in the first 48 hours, then the developer | Uninstalling alone does not cancel |
| Website | Your account or support at the app company | Only the app company | Frequently non-refundable, per My Drama’s terms |
How do I get an Apple refund?
Start at Apple’s Report a Problem page. Use the paying Apple ID to log in. Select the charge and give a brief explanation. Within 24 to 48 hours, Apple usually replies. The decision is Apple’s, not the app developer’s. Cancel the pass as well, or it renews.
How does a Google Play refund work?
Timing is the biggest factor here. Within 48 hours of purchase, you may get a refund, Google says. Go directly through Google Play to request it. After that window, reach out to the developer. ReelShort sends users to Profile, then Feedback. Move fast when a renewal catches you by surprise.
What about buying on the website?
Those purchases go through the app company. Neither Apple nor Google can help there. Web purchases are non-refundable except where law requires, My Drama’s terms say. Its terms grant EU and UK users a 14-day withdrawal right. Other companies decide their rules for themselves. Before paying online, read the terms.
Is it possible to refund unused coins?
Usually not, and the terms say so. Under My Drama’s terms, coin purchases are final. ShortMax will not refund unless its own fault makes a product unusable. For accidental buys, store requests may help. Until a series hooks you, buy the smallest coin pack. Any mistakes then cost less.
Look-Alike Apps and Safety
Name mix-ups are everywhere here. Misspellings land you on small unrelated apps. A handful of downloads are unsafe. Some sites are copies of big brands. Sticking to real names protects your money. The answers below sort real from fake.
Is Real Short an actual app?
No, not that we could locate. Real Short is just a misspelling of ReelShort. That applies to “real short app”, “realshot”, “reel shot” and likely “shot shorts” too. The correct name is written as one word. New Leaf Publishing is the App Store seller. Check that before you download.
What are ReelBox, DailyShort and GoldShort TV?
These are small, unrelated apps. ReelBox, found via “reel box” or “reelbox tv”, has 50K+ Android installs. It has nothing to do with ReelShort or DramaBox. DailyShort, often typed “daily short”, has 100K+ installs. GoldShort TV is an Android TV app with 10K+ installs. GoodShort is probably what most searchers mean.
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. The two launched in September 2023. No official rename announcement could be found. Searching “short tv” or “short max” also turns up unrelated apps.
Are mod APKs and coin generators safe?
No, and none of them is official. Mod APKs are altered copies of apps that come from outside official stores. One look-alike of DramaBox openly calls its download an unofficial modified version. Coin generators, too, are unofficial. There is no way for you to verify what they do. Use official stores and websites and nothing else.
Why does ReelShort have a low rating on Trustpilot?
ReelShort’s Trustpilot page sits at 1.3 out of 5 from 250 reviews. Reviewers frequently complain about charges after cancelling. Weekly auto-renewals are often mentioned. Coin prices and denied refunds are mentioned by others. What any review site reflects is the people who chose to post. Use it as a checklist rather than a verdict.
