Getting Started
A single simple model drives short drama apps. Tiny vertical episodes are what you watch. The first few come free. After that, episodes cost coins or a pass. Most of the confusion starts with that split. Start with these five answers.
What is a short drama app?
It delivers vertical video that is made for phones. Each series arrives as many tiny episodes. The leaders are ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortMax and My Drama. Billionaires, revenge and hidden-identity reveals are popular plot ingredients. Werewolf romances are well liked too. The format started out in China, under the name duanju.
How long does an episode last?
One to two minutes is the norm watch I Flew Home Pregnant Only To See His Secret for most. 60 to 100 seconds is a common target for Western productions. There are usually 20 to 100 episodes in a series. Married at First Sight shows 90 in ReelShort’s listing. Its hit Double Life series lists 60. A full series can be as long as a movie.
Why do episodes end on cliffhangers?
Free episodes usually end there. ReelShort says its first 5 to 15 are usually free. Industry coverage mentions a figure of 8 to 10. The lock usually fall at peak tension. That timing is precisely the business model. It also ranks as a top viewer complaint.
Who is behind ReelShort, DramaBox and My Drama?
ReelShort is owned by Crazy Maple Studio in Sunnyvale, California. Behind that studio is China’s COL Group. DramaBox is run by StoryMatrix of Singapore, itself part of Beijing Dianzhong Technology. Behind My Drama is Holywater, set up in Kyiv in 2020. Fox Entertainment bought an equity stake in October 2025. In terms of launch dates, ReelShort arrived in 2022, and DramaBox in 2023.
Can I watch on a browser or a TV?
Yes, within limits. There is an Apple TV app for My Drama. We came across no verified ReelShort TV app at all. ReelShort’s website lets you sign in through Google, Facebook, Apple, TikTok or email. The app and the site sync your progress. Free unlocks are available only in the app.
Pricing
Money questions come up most often. The figures given are US App Store prices as of September 2026. Country, platform and promotion all change them. Every number is best read as approximate. Check the pricing screen first, every time. Here is what the listings show.
Is ReelShort free to use?
Partly, and the free portion is genuine. People searching “is reel short free” or “is reel short app free” are looking for the catch. Opening episodes are free. It costs nothing to download. Later episodes require coins or a VIP pass. Watching ads and checking in earns free coins.
How do coins work?
The currency that unlocks episodes is coins. ReelShort’s blog sets an episode at roughly 60 coins. Its smallest pack gives 500 coins for about $4.99. Bonus coins come with bigger packs. One rewarded ad opens two episodes. A 7-day check-in streak earns 100+ coins.
Do coins expire?
It depends from app to app. Free reward coins usually expire, says ReelShort. Coins you paid for do not run out. My Drama operates differently. After 12 months of inactivity, its terms forfeit the coins. Stay active and spend reward coins first.
What does a weekly pass cost?
In the US, the common price is about $19.99 a week. You will see it listed by ReelShort, ShortMax, DramaWave, GoodShort and My Drama. Cheaper tiers show up in some apps. ShortMax shows a $9.99 tier, and GoodShort’s pricing starts around $5.99. Every one of these passes renews on its own. Four forgotten weeks cost four times as much.
Do apps offer monthly or yearly plans?
Some apps do offer them. ReelShort’s blog lists a yearly plan at about $199.99. Its monthly price is not the same on every page. That figure is therefore unconfirmed. About $36.99 a month is what DramaWave lists. ShortMax shows only weekly passes in the US.
Can I watch for free, without paying?
Yes, if you are patient. Start with each series’ free opening episodes. Rewarded ads open up more. Keep up a daily check-in streak. ReelShort also has official YouTube, TikTok and Dailymotion channels. Combining all four goes furthest.
Subscriptions and Cancellation
A weekly pass keeps renewing until you stop it. Plenty of people are surprised by that. Cancelling is quick once you know where. How you paid decides where you cancel. Purchases made in a store are cancelled by that store. Companies manage website purchases.
Does deleting the app cancel my subscription?
No, and plenty of people make this mistake. Apple says deleting an app does not end its subscription. Google says the same about uninstalling. My Drama’s terms echo that warning. The pass does not stop renewing until you cancel. Always cancel, then delete.
How do I cancel on an iPhone?
Open the Settings app to begin. At the top, tap your name. Select Subscriptions after that. Pick the short drama app in the list. Tap Cancel and then confirm it. To be on the safe side, act a day before renewal.
How do I cancel on Android?
To start, open the Google Play Store app. Next, go to your Subscriptions list. Choose the drama app there. Tap Cancel and follow the prompts. Remember that uninstalling does not cancel anything. Recheck the list once more to confirm the change.
Can I cancel inside the app?
Sometimes, though the store route is safer. ShortMax’s terms point to an in-app option under About Subscription. For store buyers, they point to App Store or Google Play. Apple and Google only control what they charged for. Buyers on the website should contact the company. Keep a screenshot of every cancellation.
Why did I get charged after a free trial?
Trial wording can be confusing. ShortMax’s developer acknowledges that its “free trial” and “24 hours free” labels confused people. According to its terms, passes renew 24 hours before expiry. The same price applies to the renewal. Make sure to cancel a day before any trial ends. Then check that the store shows it as cancelled.
Getting Refunds
Refunds depend on who took your money. App Store charges go through Apple. Google handles Play charges. The companies deal with their own website charges. A refund is not guaranteed by any route. This table sets out each path.
| Where you paid | How you cancel | Where to seek a refund | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone (App Store) | Settings, your name, Subscriptions, Cancel | The Report a Problem page from Apple | Deleting the app does not cancel |
| Android (Google Play) | Google Play, Subscriptions, Cancel | Google in the first 48 hours, then the developer | Uninstalling does not cancel |
| Website | The app company’s account or support | The app company only | Often non-refundable, according to My Drama’s terms |
How can I get an Apple refund?
Apple’s Report a Problem page is the place to go. Log in with the billed Apple ID. Pick the charge and describe the problem in a few words. Apple usually responds within 24 to 48 hours. The decision is Apple’s, not the app maker’s. Also cancel the pass, or it renews.
How do Google Play refunds work?
Timing matters most here. According to Google, you may get a refund within 48 hours of purchase. Make the request directly through Google Play. When that window is over, contact the developer. ReelShort tells users to go to Profile, then Feedback. When a renewal surprises you, act fast.
What happens with website purchases?
Those are dealt with by the app company. There, Apple and Google cannot help. My Drama’s terms treat web purchases as non-refundable except where law requires. Under its terms, EU and UK users get a 14-day withdrawal right. Other companies decide their rules for themselves. Before you pay online, read the terms.
Can I refund unused coins?
Usually not, and the terms make that clear. Under My Drama’s terms, coin purchases are final. ShortMax refuses refunds unless its own fault makes a product unusable. Store requests may help with accidental buys. Buy the smallest pack until a series hooks you. Any mistakes then cost less.
Safety and Copycat Apps
Name mix-ups are everywhere here. A misspelling can lead to minor unrelated apps. Some sites are copies of well-known brands. A few of the downloads are unsafe. Sticking to real names protects your money. These answers sort real from fake.
Is Real Short an app?
No, not that we were able to find. Real Short is a misspelling of ReelShort. That applies to “real short app”, “realshot”, “reel shot” and probably “shot shorts” too. The correct name is written as one word. On the App Store, its seller is New Leaf Publishing. Confirm that before downloading.
What exactly are ReelBox, DailyShort and GoldShort TV?
These are small, unrelated apps. Found via “reel box” or “reelbox tv”, ReelBox has 50K+ Android installs. It has no tie to ReelShort or DramaBox. DailyShort, frequently typed “daily short”, has 100K+ installs. GoldShort TV is an Android TV app that has 10K+ installs. GoodShort is probably what most searchers mean.
Are ShortTV and ShortMax the same?
Very likely, though not confirmed. SHORTTV LIMITED in Hong Kong is ShortMax’s legal entity. Its website sends visitors on to ShortTV’s site. Both went live in September 2023. There is no official rename announcement that we found. Unrelated apps also show up when you search “short tv” or “short max”.
Are mod APKs and coin generators safe?
No, and not one is official. Altered app copies from outside official stores are what mod APKs are. One DramaBox look-alike labels its download as an unofficial modified version. Coin generators are equally unofficial. You cannot confirm what they do. Stick to official stores and websites.
Why is ReelShort rated so low on Trustpilot?
ReelShort’s Trustpilot page shows 1.3 out of 5 from 250 reviews. A frequent complaint is being charged after cancelling. Weekly auto-renewals frequently come up. Others complain about coin prices and refused refunds. Any review site reflects people who chose to post. Treat it as a list of things to check rather than a verdict.
