Basic Questions
A single simple model underpins short drama apps. Very short vertical episodes are what you watch. The first handful are free. After that, episodes cost coins or a pass. Most confusion comes from that split. The five answers below are a good starting point.
What counts as a short drama app?
Vertical video made for phones is what it streams. Each series is divided into many tiny episodes. The storylines gravitate toward billionaires, revenge and hidden-identity reveals. Werewolf romances are also popular. The leaders are ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortMax and My Drama. China is where the format started, as duanju.
What is the length of each episode?
Most clock in drama box movies at one to two minutes. Western shoots often aim for runtimes of 60 to 100 seconds. Usually, a series contains 20 to 100 episodes. For Married at First Sight, ReelShort lists 90. ReelShort’s hit Double Life series lists 60. A full series can match a movie in length.
Why do episodes end on cliffhangers?
That is usually the point where free episodes end. The first 5 to 15 are usually free, ReelShort says. Industry reporting puts it at 8 to 10. The lock usually land at peak tension. That timing is exactly the business model. It is also a top viewer complaint.
Who are the owners of ReelShort, DramaBox and My Drama?
ReelShort is a Crazy Maple Studio app, and the studio is in Sunnyvale, California. China’s COL Group supports that studio. Singapore’s StoryMatrix, part of Beijing Dianzhong Technology, operates DramaBox. My Drama comes from Holywater, a company founded in Kyiv in 2020. Fox Entertainment acquired an equity stake in October 2025. ReelShort launched in 2022, and DramaBox in 2023.
Is it possible to watch in a browser or on TV?
Yes, though there are limits. Google, Facebook, Apple, TikTok and email logins all work on ReelShort’s website. Your viewing progress syncs with the app. You can get free unlocks only in the app. There is an Apple TV app for My Drama. We found no verified ReelShort TV app.
Cost
Money is the topic people ask about most. The figures given are US App Store prices as of September 2026. These prices vary by country, platform and promotion. Look at the price screen first, every time. Each number is best read as approximate. The listings show the following.
Is ReelShort actually free?
Partly, and what is free really is free. What people searching “is reel short free” or “is reel short app free” want is the catch. The download is free. You get the opening episodes free. Later episodes need coins or a VIP pass. Free coins come from ads and check-ins.
How does the coin system work?
Coins are the currency that unlocks episodes. ReelShort’s blog puts an episode at roughly 60 coins. Its smallest pack offers 500 coins for about $4.99. Bigger packs include bonus coins. Watching one rewarded ad unlocks two episodes. Keeping a 7-day check-in streak earns 100+ coins.
Do the coins expire?
That depends on the app. Free reward coins usually expire, says ReelShort. Coins you bought do not. Things work differently at My Drama. Under its terms, coins are forfeited after 12 months of inactivity. Keep active and spend reward coins first.
How much is a weekly pass?
The typical price in the US is about $19.99 a week. It is listed by ReelShort, ShortMax, DramaWave, GoodShort and My Drama. Some apps display cheaper tiers. ShortMax shows a $9.99 tier, and GoodShort’s pricing starts around $5.99. These passes all renew automatically. Forget for four weeks and you pay four times as much.
Are there any monthly or yearly plans?
Some apps do offer them. A yearly plan appears on ReelShort’s blog at roughly $199.99. Its monthly price is not the same on every page. So that figure remains unconfirmed. DramaWave shows a monthly price of roughly $36.99. In the US, ShortMax lists weekly passes only.
Can I watch without paying anything?
Yes, provided you are patient. Begin with each series’ free opening episodes. Use rewarded ads to unlock more. Don’t break your daily check-in streak. There are also official ReelShort channels on YouTube, TikTok and Dailymotion. Combining all four gets you the most.
Subscriptions and Cancelling
Until you stop them, weekly passes keep renewing. Plenty of people are surprised by that. Cancelling takes little time once you know where. The right place depends on how you paid. Purchases made in a store are cancelled by that store. Website purchases are handled by the company.
Does removing the app cancel my subscription?
No, and it is a common mistake. According to Apple, removing an app does not end its subscription. Google makes the same point about uninstalling. That warning is repeated in My Drama’s terms. Your pass keeps renewing until you cancel it. Cancel first, delete afterward.
How can I cancel on iPhone?
Begin by opening the Settings app. Tap on your name at the top. Then go to Subscriptions. Pick the short drama app from the list. Tap Cancel and then confirm it. Do it a day before renewal to be safe.
How do I cancel a subscription on Android?
Begin by opening the Google Play Store app. Then go to your Subscriptions list. Find the short drama app there and select it. Tap Cancel, then follow the prompts. Remember that uninstalling does not cancel anything. To confirm the change, recheck the list.
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. For store buyers, they point to App Store or Google Play. Apple and Google only have control over what they billed. Buyers on the website should contact the company. Save a screenshot of every cancellation.
Why was I charged once a free trial ended?
Trial wording can trip people up. ShortMax’s “free trial” and “24 hours free” labels confused people, its developer admits. Its terms say passes renew 24 hours before expiry. The renewal is charged at the same price. Make sure to cancel a day before any trial ends. Then check the store shows it cancelled.
Refunds
The refund route depends on who took your money. App Store charges go through Apple. Google takes care of Play charges. The companies deal with their own website charges. A refund is not guaranteed by any route. The table below maps each path.
| Where you paid | How you cancel | Refund path | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone (App Store) | Settings, your name, Subscriptions, Cancel | Apple’s Report a Problem page | Deleting the app does not cancel it |
| Android (Google Play) | Google Play, Subscriptions, Cancel | Google within 48 hours, later the developer | Uninstalling does not cancel it |
| Website | Your account or support at the app company | Only the app company | Often non-refundable, as My Drama’s terms state |
How do I get a refund from Apple?
Apple’s Report a Problem page is the place to go. Sign in with the paying Apple ID. Select the charge and give a brief explanation. Apple usually responds within 24 to 48 hours. Apple decides, not the app developer. Cancel the pass as well, or it renews.
How do refunds from Google Play work?
Timing is the biggest factor here. Within 48 hours of purchase, you may get a refund, according to Google. Ask for it directly through Google Play. Contact the developer once that window has passed. ReelShort users are pointed to Profile, then Feedback. When a renewal surprises you, act quickly.
What happens with website purchases?
The app company handles those. Neither Apple nor Google can help there. My Drama’s terms label web purchases non-refundable except where law requires. Its terms give a 14-day withdrawal right to EU and UK users. Other companies’ rules are their own. Read the terms before paying online.
Is it possible to refund unused coins?
Usually not, and that is in the terms. Coin purchases are final, according to My Drama’s terms. Unless its own fault makes a product unusable, ShortMax declines refunds. For accidental buys, store requests may help. Until a series hooks you, buy the smallest pack. Mistakes then set you back less.
Safety and Look-Alike Apps
Confusion over names is everywhere here. Misspellings point to minor unrelated apps. Certain sites imitate big brands. A few downloads pose a risk. Your money is protected by using real names. These answers sort the real from the fake.
Is there an app called Real Short?
No, we could not find one. Real Short is a misspelled version of ReelShort. That applies to “real short app”, “realshot”, “reel shot” and probably “shot shorts” too. The real name is a single word. New Leaf Publishing is its App Store seller. Check that before you download.
What are the ReelBox, DailyShort and GoldShort TV apps?
They are small, unrelated apps. ReelBox, located through “reel box” or “reelbox tv”, counts 50K+ Android installs. There is no link between it and ReelShort or DramaBox. Often typed “daily short”, DailyShort has 100K+ installs. With 10K+ installs, GoldShort TV is an Android TV app. Most people searching probably mean GoodShort.
Are ShortTV and ShortMax the same app?
Very likely, though not confirmed. ShortMax’s legal entity is SHORTTV LIMITED in Hong Kong. Visitors to its website land on ShortTV’s site. The two launched in September 2023. No official rename announcement turned up. Unrelated apps also show up when you search “short tv” or “short max”.
Can mod APKs and coin generators be trusted?
No, and not a single one is official. A mod APK is an altered app copy from outside official stores. One DramaBox look-alike calls its download an unofficial modified version. Coin generators, too, are unofficial. What they do is something you cannot verify. Stay with official stores and websites.
Why is ReelShort rated so low on Trustpilot?
On Trustpilot, ReelShort’s page shows 1.3 out of 5 from 250 reviews. A frequent complaint is being charged after cancelling. Weekly auto-renewals are often mentioned. Others mention coin prices and refused refunds. Any review site reflects those who chose to post. Read it as a list of things to check rather than a final verdict.