Basics
A single simple model underpins short drama apps. Very short vertical episodes are what you watch. The first handful are free. Coins or a pass unlock the later ones. Most confusion traces back to that split. These five answers are the place to start.
What counts as a short drama app?
It serves up vertical video made for phones. A series is split into many tiny episodes. Billionaires, revenge and identity reveals are popular plot elements. Popular too are werewolf romances. Leading the pack are ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortMax and My Drama. China is reel shorts website where the format began, as duanju.
How long does each episode run?
Most episodes run one to two minutes. Western productions often target 60 to 100 seconds. A series usually includes 20 to 100 episodes. ReelShort’s listing for Married at First Sight shows 90. Double Life, a ReelShort hit, lists 60. A complete series can be as long as a movie.
Why do episodes end on cliffhangers?
That is usually the spot where free episodes end. ReelShort states that the first 5 to 15 are usually free. 8 to 10 is the figure cited in industry reporting. The lock tends to hit at peak tension. The timing itself is the business model. It is also one of the top viewer complaint.
Who owns ReelShort, DramaBox and My Drama?
Crazy Maple Studio in Sunnyvale, California owns ReelShort. China’s COL Group stands behind that studio. Running DramaBox is Singapore’s StoryMatrix, which is part of Beijing Dianzhong Technology. Behind My Drama is Holywater, founded in Kyiv in 2020. Fox Entertainment acquired an equity stake in October 2025. In terms of launch dates, ReelShort came in 2022, and DramaBox in 2023.
Can I watch in a web browser or on TV?
Yes, but with limits. ReelShort’s website supports Google, Facebook, Apple, TikTok and email logins. Progress carries over to and from the app. Only the app offers free unlocks. My Drama runs a dedicated Apple TV app. We did not find a verified ReelShort TV app.
What It Costs
Questions about money come up most often. All figures are US App Store prices as of September 2026. They change by country, platform and promotion. Look at the price screen first, every time. Treat each number as a rough guide. Below is what the listings show.
Is ReelShort actually free?
Partly, and what is free really is free. Anyone searching “is reel short free” or “is reel short app free” wants the catch. It costs nothing to download. The opening episodes cost nothing. Later episodes require coins or a VIP pass. Free coins come from ads and check-ins.
How do the coins work?
Coins are the in-app currency that unlocks episodes. According to ReelShort’s blog, an episode costs around 60 coins. Its smallest pack is roughly $4.99 for 500 coins. Bigger packs include bonus coins. You earn 100+ coins from a 7-day check-in streak. Watching one rewarded ad unlocks two episodes.
Do coins ever expire?
That depends on the app. ReelShort notes that free reward coins usually expire. Coins you paid for do not run out. My Drama works differently. Its terms say coins are forfeited after 12 months of inactivity. Stay active and spend reward coins first.
How much is a weekly pass?
Around $19.99 a week is the usual US price. ReelShort, ShortMax, DramaWave, GoodShort and My Drama show it. Some apps display cheaper plans. ShortMax’s listing shows $9.99, while GoodShort starts around $5.99. All these passes renew on their own. Forgetting it for four weeks costs four times as much.
Can I get a monthly or yearly plan?
Some apps sell them. According to ReelShort’s blog, a yearly plan costs about $199.99. Its monthly price is not the same on every page. That figure is therefore unconfirmed. DramaWave lists around $36.99 a month. In the US, ShortMax lists weekly passes only.
Is it possible to watch without paying?
Yes, provided you are patient. Each series’ free opening episodes are the place to start. Rewarded ads open up more. Keep a daily check-in streak alive. ReelShort also has official YouTube, TikTok and Dailymotion channels. Using all four together goes furthest.
Subscriptions and Cancelling
A weekly pass renews until you stop it. Plenty of people are surprised by that. Once you know where, cancelling is fast. The right place depends on how you paid. Stores cancel store purchases. Purchases on a website are the company’s to handle.
Does removing the app cancel my subscription?
No, and this error is common. Apple makes clear that removing an app does not end its subscription. Google says the same thing about uninstalling. My Drama’s terms include the same warning. The pass renews until you cancel. Cancel first, and then delete.
How do I cancel a subscription on iPhone?
To start, open the Settings app. Next, tap your name at the top. Then select Subscriptions. Find and select the drama app. Tap Cancel and then confirm it. To stay safe, act a day before renewal.
How do I cancel on an Android phone?
First, open the Google Play Store app. Next, go to your Subscriptions list. Pick the short drama app there. Tap Cancel and follow the steps shown. Remember that uninstalling does not cancel anything. Look at the list again to confirm the change.
Can I cancel within the app?
Sometimes, but 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 control what they billed. Anyone who bought on the website should contact the company. Screenshot each and every cancellation.
Why was I billed after a free trial?
Trial wording can be confusing. ShortMax’s “free trial” and “24 hours free” labels confused people, its developer admits. Under its terms, passes renew 24 hours before expiry. The same price applies to the renewal. Cancel one day before any trial ends. After that, confirm the store shows it cancelled.
Refunds
How refunds work depends on who took your money. Google deals with Play charges. App Store charges are handled by Apple. Companies deal with website charges. None of these routes guarantees a refund. Each path is mapped in this table.
| Where you bought | How to cancel | Refund path | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone (App Store) | Settings, your name, Subscriptions, Cancel | The Report a Problem page from Apple | Removing the app does not cancel |
| Android (Google Play) | Google Play, Subscriptions, Cancel | Google within 48 hours, then the developer | Uninstalling does not cancel it |
| Website | The app company’s account page or support | The app company alone | Often non-refundable, as My Drama’s terms state |
How do I request an Apple refund?
Apple’s Report a Problem page is the place to go. Use the paying Apple ID to sign in. Pick the charge and describe the problem in a few words. A reply from Apple usually comes within 24 to 48 hours. Apple, not the app developer, decides. Cancel the pass too, or it renews.
How do refunds from Google Play work?
What matters most here is timing. Within 48 hours of purchase, you may get a refund, according to Google. Request it through Google Play directly. After that window, get in touch with the developer. For ReelShort, the path is Profile, then Feedback. When a renewal surprises you, act fast.
What about buying on the website?
The app company handles those. Neither Apple nor Google can help there. Web purchases are non-refundable except where law requires, according to My Drama’s terms. EU and UK users get a 14-day withdrawal right under its terms. Other companies set their rules for themselves. Check the terms before paying online.
Is it possible to refund unused coins?
Usually not, and that is in the terms. My Drama’s terms call coin purchases final. ShortMax declines refunds, unless its own fault renders a product unusable. Store requests may help with accidental buys. Until a series hooks you, buy the smallest pack. Mistakes then cost less.
Look-Alike Apps and Safety
Name mix-ups are everywhere here. Misspelled names send you to little-known unrelated apps. A few downloads are unsafe. Certain sites imitate big brands. Your money is protected by using real names. These answers separate the real from the fake.
Is Real Short a real app?
No, not that we could find. Real Short is a misspelling of ReelShort. That applies to “real short app”, “realshot”, “reel shot” and probably “shot shorts” too. The real name is one word, not two. Its App Store seller is New Leaf Publishing. Before downloading, verify that.
What are ReelBox, DailyShort and GoldShort TV, exactly?
These are small, unrelated apps. ReelBox, reached via “reel box” or “reelbox tv”, has 50K+ Android installs. There is no link between it and ReelShort or DramaBox. DailyShort, often typed “daily short”, has 100K+ installs. GoldShort TV is an Android TV app with 10K+ installs. Most people searching probably mean GoodShort.
Are ShortTV and ShortMax one and the same?
Very likely, though not confirmed. The legal entity behind ShortMax is SHORTTV LIMITED in Hong Kong. Its website forwards to ShortTV’s site. Each launched in September 2023. No official rename announcement turned up. A search for “short tv” or “short max” also surfaces unrelated apps.
Are mod APKs and coin generators safe to use?
No, and none of them are official. Mod APKs are altered app copies from outside official stores. One DramaBox look-alike describes its download as an unofficial modified version. Coin generators are unofficial too. What they do is something you cannot verify. Use official stores and websites only.
Why is ReelShort’s Trustpilot rating low?
On Trustpilot, ReelShort’s page shows 1.3 out of 5 from 250 reviews. Being charged after cancelling is a frequent complaint. Weekly auto-renewals come up often. Coin prices and denied refunds are mentioned by others. What any review site reflects is the people who chose to post. Read it as a checklist rather than a verdict.
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