Basic Questions
One simple model underpins short drama apps. What you watch are bite-size vertical episodes. The first few come free. Later ones cost coins or a pass. Most confusion comes from that split. Start viral short dramas with the five answers below.
What exactly is a short drama app?
It is an app that plays vertical video made for phones. Each series splits into many bite-size episodes. Out in front are ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortMax and My Drama. Storylines tend to favor billionaires, revenge and identity reveals. Popular too are werewolf romances. Initially, the format appeared in China as duanju.
How long does each episode run?
Most last one to two minutes. 60 to 100 seconds is a common target for Western productions. A series usually has 20 to 100 episodes. For Married at First Sight, ReelShort lists 90. ReelShort’s hit Double Life series lists 60. A complete series can be as long as a movie.
Why do episodes cut off at cliffhangers?
That is usually where free episodes end. According to ReelShort, its first 5 to 15 are usually free. Industry reporting mentions a figure of 8 to 10. Peak tension is where the lock tends to land. That very timing is the business model. Viewers also list it among their top complaints.
Which companies own ReelShort, DramaBox and My Drama?
ReelShort is a Crazy Maple Studio title, and the studio is based 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 product, and Holywater was founded in Kyiv in 2020. Fox Entertainment took an equity stake in October 2025. In terms of launch dates, ReelShort arrived in 2022, and DramaBox in 2023.
Can I watch in a web browser or on TV?
Yes, but with limits. My Drama runs a dedicated Apple TV app. We found no verified ReelShort TV app at all. On ReelShort’s website, you can sign in with Google, Facebook, Apple, TikTok or email. Your viewing progress syncs with the app. You can get free unlocks only in the app.
Cost
Money questions get asked most often. The figures reflect US App Store prices as of September 2026. They vary depending on country, platform and promotion. Check the price screen first, every time. Consider every figure approximate. Below is what the 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” is after the catch. The download costs nothing. Opening episodes cost nothing. Later episodes require coins or a VIP pass. Ads and check-ins earn free coins.
How do coins work?
Episodes are unlocked with coins, the app’s currency. According to ReelShort’s blog, an episode costs around 60 coins. The smallest pack runs about $4.99 for 500 coins. Bonus coins are added to bigger packs. You earn 100+ coins from a 7-day check-in streak. One rewarded ad opens two episodes.
Do coins expire?
The answer depends on the app. ReelShort says free reward coins usually expire. 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 keep active.
How much does a weekly pass cost?
The usual US price is about $19.99 a week. ReelShort, ShortMax, DramaWave, GoodShort and My Drama show it. Some apps show cheaper plans. ShortMax lists $9.99, and GoodShort starts at about $5.99. All these passes renew on their own. Four forgotten weeks cost four times as much.
Are there monthly or yearly plans?
They exist on some apps. ReelShort’s blog lists a yearly plan at about $199.99. Its monthly price is not the same on every page. 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?
Yes, as long as you are patient. Start with each series’ free first episodes. Use rewarded ads to unlock more. Keep a daily check-in streak alive. There are also official ReelShort channels on YouTube, TikTok and Dailymotion. All four combined go furthest.
Managing and Cancelling Subscriptions
Weekly passes keep renewing until you stop them. Plenty of people are surprised by that. Cancelling is quick once you know where. The place depends on how you paid. App stores cancel what was bought in them. Purchases on a website are the company’s to handle.
Does removing the app cancel my subscription?
No, and plenty of people make this mistake. Deleting an app does not end its subscription, according to Apple. Google makes the same point about uninstalling. My Drama’s terms include the same warning. Until you cancel, the pass renews. Cancel first, delete afterward.
How do I cancel on iPhone?
Open the Settings app to begin. Tap your name at the top. Then go to Subscriptions. Tap the drama app. Tap Cancel, then confirm. Do it a day before renewal to be safe.
How do I cancel on Android?
Open the Google Play Store app. Open your Subscriptions list. Select the short drama app there. Tap Cancel and work through the prompts. Remember that uninstalling does not cancel anything. To verify the change, recheck the list.
Can I cancel within the app?
Sometimes, but cancelling through the store is safer. ShortMax’s terms note an in-app option under About Subscription. For store buyers, they point to App Store or Google Play. Apple and Google control only what they billed. If you bought on the website, reach out to the company. Save a screenshot of every cancellation.
Why was I billed after a free trial?
The wording of trials can confuse. ShortMax’s developer acknowledges that its “free trial” and “24 hours free” labels puzzled people. Passes renew 24 hours before expiry, its terms say. The renewal is charged at the same price. Cancel a day before any trial ends. Afterward, check that the store shows it cancelled.
Refunds and Money Back
How refunds work depends on who took your money. Play charges are handled by Google. Apple handles App Store charges. Website charges are handled by the companies. No route promises a refund. Each path is mapped in this table.
| Where you bought | Cancelling | Where to seek a refund | Things to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone (App Store) | Settings, your name, Subscriptions, Cancel | Apple’s Report a Problem site | Deleting the app does not cancel it |
| Android (Google Play) | Google Play, Subscriptions, Cancel | Google within 48 hours, and after that the developer | Uninstalling does not cancel it |
| Website | The app company’s account or support | Only the app company | Often non-refundable, per My Drama’s terms |
How do I get a refund from Apple?
Go to Apple’s Report a Problem page. Use the billed 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 maker’s. Also cancel the pass, or it renews.
How do Google Play refunds work?
Here, timing matters most. Within 48 hours of purchase, you may get a refund, Google says. Send the request directly through Google Play. Contact the developer after that window. ReelShort directs 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. Apple and Google can’t step in there. Under My Drama’s terms, web purchases are non-refundable except where law requires. Under its terms, EU and UK users have a 14-day withdrawal right. Other companies decide their rules for themselves. Before you pay online, read the terms.
Is it possible to refund unused coins?
Usually not, and the terms spell that out. Coin purchases are final, under My Drama’s terms. ShortMax declines refunds, unless its own fault renders a product unusable. For accidental buys, store requests may help. Buy the smallest coin pack until a series grabs you. Mistakes then cost less.
Look-Alike Apps and Safety
Name confusion is widespread here. Small unrelated apps appear after misspellings. A few downloads are unsafe. Big brands get copied by some sites. Using the real names protects your money. These answers sort the real from the fake.
Is Real Short a real app?
No, not as far as we could find. Real Short is simply ReelShort misspelled. Other misspellings are “real short app”, “realshot”, “reel shot” and likely “shot shorts”. The correct name comes as a single word. On the App Store, its seller is New Leaf Publishing. Before downloading, verify that.
What are ReelBox, DailyShort and GoldShort TV?
All three are small, unrelated apps. ReelBox, which people find via “reel box” or “reelbox tv”, shows 50K+ Android installs. There is no link between it and ReelShort or DramaBox. Often typed “daily short”, DailyShort 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 one and the same?
Very likely, but unconfirmed. SHORTTV LIMITED in Hong Kong is ShortMax’s legal entity. Its website sends visitors on to ShortTV’s site. Both apps launched in September 2023. No official rename announcement turned up. Searching “short tv” or “short max” also turns up unrelated apps.
Is it safe to use mod APKs and coin generators?
No, and none of them is official. Mod APKs are modified app copies from outside official stores. One look-alike of DramaBox openly calls its download an unofficial modified version. Coin generators are likewise unofficial. You cannot confirm what they do. 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 common complaint. Weekly auto-renewals frequently come up. Other reviewers mention coin prices and refused refunds. What any review site reflects is the people who chose to post. Treat it as a checklist rather than a verdict.