The Basics
One simple model underpins short drama apps. You watch vertical episodes that are very short. The first few cost nothing. Beyond those, episodes cost coins or a pass. Most confusion stems from that split. The five answers below are a good place to start.
What counts as a short drama app?
It is an app that streams vertical video built for phones. A series is split into many short episodes. Billionaires, revenge and hidden-identity reveals are favorite plot elements. Werewolf romances are also popular. ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortMax and My Drama are the top names. China is where the format began, as short drama channel duanju.
How long is each episode?
Most episodes run one to two minutes. 60 to 100 seconds is a common target for Western shoots. 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 complete series can be as long as a movie.
Why do episodes stop right at cliffhangers?
Free episodes usually end there. The first 5 to 15 are usually free, ReelShort says. Industry reporting puts it at 8 to 10. The lock tends to land right at peak tension. That timing is precisely the business model. It also ranks as a top viewer complaint.
Which companies own ReelShort, DramaBox and My Drama?
Crazy Maple Studio in Sunnyvale, California owns ReelShort. Backing that studio is China’s COL Group. DramaBox is operated by Singapore’s StoryMatrix, part of Beijing Dianzhong Technology. My Drama is a Holywater app, and Holywater was founded in Kyiv in 2020. Fox Entertainment acquired an equity stake in October 2025. ReelShort launched in 2022, and DramaBox in 2023.
Can I watch on a browser or a TV?
Yes, though there are limits. My Drama is available on Apple TV via its own app. We could find no verified ReelShort TV app. Google, Facebook, Apple, TikTok and email logins are all offered on ReelShort’s website. Your viewing progress syncs with the app. Free unlocks happen only in the app.
Pricing
Money is the subject people ask about most. Figures are US App Store prices as of September 2026. They vary depending on country, platform and promotion. Always look at the pricing screen first. Consider every number approximate. This is what listings show.
Is ReelShort free?
Partly, and the free part is real. What people searching “is reel short free” or “is reel short app free” want is the catch. Downloading costs nothing. The opening episodes are free. Later ones need coins or a VIP pass. Watching ads and checking in gets you free coins.
How do coins work?
Coins serve as the currency that unlocks episodes. According to ReelShort’s blog, an episode costs around 60 coins. For roughly $4.99, the smallest bundle gives you 500 coins. Bigger packs add bonus coins. Watching one rewarded ad unlocks two episodes. Keeping a 7-day check-in streak earns 100+ coins.
Do the coins expire?
It comes down to the app. ReelShort states that free reward coins usually expire. Coins you paid for do not. My Drama handles coins differently. Under its terms, coins are forfeited after 12 months of inactivity. Spend reward coins first and stay active.
How much does a weekly pass cost?
The common US price is around $19.99 a week. That price shows up on ReelShort, ShortMax, DramaWave, GoodShort and My Drama. Cheaper tiers show up in some apps. ShortMax’s listing shows $9.99, while GoodShort starts around $5.99. All these passes renew automatically. Forget for four weeks and you pay four times as much.
Can I get a monthly or yearly plan?
Some apps 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 we treat that figure as unconfirmed. DramaWave’s listing shows about $36.99 a month. Only weekly passes appear for ShortMax in the US.
Can I watch without paying?
Yes, if you are patient. Start with each series’ free first episodes. Rewarded ads unlock more. Keep up a daily check-in streak. On top of that, ReelShort runs official YouTube, TikTok and Dailymotion channels. All four combined go furthest.
Subscriptions and Cancelling
Until you stop them, weekly passes renew. Plenty of people are surprised by that. Cancelling takes little time once you know where. Where to cancel depends on how you paid. Purchases made in a store are cancelled by that store. Each company handles purchases made on its website.
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 says the same about uninstalling. My Drama’s terms echo that warning. Your pass keeps renewing until you cancel it. Cancel first, then delete.
How can I cancel on iPhone?
Open the Settings app to begin. At the top, tap your name. Then choose Subscriptions. Tap the short drama app. Tap Cancel, then confirm. Do it a day before renewal to be safe.
How do I cancel a subscription on Android?
Start by opening the Google Play Store app. Head to your Subscriptions list. Pick the drama app in that list. Tap Cancel and follow the prompts. Uninstalling, remember, cancels nothing. To verify the change, recheck the list.
Is it possible to cancel inside the app?
Sometimes, but the store route is safer. An in-app option under About Subscription is described in ShortMax’s terms. Those terms direct store buyers to App Store or Google Play. Apple and Google only have control over what they billed. Buyers on the website should contact the company. Take a screenshot of every cancellation.
Why did I get charged after a free trial?
The way trials are worded can be confusing. The developer of ShortMax admits that its “free trial” and “24 hours free” labels confused people. Under its terms, passes renew 24 hours before expiry. The renewal is charged at the same price. A day before any trial ends, cancel. After that, confirm the store shows it cancelled.
Refunds
Who took your money decides how refunds work. App Store charges are handled by Apple. Play charges go through Google. Companies handle website charges. None of these routes guarantees a refund. The table below maps each path.
| Where the payment was made | Cancelling | Where to seek a refund | Things to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 within 48 hours, and after that the developer | Uninstalling does not cancel it |
| Website | The app company’s account or support | The app company only | Frequently non-refundable, per My Drama’s terms |
How do I request an Apple refund?
Head to Apple’s Report a Problem page. Use the billed Apple ID to log in. Pick the charge and explain in a few words. Apple’s reply usually comes within 24 to 48 hours. It is Apple that decides, not the app developer. Cancel the pass too, or it renews.
How do refunds work on Google Play?
Timing matters most here. According to Google, you may get a refund within 48 hours of purchase. Go directly through Google Play to request it. When that window is over, contact the developer. ReelShort users are pointed to Profile, then Feedback. If a renewal surprises you, act fast.
What about website purchases?
Those purchases go through the app company. Apple and Google can’t step in there. My Drama’s terms treat web purchases as 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 you pay online.
Is it possible to refund unused coins?
Usually not, and the terms say so. My Drama’s terms call coin purchases final. Unless its own fault makes a product unusable, ShortMax refuses refunds. Requests through the store may help with accidental buys. Buy the smallest coin pack until a series grabs you. Then mistakes cost you less.
Safety and Copycat Apps
Here, name confusion is everywhere. Small unrelated apps turn up after misspellings. A few of the downloads are unsafe. Some sites are copies of big brands. Real names protect your money. Real and fake are sorted out in these answers.
Is Real Short an actual app?
No, we could not find one. Real Short is simply ReelShort misspelled. The same goes for “real short app”, “realshot”, “reel shot” and probably “shot shorts” too. The real name is one word, not two. The seller listed on the App Store is New Leaf Publishing. Make sure of that before downloading.
What exactly are ReelBox, DailyShort and GoldShort TV?
They are small apps, and they are unrelated. Found via “reel box” or “reelbox tv”, ReelBox has 50K+ Android installs. There is no link between it and ReelShort or DramaBox. DailyShort, often typed “daily short”, has 100K+ installs. With 10K+ installs, GoldShort TV is an Android TV app. GoodShort is probably what most searchers mean.
Are ShortTV and ShortMax the same app?
Very likely, though unconfirmed. The legal entity behind ShortMax is SHORTTV LIMITED in Hong Kong. ShortMax’s website redirects to ShortTV’s site. The two launched in September 2023. We could not find an official rename announcement. Unrelated apps also appear when you search “short tv” or “short max”.
Are mod APKs and coin generators safe to use?
No, and not 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 are not official either. What they do is something you cannot verify. Use official stores and websites only.
Why does ReelShort have a low rating on Trustpilot?
ReelShort’s Trustpilot page sits at 1.3 out of 5 from 250 reviews. Being charged after cancelling is a common complaint. Complaints about weekly auto-renewals come up often. Others complain about 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.
