Basics
Short drama apps run on one simple model. Very short vertical episodes are what you watch. The first few cost nothing. Beyond those, episodes cost coins or a pass. Most confusion stems from that split. These five answers are the place to start.
What is a short drama app?
Vertical video made for phones is what it streams. Each series arrives as https://vertical-micro-drama.com/ many tiny episodes. ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortMax and My Drama are the leading apps. Billionaires, revenge and identity reveals are popular plot ingredients. Well liked too are werewolf romances. China is where the format started, as duanju.
How long does an episode last?
Most come in at one to two minutes. Productions in the West often target 60 to 100 seconds. Usually, a series runs to 20 to 100 episodes. For Married at First Sight, ReelShort lists 90. ReelShort’s hit Double Life series lists 60. In length, a full series can rival a movie.
Why do episodes stop at cliffhangers?
That is usually the point where free episodes end. The first 5 to 15 are usually free, according to ReelShort. Industry reports cite 8 to 10. The paywall tends to land at peak tension. That timing is the business model. It is also one of the top complaints from viewers.
Who are the owners of 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 StoryMatrix of Singapore, itself part of Beijing Dianzhong Technology. Behind My Drama is Holywater, set up in Kyiv in 2020. October 2025 is when Fox Entertainment acquired an equity stake. ReelShort debuted in 2022, and DramaBox followed in 2023.
Can I watch on a browser or a TV?
Yes, within limits. Google, Facebook, Apple, TikTok and email logins all work on ReelShort’s website. Your progress stays in sync with the app. Free unlocks are possible only in the app. My Drama has an Apple TV app. We came across no verified ReelShort TV app at all.
Cost
Money questions come up most often. All figures reflect US App Store prices as of September 2026. They vary depending on country, platform and promotion. Check the pricing screen first, every time. Take every number as approximate. The listings show the following.
Is ReelShort free to use?
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. You get the opening episodes free. It costs nothing to download. For later ones, you need coins or a VIP pass. Free coins come from ads and check-ins.
How do coins work?
Coins are the in-app currency that unlocks episodes. According to ReelShort’s blog, an episode costs about 60 coins. The smallest pack costs roughly $4.99 for 500 coins. Larger packs tack on extra coins. A 7-day check-in streak earns 100+ coins. Watching one rewarded ad unlocks two episodes.
Do the coins expire?
It depends from app to app. According to ReelShort, free reward coins usually expire. The coins you paid for do not expire. My Drama handles coins differently. Under its terms, coins are forfeited after 12 months of inactivity. Stay active and spend reward coins first.
How much does a weekly pass cost?
The typical price in the US is about $19.99 a week. That price appears on ReelShort, ShortMax, DramaWave, GoodShort and My Drama. Cheaper tiers show up in some apps. GoodShort starts around $5.99, and ShortMax lists $9.99. Every one of these passes renews automatically. Overlooking it for four weeks costs four times as much.
Are there monthly or yearly plans?
A few apps offer them. ReelShort’s blog prices a yearly plan at around $199.99. Its monthly price is not the same on every page. So that figure is unconfirmed. DramaWave’s listing shows about $36.99 a month. In the US, ShortMax lists weekly passes only.
Can I watch for free, without paying?
Yes, provided you are patient. Each series’ free opening episodes are the place to start. Watch rewarded ads to open up more. Keep a daily check-in streak alive. ReelShort’s official YouTube, TikTok and Dailymotion channels are a further option. All four combined go furthest.
Managing and Cancelling Subscriptions
Weekly passes keep renewing until you stop them. That comes as a surprise to plenty of people. Once you know where to go, cancelling is quick. Where to cancel depends on how you paid. Stores cancel store purchases. Purchases on a website are the company’s to handle.
Will deleting the app cancel my subscription?
No, and it is a common mistake. Apple states that 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, and then delete.
How can I cancel on iPhone?
Begin by opening the Settings app. Tap on your name at the top. Choose Subscriptions next. Select the drama app. Tap Cancel, then confirm. For safety, act a day before the renewal date.
How do I cancel a subscription on Android?
Begin by opening the Google Play Store app. Find your Subscriptions list. Select the drama app in that list. Tap Cancel, then follow the prompts. Uninstalling, remember, cancels nothing. Check the list once more to confirm the change.
Can I cancel within the app?
Sometimes, but the store route is safer. An in-app option under About Subscription is described in ShortMax’s terms. Store buyers are pointed to App Store or Google Play. Apple and Google can only control what they billed. Website buyers should contact the company. Screenshot each and every cancellation.
Why did I get charged after a free trial?
The way trials are worded can be confusing. ShortMax’s “free trial” and “24 hours free” labels confused people, its developer acknowledges. Under its terms, passes renew 24 hours before they expire. The renewal comes at the same price. Cancel a day before any trial runs out. After that, confirm the store shows it cancelled.
Refunds
Who took your money decides the refund route. Google handles Play charges. App Store charges are handled by Apple. Website charges go through the companies. None of these routes guarantees a refund. Each path is mapped in this table.
| Where the payment was made | How to cancel | Where to seek a refund | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone (App Store) | Settings, your name, Subscriptions, Cancel | Apple’s Report a Problem site | Deleting the app does not cancel |
| Android (Google Play) | Google Play, Subscriptions, Cancel | Google in the first 48 hours, then the developer | Uninstalling alone 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?
Begin on Apple’s Report a Problem page. Sign in with the billed Apple ID. Choose the charge, then explain briefly. Within 24 to 48 hours, Apple usually replies. It is Apple that decides, not the app developer. Also cancel the pass, or it renews.
How do refunds work on Google Play?
Timing is key here. According to Google, you may get a refund within 48 hours of purchase. Ask for it directly through Google Play. Once that window closes, contact the developer. ReelShort tells users to go to Profile, then Feedback. Act fast when a renewal surprises you.
What happens with website purchases?
The app company handles those. Apple and Google cannot help with those. My Drama’s terms label web purchases non-refundable except where law requires. Its terms give EU and UK users a 14-day withdrawal right. Each other company sets its own rules. Before paying online, read the terms.
Can unused coins be refunded?
Usually not, as the terms say. Under My Drama’s terms, coin purchases are final. Unless its own fault makes a product unusable, ShortMax declines refunds. With accidental buys, a store request may help. Buy the smallest bundle until a series hooks you. Mistakes then set you back less.
Staying Safe from Look-Alike Apps
Confusion over names is everywhere here. Misspelled names send you to minor unrelated apps. A few of the downloads are unsafe. Some sites mimic well-known brands. Real names safeguard your money. Real and fake are sorted out in these answers.
Is Real Short an actual app?
No, not that we found. ReelShort is the correct spelling, and Real Short is a misspelling of it. So are “real short app”, “realshot”, “reel shot” and probably “shot shorts” too. The real name is one word, not two. On the App Store, its seller is New Leaf Publishing. Check that before you download.
What exactly are ReelBox, DailyShort and GoldShort TV?
These 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. DailyShort, often typed “daily short”, shows 100K+ installs. GoldShort TV is an app for Android TV that has 10K+ installs. Most searchers probably mean GoodShort.
Are ShortTV and ShortMax the same app?
Very likely, although it is unconfirmed. SHORTTV LIMITED in Hong Kong is ShortMax’s legal entity. Visitors to its website land on ShortTV’s site. Both apps arrived in September 2023. We found no official rename announcement. Unrelated apps also appear when you search “short tv” or “short max”.
Are mod APKs and coin generators safe?
No, and none of them 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 unofficial too. There is no way for you to verify what they do. Stick to official stores and websites.
Why is ReelShort rated low on Trustpilot?
ReelShort’s Trustpilot page shows 1.3 out of 5 from 250 reviews. Charges after cancelling are a common complaint. Weekly auto-renewals are mentioned often. Coin prices and refused refunds are mentioned by others. Any review site reflects the people who chose to post. Read it as a list of things to check, not a final verdict.