Start ReelShort Episodes Now Micro Drama Roundup

Getting Started

Every short drama app follows the same simple model. What you watch are very short vertical episodes. The first few come free. Later ones need coins or a pass. That split is the root of most confusion. Begin with these five answers.

What is a short drama app, exactly?

It is an app that plays vertical video made reelshorts app for phones. Each series arrives as many tiny episodes. The leaders are ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortMax and My Drama. Storylines tend to favor billionaires, revenge and hidden-identity reveals. Werewolf romances are likewise popular. The format first appeared in China, where it is called duanju.

How long does each episode run?

One to two minutes is the norm for most. Shoots in the West often target 60 to 100 seconds. There are usually 20 to 100 episodes in a series. For Married at First Sight, ReelShort lists 90. Its hit Double Life series lists 60. In length, a full series can rival a movie.

Why do episodes cut off at cliffhangers?

Usually, that is where the free episodes run out. According to ReelShort, its first 5 to 15 are usually free. Industry reports cite 8 to 10. The moment of peak tension is where the lock tends to land. That timing is exactly the business model. Viewers also rank it among their top complaints.

Who are the owners of ReelShort, DramaBox and My Drama?

The owner of ReelShort is Crazy Maple Studio based in Sunnyvale, California. China’s COL Group stands behind that studio. Running DramaBox is Singapore’s StoryMatrix, which is part of Beijing Dianzhong Technology. My Drama is made by Holywater, a company founded in Kyiv in 2020. Fox Entertainment took an equity stake in October 2025. ReelShort launched in 2022, DramaBox in 2023.

Can I watch in a browser or on TV?

Yes, but with limits. My Drama has a dedicated Apple TV app. No verified ReelShort TV app turned up in our search. ReelShort’s website lets you sign in through Google, Facebook, Apple, TikTok or email. Progress carries over to and from the app. Free unlocks are possible only in the app.

Costs

The most frequent questions are about money. All figures reflect US App Store prices as of September 2026. They differ according to country, platform and promotion. Each number is best read as approximate. Always start by checking the price screen. Here is what listings show.

Is ReelShort actually free?

Partly, and the free part is genuinely free. People searching “is reel short free” or “is reel short app free” are looking for the catch. Opening episodes cost nothing. It costs nothing to download. Later episodes require coins or a VIP pass. You can earn free coins through ads and check-ins.

How do coins work?

The currency that unlocks episodes is coins. ReelShort’s blog puts an episode at about 60 coins. For roughly $4.99, the smallest coin pack gives you 500 coins. Bigger packs throw in extra coins. One rewarded ad unlocks two episodes. Keeping a 7-day check-in streak earns 100+ coins.

Can coins expire?

It varies from app to app. ReelShort says free reward coins usually expire. The coins you paid for do not expire. My Drama works differently. Its terms say coins are forfeited after 12 months of inactivity. Use reward coins first, and stay active.

How much does a weekly pass cost?

The typical US price is about $19.99 a week. You will see it listed by ReelShort, ShortMax, DramaWave, GoodShort and My Drama. A few apps show cheaper options. GoodShort starts around $5.99, and ShortMax lists $9.99. These passes all renew on their own. Overlooking it for four weeks costs four times as much.

Are there any monthly or yearly plans?

A few apps offer them. A yearly plan appears on ReelShort’s blog at about $199.99. Its monthly price varies between pages. That figure is therefore unconfirmed. DramaWave shows a monthly price of roughly $36.99. ShortMax displays only weekly passes in the US.

Can I watch without paying?

Yes, as long as you are patient. Begin with each series’ free first episodes. Unlock more by watching rewarded ads. Don’t break your daily check-in streak. There are also official ReelShort channels on YouTube, TikTok and Dailymotion. Using all four together goes furthest.

Subscriptions and How to Cancel

Until you stop them, weekly passes keep renewing. Many people do not expect that. Once you know where to go, cancelling is quick. Where you cancel depends on how you paid. Purchases made in a store are cancelled by that store. Each company handles purchases made on its website.

Will deleting the app cancel my subscription?

No, and it is a common mistake. Deleting an app does not end its subscription, according to Apple. The same goes for uninstalling, according to Google. That warning is repeated in My Drama’s terms. Until you cancel, the pass keeps renewing. Cancel first, delete afterward.

How do I cancel on iPhone?

To start, open the Settings app. Tap your name at the top. Next, select Subscriptions. Pick the drama app. Tap Cancel and then confirm it. For safety, act a day before renewal.

How do I cancel a subscription on Android?

Open the Google Play Store app. Next, go to your Subscriptions list. Select the short drama app there. Tap Cancel and work through the prompts. Keep in mind that uninstalling does not cancel anything. Recheck the list to make sure of the change.

Can I cancel from inside the app?

Sometimes, but going through the store is safer. ShortMax’s terms refer to an in-app option under About Subscription. For store buyers, they point to App Store or Google Play. Only what Apple and Google billed is under their control. If you bought on the website, 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 developer concedes its “free trial” and “24 hours free” labels confused people. Under its terms, passes renew 24 hours before they expire. You pay the same price for the renewal. Cancel one day before any trial runs out. Afterward, check that the store shows it cancelled.

Refund Questions

How refunds work depends on who took your money. Google deals with Play charges. Apple deals with App Store charges. Website charges go through the companies. No route guarantees a refund. The table below maps each path.

How do I get a refund from Apple?

Begin on Apple’s Report a Problem page. Log in using the Apple ID that was charged. Select the charge and give a brief explanation. Apple’s reply usually arrives within 24 to 48 hours. Apple, not the app maker, decides. Remember to cancel the pass too, or it will renew.

How do Google Play refunds work?

What matters most here is timing. Within 48 hours of purchase, you may get a refund, according to Google. Go directly through Google Play to request it. After that window closes, contact the developer. ReelShort points users to Profile, then Feedback. Move fast when a renewal catches you by surprise.

What about purchases made on a website?

The app company handles those. Apple and Google cannot step in there. Web purchases are non-refundable except where law requires, My Drama’s terms say. EU and UK users get a 14-day withdrawal right under its terms. Each other company sets its own rules. Before paying online, read the terms.

Can unused coins be refunded?

Usually not, as the terms state. My Drama’s terms treat coin purchases as final. ShortMax turns down refunds unless its own fault makes a product unusable. Store requests may help with accidental purchases. Until a series hooks you, buy the smallest bundle. Any mistakes then cost less.

Look-Alike Apps and Safety

Name mix-ups are everywhere here. Small unrelated apps appear after misspellings. A handful of downloads are unsafe. Certain sites imitate big brands. Sticking to real names protects your money. The answers below sort real from fake.

Is Real Short an app?

No, not that we could locate. Real Short is a misspelled version of ReelShort. So are “real short app”, “realshot”, “reel shot” and probably “shot shorts” too. The real name is one word, not two. The seller shown on the App Store is New Leaf Publishing. Before downloading, verify that.

What are the ReelBox, DailyShort and GoldShort TV apps?

They are small apps, and they are unrelated. Found via “reel box” or “reelbox tv”, ReelBox has 50K+ Android installs. It has nothing to do with ReelShort or DramaBox. DailyShort, often typed “daily short”, counts 100K+ installs. GoldShort TV is an Android TV app that has 10K+ installs. Most searchers probably mean GoodShort.

Is ShortTV the same as ShortMax?

Very likely, though it remains unconfirmed. SHORTTV LIMITED in Hong Kong is ShortMax’s legal entity. Its website sends visitors on to ShortTV’s site. Both debuted in September 2023. We saw no official rename announcement. A search for “short tv” or “short max” also surfaces unrelated apps.

Are mod APKs and coin generators safe?

No, and not one is official. A mod APK is an altered app copy from outside official stores. One DramaBox look-alike describes its download as an unofficial modified version. Coin generators are also unofficial. You cannot check what they actually do. Only use official stores and websites.

Why is ReelShort rated so low on Trustpilot?

ReelShort’s Trustpilot page shows 1.3 out of 5 from 250 reviews. Reviewers frequently complain about charges after cancelling. Complaints about weekly auto-renewals come up often. Coin prices and denied 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 verdict.