Start ReelShort Stories Now Your Questions Answered

Basic Questions

Every short drama app follows the same simple model. What you watch are bite-size vertical episodes. The first few cost nothing. Later ones take coins or a pass. That divide is the source of most confusion. These five answers are the place to start.

What is a short drama app?

It serves up vertical video designed for phones. Each series is divided into many bite-size episodes. ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortMax and My Drama lead the field. The storylines gravitate toward billionaires, revenge and hidden-identity reveals. Popular too are werewolf romances. The format started out in China, under the name duanju.

How long does each episode run?

Most episodes run one to two minutes. Western shoots often aim for runtimes of 60 to 100 seconds. A series usually has 20 to reelshortwebsite.com/series/brothers-by-chance-lovers-by-choice 100 episodes. ReelShort lists 90 episodes for Married at First Sight. Its hit Double Life series lists 60. A complete series can be as long as a movie.

Why do episodes stop right at cliffhangers?

That is usually where free episodes end. The first 5 to 15 are usually free, according to ReelShort. Industry reports cite 8 to 10. The lock usually fall at peak tension. That very timing is the business model. It is also a top viewer complaint.

Who is behind ReelShort, DramaBox and My Drama?

Crazy Maple Studio in Sunnyvale, California owns ReelShort. China’s COL Group is the backer of 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. October 2025 is when Fox Entertainment took an equity stake. In terms of launch dates, ReelShort arrived in 2022, and DramaBox in 2023.

Can I watch in a browser or on TV?

Yes, though there are limits. On ReelShort’s website, you can sign in with Google, Facebook, Apple, TikTok or email. The app and the site share your progress. Free unlocks work only in the app. There is an Apple TV app for My Drama. We came across no verified ReelShort TV app at all.

Cost

Questions about money come up most often. The figures are US App Store prices as of September 2026. They vary depending on country, platform and promotion. Always start by looking at the price screen. Take each number as approximate. This is what the listings show.

Is ReelShort free?

Partly, and the free portion is real. People searching “is reel short free” or “is reel short app free” want the catch. You get the opening episodes free. Downloading is free. Later ones need coins or a VIP pass. Free coins come from ads and check-ins.

How do coins work?

Coins act as the currency that unlocks episodes. ReelShort’s blog puts an episode at around 60 coins. The smallest pack runs about $4.99 for 500 coins. Bonus coins are added to bigger packs. Two episodes unlock with one rewarded ad. A 7-day check-in streak earns 100+ coins.

Do coins ever expire?

It varies from app to app. Free reward coins usually expire, says ReelShort. Coins you paid for do not run out. My Drama takes a different approach. Its terms forfeit coins after 12 months of inactivity. Keep active and use reward coins first.

What 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. A few apps show cheaper tiers. ShortMax lists a $9.99 tier, and GoodShort’s pricing starts near $5.99. These passes all renew on their own. Overlooking it for four weeks costs four times as much.

Are there any monthly or yearly plans?

Some apps do offer them. A yearly plan appears on ReelShort’s blog at roughly $199.99. Different pages give different monthly prices. That figure is therefore unconfirmed. DramaWave’s listing shows roughly $36.99 a month. In the US, ShortMax shows only weekly passes.

Can I watch without paying anything?

Yes, as long as you are patient. Start with each series’ free first episodes. Use rewarded ads to unlock more. Don’t break your daily check-in streak. ReelShort’s official YouTube, TikTok and Dailymotion channels are a further option. All four combined go furthest.

Subscriptions and Cancelling

A weekly pass keeps renewing until you stop it. That takes by surprise plenty of people. Cancelling takes little time once you know where. Where to cancel depends on how you paid. Stores handle store purchases. Purchases on a website are the company’s to handle.

Does deleting the app cancel the subscription?

No, and this error is common. According to Apple, removing an app does not end its subscription. Google says the same about uninstalling. My Drama’s terms restate that warning. Your pass keeps renewing until you cancel it. Cancel first, delete afterward.

How do I cancel a subscription on iPhone?

Open the Settings app to begin. Tap on your name at the top. Select Subscriptions next. Select the drama app in the list. Tap Cancel and confirm it. Do it a day before renewal to be safe.

How do I cancel on an Android phone?

Begin by opening the Google Play Store app. Then go to your Subscriptions list. There, select the short drama app. Tap Cancel and follow the on-screen prompts. Uninstalling, remember, cancels nothing. Look at the list again to confirm the change.

Is it possible to cancel inside the app?

Sometimes, but going through the store is safer. ShortMax’s terms mention an in-app option under About Subscription. They direct store buyers to App Store or Google Play. Apple and Google control only what they billed. Anyone who bought on the website should contact the company. Keep a screenshot of every cancellation.

Why did I get charged after a free trial?

The wording of trials can confuse. ShortMax’s developer concedes its “free trial” and “24 hours free” labels confused people. Passes renew 24 hours before expiry, its terms say. You pay the same price for the renewal. A day before any trial ends, cancel. Then check that the store shows it as cancelled.

Refunds and Money Back

The refund route depends on who took your money. Play charges are handled by Google. Apple handles App Store charges. Website charges go through the companies. None of these routes guarantees a refund. Each path is mapped in this table.

How do I get an Apple refund?

Begin on Apple’s Report a Problem page. Sign in with the Apple ID that paid. Pick the charge and explain briefly. Apple usually replies within 24 to 48 hours. It is Apple that decides, not the app maker. Cancel the pass as well, or it will renew.

How does a Google Play refund work?

Here, timing matters most. Within 48 hours of purchase, Google says you may get a refund. Request it through Google Play directly. When that window is over, contact the developer. ReelShort sends users to Profile, then Feedback. Move fast if a renewal catches you by surprise.

What about website purchases?

Those go through the app company. Apple and Google cannot help with those. Web purchases are non-refundable except where law requires, according to My Drama’s terms. Its terms give EU and UK users a 14-day withdrawal right. Other companies make their own rules. Before paying online, read the terms.

Is it possible to refund unused coins?

Usually not, and the terms confirm it. My Drama’s terms call coin purchases final. ShortMax declines refunds, unless its own fault renders a product unusable. Requests through the store may help with accidental buys. Until a series grabs you, stick to the smallest pack. That way, mistakes cost less.

Staying Safe from Look-Alike Apps

Confusion over names is everywhere here. Small unrelated apps appear after misspellings. Some sites mimic big brands. A few downloads are not safe. Real names protect your money. These answers sort real from fake.

Is Real Short an app?

No, we could not find one. ReelShort is the correct spelling, and Real Short is a misspelling of it. That applies to “real short app”, “realshot”, “reel shot” and likely “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 are the ReelBox, DailyShort and GoldShort TV apps?

These are small, unrelated apps. ReelBox, located through “reel box” or “reelbox tv”, counts 50K+ Android installs. It is not linked to ReelShort or DramaBox. DailyShort, which people often type as “daily short”, has 100K+ installs. GoldShort TV is an app for Android TV that has 10K+ installs. GoodShort is probably what most searchers mean.

Are ShortTV and ShortMax the same?

Very likely, although it is unconfirmed. ShortMax’s legal entity is SHORTTV LIMITED based in Hong Kong. ShortMax’s website redirects to ShortTV’s site. Both apps arrived in September 2023. No official rename announcement could be found. A search for “short tv” or “short max” also surfaces unrelated apps.

Can mod APKs and coin generators be trusted?

No, and not a single one is official. Modified app copies from outside official stores are what mod APKs are. One DramaBox look-alike calls its download an unofficial modified version. Coin generators are not official either. You cannot check what they do. Stick to official stores and websites.

Why does ReelShort have a low rating on Trustpilot?

From 250 reviews, ReelShort’s Trustpilot page shows 1.3 out of 5. Reviewers frequently complain about charges after cancelling. Complaints about weekly auto-renewals come up often. Coin prices and refused refunds are mentioned by others. What any review site reflects is the people who chose to post. Treat it as a list of things to check, not a verdict.