Short drama guides

Straight answers about short dramas and the apps that stream them. Written by the TotalShort team, with facts taken from the app stores and public sources.

• What is a short drama (micro-drama)?
  What is a short drama? Vertical micro-series with 1–2 minute episodes, born in China as duanju. How they work, what they cost and the main apps.
• Free short dramas: legal ways to watch
  How to watch short dramas for free, legally: what is actually free on ReelShort, DramaBox and ShortMax, what costs money, and why to skip pirated copies.
• The best short drama apps in 2026, compared
  The best short drama apps in 2026 compared: ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortMax, NetShort, DramaWave and TotalShort. Ratings, age limits and how you pay.
• ReelShort: what it is, is it free and how it works
  ReelShort explained: what the app is, how coins and the weekly subscription work, what you can watch for free and how to cancel on iPhone or Android.
• DramaBox: what it is, whether it's free and how to cancel
  What DramaBox is and how it works: coins, subscriptions, what you can watch for free, languages, ratings, and how to cancel on iPhone and Android.
• ShortMax: what it is, whether it's free and how to cancel
  What ShortMax is, whether it's free and how its subscription works: step-by-step guide to cancel your ShortMax subscription on iPhone and Android, plus refunds.
• ReelShort vs DramaBox: which short drama app should you choose?
  ReelShort vs DramaBox compared with verified data: App Store rating, 12+ vs 17+ age rating, how you pay, free episodes and revenue, and who each app suits.
• How to cancel a ReelShort, DramaBox or ShortMax subscription (and other short drama apps)
  How to cancel a ShortMax, ReelShort, DramaBox or other short drama app subscription on iPhone and Android, step by step, and how to ask for a refund.