ShortMax: what it is, whether it's free and how to cancel

By the TotalShort team · Updated September 30, 2026

We make TotalShort, a short drama app: we say so wherever it matters. Facts about other apps come from their official App Store and Google Play pages and may change.

In short: ShortMax is a short drama app, vertical mini-series made for your phone, developed by SHORTTV LIMITED. On the App Store it has a 4.6 rating from about 7,200 ratings (Italian storefront, read on 30 September 2026) and a 17+ age rating. It's free to download, but like other apps in this category, finishing series usually takes coins or a subscription; check the details in the app. Deleting ShortMax does not cancel a subscription: on iPhone go to Settings → your name → Subscriptions; on Android, Google Play → Subscriptions. Refunds are requested from Apple or Google.

What is ShortMax?

ShortMax belongs to the family of short drama apps, also known as micro-dramas or vertical dramas: series shot in portrait mode, with short episodes that almost always end on a cliffhanger. For a primer on the format, see what a short drama is.

Here are the figures from ShortMax's official App Store listing, as read on the Italian storefront on 30 September 2026 [1]:

Item	ShortMax
Developer	SHORTTV LIMITED
Average rating	4.6 out of 5
Number of ratings	about 7,200
Age rating	17+
Localized interface	yes (including Italian)

The 17+ rating is the store's content guidance, worth keeping in mind if the app is on a minor's phone. A localized interface, on the other hand, tells you nothing about the language of individual series: audio and subtitles need checking series by series, starting with the first episode.

How do you pay on ShortMax?

We haven't verified the details of ShortMax's own payment model, so we'll stick to what's common across apps in this category, based on their official descriptions: episodes are unlocked with coins bought through in-app purchases, or with a subscription that renews automatically until you cancel. Many apps also offer free ways to keep watching, such as bonuses or ads.

We don't quote prices: they change over time and sometimes by country. The practical advice applies to every app: coin and subscription prices are shown in the app before you pay, in the Apple or Google purchase sheet. Before confirming, check three things:

• the billing period (week, month, year);
• whether the price is an introductory offer, and when it changes;
• whether the subscription renews automatically (in apps like this, it usually does).

Is ShortMax free?

Downloading it is; watching everything for free, generally, is not. Like other short drama apps, ShortMax installs at no cost, but continuing with a series normally requires coins or a subscription. Which episodes are free and how many you can unlock without paying is something to check in the app itself, because the conditions change.

A note for anyone searching "ShortMax free" outside the app: copies of these series uploaded to unofficial sites infringe the rights of the people who made them and can expose you to scams. Legal ways to watch short dramas for free do exist, and we've collected them in our guide to free short dramas.

ShortMax subscription: what to know before you sign up

The subscription is where most questions come from, because it renews on its own. Three rules apply to ShortMax as to any app that bills through the app stores:

1. The store manages the subscription, not the app: Apple if you subscribed on iPhone, Google Play if you subscribed on Android.
2. It renews automatically at the end of each period until you cancel.
3. Deleting the app does not cancel the subscription. You'll keep being charged even if ShortMax is no longer on your phone.

How to cancel a ShortMax subscription

Here's the official way to cancel, depending on your phone.

Cancel ShortMax on iPhone

These are Apple's steps [2]:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap your name at the top.
3. Tap Subscriptions.
4. Select the ShortMax subscription.
5. Tap Cancel Subscription.

If there's no Cancel Subscription button, or an expiration date appears in red, the subscription is already cancelled and there's nothing more to do. If ShortMax doesn't appear in the list, make sure you're signed in with the Apple Account you used to subscribe.

Cancel ShortMax on Android

These are Google Play's steps [3]:

1. Open the Google Play app.
2. Go to Subscriptions.
3. Select the ShortMax subscription.
4. Tap Cancel subscription.
5. Follow the instructions until you've confirmed.

The same account rule applies: the subscription only shows up in the Google account you subscribed with.

What happens after you cancel

Question	Answer
Do I lose access immediately?	No: it stays active until the end of the period you've paid for.
Is deleting the app enough?	No: you have to cancel through the store.
What about coins I've already bought?	Cancelling covers the subscription; coins follow the app's own rules.
Who do I ask for a refund?	Apple or Google Play, not the app.

For the same steps on ReelShort, DramaBox and other apps, see our guide on how to cancel a short drama subscription.

Refunds: how to request one

If you were charged for a renewal you didn't want, refunds for in-app purchases are requested from the store you paid through:

• iPhone: from Apple, at reportaproblem.apple.com;
• Android: from Google Play, following its refund process.

The store reviews the request, not ShortMax. Cancel the subscription before asking for a refund, otherwise it will simply renew again next period.

NetShort and DramaWave at a glance

People looking at ShortMax often compare it with NetShort and DramaWave, two other highly rated short drama apps. Here are the figures from their App Store listings (Italian storefront, read on 30 September 2026) [4]:

App	Developer	Rating (ratings)	Age	Localized interface
ShortMax	SHORTTV LIMITED	4.6 (about 7,200)	17+	yes
NetShort	NETSTORY PTE. LTD.	4.7 (about 15,700)	12+	yes
DramaWave	SKYWORK AI PTE LTD	4.8 (about 22,000)	12+	yes

Broadly speaking, NetShort and DramaWave follow the category's common model too: coins, auto-renewing subscriptions and some free ways to keep watching. Cancelling works the same way, through Apple or Google settings. For a wider comparison, see the best short drama apps.

An Italian alternative: TotalShort

We're TotalShort, and we'll say so plainly: this is our app, so we're not neutral. We offer it as one option among several.

TotalShort publishes Italian short dramas, set in Italy and made with artificial intelligence, clearly labeled "AI Series" on every title. Episodes run about a minute and each series has 12. The first 8 episodes of every series are free, then you get 1 free episode per series per day. If you want to go faster, you can use coins (30 per episode, starting at 150 coins for €0.99 on your first purchase, and they never expire) or VIP at €5.99 a week or €59.99 a year, with no free trial that turns into a charge and cancellation through your store settings.

The honest limit: as of 30 September 2026 the catalog has just 4 series. You can already watch in your browser, and the iPhone and Android app is coming soon. Try episode one of If I Could Do It All Again or browse all series.

Frequently asked questions

Is ShortMax free?

ShortMax is free to download, but like other short drama apps, finishing series usually requires coins or a subscription. How many episodes you can watch without paying, and whether bonuses or ads let you continue, is something to check in the app, since conditions change over time. Avoid sites promising every series for free: they're unofficial copies that infringe copyright and may hide scams.

How do I cancel my ShortMax subscription on iPhone?

Open Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions, select ShortMax and tap Cancel Subscription. If there's no button, or you see an expiration date in red, it's already cancelled. Access continues until the end of the period you've already paid for.

How do I cancel ShortMax on Android?

Open Google Play, go to Subscriptions, select ShortMax, tap Cancel subscription and follow the instructions. Make sure you're using the same Google account you subscribed with, otherwise the subscription won't appear in the list.

Does deleting ShortMax cancel my subscription?

No. Deleting the app does not cancel the subscription, which keeps renewing. To stop the charges you need to cancel through your Apple or Google Play settings.

How much is a ShortMax subscription?

We don't quote figures because we haven't verified them, and prices change over time and by country. The subscription price and billing period appear in the app, in the Apple or Google payment sheet, before you confirm. Always check whether it's an introductory price and whether it renews automatically.

Can I get a refund for a ShortMax subscription?

Refunds for in-app purchases are requested from the store: Apple via reportaproblem.apple.com, or Google Play. The store decides, not the app. Cancel the subscription first so it doesn't renew again.

Who makes ShortMax?

On the App Store the listed developer is SHORTTV LIMITED. The app has a 4.6 rating from about 7,200 ratings and a 17+ age rating (Italian App Store data, read on 30 September 2026).

Sources

1. App Store, ShortMax listing (Italian storefront), read on 30/09/2026.
2. Apple Support, "Cancel a subscription from Apple".
3. Google Play Help, "Cancel, pause or change a subscription on Google Play".
4. App Store, NetShort and DramaWave listings (Italian storefront), read on 30/09/2026.

Want to try an Italian short drama, free, in your browser? Start at the TotalShort home page.