ReelShort review
One-to-two-minute serial dramas, a few free episodes, then coins or a weekly pass
Edited by Troy · Published
Pick ReelShort if you want one-to-two-minute melodramas and will buy a weekly pass for the series you mean to finish. Skip it if you want to see a price before you pay, are under 18, or mind AI-badged covers and AI voices.
- Best for
- Viewers who binge short melodramas and will budget for a weekly pass
- Pricing
- Free to download with in-app purchases. Episodes unlock with coins or a weekly auto-renewing subscription that unlocks every series; at this review the App Store listing publishes no subscription price and says it varies by region.
- Platforms
- iOS, Android
Overall: Microwaved
0 to 100, lower is better. The overall score is the average of the axes below.
49/100
Prose
Microwaved
48
The founder says AI does not write the stories, and users say most of the stories are the same.
Asks: Does it write like a person?
Memory
Does it remember you? Not scored, since this axis doesn't apply to this app.
Characters
Microwaved
45
Live-action shows come from an in-house studio, but users report AI voices that switch accent mid-episode and reused costumes.
Asks: Does everyone sound the same?
Story
Home-cooked
28
Scripted serials of 70 to 80 episodes plus choose-what-happens shorts, though users say most plots are the same.
Asks: Does anything happen?
Pricing
Cafeteria
64
The weekly auto-renewing pass has no published price and payments are non-refundable, and reviewers price finishing a typical drama with coins at $28.14.
Asks: Does it charge you for caring?
Art
Microwaved
58
The series covers on ReelShort's official site carry an "Ai GENERATE" badge and look like it: airbrushed skin, glowing fantasy light and the same glossy romance-novel faces from the werewolf covers to the mermaid ones. The stars are easy to tell apart and the hands mostly hold up, but nothing about the art looks finished by a human hand.
Asks: Does the art look like a person made it?
Decent
0 to 10, higher is better.
6/10
Users enjoy the minute-long episodes as so-bad-it's-good, and coins run out a few episodes in.
Key facts
| Type | Interactive video |
|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS, Android |
| Pricing at this review | Free to download with in-app purchases. Episodes unlock with coins or a weekly auto-renewing subscription that unlocks every series; at this review the App Store listing publishes no subscription price and says it varies by region. |
| Age rating | 13+ on the App Store; ReelShort's Terms of Use say the service is not for users under 18 |
| Content policy | Mature themes, not explicit |
| Who writes the characters | Written by people |
| Memory | ReelShort streams series, and its listing describes no feature that remembers you. |
| Best for | Viewers who binge short melodramas and will budget for a weekly pass |
Strengths and watch-outs
- The App Store listing promises new mini series daily and hundreds of new episodes a month.
- Episodes run one to two minutes, and reviewers report the first few episodes of a series are free.
- Interactive live-action shorts let you decide what happens next, per the listing.
- One weekly subscription unlocks every series, and reviewers report it is the cheaper way to finish 712 of the 833 dramas they could price.
- The developer says content can be unlocked for free by watching optional ads and completing rewarded tasks.
- The listing publishes no subscription price. The pass renews weekly at a price that varies by region, and the Terms say payments are non-refundable.
- Reviewers report finishing a typical drama with coins costs $28.14, and users on Reddit say ad-earned coins cover about six episodes a day against series of 60 or more.
- Web and direct subscriptions are cancelled from the VIP page, and a Google Play reviewer says billing moved to a website with no cancel option in the app.
- The App Store rates ReelShort 13+, but its Terms say it is not for under-18s, and some series are tagged "Adults Only".
- Series covers carry an "Ai GENERATE" badge, and an App Store reviewer reports AI voices that switch accent mid-episode.
What it is
ReelShort is a streaming app of serial short dramas for iPhone and Android, published on the App Store by NewLeaf Publishing. The App Store listing promises new mini series daily, hundreds of new episodes a month, and interactive live-action shorts where you decide what happens next. Some series on the official site's New Release shelf are tagged "Adults Only", such as The Alpha's Forbidden Bunny.
Reviewers report that episodes run one to two minutes across 70 to 80 episodes a season. They also report around 600 shows produced in-house by Crazy Maple Studio in the US alongside around 4,000 licensed titles, and around 70 million monthly users. Founder Joey Jia credits AI tools with cutting the company's costs by around 90% over the past year or so. He uses AI for pre-vis, sets, backgrounds and compositing, and says he doesn't believe it can write a great story.
What it is like to use
You watch a few episodes free, then pay with coins or a subscription to keep going. Reviewers report that free stretch. The developer adds that content can be unlocked by watching optional ads and completing rewarded tasks. Users on Reddit say ad-earned coins are capped at a handful per 24 hours, about six episodes, against series that typically run 60 or more. They call the shows "slap shows" and watch them as so-bad-it's-good, spotting reused costumes, and one says 90% of the stories are the same.
AI shows up on screen and in the audio. An App Store reviewer says AI voices switch from an American to an English accent in the same episode, with bad pronunciation. The series covers on ReelShort's official site carry an "Ai GENERATE" badge and look like it: airbrushed skin, glowing fantasy light and the same glossy romance-novel faces from the werewolf covers to the mermaid ones. The stars are easy to tell apart and the hands mostly hold up, but nothing about the art looks finished by a human hand.
Pricing at this review
ReelShort is free to download with in-app purchases, and its App Store listing publishes no subscription price. The listing says a subscription unlocks every series, lasts 7 days, renews weekly and costs a price that varies by region. ReelShort's Terms say subscription payments are final and non-refundable except where the Terms specify, and allow one account per device.
To cancel on iOS, go to Settings > iTunes & App Store > Apple ID > View Apple ID > Subscriptions > ReelShort at least 24 hours before renewal. For web or direct subscriptions, the Terms say to log in to your app account, open the VIP page and follow the Subscription Management instructions. A Google Play reviewer says that after one payment through Google Play, billing moved to a website and the app offered no way to cancel.
Users report coin rates ranging from 60 coins an episode, with $10 buying about 1,000 coins or 17 episodes, to $10 buying 500 coins for five or six episodes. One says unused free coins expire after about a week, and a Reddit user said in 2024 the subscription cost $25 a week. Reviewers report that finishing a typical drama with coins costs $28.14, with only 17% of it watchable before payment starts. They also found the one-week pass cheaper for 712 of the 833 dramas they could price. If you mean to finish a series, buy the week pass and cancel at least a day before it renews.
Who should skip it
Skip ReelShort if you are under 18. Its Terms of Use say the service is not for under-18s, even though the App Store rates it 13+ and Google Play rates it "Diverse Content: Discretion Advised". Skip it if you want to see a price before you subscribe, since the listing gives none and payments are non-refundable. Skip it too if AI-badged covers and AI voices put you off, or if you want variety more than volume, since users say most of the stories are the same.
Receipts
Every claim on this page, with the source text we copied and the day we read it. Last checked against the live app on October 5, 2026.
- Receipt 1App store listing
The App Store lists ReelShort as free with in-app purchases and rates it 13+.
"Free · In‑App Purchases · Designed for iPad Age Rating 13+ Years"
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 2App store listing
With an active subscription you can watch all series free; the subscription is valid for 7 days and billed weekly, price varies by region.
"Subscription privileges: While your subscription is active, you can watch all tv mini series for free."
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 3App store listing
The subscription auto-renews weekly, and the actual price may vary by region.
"The subscription is billed weekly. The actual price may vary by region."
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 4App store listing
On iOS, cancel at least 24 hours before renewal via Settings > iTunes & App Store > Apple ID > View Apple ID > Subscriptions > ReelShort.
"On iOS devices, you can cancel your subscription at least 24 hours before the next renewal date by going to Settings > iTunes & App Store > Apple ID > View Apple ID > Subscriptions > ReelShort."
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 5App store listing
The listing promises new mini series daily with hundreds of new episodes monthly, and interactive live-action shorts where you decide what happens next.
"New TV mini series added daily, with hundreds of new episodes each month"
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 6App store listing
The listing claims the first ever interactive live action short movies, where viewers decide what happens next.
"The first ever interactive live action short movies, where you decide what happens next"
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 7App store listing
An App Store reviewer says each episode costs 60 coins, about $10 bought roughly 1000 coins or 17 episodes, and unused free coins expire after about a week.
"Spending 10ish dollars let you watch 17 episodes a 1000ish coins and on average they are around 1 minute and 45 seconds long so roughly about half an hour long of entertainment."
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 8App store listing
The developer replies that the app is free to use and content can be unlocked by watching optional ads and completing rewarded tasks.
"Hi, it's free to use. You can unlock content by watching optional ads, completing rewarded tasks. No payment is ever required."
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 9App store listing
The App Store shows 505K ratings; the developer is NewLeaf Publishing.
"505K Ratings ## More by NewLeaf Publishing"
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 10Official site
The official site's New Release shelf tags some series "Adults Only", such as The Alpha's Forbidden Bunny.
"LGBTQ ｜ Adults Only ｜ Werewolf"
www.reelshort.com, retrieved
- Receipt 11App store listing
An App Store reviewer says AI voices switch from an American to an English accent in the same episode and pronunciation can be bad.
"AI voices change as in an American accent to an English accent in the same episode. and pronunciation of words can be bad at times."
apps.apple.com, retrieved
- Receipt 12Reviewer
Reviewers report (Variety, Aug 2026) that Media Partners Asia projects ReelShort will generate $1.05 billion in 2026 revenue, up 34%, with its first meaningful profit at scale.
"projects that leading microdrama platform ReelShort will generate $1.05 billion in revenue in 2026, up 34%, and post its first meaningful profit at scale"
variety.com, retrieved
- Receipt 13Reviewer
Variety reports that subscriptions already make up 60% to 70% of viewer spend, per MPA.
"with subscriptions already making up 60% to 70% of viewer spend"
variety.com, retrieved
- Receipt 14Reviewer
Deadline reports episodes run one to two minutes across 70-80 episodes per season, with the first few episodes free.
"with stories told in one to two minute episodes across 70-80 episodes per season. While the first few episodes are delivered free to hook the viewer"
deadline.com, retrieved
- Receipt 15Reviewer
Deadline reports around 600 shows produced in-house by Crazy Maple Studio in the US and around 4,000 licensed titles.
"the platform currently offers around 600 shows that have been produced in-house by Crazy Maple Studio in the U.S., while around 4,000 titles have been licensed"
deadline.com, retrieved
- Receipt 16Reviewer
Deadline reports founder Joey Jia says AI tools cut the company's costs by around 90% over the past year or so.
"over the past year or so, using AI tools has enabled the company to reduce costs by around 90%"
deadline.com, retrieved
- Receipt 17Reviewer
Jia told Deadline he doesn't believe AI can write a great story but uses it for pre-vis, sets, backgrounds and compositing.
"I don't believe AI can write a great story. But it can help us with pre-vis, creating sets, background, compositing"
deadline.com, retrieved
- Receipt 18Reviewer
Deadline reports around 70 million monthly active users globally and more than 286 million app downloads.
"around 70 million monthly active users globally and more than 286 million app downloads"
deadline.com, retrieved
- Receipt 19Reviewer
A GASP dataset (press release, Oct 5 2026) reports finishing a typical ReelShort drama costs $28.14 with coins, and only 17% can be watched before payment starts.
"Finishing a typical drama on ReelShort costs $28.14 when paid for episode by episode with coins, and only 17% of a typical drama can be watched before payment starts"
tech.einnews.com, retrieved
- Receipt 20Reviewer
GASP reports a one-week pass is the cheaper way to finish 712 of the 833 ReelShort dramas it could price.
"a one-week pass is the cheaper way to finish 712 of the 833 ReelShort dramas that could be priced"
tech.einnews.com, retrieved
- Receipt 21Reviewer
GASP reports DramaBox passed ReelShort in US Google searches, 110,000 vs 90,500 a month in August 2026.
"more people in the United States now search Google for DramaBox than for ReelShort: 110,000 searches against 90,500 in August 2026"
tech.einnews.com, retrieved
- Receipt 22App store listing
Google Play rates ReelShort "Diverse Content: Discretion Advised" with in-app purchases.
"Diverse Content: Discretion Advised In-App Purchases"
play.google.com, retrieved
- Receipt 23App store listing
Google Play's data safety section says no data is shared with third parties, the app may collect location and personal info, data is encrypted in transit and deletion can be requested.
"This app may collect these data types Location and Personal info Data is encrypted in transit You can request that data be deleted"
play.google.com, retrieved
- Receipt 24App store listing
Google Play shows 1.91M reviews; the app was updated Sep 22, 2026.
"Updated on Sep 22, 2026"
play.google.com, retrieved
- Receipt 25App store listing
A Play Store reviewer says after paying once through Google Play, billing moves to a website and the subscription is almost impossible to cancel, with no cancel option in the app.
"once you pay the first time with Google play they change to a website and make almost impossible to cancel the subscription. There is not option in the app to cancel the subscription."
play.google.com, retrieved
- Receipt 26Forum
Users on Reddit say ad-earned coins are capped to a handful per 24 hours, about 6 episodes, while series typically run 60+ episodes, and $10 buys 500 coins lasting 5-6 episodes.
"you can only watch a handful every 24 hour period and that equates to around 6 episodes of a series - given series are typically 60+ episodes minimum"
www.reddit.com, retrieved
- Receipt 27Forum
A Reddit user said in 2024 that ReelShort charged $25 a week for a subscription.
"Them charging $25 a week for a subscription is CRIMINAL"
www.reddit.com, retrieved
- Receipt 28Forum
A Reddit user says 90% of the stories are the same and they spent $30 to finish one.
"10% of the stories are good but the other 90%is the same stories. I watched one today all the way thru and spent $30 for one storey."
www.reddit.com, retrieved
- Receipt 29Forum
Users on Reddit call them "slap shows" and enjoy them as so-bad-it's-good, spotting reused costumes.
"I call them my 'slap shows'. You can always tell the good girl by the hideous shoes. I like spotting reused costumes too."
www.reddit.com, retrieved
- Receipt 30Official site
ReelShort's Terms of Use (updated October 20, 2025) say the service is not for users under 18, though the App Store rates it 13+.
"The Service is strictly for consumers and not for use by users under 18 years of age."
www.reelshort.com, retrieved
- Receipt 31Official site
For web/direct subscriptions, the Terms say to cancel by logging in to your app account, going to the VIP page and following the Subscription Management instructions.
"To cancel, simply log in to your app account, go to the VIP page, and follow the clearly displayed Subscription Management instructions."
www.reelshort.com, retrieved
- Receipt 32Official site
The Terms say subscription payments are final and non-refundable except where the Terms specify.
"any payments you make to Crazy Maple Studio in relation to your subscriptions are final and non-refundable, except where specified under these Terms of Use"
www.reelshort.com, retrieved
- Receipt 33Official site
The Terms allow a maximum of one account per device.
"Each user of the Service is allowed a maximum of one Account per electronic device embedding a mobile operating system"
www.reelshort.com, retrieved
- Receipt 34Reviewer
On July 14, 2026, ReelShort and WWE announced a live-action microdrama featuring Drew McIntyre, Jacob Fatu and Joe Hendry alongside ReelShort stars Marc Herrmann and Chase Mattson, expected to premiere in early fall.
"The first series will feature WWE Superstars Drew McIntyre, Jacob Fatu and Joe Hendry, among others, alongside fan-favorite ReelShort stars Marc Herrmann and Chase Mattson."
corporate.wwe.com, retrieved
- Receipt 35Official site
A ReelShort official site image, judged for the art score, shows the text "Ai GENERATE".
"Ai GENERATE"
v-img.crazymaplestudios.com, retrieved
- Receipt 36Official site
A ReelShort official site image, judged for the art score, shows the text "Spoiled by Four Sea Monster Husbands".
"Spoiled by Four Sea Monster Husbands"
v-img.crazymaplestudios.com, retrieved
- Receipt 37Official site
A ReelShort official site image, judged for the art score, shows the text "A Marriage Deal with the Billionaire".
"A Marriage Deal with the Billionaire"
v-img.crazymaplestudios.com, retrieved
- Receipt 38Official site
The ReelShort official site page with art judged for the score says "Caelon, the hidden king of the ocean, disguises himself as a homeless merman while investigating a traitor.".
"Caelon, the hidden king of the ocean, disguises himself as a homeless merman while investigating a traitor."
www.reelshort.com, retrieved
Questions people ask
Is ReelShort free?
ReelShort is free to download, but most of a series costs coins or a subscription. Reviewers report the first few episodes are free, and the developer says more can be unlocked by watching optional ads and completing rewarded tasks. A weekly subscription unlocks every series at a price that varies by region at this review.
How do I cancel a ReelShort subscription?
On iOS, go to Settings > iTunes & App Store > Apple ID > View Apple ID > Subscriptions > ReelShort at least 24 hours before renewal. For web or direct subscriptions, ReelShort's Terms say to log in to your app account, open the VIP page and follow the Subscription Management instructions. The Terms also say subscription payments are non-refundable except where the Terms specify.
How much does ReelShort cost?
ReelShort's App Store listing gives no subscription price at this review. It says the pass lasts 7 days, renews weekly and varies by region. Users report $10 buying anywhere from 500 coins for five or six episodes to about 1,000 coins for 17, and one Reddit user said the subscription cost $25 a week in 2024. Reviewers put the coin cost of finishing a typical drama at $28.14.
Is ReelShort AI?
Partly. Reviewers report founder Joey Jia says AI tools cut the company's costs by around 90% and are used for pre-vis, sets, backgrounds and compositing, though he doesn't believe AI can write a great story. The series covers on the official site carry an "Ai GENERATE" badge, and an App Store reviewer reports AI voices switching accent within an episode.
Is ReelShort OK for teens?
Officially, no. ReelShort's Terms of Use say the service is not for users under 18, even though the App Store rates it 13+ and Google Play rates it "Diverse Content: Discretion Advised". Some series on the official site are tagged "Adults Only".
How many shows are on ReelShort?
Reviewers report around 600 shows produced in-house by Crazy Maple Studio in the US, plus around 4,000 licensed titles. The App Store listing promises new mini series daily and hundreds of new episodes a month.
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