Source-backed analysis6
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
6 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 11, 2026
How we review
Melolo Review
Free, ad-supported vertical short drama app with optional auto-renewing subscriptions
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Fact-checked
- iOS
- Android
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
Suits viewers who want vertical short dramas without paying upfront and can tolerate ads. The trade-offs: only four interface languages on the App Store, unclear published subscription prices and a broad data policy.
Best for: Short drama viewers who want to watch for free before deciding to pay
Skip it if: People who need a multilingual interface (the App Store lists only 4 languages)
Pros
- Free to watch; the official site says "100% free"
- Episode downloads for offline viewing (per the Google Play description)
- High store ratings: 4.8/5 from about 3.62M reviews on Google Play
Cons
- Ads plus auto-renewing subscriptions; fees are non-refundable under the terms
- Subscription prices on the App Store use an unclear currency notation
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
More pros
- Regular updates; version 5.5.2 shipped 5 Nov 2026
More cons
- The App Store lists only 4 interface languages: English, Indonesian, Portuguese and Spanish
- The privacy policy allows data use for model training and sharing within the corporate group
Best for
- Viewers who want Tagalog dubbing, which the Google Play description highlights as voiced by real actors
Skip it if
- People who object to viewing data being used for ads and model training and shared within a corporate group
Experience & key features
What Melolo is
Melolo is a vertical short drama app for Android and iOS, operated by Poligon Pte. Ltd. of Singapore. The official site calls it a "100% free short drama app" covering romance, revenge and fantasy. The privacy policy gives a data protection officer email on the bytedance.com domain, which points to a link with ByteDance.
The Google Play description cites thousands of dramas, original series, daily updates, offline downloads and Tagalog dubbing. It also claims over 200 million downloads and users, while the Play page itself shows 100M+ downloads.
Pricing and value
Viewing is free with ads. The terms of service also describe "Premium Services" billed weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually through Apple or Google Play, renewing automatically. Fees are non-refundable unless law or Apple's or Google's policy provides otherwise. The Vietnam App Store listing writes prices with an unclear "$R" notation, so no figures are quoted.
Data and advertising
The privacy policy says user data feeds personalised advertising, product improvement and model training. It also says coin rewards for advertising tasks are calculated from account activity, so amounts can differ between users. The terms require users to be 18 or older; the App Store rates the app 18+, while Google Play shows 12+.
More analysis
Versus alternatives
DramaBox, ReelShort and PineDrama are also vertical short drama apps. Melolo leads with free viewing, but each app handles charges and ads differently, so compare before choosing. On the App Store, Melolo lists only 4 interface languages.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 11, 2026
Free
PersonalFree
The official site calls Melolo a "100% free short drama app". The App Store listing says the app contains ads, and the privacy policy mentions virtual coin rewards for advertising tasks.
Auto-Renewal Subscription (weekly / monthly / quarterly / annual)
PersonalContact sales
In-app purchase through Apple or Google Play, auto-renewing weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually. The Vietnam App Store description writes prices with an unclear "$R" notation (for example 22.9$R/month), so no figure is listed here.
- Free plan limits
- The terms of service split the service into free parts and paid "Premium Services"; the official pages do not say which episodes fall into which group. The terms also mention occasional free or discounted trials with no fixed length.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
Per the terms of service, subscription fees are non-refundable unless applicable law or Apple's or Google's refund policy says otherwise. Cancel in Apple or Google Play settings at least 24 hours before renewal.
Privacy
The privacy policy (effective 14 Sep 2026) names Poligon Pte. Ltd. as data controller. It collects account details, age, device data, approximate location from IP, viewing and search history, and may infer preferences, age range and gender. Data is used for personalisation, advertising, product improvement and model training; it is shared within the corporate group, in limited form with advertisers and ad networks, and may be stored on servers in Malaysia. The developer-declared App Store label lists Identifiers as used to track you, while the Google Play Data safety section says no data is shared with third parties.
Melolo alternatives
6.4/10PineDrama
TikTok's vertical short-drama app: free to install, 1–3 minute episodes, TikTok login
6.3/10DramaWave
Vertical short-drama app: free with ads, locked episodes need coins or VIP
Controversies & incidents
Issues documented by the press, regulators, courts or the vendor itself. Every item is sourced; unproven claims are labelled as allegations. Last researched: Nov 11, 2026
- Low impactConfirmedOther ·
Ad-task coin rewards may differ between users
Melolo's privacy policy says coin rewards for advertising tasks are calculated from account activity and may vary between users.
Read the full account
Per the privacy policy (effective 14 Sep 2026), the app may use account activity, device and network signals and risk indicators to calculate or adjust coin rewards for advertising tasks. The policy says amounts can differ between users and between sessions for the same user. This is the developer's own disclosure; no related complaint or ruling was found in the sources opened.
Sources:Melolo Privacy Policy
Frequently asked questions
Is Melolo free?
The official site says "100% free" and the app shows ads. The terms still describe an auto-renewing paid plan, so some content or features may require a subscription.
Who runs Melolo?
Poligon Pte. Ltd., based in Singapore. The privacy policy lists a DPO email on the bytedance.com domain.
Do the terms cover users in Vietnam?
Yes. The terms of service include a supplement for users in Vietnam (section 11.3), and the English text prevails over the Vietnamese one if they differ.
How do I cancel a subscription?
Cancel in Apple or Google Play settings at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Access continues until the end of the paid period.
Review evidence & sources6
Scores
- Ease of use
- 7.0
- Features
- 6.5
- Value for money
- 7.0
- Performance
- 6.5
- Support
- 5.5
- Privacy & security
- 5.5
Why this score
Swipe-based viewing, built-in subtitles and automatic full-screen per the App Store description. Held back by only four interface languages listed on the App Store.
Why this score
Short drama library across genres, originals, offline downloads and personalised recommendations. Little beyond viewing.
Why this score
Free with ads. The subscription has four billing cycles, but published prices are hard to verify and fees are non-refundable.
Why this score
Based only on store scores (4.8 Google Play, 4.9 App Store) and update cadence. Some recent Google Play reviews report downloaded episodes disappearing; no independent source measures speed or stability.
Why this score
Email ([email protected]), in-app feedback (Profile > Help&Feedback, per the developer's Google Play replies) and policy pages. No live chat or dedicated help center was found, and replies to Google Play reviews are largely templated.
Why this score
Broad collection (device, approximate location, viewing history, inferred traits), model-training use, sharing within the group and with ad partners, and cross-border transfers. Google Play lists encryption in transit and deletion on request.
What users say
- App Store (Vietnam)4.9/5 · 556
- Google Play4.8/5 · 3,620,000
Sources
- Vendor-providedMelolo official websiteNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedMelolo Privacy PolicyNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedMelolo Terms of ServiceNov 11, 2026
- storeApp Store listing (Vietnam)Nov 11, 2026
- storeiTunes lookup data (Vietnam)Nov 11, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listingNov 11, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- Poligon Pte. Ltd.
- Headquarters
- Singapore
- Launched
- 2025
- Category
- Entertainment
Capabilities
- Mobile app
- Works offline
Platforms
- iOS
- Android
Interface languages
- English
- Indonesian
- Portuguese
- Spanish
Support
- Help center
Change history
- Feature.Version 5.5.2 released on the App Store; Google Play shows an update the same day.
- Update.Current privacy policy took effect.
- Update.Terms of service updated (marked "Last update: January 2026").
Full change history (4)
- Launch.App released on the App Store as "Melolo - Short Movie & TV" (release date per iTunes lookup data).
About the author
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