Source-backed analysis9
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.
9 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
ReelShort Review
English-language vertical drama app: free to install, unlock with coins, ads or VIP
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- iOS
- Android
- Web
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
ReelShort suits viewers who like English-language vertical dramas built on familiar tropes such as billionaires, werewolves and hidden identities, and who accept coins or ads to unlock episodes. The trade-offs are high pricing (weekly plans of 199,000-249,000 ₫ on the Vietnam App Store), non-refundable fees and data sharing with ad partners.
Best for: Fans of English-language vertical drama with familiar genre tropes
Skip it if: Viewers who want long-form, high-production content
Pros
- Very high Vietnam App Store rating: 4.8/5 from about 31,000 ratings
- Over 100 million Google Play installs; the App Store lists 22 interface languages (including English, Vietnamese, Japanese)
- Original titles (Reel Original), interactive stories and the ReelTalk podcast, also watchable on the web
Cons
- Noticeably lower Google Play rating: 4.1/5
- Subscription and virtual-currency fees are non-refundable under the terms
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Cons
- Many subscription price items on the App Store with no clear explanation
- Wikipedia notes criticism of low production values
Best for
- People who want to try free episodes before deciding to pay
Skip it if
- Anyone who wants fixed, refundable pricing
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
ReelShort is a vertical short-drama platform from Crazy Maple Studio in the US. Per Wikipedia, it was founded in August 2022 to bring duanju, a Chinese short-drama format, to international audiences, and Beijing-based COL Group owns part of Crazy Maple Studio. On the App Store and Google Play the app is published as NewLeaf Publishing. Besides the iOS and Android apps, there is a web player.
The homepage groups titles under tags such as Werewolf, Billionaire, Royalty, Fantasy and Hidden Identity, with shelves for Reel Original, ReelShort Interactives and the ReelTalk podcast. The Google Play description says episodes run about one minute and that interactive stories let viewers choose what happens next. Episodes unlock with coins, ads or a VIP subscription.
Pricing and value
The Vietnam App Store lists several subscription items: Weekly Subscription at 199,000 ₫ and 249,000 ₫, Subscription at 149,000 ₫ and 299,000 ₫, Subscription with AD at 149,000 ₫, plus one-time purchases of 29,000 ₫ and 59,000 ₫. The page does not explain the differences. Kept for a month, a weekly plan costs over 800,000 ₫. The terms say subscription and virtual-currency payments are non-refundable, and cancellation must be made by the day before the billing date.
On scale, Wikipedia cites downloads rising 992%, from 3.4 million in Q1 2023 to 37 million in early 2024. Appfigures ranked ReelShort first among short-drama apps by both revenue and downloads in Q1 2024, and Sensor Tower data cited by VietnamNet puts ReelShort and DramaBox at nearly 140 million USD each in in-app revenue for Q1 2026. Next to DramaBox or NetShort, ReelShort leans towards English-language productions; otherwise the differences are mainly catalogue and pricing.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Miễn phí (quảng cáo, xu)
PersonalFree
Free to download, with ads and in-app purchases. Per Wikipedia, viewers buy virtual coins or earn them by watching ads, then spend coins to unlock episodes. The terms say virtual currency works only inside the service, the company may reprice, change or remove it at any time, and balances are forfeited if the account is terminated.
Subscription (VIP)
PersonalContact sales
The Vietnam App Store lists Weekly Subscription items at 199,000 ₫ and 249,000 ₫, Subscription items at 149,000 ₫ and 299,000 ₫, and a Subscription with AD item at 149,000 ₫. It gives no billing period for the items not labelled weekly and does not explain the differences. Under the terms, you must cancel no later than the day before the billing date.
One-time Purchase
PersonalContact sales
The Vietnam App Store lists one-time purchases at 29,000 ₫ and 59,000 ₫.
- Free plan limits
- Some episodes are free; the rest need coins (bought or earned through ads) or a VIP subscription.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
The Terms of Use (updated 20 October 2025) say subscription payments are final and non-refundable except where the terms specify otherwise. Virtual currency and goods are also non-refundable unless Crazy Maple Studio decides otherwise at its discretion.
Privacy
The privacy policy (updated 20 October 2025) is issued by Crazy Maple Studio of Sunnyvale, California. The app collects identity and contact details, transaction data, device and advertising IDs, IP-based location and, with consent, precise location. Named advertising and analytics partners include Tapjoy, Vungle, Unity Ads, Google Analytics and Adjust. The company says it does not sell personal information, keeps data while the account is active and may retain some for at least 5 years for legal reasons. Account deletion is requested by emailing support. The terms are for users 18 and over, while the App Store rates the app 16+. Google Play's Data safety section says no data is shared with third parties, which conflicts with the ad partners listed in the policy.
ReelShort alternatives
6.4/10PineDrama
TikTok's vertical short-drama app: free to install, 1–3 minute episodes, TikTok login
6.2/10NetShort
Vertical short-drama app: 17-language UI, free early episodes, VIP adds HD and downloads
Frequently asked questions
Is ReelShort free?
It is free to download and some content costs nothing. Other episodes need coins (bought or earned through ads) or a VIP subscription.
How much is ReelShort in Vietnam?
The Vietnam App Store lists subscription items from 149,000 ₫ to 299,000 ₫, weekly plans at 199,000-249,000 ₫ and one-time purchases at 29,000-59,000 ₫. Prices change, so check the store.
Can I get a ReelShort refund?
The terms say payments are final and non-refundable unless the company decides otherwise. For store purchases you can ask Apple or Google.
How do I cancel ReelShort VIP?
Per the terms, sign in, open the VIP page in the app and follow the subscription management steps by the day before the billing date. Cancelling on the billing date itself still incurs the next charge.
Review evidence & sources9
Scores
- Ease of use
- 7.5
- Features
- 7.0
- Value for money
- 4.8
- Performance
- 6.8
- Support
- 5.0
- Privacy & security
- 4.8
Why this score
Vertical feed with genre shelves and a 4.8/5 Vietnam App Store rating. Points off for coin or ad unlocking and a Google Play rating of only 4.1/5.
Why this score
Originals, genre shelves, interactive stories (ReelShort Interactives), the ReelTalk podcast and a web version; still a narrow format.
Why this score
Weekly plans at 199,000-249,000 ₫ on the Vietnam App Store, over 800,000 ₫ a month if kept; unclear price items; all fees non-refundable.
Why this score
Over 100 million Google Play installs and among the top-grossing entertainment apps; no independent performance data, and the 4.1/5 Google Play rating trails its peers.
Why this score
Email and a feedback form only; the homepage lists daily support hours of 12am-8am ET; no public help centre found.
Why this score
The policy is explicit but shares data with many ad partners; the Google Play declaration contradicts the policy; deletion is by email request.
What users say
- App Store (Vietnam)4.8/5 · 31,000
- Google Play (Vietnam)4.1/5 · 1,990,000
Sources
- Vendor-providedTrang chủ ReelShortNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedChính sách quyền riêng tư ReelShortNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedĐiều khoản sử dụng ReelShortNov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store (Việt Nam)Nov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store (Việt Nam) - ngôn ngữNov 10, 2026
- storeGoogle Play (Việt Nam)Nov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia - ReelShortNov 10, 2026
- pressAppfigures - Short drama apps (2024-04-11)Nov 10, 2026
- pressVietnamNet (2026-09-29)Nov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- Crazy Maple Studio, Inc.
- Headquarters
- United States
- Launched
- 2022
- Category
- Entertainment
Capabilities
- Mobile app
Platforms
- iOS
- Android
- Web
Interface languages
- English
- Vietnamese
- Chinese
- Japanese
- Korean
- Spanish
- French
- German
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Thai
- Indonesian
Support
Change history
- Update.VietnamNet cites Sensor Tower: ReelShort and DramaBox each earned nearly 140 million USD in in-app revenue in Q1 2026.
- Update.Terms of Use and privacy policy updated.
- Update.Appfigures ranks ReelShort first among the top 10 short-drama apps in Q1 2024 by consumer spending (about 52 million USD) and downloads.
Full change history (5)
- Update.French media (France Inter, Franceinfo) dub ReelShort the "TikTok of series".
- Launch.ReelShort is founded to bring duanju short dramas to international audiences.
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