The apps most like ShortMax
Every major short drama app works the way ShortMax does: vertical episodes of a minute or two, a free block at the start of each series, then coins or a membership. What differs is the catalogue and how the price is shaped. From the US App Store, checked on September 17, 2026:
| App | Since | Rating | In-app purchases listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReelShort | 2022 | 4.7 (495K) | a $19.99 subscription and one-time purchases from $4.99 to $29.99 |
| DramaBox | 2023 | 4.8 (855K) | memberships from $5.99 to $19.99 and special offers from $4.99 to $19.99 |
| GoodShort | 2023 | 4.9 (523K) | weekly VIP plans from $5.99 to $19.99 and coin packs of 500–2,500 coins for $4.99–$24.99 |
| NetShort | 2024 | 4.7 (183K) | one-time purchases from $9.99 to $19.99 |
| FlickReels | 2024 | 4.8 (103K) | weekly memberships from $12.99 to $19.99, a $39.99 monthly plan and one-time purchases from $4.99 to $19.99 |
| DramaWave | 2024 | 4.9 (171K) | weekly VIP plans from $7.99 to $19.99, a $36.99 monthly VIP and offers from $6.99 to $9.99 |
Sites you can use without installing anything
If the goal is to stop installing apps, several sites play the same format in a browser. We run the first one on the list, so it goes first; the others are described from their own pages, checked on September 21, 2026.
- Fast Drama — our site — plays in the browser, first 7 episodes of every series free, no coins, one flat plan.
- FlexTV — a web player that says it offers free full episodes in HD.
- NetShort (web) — the website version of NetShort, which says it has more than 45,000 short dramas.
- DramaShorts — a browser site that says it gives 10 free episodes per series with no coins and no signup.
- Shortical — a catalogue of original vertical series with free episodes.
How to choose
Search for the specific series you want first — most titles are exclusive to one app. After that, pick by price shape: coin packs if you finish one series at a time, a membership only if you watch several a week and cancel it when you stop. For scale: across 86 ReelShort series we measured on September 20, 2026, the median series runs 58 episodes and opens 10 of them free — about 17% of the story (full table).
First 7 episodes of every series free; coin packs from 100 coins for $0.99 to 3,000 coins for $19.99, 50 coins an episode; weekly VIP at $4.99 per week for the first 2 weeks, then $7.99 per weekRelated: is ShortMax legit? · best sites to watch short dramas.
Frequently asked questions
What apps are like ShortMax?
ReelShort, DramaBox, GoodShort, NetShort, FlickReels, DramaWave — all use free opening episodes and paid coins or memberships.
Is there a ShortMax alternative without an app?
Yes — Fast Drama plays short dramas in the browser with the first 7 episodes of every series free and no coins.
Which ShortMax alternative is cheapest?
ShortMax lists the cheapest entry packs ($3.49) in the US App Store data we checked; for no in-app purchases at all, use a browser site.