Short drama app prices (US): the 2026 price index

This price index collects the short drama app prices that 19 apps show on their US App Store listings, read on October 19, 2026. It is published by Agape Group GmbH, which makes TotalShort, so our app appears separately at the end and is never mixed into the rival figures: TotalShort is free to start, so there is no weekly pass to compare. In the price tables the rival apps are listed by number of US App Store ratings, and every price is copied exactly as the listing shows it. Our ranking of the best short drama apps orders them by weighted score instead.

One limit to keep in mind: an App Store listing shows at most 10 in-app purchases. An app may sell more than you see here, and the price in the payment sheet on your phone is the one that counts.

Short drama app prices: weekly passes, app by app

A "weekly item" here means a purchase whose name says it lasts a week: Weekly VIP, Weekly Pass Pro, Weekly Membership and so on. Fourteen of the 19 apps list at least one.

Cheapest and priciest weekly items

The lowest weekly item listed among the apps we read is VibeShort's Weekly Pass Pro at $4.99. GoodShort and NetShort follow with a Weekly VIP at $5.99, then DramaWave and StoryReel at $7.99.

At the top, five apps list a weekly item at $29.99: NetShort, StardustTV, StoryReel, MoboReels and FlexTV. FlexTV is the only app whose cheapest listed weekly item is $29.99, since it shows no other weekly price.

Apps that list no weekly pass

Five apps show no weekly pass in their US listing:

• DramaBox lists "Membership" at $5.99, $17.99 and $19.99, without naming a period, plus "Special offer" items.
• ReelShort lists one "Subscription" at $19.99 and one-time purchases from $4.99 to $29.99.
• My Drama lists "Refill Subscription" items ($2.99, $9.99, $19.99), "Full Access" at $19.99, "Premium" and coins.
• DramaShorts lists "Full Access" at $19.99 and $39.99 and "Weekly Coins" at $4.99, $11.99 and $19.99. By their names those are coin bundles, not unlimited passes, so we don't count them as weekly passes.
• FlareFlow lists "Unlimited viewing" at $19.99, $24.99 and $39.99, again without a period in the name.

When the name doesn't say how long a plan lasts, the length appears only in the payment sheet. Read it there before you tap confirm.

Coin packs in micro drama apps

Coin packs are harder to compare than passes, because each app prices its episodes in its own coins. Only a few listings put the number of coins in the item name:

Most of the others sell coins as "One-time Purchase" or "Purchase offer" items, so the listing gives the price but not what you get. The smallest single purchase in our data is a $0.99 one-time purchase on Shortical.

Monthly and yearly plans for vertical dramas

Longer plans are rare on these listings. Five apps show a monthly item: DramaWave's Monthly VIP at $36.99, FlickReels' Monthly Membership at $39.99, and a $49.99 monthly item on Playlet (Monthly Pass), MoboReels (Monthly VIP) and FlexTV (Monthly VIP). Kalos TV adds a "Coin Package Month" at $29.99, which by its name is a coin bundle.

The only yearly plan visible in the US data is CandyJar's Unlimited Yearly at $69.99. Other apps may sell yearly plans that don't fit in the 10 items the listing displays.

Three observations that help a buyer

1. $19.99 a week is the default price point. Thirteen of the 14 apps with a weekly item list one at exactly $19.99; FlexTV is the exception. Kept for a year, a $19.99 weekly plan adds up to $1,039.48. That's the number to keep in mind when an app's paywall offers "just" a week.

2. One app, many prices. StoryReel shows five weekly prices and NetShort four. The listing doesn't say who sees which, and apps commonly use introductory offers, discounts and tiers. You can't choose the $4.99 or $5.99 version from the listing: you see what the app offers you in the paywall. Our guide to weekly pass vs coins shows how to judge the offer in front of you.

3. Monthly beats four weeks, when it exists. Four weeks of a $19.99 pass cost $79.96. DramaWave's listed Monthly VIP is $36.99 and FlickReels' Monthly Membership $39.99, about half. If you already know you'll watch for a month, look for a monthly option before buying weekly passes one at a time.

A related point: every pass renews automatically through Apple or Google until you cancel. If a charge surprised you, the refund guide explains who decides and how to ask. If a child uses the phone, the age ratings page covers purchase controls.

TotalShort, our app

TotalShort works differently from the apps above. It's a free short drama app with Italian stories with Italian and English audio, and its 1-minute episodes play in the browser, on iPhone or Android, with no sign-up; there's also an Android app on Google Play. Coins never expire, every unlock asks for confirmation, and no subscription is forced on you.

There is an optional VIP plan at €5.99 a week or €59.99 a year. It's priced in euro only, so we don't put it in the dollar tables or convert it. You don't need it to start watching, which is the main difference from the short drama app prices above. The honest limits: the catalog is still growing, every series is made with AI and labeled "AI series", and the app is too new for store ratings. The full picture is on the TotalShort profile.

FAQ

What is the cheapest short drama app subscription?

Among the US App Store listings we read on October 19, 2026, the lowest weekly item is VibeShort's Weekly Pass Pro at $4.99, followed by Weekly VIP at $5.99 on GoodShort and NetShort. Those apps also list higher weekly prices, and the listing doesn't say who is offered the cheaper one. TotalShort, our app, is free to watch on its website, with an optional VIP priced in euro.

What is the best short drama app if I don't want to pay?

TotalShort, our app, is the best fit if you want to watch without buying a pass: it's free to start with no sign-up, its 1-minute episodes play in the browser, on iPhone or Android, every unlock asks for confirmation, and its VIP plan is optional. Among the rivals, compare how many opening episodes each one gives away before the paywall, since that varies by app and by series.

Why does the same app show several weekly prices?

App Store listings show every in-app purchase product an app has set up, up to 10 of them. An app may use different products for introductory offers, discounts, tiers with more features, or older plans. StoryReel, for example, lists Weekly Pass Pro at five prices from $7.99 to $29.99. Only the payment sheet tells you which one you're actually buying.

Is a monthly plan cheaper than weekly passes?

Where one exists, usually yes. Four weeks of a $19.99 weekly pass cost $79.96, while DramaWave lists a Monthly VIP at $36.99 and FlickReels a Monthly Membership at $39.99. Only five of the 19 apps show a monthly plan on the US listing, and CandyJar is the only one with a yearly plan visible ($69.99).

Do these prices apply outside the US?

No. App Store prices are set per country, and the same app can charge different amounts, in different currencies, in another storefront. These figures come from the US App Store on October 19, 2026. Prices also change over time, so treat this page as a dated snapshot and check the payment sheet before you buy.

How often is the price index updated?

Each version is dated. This one reflects US App Store listings read on October 19, 2026, and the date appears on the page so you know how fresh the numbers are. If you see a different price in the app, trust the app: listings change, and offers vary by account and region.

Sources

1. Apple App Store (US), in-app purchase lists of DramaBox, GoodShort, ReelShort, NetShort, DramaWave, ShortMax, FlickReels, StardustTV, Shortical, My Drama, VibeShort, StoryReel, CandyJar, Playlet, MoboReels, DramaShorts, Kalos TV, FlareFlow and FlexTV, read on October 19, 2026.
2. TotalShort, totalshort.com, VIP prices and viewing terms, read on October 15, 2026.