ShortMax review: is it legit, and what does the Weekly Pass Pro cost?

ShortMax is a real app from a named publisher, with a large rating count and a clear list of purchases. It's also a paid product dressed as a free one: the money sits in a weekly pass that renews every seven days. Know which of its two weekly prices you're being offered before you tap.

The comparison with our app is near the end, with ShortMax's advantages stated plainly.

What is ShortMax and who makes it

ShortMax is a streaming app for vertical short dramas: portrait-mode series where, in the developer's words, each episode delivers its twist "in just about one minute". The description claims "50,000+ trending short dramas and movies in 19 languages" and lists genres like contemporary romance, CEO secrets, werewolf romance and revenge. That catalog figure is the developer's claim; we haven't counted it. If the format is new to you, start with what a short drama is.

Feature-wise, the listing advertises HD streaming, adjustable playback speed, Picture-in-Picture, offline downloads, a personal watchlist, AI recommendations, and "multilingual subtitles and professional dubbing".

How much ShortMax costs

Prices on the US App Store listing

The listing shows "Weekly Pass Pro" twice, at two prices, and doesn't explain the difference. It may be two offers or two tiers, but that's a guess; the payment sheet in the app shows the exact price, period and terms. The one-time purchases are the type of item apps in this category use for coins or credits, but the listing doesn't say what each contains. One-time purchases don't renew.

Among the apps in our dataset that list a weekly price, ShortMax's $9.99 entry is above GoodShort's $5.99 and DramaWave's $7.99, and below NetShort's $19.99. Prices change by country and over time, so the sheet is what counts.

Example: which weekly price you get matters

Our own arithmetic, assuming you keep a weekly pass for four weeks:

• At $9.99 a week: 4 × $9.99 = $39.96.
• At $19.99 a week: 4 × $19.99 = $79.96.
• Difference: $40.00 over four weeks for an item with the same name.

And if you forget it for a quarter, 13 renewals at $9.99 add up to $129.87. Read the price on the sheet, and if you only want one series, cancel the pass right after buying it; you keep access to the end of the week. Our cheapest short drama apps list compares weekly prices across apps.

What's free on ShortMax

Downloading and opening the app is free. Beyond that, the listing doesn't say how many episodes per series you can watch before the paywall, how many coins an episode costs, or whether ads or bonuses can unlock more. We haven't verified those numbers, so we won't print any.

The practical approach: start the series you want, see where the first lock appears, and decide then. If what's free isn't enough, our free short drama apps page lists legal options. Uploads of ShortMax series on unofficial sites or chat channels infringe the creators' rights and are a common route to scams and fake apps.

Is ShortMax legit and safe

ShortMax is legit in the plain sense: a named publisher on the official store, 4.6 stars from 177K US ratings and 4.6 from about 7,200 in Italy, with payments through Apple or Google. Ratings tell you how people feel overall. They don't tell you whether a weekly pass suits your viewing.

On safety, three things from the listing are worth weighing:

• Age. 18+ on the US App Store and 17+ in Italy. That's the store's content guidance and one of the stricter ratings in our comparison.
• Privacy. The App Privacy section says identifiers are used to track you, and that data such as user ID and device ID is linked to you for advertising and personalization. Analytics, usage data, diagnostics, coarse location and search history are listed as not linked to you.
• Renewals. A weekly pass renews every seven days until you cancel it.

Check that the store page names SHORTTV LIMITED before installing, and never type card details into anything other than the Apple or Google payment sheet. On a shared phone, Apple's Screen Time purchase controls and Google Play's purchase verification put a gate in front of in-app purchases. More checks are in our guide on whether short drama apps are safe.

How to cancel ShortMax

A Weekly Pass Pro bought in the app is managed by Apple or Google, not by ShortMax. Uninstalling changes nothing.

Apple's own instructions are on its cancel a subscription page; Google's are on the Google Play subscriptions page, which states that uninstalling doesn't cancel.

ShortMax-specific notes. Before you start, check whether there is anything to cancel. If ShortMax isn't in your subscription list, you may only have bought one-time purchases, which don't renew, or you may be signed into a different account from the one that paid; an Apple receipt in your email shows which account it was. After cancelling, reopen the list: on iPhone you should see an expiry date instead of a renewal date.

Refunds are requested from the store, not the app: Apple through its refund page, Google through Google Play's process. Cancel first so the pass doesn't renew while you wait. Our cancellation guide covers other apps too.

Who ShortMax suits

• Travelers and commuters with patchy signal. Offline downloads are on the feature list; check they work for your series before paying.
• Viewers who want a mid-priced weekly pass. At $9.99, the lower Weekly Pass Pro is below NetShort's lowest listed weekly price and the $19.99 ReelShort lists for 7 days.
• People who like dubbed series. The developer advertises professional dubbing; open the first episode to see what your series offers.

It suits less well anyone under 18, given the rating, or anyone who wants to know exactly what's free before installing. Comparing big names? See DramaBox vs ShortMax and ReelShort vs ShortMax.

ShortMax vs TotalShort

TotalShort is our app, so weigh this accordingly. On catalog and reach, ShortMax is far ahead.

ShortMax wins on catalog size, advertised dubbing and offline downloads, and an iPhone app today. TotalShort's difference is a stated free allowance on every series, coins that never expire, a confirmation before every unlock, and no sign-up to start. Its stories are set in Italy with Italian audio and subtitles in 13 languages including English; some series also have English audio. After the 8 free episodes, finishing a 12-episode series costs 4 × 30 = 120 coins, or €1.20.

Get TotalShort on Google Play; the iPhone version is coming soon. See every app side by side in our ranking and the full comparison.

Frequently asked questions

Is ShortMax a legit app?

Yes. ShortMax is published by SHORTTV LIMITED on the App Store, with 4.6 stars from 177K US ratings and 4.6 from about 7,200 in Italy, read in early October 2026. Purchases go through Apple or Google. It is a commercial app built around paying to continue, so the risks are financial: a weekly pass that renews, repeated one-time purchases, and spending on shared phones. Install only from the official store and read the payment sheet before you confirm.

Why does ShortMax show two Weekly Pass Pro prices?

The US listing shows "Weekly Pass Pro" at $9.99 and at $19.99 without explaining the difference, and we haven't seen what each includes. They could be two offers or two tiers, but that's speculation. The payment sheet in the app shows the exact price and period before you pay. Over four weeks, the gap between the two is $40.00, so it's worth checking which one you're confirming.

How many free episodes does ShortMax have?

The listing doesn't say, and we haven't verified a number. The download is free, and the paywall appears somewhere inside each series, which can vary by title. Start the series you want and note where the first locked episode is before you buy anything. Avoid sites that offer every episode free: they aren't run by ShortMax and can lead to scams or malware.

Is ShortMax safe for teenagers?

The App Store rates ShortMax 18+ in the US and 17+ in Italy, which is the store's guidance on content. Its privacy label also says identifiers are used for tracking, and that user ID and device ID are linked to you for advertising. If a teenager uses the phone, turn on Apple's Screen Time purchase controls or Google Play's purchase verification so a weekly pass can't be bought with a stray tap.

Does ShortMax work offline?

The listing advertises offline downloads among its features, along with Picture-in-Picture and adjustable playback speed. It doesn't say whether every series can be downloaded or whether downloads need a paid pass. Before a flight, try downloading an episode of the series you want and check it plays with the phone in airplane mode. That test takes a minute and tells you more than the listing does.

How do I cancel ShortMax?

On iPhone: Settings, tap your name, Subscriptions, ShortMax, Cancel Subscription. On Android: Google Play, Payments & subscriptions, Subscriptions, ShortMax, Cancel subscription. Deleting the app doesn't cancel the pass. If ShortMax isn't in the list, you may only have made one-time purchases, which don't renew, or you may be signed into a different account. You keep access to the end of the period you paid for.

What are alternatives to ShortMax?

ReelShort, DramaBox, NetShort and DramaWave use the same model of free opening episodes followed by coins or passes. On the US listings we read, DramaWave's weekly VIP starts at $7.99 and NetShort's at $19.99, while ReelShort lists a $19.99 plan valid for 7 days. TotalShort, our app, is a small alternative with six Italian AI-made series and 8 free episodes per series, Android only for now. Watch the free episodes of a similar story in two apps before paying.

Sources

1. App Store (US), ShortMax listing by SHORTTV LIMITED: rating, age rating, languages, in-app purchases, description and privacy label, read October 2, 2026.
2. App Store (Italy), ShortMax listing: rating and age rating, read September 30, 2026.
3. App Store (US) listings of GoodShort, DramaWave, NetShort and ReelShort: weekly prices used for comparison, read October 2, 2026.
4. Apple Support, "Cancel a subscription from Apple", read October 15, 2026: support.apple.com/en-us/118428.
5. Apple Support, "Request a refund for apps or content that you bought from Apple", read October 15, 2026: support.apple.com/en-us/118223.
6. Apple Support, "Turn off Apple In-App Purchases from Screen Time on your iPhone or iPad", read October 15, 2026: support.apple.com/en-us/102470.
7. Google Play Help, "Cancel, pause, or change a subscription on Google Play", read October 15, 2026: support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7018481.
8. Google Play Help, "Purchase verification for Google Play", read October 15, 2026: support.google.com/googleplay/answer/1626831.
9. Google Play, TotalShort: Short Drama Series listing (Agape Group GmbH), read October 15, 2026: play.google.com.