Is ShortMax legit and safe?
Yes: it is a real app, run by a registered company and sold through Apple's and Google's stores. It is not a scam. What catches people out is the price: a few episodes are free, and the rest are charged one at a time or through a pass that renews every week.
Who runs it
ShortMax's terms of use name SHORTTV LIMITED, a Hong Kong company with its registered address at Unit 2-J3, 1st Floor, Fuk Hong Industrial Building, 60-62 Tong Mi Road, Mong Kok, Kowloon. The App Store lists the same company as the seller. The terms are governed by Hong Kong law, with disputes that can be sent to arbitration at the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, seated in Hong Kong and held in English.
What the App Store shows
The listing's in-app purchases are one-time purchases from $3.49 to $24.99 and a Weekly Pass Pro subscription listed at $9.99 and $19.99. Figures are from the US App Store on Oct 5, 2026.
What it really costs
We track 1,071 ShortMax dramas. A typical one has 61 episodes and the first 10 are free. ShortMax does not publish a price per episode on its website, so we can't total a drama for you; check the unlock price in the app before you start.
- Look up a drama before you pay: every drama page here shows the free episodes.
- If you buy a weekly pass, cancel it straight away. You keep the week you paid for, and it won't renew.
- ShortMax: free episodes and what people watch · Cost calculator
Cancelling and refunds
ShortMax's terms say you can cancel auto-renewal at any time before the next renewal, which is charged 24 hours before the subscription expires, and point to the "About Subscription" section in the app for the steps. Cancellation takes effect the day after your current subscription period ends.
The terms say refunds "will not be entertained" unless the paid product or service is unusable because of ShortMax, in which case you contact them with the purchase details and proof. If you paid through Apple or Google, you can ask that store for a refund; they decide case by case.
Deleting the app does not cancel a subscription. The exact steps for iPhone, Android and the web are here. ShortMax's terms give this contact: [email protected].
Questions people ask
Is ShortMax legit?
Yes, in the sense that it is a real app run by a registered company and sold through Apple's and Google's stores. ShortMax is operated by SHORTTV LIMITED, a Hong Kong company with its registered address at Unit 2-J3, 1st Floor, Fuk Hong Industrial Building, 60-62 Tong Mi Road, Mong Kok, Kowloon. The complaints you will read are mostly about cost: the first episodes are free and the rest add up.
Is ShortMax safe?
ShortMax is a real app, distributed through Apple's App Store and Google Play, rated 18+ on the App Store, and run by SHORTTV LIMITED, a Hong Kong company with its registered address at Unit 2-J3, 1st Floor, Fuk Hong Industrial Building, 60-62 Tong Mi Road, Mong Kok, Kowloon. We have not tested the app's security ourselves. The risk people report is to their wallet, not their phone: passes that renew every week until cancelled, and episodes charged one at a time.
Who owns ShortMax?
Its terms of use name SHORTTV LIMITED, a Hong Kong company with its registered address at Unit 2-J3, 1st Floor, Fuk Hong Industrial Building, 60-62 Tong Mi Road, Mong Kok, Kowloon. The App Store lists the same company as the seller.
Can I get a refund from ShortMax?
The terms say refunds "will not be entertained" unless the paid product or service is unusable because of ShortMax, in which case you contact them with the purchase details and proof. If you paid through Apple or Google you can ask that store for a refund instead; they decide case by case.
Why is ShortMax so expensive?
Because you pay per episode after the free ones, and a typical ShortMax drama has 61 episodes with 10 free. ShortMax does not publish a price per episode on its website, so check the unlock price in the app before you start.
The same question for the other apps: Is ReelShort legit? · Is DramaBox legit? · Is GoodShort legit?
Sources: ShortMax terms of service on its website (updated June 24, 2025) · ShortMax user terms linked from the App Store listing (updated July 28, 2026) · ShortMax user recharge agreement (updated June 24, 2025) · ShortMax on the App Store. Drama figures from our own data, checked Oct 17, 2026. Terms change; follow the links for the current wording. This isn't legal advice. See also: ShortMax guide