Short drama apps have become one of the fastest-growing corners of entertainment. ReelShort alone is expected to bring in about $1.05 billion this year, according to Media Partners Asia. Anyone who has tried one knows the hook: the first episodes are free, each one ends on a cliffhanger, and then the paywall arrives. So what does it actually cost to see how a story ends?

To find out, the team at GASP, an independent guide to vertical dramas, recorded where the paywall starts on more than 8,000 dramas across four apps: ReelShort, DramaBox, GoodShort and ShortMax.

The free part is the setup

The typical drama runs 55 episodes and gives away 9 of them, about 16% of the story. That is enough for the premise and the first twist, rarely more. The rest, often 40 to 50 episodes, sits behind coins or a pass.

The free run barely changes from app to app. The typical ReelShort, GoodShort and DramaBox drama gives 9 free episodes; ShortMax gives 10. What changes is the length: a 25-episode drama with 11 free is a very different deal from a 100-episode drama with 7.

The averages hide a wide spread. About one drama in ten gives away at least a quarter of its episodes, and a handful give away half. At the other end, about one in seven gives five episodes or fewer, which is barely enough to meet the main characters before the lock appears. If you only want to sample the format, the generous end of that range is the place to start.

What the rest costs

Only ReelShort publishes its price per episode on its website: 60 coins, with 500 coins costing $4.99. At those prices, finishing a typical ReelShort drama with coins costs about $28. The longest ones run past $120. The weekly pass costs $14.99, so for most dramas the pass is cheaper than coins, as long as you remember that it renews every week until you cancel.

The other three apps do not publish a price per episode outside the app. Their App Store listings show weekly subscriptions starting around $6 to $10.

The same drama, different deals

One detail most viewers miss: the same drama is often on two or three apps. Of the 310 dramas found on more than one app, 72 give a different number of free episodes depending on where you watch. Checking before you start can be worth a few episodes.

How to watch for less

  • Check the episode count first. A short drama with a long free run is the cheapest way to try the format.
  • Compare apps. If a drama is on two apps, one may give more free.
  • Look for official free versions. Some apps post whole dramas on their YouTube channels, and TikTok’s PineDrama is free with ads.
  • Use a pass for one binge, then cancel. It is usually cheaper than coins for a long drama.

The free-episode counts and prices above are updated daily for every drama GASP tracks.