GoodShort vs ShortMax: Which Is Better? (Oct 2026)
GoodShort vs ShortMax in numbers
| Metric | GoodShort | ShortMax |
|---|---|---|
| Series in our catalog | 2,950 | 834 |
| Free episodes (median) | 9 | 10 |
| Paywall usually starts at | episode 12 | episode 11 |
| Episodes per series (median) | 58 | 61 |
| Completely free series | 0.2% | 0% |
| Series on both apps | 6 | |
From the ReelSeries catalog, updated
Which has more free episodes?
Too close to call on our data. The medians sit one episode apart, and GoodShort's free counts are a floor, since the app often shows them as "11+" and we count those as 11. So the gap you see in the table above may be smaller than it looks, or not there at all.
Where they do differ is how early the lock can come. Nearly half of GoodShort series (48%) are already locked by episode 8, against about 36% on ShortMax, so with GoodShort you're more likely to hit the paywall before the story has properly started. Neither app is a place to finish a show for free: GoodShort has six fully free series in our catalog, and ShortMax has none.
Which has the bigger catalog?
GoodShort, several times over. It's also the app with the most werewolf romance and mafia romance in our catalog, and the top one for the mafia genre overall. ShortMax doesn't lead any genre or trope we track.
What decides this pair, though, is that they hardly overlap. Only a handful of series are on both, and nearly all of ShortMax's lineup can't be found on any other app we track. You're not choosing between two prices for the same shows. You're choosing between two different sets of dramas.
Who should pick which?
GoodShort suits viewers who want mafia bosses and wolf packs, and anyone who likes to see a price before paying. Its US App Store listing names each coin pack and its price, and its Google Play listing counts offline downloads and 1080p among the VIP perks. Our guide to what's free on GoodShort has the full details. All GoodShort series show where each one locks.
ShortMax is the pick when the show you want is one of its exclusives. If you go that way, read the wallet rules first: ShortMax's terms say bonus coins expire and paid gold coins are spent before them. Its Pass Pro plan covers the app and the website. Browse ShortMax to find the series that go furthest before the lock.
As for what an episode costs in coins, neither app says, so the unlock screen is your only guide.