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Is ShortMax Free? Prices & Free Episodes (Oct 2026)

Updated

Is ShortMax free?

ShortMax is free to install and free for roughly the first 10 episodes of a typical series. Past that point you pay with coins, use bonus coins, or subscribe to Pass Pro.

Don't expect to find a show that stays free. Of the 834 ShortMax series in our catalog, none is free from start to finish.

How many ShortMax episodes are free?

Ten is the median, the highest of the five big apps we track, though only by a single episode. The lock most often lands on episode 11.

The average is lower, 8.9, so a fair number of ShortMax series cut you off earlier than the median suggests. And the shows are long: a median of 61 episodes, which leaves the free part at about a sixth of the story. The most generous ShortMax titles give you 20 free episodes.

ShortMax is also the most self-contained catalog of the five. Of its 834 series in our data, 794 aren't listed on any other app, so if a ShortMax show is locked, there's rarely another app to try it on.

Want more free episodes than ShortMax gives? See dramas with at least 15 free episodes or shows that are free start to finish, gathered from every app we track. To stay on this one, browse ShortMax series by free episodes.

How do ShortMax coins, bonus and Pass Pro work?

ShortMax sells three things: gold coins, bonus coins and Pass Pro, a subscription that comes in weekly, monthly and annual versions. Its user terms, last updated July 28, 2026, spell out how they interact:

  • when you watch, gold coins are spent first, and bonus coins only once the gold coins run out;
  • bonus coins expire, and the dates are shown under My Wallet;
  • Pass Pro gives free viewing, 1080p and no ads, except for "incentive ads";
  • a subscription works in the app and on the ShortMax website, and renews automatically 24 hours before it ends unless you cancel.

On the US App Store (as of October 22, 2026), Weekly Pass Pro costs $9.99 or $19.99, and one-time purchases range from $3.49 to $24.99. Apple doesn't say how many coins each one-time purchase holds. The Google Play listing puts single items between $0.49 and $199.99.

We found no official page that says how many coins a dollar buys or what an episode costs, and the in-app prices differ by country and change. Check them in the app before a top-up.

On refunds, the recharge agreement is short: a completed top-up is final unless what you bought can't be used, and your balance can't be transferred to anyone else.

Legit ways to get more free ShortMax episodes

The free route is bonus coins earned in the app, spent before they expire. The terms treat bonus as its own balance with an end date, and the mention of incentive ads, the kind that pay you for watching, shows rewarded ads stay in place even for subscribers.

ShortMax doesn't publish what a check-in or an ad is worth, so look at the rewards screen in your app.

One thing the spending order means in practice: if you hold paid gold coins, the app uses those first, and your bonus can sit unused until it runs out. Keep an eye on the expiry dates in My Wallet.

ShortMax dramas that go furthest for free

No ShortMax series is fully free in our data, but these five get you further than most before the lock:

The Dying Prince's Defiant Bride is the best deal of the group, with a third of the series free. Braving a New School Life gives you the most episodes before the paywall.

FAQ

Can I watch ShortMax on a computer?

Yes. The ShortMax website plays series in the browser, and the terms say a subscription can be used both there and in the app.

Do ShortMax bonus coins expire?

Yes. Each bonus has an expiry date, listed in My Wallet, and expired bonus is removed automatically.

Can I get a refund for a ShortMax top-up?

Only in narrow cases. The recharge agreement treats a successful top-up as complete and allows refunds or changes only if the product can't be used.

Who makes ShortMax?

SHORTTV LIMITED sells it on the App Store, and the Google Play developer name is SHORTMAX LIMITED.

Sources