# HiShort vs ShortBox

The clearest difference is rating: ShortBox at 4.8 against HiShort's 4.4. ShortBox also leads on review sentiment (20% vs 12%). HiShort's advantage is ratings volume (895 vs 125). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HiShort sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $18.99 per 7 days and ShortBox sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ShortBox holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HiShort has 895 ratings behind it against 125, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 12% of HiShort's written reviews are positive against 20% of ShortBox's.

HiShort ships an update every 2 weeks, ShortBox every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | HiShort | ShortBox |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (895 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hishort/id6473901467/reviews) | **[4.8 (125 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortbox/id6475035755/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **895** | 125 |
| Positive reviews | 11.9% of reviews | **20.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 138 MB | 99 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [HONG KONG ELEPHANT NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1601600836) | [PIVIX TECH LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1723152264) |

## What reviewers say

### HiShort

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hishort/id6473901467)

Discover a vast library of dramas, from romance and adventure to historical and urban tales. Enjoy exclusive releases and seamless HD streaming on your mobile device. Elevate your entertainment with captivating storylines and a smooth viewing experience.

**Highlights:** Unlimited drama library, Multiple genres available, Exclusive releases, Continuous updates, HD streaming, Smooth viewing experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Auto-Renewal | $18.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Auto-Renewal- Benefits | $18.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Auto-Renewal- Benefits | $29.99 | per month |
| Monthly Auto-Renewal | $29.99 | per month |
| Annual Auto-Renewal | $99.99 | per year |
| Coins Pack | $6.99 | one-time |
| Coins Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Coins Pack | $14.99 | one-time |
| Coins Pack | $29.99 | one-time |
| Coins Pack | $49.99 | one-time |
| 5200 coins + bonus coins | $79.99 | one-time |
| Coins Pack | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent variety and price
- 👍 Great stories

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Costly subscription
- 🔒 No free access to content
- 🐛 Unstable app with frequent logout issues
- 🔍 Poor search and discovery
- 🔤 Unreliable subtitles and translations

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription issues - charged but no access
- Videos not working even with paid subscription
- Constant log-outs during viewing

**Requested features**

- Bring back old subscription model
- Add option to earn bonus points/watch ads
- Improve content discovery and search
- Fix subtitle and translation issues


### ShortBox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortbox/id6475035755)

Immerse yourself in a world of captivating short stories and dramas. This platform offers a curated selection of narrative content, distinct from typical short video feeds. Experience diverse genres and engaging plots designed for focused entertainment.

**Highlights:** Short drama focus, Story immersion, Diverse genres, Curated content, Engaging plots

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Annually | $89.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HiShort free?

HiShort is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ShortBox free?

ShortBox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, HiShort or ShortBox?

ShortBox is rated higher. HiShort averages 4.4 out of 5 from 895 ratings, while ShortBox averages 4.8 from 125 ratings.

### Do HiShort or ShortBox have ads?

Both HiShort and ShortBox show ads.

### Which is updated more often, HiShort or ShortBox?

HiShort ships an update every 2 weeks, and ShortBox every 9 days. Most recently, HiShort was updated on October 23, 2026 and ShortBox on October 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*