# DramaHive vs FreeShort

The clearest difference is rating: FreeShort at 4.6 against DramaHive's 1.4. FreeShort also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (388 vs 9). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DramaHive sells 21 in-app purchases, starting at $9.90 per 7 days and FreeShort sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

FreeShort holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FreeShort has 388 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 11% of DramaHive's written reviews are positive against 7% of FreeShort's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

DramaHive ships an update every 3 weeks, FreeShort every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DramaHive | FreeShort |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.4 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dramahive/id6738331731/reviews) | **[4.6 (388 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freeshort/id6740797254/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **388** |
| Positive reviews | **11.1% of reviews** | 7.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 58 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Changsha Jiuxi Network Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1840553660) | [Time Interactive (Hong Kong) Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1791685057) |

## What reviewers say

### DramaHive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dramahive/id6738331731)

Discover a world of captivating short dramas and original series. Enjoy diverse genres and personalized recommendations with a unique online video entertainment experience. Some content is available for free, with premium options requiring payment.

**Highlights:** Captivating short dramas, Original series, Diverse content genres, Personalized recommendations, Free initial episodes, Copyright-protected content

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

**In-app purchases (21)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Coins VIP | $9.90 | per 7 days |
| Coins VIP | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| coins vip | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Coins VIP | $19.90 | per 7 days |
| Coins VIP | $19.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscribe Coin Pack | $19.99 | per 7 days |
| Week Vip | $19.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscribe Coin Pack | $29.99 | per 7 days |
| Coins VIP | $29.99 | per 7 days |
| Coins VIP | $39.99 | per 7 days |
| month Vip | $49.99 | per month |
| quarterVIP | $79.99 | per 3 months |
| Coins VIP | $99.99 | per 7 days |
| Week Vip | $99.99 | per 7 days |
| Year Vip | $199.99 | per year |
| Coins | $5.99 | one-time |
| Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| Coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| Coins | $29.99 | one-time |
| Coins | $59.99 | one-time |
| Coins | $99.99 | one-time |


### FreeShort

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freeshort/id6740797254)

Experience addictive 1-minute short dramas with compelling plots and diverse genres. Enjoy new episodes daily, tailored recommendations, and content that respects your time. Start with free episodes and unlock more content as you get hooked.

**Highlights:** 1-minute short dramas, Daily new episodes, Diverse genres (romance, revenge, twists), Personalized recommendations, Vertical, binge-worthy format, On-the-go viewing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Single episode | $0.29 | one-time |
| Unlock single episode | $1.19 | one-time |
| Basic Super Value Pack | $8.99 | one-time |
| week vip | $9.90 | one-time |
| Premium Value Bundle | $17.99 | one-time |
| Pro Boost Pack | $26.99 | one-time |
| month vip | $39.90 | one-time |
| Deluxe Exclusive Bundle | $44.99 | one-time |
| Elite Carnival Bundle | $71.99 | one-time |
| Supreme Double Bundle | $116.99 | one-time |
| year vip | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📈 Improving content library over time

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💳 Misleading 'Free' branding with mandatory payments
- 🐛 Login and authentication failures
- 🐛 App crashes and freezing issues
- 🐛 Poor loading performance on WiFi and data
- 💰 Excessive pricing compared to competitors

**Reported bugs**

- Sign-in/login system not functioning
- App fails to load on WiFi connections
- App crashes during episode playback
- Progress resets to earlier chapters after payment
- Episode playback stops at certain chapters

**Requested features**

- Watch ads as alternative to paid coins
- Free episode access without mandatory payment


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DramaHive free?

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

### Is FreeShort free?

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

### Which has better reviews, DramaHive or FreeShort?

FreeShort is rated higher. DramaHive averages 1.4 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while FreeShort averages 4.6 from 388 ratings.

### Do DramaHive or FreeShort have ads?

DramaHive shows ads; FreeShort does not.

### Which is updated more often, DramaHive or FreeShort?

DramaHive ships an update every 3 weeks, and FreeShort every 8 days. Most recently, DramaHive was updated on October 8, 2026 and FreeShort on October 9, 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.*