Comparison

PlotNovel vs Shortcat

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PlotNovel

Immerse yourself in a vast library of premium novel content. Discover compelling fictional stories designed to bring joy and a sense of novelty. The platform regularly updates its collection with new, thought-provoking, and entertaining reads.

Highlights
  • Premium novel content library
  • Compelling fictional stories
  • Regular content updates
  • Focus on user reading experience
  • Sense of fulfillment and novelty
Features
Read full description

PlotNovel is a simple yet captivating reading app dedicated to providing users with premium novel content resources. The app aims to present users with compelling fictional stories, allowing them to fully experience the joy of reading and gain a sense of fulfillment and novelty. With a steadfast commitment to user experience, the platform will continuously update its content library, introducing more captivating, thought-provoking, and entertaining novel resources. EULA:https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Shortcat

Experience a new way to watch romantasy anime with short, vertical episodes designed for mobile. Discover exclusive romance and fantasy stories, perfect for quick viewing or extended binges. Stay updated with new releases and enjoy immersive, fast-paced narratives.

Highlights
  • Vertical full-screen anime
  • Short episodes for mobile
  • Exclusive romantasy series
  • Fast-paced storytelling
  • Notifications for new releases
  • Romance and fantasy genres
Features
Read full description

WATCH ROMANTASY ANIME DIFFERENTLY. Shortcat is a new streaming app dedicated to short vertical romantasy anime, designed specifically for mobile viewing. Discover world-famous romance stories crafted to be binge-watched anytime, anywhere. ANIME, REIMAGINED FOR MOBILE Forget long episodes and horizontal screens. Shortcat brings you short-form vertical anime, with full-screen immersion, fast pacing, and stories that hook you from the very first seconds. STORIES MADE TO MAKE YOU FEEL Fall in love. Uncover mysteries. Get revenge. Explore new worlds. Repeat. From romance and fantasy to thrillers, enemies-to-lovers, vampires, and more… OVER 100 EXCLUSIVE ANIME COMING IN 2026 Discover a growing catalog of exclusive anime series, released regularly throughout the year. WHAT YOU’LL LOVE ON SHORTCAT - MADE FOR MOBILE — full-screen vertical anime - SHORT EPISODES — perfect for quick sessions or long binges - EXCLUSIVE SERIES — only on Shortcat, 100 originals to be released this year - ROMANCE-FIRST STORIES — strong emotions, addictive plots - STAY UPDATED — get notified when new episodes and seasons drop Terms of Use (EULA): https://getshortcat.com/legal/tos Privacy Policy: https://getshortcat.com/legal/privacy_policy Subscription details: - Shortcat Yearly: 12-month auto-renewing subscription - Shortcat Yearly LImited: 12-month auto-renewing subscription - Shortcat Yearly Discount: 12-month auto-renewing subscription - Shortcat Monthly: 1-month auto-renewing subscription Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription auto-renews unless turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in Account Settings on the App Store after purchase.

Screenshots

PlotNovel4 screens
Shortcat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Shortcat at 4.7 against PlotNovel's 1.2. Shortcat also leads on review sentiment (42% vs 0%) and ratings volume (689 vs 35). PlotNovel's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PlotNovel sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Shortcat sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Shortcat holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shortcat has 689 ratings behind it against 35, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of PlotNovel's written reviews are positive against 42% of Shortcat's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PlotNovel ships an update every 6 weeks, Shortcat fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
PlotNovel versus Shortcat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlotNovelShortcat
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.2 (35 ratings)4.7 (689 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews41.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings35689 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB60 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperWuhan Yunyue Culture Media Co., LtdFlagcat

Customer experience

PlotNovel

All ratings33 ratings
Positive3.0%
Neutral3.0%
Negative93.9%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative96.0%

Shortcat

All ratings680 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral2.5%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive41.7%
Neutral5.6%
Negative52.8%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

PlotNovel

Subscriptions5
  • vip_1$0.997 Days
  • vip_7$14.997 Days
  • month$29.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • vip_90$59.993 Months
  • vip_year$169.991 Year
One-time5
  • coin_02$14.99
  • coin_10$14.99
  • Gold coin commodities$19.99
Show 2 more
  • coin_03$29.99
  • coin_04$59.99
10 purchases

Shortcat

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly Membership$19.991 Month
  • Yearly Membership$24.991 Year
  • Yearly Membership Limited Offer$36.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Yearly Membership$49.991 Year
One-time6
  • One-time Purchase$2.99
  • One-time Purchase$3.99
  • One-time Purchase$4.99
Show 3 more
  • One-time Purchase$5.99
  • One-time Purchase$12.99
  • One-time Purchase$29.99

Questions

Is PlotNovel free?
PlotNovel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shortcat free?
Shortcat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PlotNovel or Shortcat?
Shortcat is rated higher. PlotNovel averages 1.2 out of 5 from 35 ratings, while Shortcat averages 4.7 from 689 ratings.
Do PlotNovel or Shortcat have ads?
Neither PlotNovel nor Shortcat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PlotNovel or Shortcat?
PlotNovel ships an update every 6 weeks, and Shortcat fortnightly. Most recently, PlotNovel was updated on November 5, 2026 and Shortcat on November 5, 2026.

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