NetShort: is it legit and worth paying for?

By the TotalShort team · Updated October 2, 2026

We make TotalShort, a short drama app: we say so wherever it matters. Facts about other apps come from their official App Store and Google Play pages and may change.

In short: NetShort is legit (NETSTORY PTE. LTD., 4.7 from about 214,000 ratings on the US App Store, 13+) and it puts ads inside its model: the description lists ad-supported free viewing, coins to unlock episodes, and a VIP that removes ads and enables downloads. The number to look at is the weekly VIP, listed at In short9.99 to $29.99. If ads don't bother you, you can watch a lot without paying. If you want none, do the maths on a weekly price before you tap subscribe, because it renews until you cancel.

What is NetShort?

NetShort is a vertical short drama app: series made for the phone, with short episodes and constant cliffhangers. Its official description names romance, fantasy, revenge, mystery and suspense, and mentions personalized recommendations, episode tracking and regular new releases [1]. For a primer on the format, see what a short drama is.

Item	NetShort
Developer	NETSTORY PTE. LTD.
Rating (US App Store)	4.7 / 5, about 214,000 ratings
Age rating	13+
Download	Free, with in-app purchases
Interface languages	English plus 16 more, including Italian
Read on	2 October 2026

How much does NetShort cost?

The US App Store lists these in-app purchases (2 October 2026) [1]:

Purchase	Listed price
Weekly VIP	$19.99, $24.99 or $29.99
One-time purchases	$6.99, $9.99, $14.99 or $19.99

These are snapshots: prices vary by country and promotion, and the Apple or Google purchase sheet is the figure that counts. The thing to notice is the billing period. A weekly VIP at those prices can add up to far more than one month of a typical streaming service, so confirm exactly what you're agreeing to.

How does free viewing work on NetShort?

The official description says the app supports free viewing with ads, with coins used to unlock episodes, and a VIP subscription that removes ads and enables downloads [1]. We don't state how many ads or coins an episode needs: that's set by the app and can change. If you want the full list of legal free options across apps, see free short dramas.

Is NetShort legit and safe?

The official app is a real product from a named developer with a large base of ratings, and it charges through the App Store or Google Play [1]. The category's real risks are:

• Renewing weekly subscriptions that you forget to cancel;
• spending that builds up from coin packs;
• modified APKs and "free VIP" sites, where scams and malware live. Install only from the official listing.

Who should pay for NetShort

If ads don't bother you, you might never need to pay: the app's own description puts free, ad-supported viewing first. Paying mostly buys you no ads and downloads, and at the weekly VIP prices listed that's a luxury, not a necessity. It also has an Italian interface among 17 languages, which helps if English isn't your first language.

NetShort alternatives to check first

Compare free episodes and billing periods across apps before you pay. Our guide to the best short drama apps puts NetShort next to ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortMax and DramaWave, and DramaWave's own guide covers its prices.

We make TotalShort, so take this with that in mind: it's a small catalog (four series) of Italian-set series made with AI, labeled on every series. The first 8 episodes of each series are free, then one more free episode a day per series; an episode costs 30 coins (€0.30) with a confirmation before every paid unlock; the VIP plan is €5.99 a week or €59.99 a year and renews until you cancel. You can watch in your browser: try episode 1 of The Ex-Wife or see all series.

How to cancel a NetShort subscription

Cancel with the store that bills you: on iPhone, Settings → your name → Subscriptions → NetShort → Cancel Subscription; on Android, Google Play → Subscriptions → NetShort → Cancel subscription. Uninstalling the app does not cancel it [2][3]. More detail in our cancellation guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is NetShort legit?

Yes. The official NetShort app is published by NETSTORY PTE. LTD., has a 4.7 rating from about 214,000 ratings on the US App Store and charges through Apple or Google. Watch out for forgotten weekly subscriptions and for unofficial copies or modified files outside the official stores.

Is NetShort free?

Free to download, and the description says it offers ad-supported free viewing. Unlocking more episodes uses coins, and VIP removes ads and enables downloads.

How much does NetShort cost?

The US App Store (2 October 2026) lists weekly VIP at $19.99, $24.99 or $29.99 and one-time purchases from $6.99 to $19.99. Prices differ by country and change, so check the purchase sheet.

Is NetShort worth it?

If you're fine with ads and want a big catalog in many languages, you can get a lot out of it for little. If you want to avoid ads, look carefully at the weekly VIP price before subscribing.

How do I cancel NetShort?

Through Apple (Settings → your name → Subscriptions) or Google Play (Subscriptions), not inside the app. Deleting the app doesn't cancel it.

Is NetShort available in Italian?

The app interface includes Italian [1]. Audio and subtitles depend on each series, so check the first episode.

Sources

1. App Store, official NetShort listing (developer, rating, age, languages, in-app purchases, description), US storefront, read on 10/02/2026: NetShort on the App Store.
2. Apple Support, "Cancel a subscription from Apple": support.apple.com.
3. Google Play Help, "Cancel, pause, or change a subscription on Google Play": support.google.com.

Curious about short dramas set in Italy? Start on the TotalShort home page: the first episodes are free in your browser.