StoryReel: what it costs, whether it's legit and how to cancel
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: StoryReel is a short drama app from Equinox Enterprises Technology Limited, a company registered in Hong Kong. It only arrived on the App Store in April 2026 and already has 4.8 from 46,541 ratings in the US. It's rated 18+, and its terms say minors must not use it. It's free to download, and the website plays the first episodes of each series in the browser, then sends you to the app. In the app you pay with coins or a subscription: the US listing shows a "Weekly Pass Pro" seven times, at four different prices from $7.99 to $24.99 and one-time purchases at $3.49 and $19.99. Subscriptions are billed by Apple or Google and cancelled there; there's no phone number, and support is by email at [email protected].
What StoryReel is
StoryReel is a short drama app: vertical series built for the phone, with episodes of about two minutes that end on a twist. Its listing promises "forbidden werewolf romance, billionaire family secrets, dangerous mafia worlds, second-chance love stories" [1], and on 6 October 2026 its website was full of mafia dons, secret heiresses and shifters [3]. New to the format? Start with what a short drama is.
The listing in numbers
| Item | US App Store (6 Oct 2026) | Italian App Store (6 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Equinox Enterprises Technology Limited | same |
| Rating | 4.8 (46,541 ratings) | 4.7 (647 ratings) |
| Age rating | 18+ | 18+ |
| Interface languages | 18, including Italian | same |
| On the App Store since | 8 April 2026 | 8 April 2026 |
| Offline downloads | yes, per the description | yes |
More than 46,000 ratings in six months says the app is big. It doesn't say whether the pricing suits you, which is the question most people search.
Who is behind it
StoryReel's terms of service, last updated 24 March 2026, name the company as Equinox Enterprises Technology LTD., "a legal entity registered in Hong Kong" with an address in North Point [2]. The terms say StoryReel doesn't knowingly collect data from children under 18 and that users must be at least 18 or the age of majority where they live [2].
How much does StoryReel cost?
The prices on the App Store
The US listing shows ten in-app purchases (read on 6 October 2026) [1]:
| Purchase | Prices listed |
|---|---|
| Weekly Pass Pro | $7.99, $14.99, $19.99, $24.99 (the $19.99 entry appears several times) |
| One-time purchases | $3.49, $19.99 |
On the Italian store the Weekly Pass Pro appears at €9.99, €17.99 and €22.99, with one-time purchases at €3.99 and €22.99 [4]. The listing doesn't say who sees which weekly price, so the only figure that counts is the one on your payment screen.
The subscription rules
The listing spells them out: subscriptions are processed by the App Store, renew automatically unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the period, and are charged within 24 hours before renewal "at the price of your selected plan" [1].
Worked examples (assumptions, plain arithmetic)
- Four weeks at the lowest Weekly Pass Pro: 4 × $7.99 = $31.96.
- Four weeks at the highest: 4 × $24.99 = $99.96.
- A forgotten $19.99 pass for a quarter: 13 × $19.99 = $259.87.
- The spread: the dearest weekly price is about three times the cheapest ($24.99 ÷ $7.99 ≈ 3.1), for a product with the same name.
Is StoryReel free?
Partly. The listing describes daily check-in rewards and coins to unlock premium episodes, and says "some content and features may require coins or a subscription" [1]. How many episodes are free varies by series and isn't stated on the listing.
Watching on the website
StoryReel's website, storyreel.life, plays episodes in the browser, but only the first ones. On 6 October 2026 we checked two series: one played its first 11 episodes on the site, the other fewer than 10. After that, the page shows "Continue Exploring Stories on StoryReel" and a "Get the App" button [3]. The website doesn't sell plans, so there's nothing to subscribe to, or cancel, on the web.
"Free" copies elsewhere
Uploads of StoryReel series on other video sites, and "mod" versions of the app, are not official. They infringe the rights of the people who made the shows and are a common route to scams and malware. Our guide to free short dramas covers the legal routes.
Is StoryReel legit and safe?
What we can verify
StoryReel has a named company with a registered address in Hong Kong, published terms and a privacy policy, a support email, and 46,541 ratings on the US App Store [1][2]. Payments go through Apple's or Google's billing. That's what a legitimate app looks like; searches for "StoryReel scam" are mostly about money, not fraud.
Where the money risks are
- One plan name, many prices. "Weekly Pass Pro" is listed from $7.99 to $24.99. Read the amount and the word "weekly" before you confirm.
- Weekly renewal. A weekly pass renews every seven days until you turn it off.
- 18+ only. If a teenager uses the phone, StoryReel isn't meant for them under its own terms.
Seven checks before you pay any short drama app
- Who publishes it?A named developer on the official store listing, not a link from a social post.
- How many ratings?A 4.9 from 200 ratings means less than a 4.7 from 200,000.
- What is the billing period?Weekly, monthly or yearly: it is on the purchase sheet, read it before you confirm.
- Does it renew by itself?Subscriptions renew until you cancel with Apple or Google.
- What does one unlock cost?Turn coins into money before you spend them.
- Is there a free route?Free episodes, bonuses or ads: see how far they really get you.
- Does the age rating fit?Stores rate these apps from 13+ to 18+; check who will watch.
How to cancel StoryReel
Subscriptions are billed by the store, so you cancel them there. The listing itself points to "Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions" [1]. Deleting the app does not cancel anything.
Where to tap to cancel
iPhone and iPad
- Settings
- Your name, at the top
- Subscriptions
- The app’s subscription
- Cancel Subscription
Android
- Play Store
- Profile picture, top right
- Payments & subscriptions
- Subscriptions
- The app’s subscription
- Cancel subscription
Deleting the app does not cancel the subscription. On iPhone you may have to scroll to see the button, and an expiration message in red means it is already cancelled. Can’t find it? On iPhone, look for the Apple receipt in your email to see which Apple Account paid; on Android it may be on another Google account, so switch accounts in the Play Store.
Sources: Apple Support, Google Play Help. Menu labels can change slightly between versions.
On iPhone
- Open Settings and tap your name.
- Tap Subscriptions, then StoryReel.
- Tap Cancel Subscription.
If there's no cancel button, or an expiry date in red, it's already cancelled [5].
On Android
Open Google Play, tap your profile icon, then Payments & subscriptions, Subscriptions, StoryReel, Cancel subscription [6].
Phone number, email and "not showing up"
StoryReel doesn't list a phone number. The listing and the website give one support address: [email protected] [1][3]. If the subscription doesn't appear in your settings, you're probably signed in with a different Apple or Google account from the one that paid: search your email for the store receipt to find it.
What happens when, on a weekly plan
- Day 1: you subscribeA weekly plan renews by itself every 7 days until you cancel it.
- At least 24 hours before renewal: cancelThat is the deadline the ReelShort listing gives, and Apple says the same for free trials.
- After cancelling: you keep what you paid forAccess runs to the end of the period. Google’s example: a yearly plan bought on January 1 and cancelled on July 1 stays active until December 31.
- Coins: cancelling is not a refundCancelling stops future charges. What happens to coins you already bought depends on each app’s terms.
Sources: ReelShort listing on the App Store, Apple Support, Google Play Help.
Refunds
Purchases are billed by Apple or Google, so refunds are requested from them: Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com, Google through Google Play's order history [7][6]. StoryReel's terms don't describe a refund process of their own [2]. Cancel first, so the next renewal doesn't go through while you wait.
StoryReel compared with other apps
Ratings and weekly prices from each app's US App Store listing: StoryReel read on 6 October 2026, the others on 2 October 2026.
| App | Rating (US) | Age | Weekly plan on the listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| TotalShort (our app) | not in the stores yet | 14+ (per series) | VIP $5.99 a week |
| StoryReel | 4.8 (46,541) | 18+ | Weekly Pass Pro $7.99–$24.99 |
| GoodShort | 4.9 (527K) | 13+ | from $5.99 |
| DramaWave | 4.9 (180K) | 13+ | from $7.99 |
| ShortMax | 4.6 (177K) | 18+ | from $9.99 |
| ReelShort | 4.7 (504K) | 13+ | $19.99 subscription, billed weekly |
For the full picture, see the best short drama apps.
A different option: TotalShort
We make TotalShort, so we're not neutral. It's small and different:
- Italian stories set on Lake Como, in Puglia, Milan and Ortigia, made with AI and labeled "AI Series" on every title.
- The first 8 episodes of every series are free in the browser, then 1 free episode a day per series.
- An episode costs 30 coins (€0.30); coins never expire and every unlock asks you to confirm.
- One VIP price, €5.99 a week or €59.99 a year, with no free trial that turns into a charge.
The arithmetic of finishing a TotalShort series
- 8 episodes
- freeevery series
- Episodes 9–12
- 4 × 30 coins= 120 coins = €1.20
- Or the free daily episode
- 1 per series per dayfree in 4 days
- VIP break-even
- €5.99 ÷ €0.30≈ 20 paid episodes a week
Coins are worth €0.01 each. Prices of coin packs and VIP are shown in the app before every purchase. They are in euros; on the US App Store the weekly VIP is set at $5.99, and the store always shows your country’s price before you pay.
The limit is plain: 4 series, against StoryReel's large catalog. Try episode 1 of If I Could Do It All Again, free, no sign-up.
Common mistakes
Assuming everyone pays the same
The same "Weekly Pass Pro" is listed at four different prices. Your screen is the price.
Deleting the app to stop payments
The subscription lives in your Apple or Google account.
Looking for a phone line
There isn't one listed. Email [email protected] and cancel in the store yourself; you don't need their permission.
Letting a teenager use it
StoryReel is 18+ on the store and in its own terms.
Frequently asked questions
Is StoryReel legit?
Yes. It's published by Equinox Enterprises Technology Limited, a company registered in Hong Kong, it has 46,541 ratings and a 4.8 average on the US App Store, published terms and a support email, and it bills through Apple or Google. It only launched in April 2026, so it has a short track record, but nothing in the official documents suggests anything other than a normal short drama business. The real risks are about money: weekly passes that renew automatically and a "Weekly Pass Pro" listed at prices from $7.99 to $24.99.
How do I cancel my StoryReel subscription?
On iPhone: Settings, your name, Subscriptions, StoryReel, Cancel Subscription, as the App Store listing itself describes. On Android: Google Play, profile icon, Payments & subscriptions, Subscriptions, StoryReel, Cancel subscription. Deleting the app does nothing. Turn off auto-renewal at least 24 hours before the period ends to avoid the next charge; you keep access until then. The website doesn't sell plans, so there's nothing to cancel online.
Does StoryReel have a phone number?
No phone number is listed on the App Store page or on storyreel.life. The only contact the official listing gives is the email [email protected]. You don't need to contact them to cancel: subscriptions are managed by Apple or Google, and you can cancel in your phone's settings in a minute. Write to support for problems such as coins not arriving or episodes not unlocking.
How much does StoryReel cost?
On the US App Store (6 October 2026), the Weekly Pass Pro is listed at $7.99, $14.99, $19.99 and $24.99, and one-time purchases at $3.49 and $19.99. On the Italian store the weekly pass is €9.99, €17.99 or €22.99. Four weeks cost between $31.96 and $99.96 depending on the price you're shown. The listing doesn't say who gets which price, so read the payment screen before you confirm.
Is StoryReel free?
Partly. The download is free, the app has daily check-in rewards, and the first episodes of each series also play on the website. Beyond that, the listing says some content needs coins or a subscription, and the number of free episodes varies by series. On the website, after the first episodes, you're sent to the app. Unofficial uploads and modified apps aren't a safe way around the paywall.
Can I get a refund from StoryReel?
Ask the store you paid through: Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com, or Google through Google Play's order history. StoryReel's terms don't describe their own refund process, and the store decides. Cancel the subscription first so it doesn't renew while you wait, and explain plainly what happened, for example an unexpected renewal or a purchase you didn't make.
Is StoryReel AI?
Neither the App Store listing nor the terms of service say that StoryReel's series are made with AI; the listing describes short dramas, miniseries and movies with "compelling characters". We can't confirm how individual series were produced. For comparison, TotalShort's series are made with AI and labeled "AI Series" on every title, with the tools listed.
Can I watch StoryReel on a computer?
Partly. The website storyreel.life plays the first episodes of each series in the browser, around ten on the series we checked, then asks you to get the app. There's no web plan to unlock the rest. TotalShort, by contrast, plays every episode in the browser, on a computer too.
Sources
- App Store, StoryReel official listing, US storefront (developer, rating, age, languages, release date, in-app purchases, description, subscription rules, support email), read on 6 October 2026: StoryReel on the App Store.
- StoryReel, Terms of Service, last updated 24 March 2026: storyreel.life/User-Agreement.html.
- StoryReel website (catalog, episode pages, web paywall, contact), visited on 6 October 2026: storyreel.life.
- App Store, StoryReel official listing, Italian storefront (rating, age, in-app purchases in euros), read on 6 October 2026.
- Apple Support, "Cancel a subscription from Apple": support.apple.com/en-us/118428.
- Google Play Help, "Cancel, pause, or change a subscription on Google Play": support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7018481.
- Apple Support, "Request a refund for apps or content": support.apple.com/en-us/118223.
Want to see a whole short drama in your browser? Start from the TotalShort home page.
Watch it on your phone
Open totalshort.com on your phone: it works in the browser, nothing to install. The iPhone and Android app is coming soon.
Watch on your phone: point your camera at the code.