Micro drama app

Sell every cliffhanger through a coin wallet you own

A ready-made micro drama platform where the wallet is the product. Viewers get a free episode window, then open the next episode with coins, a rewarded ad or a VIP pass. A consumer web app, a Flutter store app and an operator console share one API and one ledger, delivered under your brand with the full source code.

  • Coins, VIP or ads on one episode
  • Two-balance wallet with expiry
  • Full source code, your brand
3
ways to unlock one episode
2
coin balances, reward and purchased
7
day check-in ladder
5
interface locales with RTL

ReelShort clone at a glance

The facts a buyer checks first, in one place. Everything on this page is the product as it ships.

  • Full source code
  • White-label under your brand
  • 60 days of technical support
  • 1 year of free updates
  • App publishing support
ReelShort Clone: key facts
Product typeMicro drama streaming platform with a coin wallet
Clients includedConsumer web app, Flutter app for iOS and Android, operator console
Ways to open an episodeCoins, a rewarded ad or a VIP window, with auto-unlock for the rest of a title
Price$3,999 one time, no revenue share
Launch time6 working days from kickoff
Source codeFull source code for web, console, API and mobile
HostingYour own server, with local disk, AWS S3 or DigitalOcean Spaces for media
Payment gatewaysPayPlus hosted checkout, Stripe, Razorpay, Flutterwave and Google Play billing
LanguagesEnglish, Hebrew, Hindi, Arabic and Spanish, with right-to-left layout
Support and updates60 days of technical support and 1 year of free updates

What is a ReelShort clone?

A ReelShort clone is a micro drama streaming platform with the same working parts as the app people search for by that name: a catalog of categories, titles and numbered episodes, a vertical player, and a wallet that decides whether the next episode opens. It is not a video library with a subscription switch added later.

Here the lock sits on the episode itself. Access is decided at read time from four facts: the catalog lock, the free window, any active VIP window, and a per-user unlock record. Coins, a rewarded ad and auto-unlock all write that same record, so an episode owned on the web is owned in the store app too.

You launch it as your own service. The branding, locales, currency, coin packs, plans and reward tables are runtime settings, and you license or produce the catalog yourself. We deliver the code, deploy it to your hosting and connect your own accounts for payments, ads and push notifications.

What a ReelShort clone means as a business

ReelShort is a consumer app known for vertical short drama: stories cut into brief numbered episodes, with the opening episodes open to everyone and later ones held behind a lock. Viewers open the lock with coins they buy, with rewards they earn, or with a pass. The brand is a catalog and an audience as much as a piece of software, and neither of those can be cloned.

A ReelShort clone, in the sense used on this page, is the software model only: a wallet, an unlock rule, a vertical player and an operator console, delivered under your own name. You bring the stories, the audience and the commercial terms. The practical question is less whether an app can be copied and more whether you can run the economy behind it, which is why the wallet gets the most attention here.

Tour the ReelShort clone, role by role

Each role works in its own side of the same product. The screens come from the working demo.

  1. Viewers

    A viewer should reach a paid decision within minutes of arriving and never feel pushed. The path runs from a guest landing on a shelf, through a free run of episodes, to a lock that offers more than one way forward.

    • Browse shelves and trailers before creating any account
    • Start the first episodes at no cost during the free window
    • See coins, a rewarded ad and a VIP pass side by side at the lock
    • Check the wallet total and open the history behind it
    • Claim the daily check-in and quest rewards from one screen
    • Pick a story back up from the point where it stopped
    • Set a reminder on a title that has not released yet
    Phone episode paywall offering a monthly VIP plan, a coin unlock and a watch ad optionPhone rewards screen with a coin balance, a daily check-in streak and watch ad earningsPhone profile page with guest avatar, coin wallet, refill button and referral code field
    Viewers who reach a locked episode choose between VIP, spending coins or watching an ad to unlock it.
  2. Operators

    The owner of the service sets the economy. Everything that decides what a viewer pays, how long a free run lasts and which rewards are given lives in the console as data, so pricing becomes a weekly experiment and not a development ticket.

    • Publish categories, titles and numbered episodes with artwork and trailers
    • Price each episode in coins and move the free window from settings
    • Build coin packs with bonus coins and VIP plans by validity
    • Read revenue by series, by episode and by ledger code
    • Inspect any wallet and correct a balance when support requires it
    • Switch gateways, storage and ad units without touching code
    • Export, anonymize or delete an account on request
    Admin overview with series, episode and user counts above user growth and revenue charts
    The admin overview reports series, episodes, users and revenue, with growth charts across a chosen date range.
  3. Staff and moderators

    Day-to-day running is split between people with different permissions. A moderator clears reports, a campaign manager schedules messages, a catalog editor reorders episodes, and each sees only the part of the console their role covers.

    • Work a queue of reports filed against comments and episodes
    • Hide a comment or block an account in one action
    • Notify the person who filed a report once it is solved
    • Draft a campaign from a template and aim it at a chosen audience
    • Schedule a send, cancel it, and read delivery numbers afterward
    • Hand a prospect the view-only demo login without risk
    Admin film list table with poster thumbnails, categories, descriptions, status toggles and action icons
    Admins manage the series catalog here, with posters, categories, publish toggles and edit or delete actions.
  4. Mobile

    The store app carries the same wallet and catalog as the web, with the extras that only a phone offers: native screenshot blocking, a live ad network, device push and a binary that already speaks five languages.

    • Scroll vertical episodes with a comment sheet over the player
    • Unlock with coins or a rewarded video from the same lock screen
    • Review coin and VIP purchases inside the app
    • Claim quests and read referral history next to the wallet
    • Receive campaign messages in the inbox even without push
    • Switch the interface language, including right-to-left layouts
    Dark web episode page with a video player beside the title, episode numbers and comments boxSign in screen with language chips, email, password and invitation code fields
    The web player page shows the episode, an episode selector, quick actions and a comment box beside the video.

Try the ReelShort clone live demo

The demo runs the product end to end: a viewer app on the web and on Android, plus a view-only operator console. It carries our demo branding and a seed catalog of royalty-free stills, so use it to judge the unlock flow, the wallet and the console, not the content.

  • Viewer web app

    Web
    Open the Viewer web app demo
    Login
    webuser@demo.com
    Password
    User_$321

    Try this

    • Play the free episodes, then hit the first locked one
    • Open the wallet and read the history behind the total
    • Claim the daily check-in and look at the quests
    • Unlock an episode, then check the same title in the app
  • Operator console

    Admin panel
    Open the Operator console demo
    Login
    admin@demo.com
    Password
    Admin_$321

    Try this

    • Open a title and look at how episodes are numbered and priced
    • Read the coin packs and VIP plans screens
    • Browse revenue by series and by episode
    • Notice that edits are refused: this login is view-only
  • Android viewer app

    Android
    Open the Android viewer app demo
    Login
    webuser@demo.com
    Password
    User_$321

    Try this

    • Watch an episode in the fullscreen vertical player
    • Open the comment sheet over a playing episode
    • Open the quests tab and the referral history
    • Switch the interface language, including a right-to-left one

The ReelShort clone features each role gets

48 features across 4 roles. The first six of each role are here and the full list is one click away. Nothing is held back for a sales call.

Viewers

  • Persistent guest identity

    A visitor without an account still gets a durable identity, so coins earned and titles saved are not lost when sign-up happens later.

  • Email sign-in

    Email and password registration works on both the web app and the store app, alongside guest entry.

  • Episode zero trailers

    A trailer lives inside the title as episode zero, so it plays, orders and targets exactly like any other episode.

  • Coming soon rail

    Unreleased titles show an announce date on their own shelf and are kept out of every other rail until release.

  • Remind Me

    A viewer can ask to be reminded about a title that has not released, which gives launch day a ready audience.

  • Browse tabs

    Dedicated browse tabs for Anime, Fandom and Interactive sit beside the main rails for viewers who search by taste.

7 more Viewers features are in the full list.

Operators

  • Movie or series typing

    Each title is typed as a movie or a web series, which changes how its episodes and shelves behave.

  • Artwork toggles

    Poster, banner and an auto-animated hero are switched on per title, along with trending, coming soon and active flags.

  • Region chips

    Each title carries region chips and dated licence windows, so catalog targeting is a property of the record.

  • Signed playback links

    Playback links are signed and expire, with geo rules applied, which limits casual sharing of raw file addresses.

  • Subtitle upload

    VTT and SRT files upload against a single episode, with the language and format recorded beside them.

  • Reorder and relock

    Dragging an episode to a new position renumbers the run and reapplies locks, so a re-cut never strands a viewer.

8 more Operators features are in the full list.

Staff and moderators

  • Module and action grants

    A role is a list of modules and actions, so an editor can create episodes without ever seeing the economy screens.

  • One role per account

    Each staff account is attached to exactly one named role, which keeps responsibility traceable.

  • Role-filtered sidebar

    Menu entries a role cannot use are removed, so staff are not shown screens that will refuse them.

  • Short console session

    The console signs a user out after one hour, which limits the exposure of an unattended screen.

  • Custom report reasons

    The reasons a viewer can pick when reporting are written by the operator and appear in the app report sheet.

  • Reporter notification

    Marking a report solved sends a notice to the person who filed it, closing the loop without manual email.

5 more Staff and moderators features are in the full list.

Mobile

  • Immersive fullscreen

    The store app plays episodes in an immersive fullscreen view designed for one-handed vertical watching.

  • Comment sheet

    Comments open in a sheet over the player so a viewer can read and reply without leaving the episode.

  • Rewarded video

    AdMob rewarded video runs on your own unit IDs, giving a viewer without coins a way to open an episode.

  • Server-charged checkout

    Purchases in the store app are charged and recorded on the server, and not by trusting the device.

  • Referral history

    A viewer can see who joined through their code and what each referral paid.

  • Quests tab

    Daily and weekly quests list their progress and give a claim button when the target is reached.

4 more Mobile features are in the full list.

The ReelShort clone, step by step

The path through the product, in the order it happens for the people using it.

  1. Step 1: Arrive and browse

    A guest lands on rails, trailers and search without signing up, so discovery never waits on registration.

  2. Step 2: Watch the free window

    The opening episodes play freely. The window length is one operator setting and is the first number most owners test.

  3. Step 3: Reach the lock

    At the cutoff the player shows every way in: coins, a rewarded ad or a VIP pass.

  4. Step 4: Unlock and spend

    Each route writes the same unlock record. Coin spend draws reward coins before purchased ones, and the ledger records the movement.

  5. Step 5: Refill and return

    An empty wallet leads to coin packs or VIP plans at hosted checkout, and the check-in ladder gives a reason to come back tomorrow.

Where a ReelShort clone earns its money

Every earning route built into the product you receive: how it works, who pays and where the operator earns.

ReelShort Clone revenue models
Revenue modelHow it worksWho paysHow you earn
Coin packs Viewers buy packs with bonus coins at hosted checkout or through store billing, credited to a balance that never expires.ViewerMargin on every pack, tuned through pack size, bonus and offer price
Episode unlocks Coins are spent per episode, and the price sits on the episode so a finale can cost more than an opener.ViewerCoin spend recognized as the viewer opens each locked episode
VIP and Premium windows A plan with a validity window opens locked episodes while it runs and unlocks HD playback for the member.ViewerPlan price for each window, repeated as members renew
Rewarded ads A viewer without coins watches a rewarded unit to open one episode, under a daily cap per title.Advertiser, through your ad network accountAd network payout per completed reward view
Gem items Gem-priced items are bought with a separate balance, kept apart from coins in the wallet and the ledger.ViewerSpend on a second currency that you price independently
Coupons and codes Redeem codes grant coins or VIP days and are issued for partnerships, promotions and win-back.Operator, as a promotional costReactivated viewers who then buy packs or plans
White-label licensing Branding, plans and reward tables are settings, so one deployment model can be handed to another operator.Licensed operatorLicence income that you negotiate with each operator

How money moves in a ReelShort clone

The flow of money, the gateways you can connect and how payouts are handled.

Money enters the product as coin pack and plan purchases, and leaves the wallet as episode unlocks. Hosted checkout takes the card on the processor side, store billing covers in-app purchases where the platforms require it, and a typed ledger records every credit and debit. Reward coins are spent before purchased coins, so promotional balance is consumed first. Merchant accounts are yours, and we connect them to the gateway switches during delivery.

Payment gateways supported by the ReelShort Clone, by type
GatewayWhat it covers
Card
PayPlusHosted checkout and the primary path, so no card number is written to your database.
StripeCard purchases confirmed with the processor on the server before coins or VIP days are credited.
Regional
RazorpayRegional gateway confirmed on the server in the same way before any credit is applied.
FlutterwaveSwitch available in the console for markets where this processor is the local choice.
Other
Google Play billingStore billing switch for in-app coin purchases where store rules require their own billing.

Running a ReelShort clone safely: what ships, what is yours

You operate the platform, so legal compliance in each market you serve is yours. This is the tooling that ships in the product. It is not legal advice.

  • No card numbers in your database

    On the hosted checkout path the card is entered on the processor page, so no card number reaches your MongoDB. Stripe and Razorpay purchases are confirmed on the server first. You still need to complete each processor onboarding and keep your own merchant account in good standing, which is slower than most founders expect.

  • Uploads are inspected

    Every upload is read at the byte level and only image, video and subtitle families are accepted. A renamed executable, archive, PDF or markup file is discarded before the controller sees it. This protects the server from careless uploads by staff, though it does not replace a review of what your editors publish.

  • Rights belong to you

    The demo catalog is seed material with royalty-free stills, and nothing in it is licensed drama. You supply or license every title you stream and you answer for rights in each market you sell into. Region chips and dated licence windows help you enforce what the contract allows, but the contract itself is yours to negotiate.

  • Reporting and moderation

    Viewers file reports against comments using reasons you write, staff work the queue, and solving a report notifies the reporter. Comments can be hidden and accounts blocked from the console. Decide before launch who reads the queue, how fast, and what you do about content you are legally bound to remove.

  • Data requests and privacy

    The console can export an account, anonymize it or delete it permanently, which gives you a working path for access and erasure requests. Publish your own privacy and terms pages through the legal content editor. Which laws apply to you depends on where you operate, and we do not provide legal advice.

  • Hardening before go-live

    The product documentation lists open items, including stronger password hashing, request rate limiting, an origin allow-list and wider enforcement of staff permissions. Ask for the current security reference and agree which items to close before launch. We set these up for your build, and the scope is confirmed with us at kickoff.

What a ReelShort clone is built on

The layers of the product as delivered. You receive the full source code for every one of them.

ReelShort Clone tech stack and hosting, by layer
LayerBuilt withHosting note
Consumer web app Vite, React, React Router A static build served directly by the proxy, so browsing and playback never occupy the API process.One Node.js and Express service behind nginx under PM2, serving both the viewer and admin routers.
Operator console Next.js 14, Redux, ApexCharts A Next.js 14 application on its own subdomain, with charts drawn in the browser.
API Node.js, Express, Mongoose
Database MongoDB MongoDB with indexes on active titles, release date, ledger timelines and the unlock lookups.
Mobile apps Flutter, GetX (iOS and Android)
Server and jobs nginx, PM2, node-cron Node cron inside the API process resets ad counters at midnight and dispatches due campaigns every minute.
File storage Local disk, AWS S3 or DigitalOcean Spaces One active storage target chosen in settings: local disk, AWS S3 or DigitalOcean Spaces, among eight supported providers.Placed in front of your bucket as a deployment decision, since episode delivery is mostly bandwidth.
Proxy rules The proxy answers not found for sensitive paths such as environment and repository files.

Each operator gets a single-tenant deployment: one database, one settings document, one pair of domains and one store binary. The stack is conventional Node, MongoDB and static web hosting, so any competent sysadmin can run it, and adding capacity means adding processes and bandwidth and not redesigning anything.

Apple and Google billing rules for selling coins

Selling a virtual currency inside a store app triggers the store billing rules, and those rules differ by platform, region and date. Treat the table as a planning aid rather than legal advice. Check the current policy of each store before you set prices, because the exact terms change and are theirs to decide.

Apple and Google billing rules for selling coins
Where the sale happensWhat to knowWhat the build gives you
Browser checkout on your web app Outside the stores, so store billing does not apply, and your margin is set by the gateway fees alone.Hosted checkout with several gateway switches, confirmed server-side before coins are credited.
Android store app Digital goods consumed in the app generally need Google Play billing, with regional exceptions that change over time.A Google Play billing switch ships, and each coin pack carries a store product key.
iOS store app Apple generally expects in-app purchase for digital goods used inside the app, with limited and region-specific exceptions.The iOS app is delivered with Apple in-app purchase, and we set up the store products with you during delivery.
Coins bought on web, spent in app The wallet is shared, so a balance can cross clients, but store policy may still limit how you advertise the web route inside the app.One ledger and one unlock record serve every client, so ownership is identical everywhere.
Subscriptions and passes A recurring pass sold inside the app is usually a store subscription, with its own review and renewal rules.VIP plans by validity window exist, so confirm with us how each plan maps to a store product.
Store commission on sales Where store billing is required, the store keeps a share of each in-app sale, which changes pack pricing.You set pack prices and offer prices freely, so you can price the app and the web differently.
Account approval and review Developer accounts, listings and reviews run on the store timeline, not ours, and a listing can be rejected.Builds are prepared and submission help is provided, but acceptance is never guaranteed.

Content protection for paid episodes, stated plainly

Paid episodes are a target for copying, and no single control stops it. The honest approach is layers, each one raising the effort needed to copy, plus clear terms with licensors. Here is what ships, what we set up as a module, and what is left to you.

Access rule at read time
Every request for an episode is checked against the lock, the free window, any pass and the unlock record. A client that guesses a file address does not become an owner. This protects the commercial model but is not a substitute for protecting the stream itself.
Signed playback links
Playback links are listed as signed and expiring, with geographic rules and dated license windows per title. A link copied from the page stops working after it expires, and a title cannot be served outside the territories you set for it.
Screenshot restriction
Release builds of the mobile app block screenshots natively. That deters casual capture on a phone. We do not claim that it stops screen recording or a camera pointed at a screen, so do not promise licensors more than this.
Streaming and DRM modules
Adaptive streaming and DRM are modules we set up for your build. DRM adds a license step in front of packaged streams and repeats the lock, pass and region checks first. It needs your own Widevine or FairPlay vendor, and licensors with strict rights often require it.
Watermarking and monitoring
We can build per-viewer watermarking and automated piracy takedown as tailored work, or you can buy them as services from specialists, and agree with licensors early who handles takedowns when copies appear.
Terms and enforcement
Technical layers work best beside clear terms of use, account controls and a report queue. Staff can block an account from the console, which gives you a practical response when abuse is traced to a particular user, and a record to show a licensor.

Optional AI features, listed as scope rather than promises

Buyers often ask whether AI can be added. The items below are tailored work, and none of them is a finished module. We scope each one with you, and each depends on a provider you choose and pay.

Optional AI features, listed as scope rather than promises
IdeaWhat it would doWhat it depends on
Episode recommendations Suggest the next title from watch history, replacing hand-composed shelves.Enough viewing data and a ranking approach we scope with you.
Subtitle generation Draft a subtitle file from the episode audio for staff to review.A speech provider account, plus a human review step before publishing.
Subtitle translation Turn an approved subtitle track into other languages.A translation provider, and review by someone fluent in the target language.
Voice dubbing Offer an alternate audio track in another language.A voice provider, rights to alter the performance, and quality checks.
Comment moderation Flag abusive comments before staff see them in the queue.A moderation provider, and clear policy on what counts as abuse.
Search assistant Answer a viewer description of a story with matching titles.A language model provider and a clean catalog of plots and tags.

The ReelShort clone for $3,999, and what comes with it

One fixed price for the ready-made platform, published here so you can plan before you talk to us.

Ready-made, one-time

$3,999

ReelShort Clone

Live in 6 working days from kickoff

  • Full source code
  • White-label under your brand
  • 60 days of technical support
  • 1 year of free updates
  • App publishing support
Get it for $3,999

Included in the price

  • Full source code for the web app, operator console, API and Flutter app
  • Complete white-labeling under your brand, domain and store listings
  • Mongoose schema with a seed script that loads demo titles
  • Entity relationship and schema references, API collection and developer handbook
  • Deployment to your own server in about 6 working days
  • Help with publishing the apps to the stores
  • 60 days of technical support after delivery
  • 1 year of free updates

Support and updates after launch

The engineers who deploy your platform stay with it once it is live.

  • Technical support for 60 days After delivery you have 60 days of technical support, with a first response within 2 hours between Monday and Saturday, 10:00 to 19:00 IST.
  • Free updates for 1 year Platform updates are included for a year after delivery, so releases of the product reach your deployment without a fee.
  • App publishing support We help prepare the iOS and Android builds for submission, but accounts, listings and review decisions stay with you and the stores.
  • Tailored work for your build Payouts, new modules and other additions are available, with the scope confirmed with us, and typically take 2 to 8 weeks.
  • Documentation you keep You receive the schema reference, an API collection and developer and security handbooks, so your own engineers can take over operation.
  • Launch bundle bug fixes With the launch bundle you also get 6 months of bug fixes. That is separate from the 60 days of full technical support, which covers guidance, setup and configuration help.

Need more? We tailor the platform to your plan, typically in 2-8 weeks, and confirm the scope with you before work starts. App store review times are set by Apple and Google.

More we set up for your ReelShort clone

Everything here is available around the ready-made ReelShort clone. We confirm the scope with you before any price is agreed.

  • Adaptive Streaming (HLS)

    Adaptive bitrate playback that follows the viewer connection. Encoding runs through Mux or Cloudflare Stream on your own account, connected during delivery.

    Confirm with us
  • DRM Protection

    A licence step in front of packaged streams for catalogs whose rights require it, repeating lock, VIP and region checks first. Your Widevine or FairPlay vendor is connected.

    Confirm with us
  • Season Voting

    Polls on which title earns another season, with free daily votes, extra votes for VIP members and purchasable vote props beyond the cap.

    Confirm with us
  • Content Import (API)

    Scheduled import of licensed titles from partner APIs, with imported series behaving like any other title in unlocks and analytics.

    Confirm with us
  • Regional Pricing

    Local prices and currencies per country on coin, VIP and Premium plans, charged on the server through Stripe, PayPlus or Razorpay.

    Confirm with us
  • Cash-out and payouts

    A viewer-facing withdrawal flow, an operator payout desk and your bank rails, built on the withdrawal records already in the schema.

    Confirm with us
  • Processor-side verification

    Server confirmation of store and card purchases beyond what ships, for operators who want every credit proven with the processor.

    Confirm with us
  • Security hardening pack

    Rate limiting, origin restrictions, stronger password hashing and route-level permission checks, scoped from the items in the security reference.

    Confirm with us

ReelShort clone scope: what ships and what we set up for you

Buyers of this category usually compare package tiers. This product has one package at $3,999, with most of the platform shipping ready and the rest set up around your plan, so the useful comparison is a plain matrix. Each row says whether the capability ships ready or is set up for you.

Included16In the price and ready on day one.

  • Included: Free episode window

    The count of open episodes is a console setting you can change without a release.

  • Included: Per-episode coin price

    Each episode carries its own coin price and lock, so a finale can cost more than an opener.

  • Included: Coins, pass or ad unlock

    Three routes at the same lock, all writing one shared unlock record.

  • Included: Auto-unlock for a title

    A viewer can opt to open the remaining episodes as they arrive.

  • Included: Two-balance wallet

    Reward coins and purchased coins are tracked apart, with expiry only on the reward side.

  • Included: Coin packs with bonus

    Packs carry bonus coins, an offer price and a store product key.

  • Included: VIP pass windows

    Plans by validity period open locked episodes while the window runs.

  • Included: Check-in and quests

    A seven day ladder plus daily and weekly quests, all paid in coins you issue.

  • Included: Gems and coupons

    A second currency for gem-priced items and redeem codes for campaigns.

  • Included: Interactive choices

    Episodes can branch on viewer choices, with a choice pass beside auto-unlock.

  • Included: Vertical player

    Sequential playback, comments, likes, subtitle tracks and selectable audio tracks.

  • Included: Web app and Flutter app

    The same wallet and catalog serve the browser and the store builds.

  • Included: Campaigns and inbox

    Scheduled messages reach an in-app inbox whether or not push is configured.

  • Included: Staff roles and reports

    Permissioned staff accounts, a report queue and a view-only demo operator.

  • Included: Hosted checkout and Play billing

    Hosted gateways and a Google Play billing switch ship, connected to your own accounts.

  • Included: iOS in-app purchase flow

    The iOS app is delivered with Apple in-app purchase for coins and plans, set up during delivery.

Available5Ready modules we set up for your build.

  • Available: Adaptive streaming

    A module we set up that uses an encoding service on your own account.

  • Available: DRM protection

    A module we set up that adds a license step, with your own Widevine or FairPlay vendor.

  • Available: Regional pricing

    A module we set up for local prices and currencies per country on packs and plans.

  • Available: Partner catalog import

    A module we set up that fills the catalog from licensed partner APIs on a schedule.

  • Available: Season voting

    A module we set up for community polls on which title gets a next season.

Tailored for you2Built around your plan, typically in 2-8 weeks. Scope confirmed with us.

  • Tailored for you: Viewer cash-out

    Withdrawal data is modeled, and we build the request flow and payout rails to your market, with scope confirmed with us.

  • Tailored for you: AI recommendations or dubbing

    We scope any AI feature, such as ranking, against the provider you choose.

A live ReelShort clone in 6 working days, day by day

From kickoff to a live ReelShort clone under your brand: what we do each day, and what we need from you.

  1. Day 1

    Kickoff and brand intake

    What we do
    We confirm scope, collect logo, colors and store names, and agree gateway, storage and ad choices for your launch.
    What you do
    Send brand assets, domain access and the markets you plan to sell in.
  2. Day 2

    Branding and economy settings

    What we do
    We apply your identity across web, app and console, then set locales, default currency, free window and first coin prices.
    What you do
    Decide the free window, coin pack sizes and VIP plan lengths.
  3. Day 3

    Server deployment

    What we do
    We deploy the web app, console and API to your server behind nginx and PM2 and seed the demo catalog.
    What you do
    Provide hosting access and any DNS changes the domains need.
  4. Day 4

    Connect your accounts

    What we do
    We wire storage, your payment gateway and AdMob units, then test a purchase and a rewarded unlock end to end.
    What you do
    Supply merchant account keys and ad unit IDs.
  5. Day 5

    Catalog and test pass

    What we do
    We help load your first titles and episodes, run through the unlock paths, and fix configuration issues found.
    What you do
    Hand over episode files, artwork and subtitles for the opening titles.
  6. Day 6

    Handover and store help

    What we do
    We walk your team through the console, hand over the code and documents, and start app publishing support.
    What you do
    Open store developer accounts and approve the final build.

Build, rent or own: what a ReelShort clone costs

The software is the smallest line in a drama service budget. A wallet that cannot drift, an unlock decision made the same way on every client and an operator console are the parts that consume a build, while the player itself is quick to produce. Your real spending lands on catalog rights, encoding and subtitling, bandwidth, merchant accounts, store fees and the people who moderate. When you compare routes, compare what each leaves you to build or buy afterward, and not only the invoice at the start.

ReelShort Clone cost: building from scratch, renting a SaaS or owning the platform
FactorBuild from scratchRent a SaaSOwn it with GetFame
Time to launch Long, because wallet, unlock model and console come before the first viewerQuick to start, bounded by the plan you rent6 working days with this platform
Wallet and ledger Designed and debugged by your teamProvided, but rules are the vendor rulesTwo balances and a typed ledger already in place
Source code Yours, since you wrote itNot availableFull source for all clients
Pricing control Total, once you build the settingsLimited to what the vendor exposesFree window, episode price and rewards are settings
Show 3 more cost factors
ReelShort Clone cost: further factors
FactorBuild from scratchRent a SaaSOwn it with GetFame
Revenue share NoneOften a fee or share on top of the planNone to us, with no per-seat fee
Store apps Built and maintained by youSometimes a shared or branded appFlutter app under your listing, with publishing help
Exit options Full control of your stackContent and users sit with the vendorStandard MongoDB you can move

Running costs. Running costs sit outside the price: hosting and bandwidth, payment processing fees, ad network terms, Apple and Google developer accounts and any store commission on in-app coin sales, encoding and subtitling, and the staff who moderate. Catalog rights are the largest variable and are never ours to quote.

Ready-made wallet and unlock engine versus building the stack yourself

The visible parts of a drama app are easy to sketch. The expensive parts are the ones a viewer never sees: an unlock rule that every client agrees on, a ledger that can explain a single spend, and an operator console. Here is how each module compares when you build it and when you start from a finished product.

  • Unlock rule

    Build it yourselfA shared access rule across web, mobile and console, tested against refunds, reorders and mixed entitlements. A team effort over many weeks.

    Ready-madeOne rule decides access at read time, and every unlock route writes the same record.

  • Wallet ledger

    Build it yourselfTyped credits and debits, expiry handling and double-charge protection, usually the slowest module to make trustworthy.

    Ready-madeTwo balances with a typed history, spending reward coins before purchased coins.

  • Payment gateways

    Build it yourselfEach processor needs its own integration, signature checks and server-side confirmation before any credit is issued.

    Ready-madeHosted checkout and several gateway switches ship, verified with the processor before coins are credited.

  • Vertical player

    Build it yourselfA swipe-based player with comments, tracks and resume points on both web and mobile, built twice or via a shared framework.

    Ready-madeA web player and a Flutter player with subtitle and audio tracks already working.

  • Catalog console

    Build it yourselfForms for categories, titles and numbered episodes, plus a safe reorder that keeps paid unlocks intact.

    Ready-madeCatalog modules with drag reorder that renumbers and relocks the episodes.

  • Rewards ladder

    Build it yourselfStreak logic, caps, midnight resets and referral crediting, each with its own abuse cases to study.

    Ready-madeCheck-ins, quests, ad tasks and referral rewards configured in four console tabs.

  • Staff permissions

    Build it yourselfRole design, per-module grants and enforcement on the server rather than only in the menu.

    Ready-madeNamed roles, grants by module and action, and a view-only demo operator.

  • Campaign desk

    Build it yourselfTemplates, audience selection, a scheduler and an inbox, usually bought as a separate messaging service.

    Ready-madeTemplates, scheduling and delivery statistics with an inbox row for every targeted user.

  • Store apps

    Build it yourselfTwo native codebases or one cross-platform build, plus store accounts and review cycles to manage.

    Ready-madeA Flutter build for both stores, with publishing help during delivery.

  • Data requests

    Build it yourselfExport, anonymize and delete flows, often left until a regulator or a customer asks.

    Ready-madeThe console can export, anonymize or delete an account on request.

The ReelShort model next to this platform

ReelShort is widely known as a vertical drama app where early episodes are free and later ones are paid with coins, with passes and rewards alongside. This table compares that general model with what you receive here. It describes the pattern and not the private workings of any company.

This platform compared with the ReelShort model
AspectThe ReelShort modelThis platform
Who sets the rules The company that owns the app decides pricing, pacing and policyYou set the free window, coin prices, plans and reward tables
Catalog source Content comes from its own pipeline of productions and licencesYou produce or license the titles and publish them from the console
Brand and audience Viewers sit inside the brand app and its accountsViewers sign up under your name, on your domain and store listing
Unlock options Coins, passes and ad-based rewards are common in the modelCoins, a rewarded ad or a VIP window on the same episode
Data and ledger Held inside the company systemsIn your MongoDB, with a typed ledger you can query
Customization Fixed by the owner roadmapSource code is yours to change or extend
Cost to enter Not available as a product you can buyOne-time platform price of $3,999 plus your own running costs

Who the ReelShort clone is for

The founders and teams this product fits most directly, one line each. The launch ideas that follow turn these audiences into a first-week plan.

  • Studios with an owned catalog

    Sell your own vertical series by the episode, tune the free window weekly and see which titles convert.

  • Impulse-spend streaming services

    Build a coin-first service for viewers who will pay for the next three episodes but not a monthly plan.

  • Ad-supported operators

    Let viewers without budget open episodes through rewarded ads while buyers still pay in coins.

  • App publishers

    Ship a store app, web companion and console that agree on what every viewer owns.

  • Media brands extending into drama

    Add a vertical drama service with runtime branding, staff roles and legal pages ready.

Ways to launch a coin-unlock drama service

The same wallet supports quite different businesses. These launch ideas show who pays, what they pay for and which setting to touch first, so that your first week of configuration has a clear purpose.

  1. Studio with an owned slate

    A production company sells its own vertical series directly instead of licensing them to a larger app. The audience pays per episode or with a pass. Configure the free window first, then tune episode prices by comparing where viewers stop. Keep the first slate small so every title gets a proper trailer and subtitle track.

  2. Regional language service

    An operator serves one language community that larger apps treat as an afterthought. Viewers pay in a local currency through a rail they trust. Configure the default locale, currency and gateway first, then add coin packs sized to local spending habits. Right-to-left languages are already supported across clients.

  3. Ad-led audience builder

    A publisher wants to reach viewers who will not spend yet. They open episodes with rewarded ads on the store app and convert later into coin buyers. Configure the per-title ad cap and the check-in ladder first. Connect your own ad network account, because the web preview does not earn revenue.

  4. Media brand extension

    An established brand with an audience adds a drama service beside its existing products. The audience already trusts the name, so a pass window may sell better than coins. Configure plan validity periods and the legal pages first, then use the campaign desk to announce releases to existing readers or viewers.

  5. Licensed library operator

    A distributor holds rights to many titles across territories and wants a storefront that respects them. Viewers pay per episode. Configure region chips and dated license windows before publishing anything, so a title never appears where it should not. Add the import module if the library arrives through partner feeds.

  6. White-label reseller

    An agency deploys branded copies for several clients, each with its own wallet and catalog. The client pays for a ready service instead of an engineering project. Configure branding and plans per deployment first, and agree early who owns the merchant and store accounts for each copy.

ReelShort next to the other ways to get a vertical drama service

People searching for a ReelShort clone are usually choosing between several routes, not only between vendors. The options below differ in who owns the audience, who owns the code and how much of the economy you can change. None is better in the abstract; each fits a different operator.

  • Consumer drama app

    ReelShort

    Suits

    A studio that wants distribution and is content to be one title among many on a large app.

    You give up

    You do not own the audience, the wallet or the pricing rules.

  • Consumer drama app

    DramaBox

    Suits

    Producers who want reach in many languages through an existing multilingual shelf.

    You give up

    Same trade as any aggregator: the brand and the viewer relationship belong to the app.

  • Consumer drama app

    GoodShort

    Suits

    Content owners testing demand before committing to a platform of their own.

    You give up

    Terms, placement and revenue arrangements are set by the app, not by you.

  • Subscription video SaaS

    Hosted OTT builders

    Suits

    Creators selling a monthly plan on a hosted site with little technical work.

    You give up

    Built around subscriptions, so per-episode coins and rewards are usually missing.

  • Bespoke development

    Custom agency build

    Suits

    Teams with unusual requirements and the budget and calendar to shape every detail.

    You give up

    Slowest route, and the wallet and ledger are the hardest parts to get right.

Where a platform you own sits

A white-label platform sits between a hosted builder and a bespoke build. You own the code, the domain and the wallet, you set every price, and you carry the work a consumer app would otherwise do for you: acquiring viewers, licensing stories and running store accounts. It suits operators who would rather own the economy than rent distribution.

What founders ask before buying a ReelShort clone

Longer answers to the questions buyers of this model ask before they commit.

How to launch a coin-unlock drama service

Start from the catalog and not from the app. A coin economy only works when there is a story good enough to make a viewer spend at episode four, so line up a small set of titles whose first minutes hook fast and whose rights you can prove. Fifty well-chosen series will teach you more than a thousand uneven ones.

Then set a deliberately simple economy: one free window, one price per episode, two or three coin packs and one VIP plan. Resist adding gems, Premium plans and coupons in week one. Every extra lever makes it harder to see which one moved revenue, and you can switch the others on once you have a baseline.

Finally, plan for the first month of operations as well as the launch. Decide who watches the report queue, who answers purchase disputes from the wallet history, and who reviews series revenue every week. A small team with those three routines will outrun a larger one improvising.

Setting the free window and episode prices

The free window is the first number most owners test, because it controls how many viewers reach the lock and how invested they are when they do. Too short and viewers leave before caring. Too long and the people who would have paid are already satisfied. Begin with a few episodes and move it in small steps.

Price per episode is more flexible than it looks. Because the coin price is stored on each episode, you can charge less for the first locked episodes to ease the first purchase, and more for a season finale where the pull is strongest. Back catalog titles can be discounted without touching new releases.

Change one variable at a time and give each change a few days before judging it. The console reports revenue by series and by episode, so you can see where viewers stop paying. If a title loses people at one specific episode, the answer is usually the story or the price at that point, and not the whole model.

Balancing coins, VIP and rewarded ads

These three routes serve different people. Coins suit the impulse viewer three episodes into a story late at night. VIP suits the heavy watcher who dislikes counting coins. Rewarded ads suit the viewer who will never pay but is still worth something to you. Running only one leaves the other two groups unmonetized.

The risk is cannibalization. A viewer who would have bought a pack may watch an ad instead, so keep the daily cap per title tight at launch and loosen it only when you can see ad income and coin income as separate lines. Remember that the web app ad unlock is a simulated preview, so live ad revenue comes from the store app.

Treat reward coins as a marketing budget, not as revenue. They expire on a window you set, they are spent before purchased coins, and they exist to bring someone back tomorrow. Set the expiry window before launch, because changing it later affects balances people already hold and invites complaints.

What to check before buying a ready-made drama platform

Ask to see the lock screen working on every client, with real coins moving. A common failure is a web demo and a store app that disagree about what a viewer owns. Here a single unlock record is read by all three clients, so test it: unlock on the web, then open the same episode in the app.

Ask what is simulated or still to be set up and read the answer carefully. For this product the list covers a simulated web ad unlock, cash-out that we build around your market, some strings that fall back to English, and a hardening list that includes password hashing and rate limiting. A seller who volunteers these is easier to trust than one who does not.

Finally, check who owns what after delivery. You should receive the full source for every client, the schema, the API collection and the right to deploy anywhere. Confirm the support window, the update term and how tailored work is scoped, then price your own content and running costs, which will dwarf the software.

What teams built and said about the ReelShort clone

Projects and comments as published by our parent company, Miracuves, with the release notes as printed there.

Coin unlock is the whole business. Viewers who would never take a monthly subscription will happily pay for the next three episodes at midnight.

Head of Distribution, Regional Short-Drama OTT

We ran the free window at three episodes for a month, then five. Being able to move that number from a settings screen rather than a release changed how we test pricing.

Product Lead, Drama Streaming App

The demo console sold it. Handing a prospect a live admin login that physically cannot write anything is not something our previous vendor could do.

Commercial Director, Media Licensor

Right-to-left was the requirement that eliminated every other option we looked at. Here it was already in the web app, the store build and the console.

Operations Manager, MENA OTT Operator

Delivered projects

  • Short-drama OTT platform, India, name withheld under NDA

    A regional short-drama service launched on this product with coin unlock, VIP windows and a rewards ladder live from the first day. Its brief was to sell episode by episode without a subscription wall, run right-to-left layouts across web, app and console, and share one catalog and one wallet everywhere.

Release log

  1. v2026.5Sep 2026

    • Five modules arrived with runtime switches: streaming, DRM, voting, import and regional pricing
    • Staff permissions are now enforced on the admin API
  2. v2026.4Sep 2026

    • Android 1.1.3 and an iOS TestFlight build
    • Coupons, inbox, reminders, referral history and browse tabs
  3. v2026.3Sep 2026

    • Gems, quests, game promos, a premium plan and an episode hub
    • Multi-track subtitles and audio, HD for VIP and interactive choices
  4. v2026.2Aug 2026

    • Verified payment callbacks and server-confirmed card checkouts
    • Origin allow-list, scoped settings payload and upload inspection by file signature
  5. v2026.1Aug 2026

    • Initial release with coin, ad and VIP unlock
    • Rewards ladder, hosted checkout, five right-to-left capable locales and a console of many modules

Your ReelShort clone questions, answered

How much does a ReelShort clone cost and how long does it take?

The ready-made white-label platform costs $3,999 one time and goes live on your server in about 6 working days. Final scope moves with catalog size, gateway choice, ad network setup, storage and CDN choices, and store publishing. Tailored work typically takes 2 to 8 weeks depending on what you add.

How does unlocking an episode work?

The platform checks four things at read time: whether the episode is locked, whether its number falls inside the free window, whether the viewer holds an active VIP window, and whether an unlock record already exists. Coins, a rewarded ad or auto-unlock each write that same record, so ownership is identical everywhere.

What is the difference between reward coins and purchased coins?

Reward coins come from check-ins, quests, ads, referrals and bonuses, and they expire after a window you configure. Purchased coins come from coin packs and never expire. Spending uses reward coins first, so promotional balances are consumed before money the viewer paid. The app shows a single combined total.

Do rewarded ads earn revenue?

On the Flutter store app, yes, through AdMob with your own unit IDs, which we connect during delivery. On the web app the ad unlock is a simulated timed preview that demonstrates the flow without a live ad network, so it does not generate ad revenue there.

Which payment gateways are supported?

PayPlus hosted checkout is the primary path, with Stripe and Razorpay also supported and verified on the server before any credit is applied. Gateway switches and keys are managed in the console. You provide the merchant accounts, and we connect them during delivery.

Can you add streaming, DRM and the other Plus modules?

Yes. Adaptive streaming, DRM protection, season voting, content import through partner APIs and regional pricing are modules we set up for your build, with the scope confirmed with us at kickoff. None of them is needed to launch: coin unlock, VIP windows, rewarded ads, the rewards ladder and the console all ship ready. They are delivered as their own folders, so your copy contains the modules you choose.

Do I get the source code?

Yes. You receive the consumer web app, the Next.js operator console, the Express API with its Mongoose models, the Flutter app, the seed script and deployment configuration, with no per-seat fee and no revenue share. You can modify, rebrand and redeploy all of it.

Is it legal to launch a ReelShort clone?

You launch under your own brand, with your own catalog and commercial terms. The software replicates common micro drama patterns and contains no code or content from any existing app. You are responsible for licensing the dramas you stream. We are not affiliated with ReelShort, and this is not legal advice.

Which languages does it support?

Five locales ship: English, Hebrew, Hindi, Arabic and Spanish. Hebrew and Arabic use right-to-left layout across the web app, the store app and the console, and the console includes an editor for client copy so wording changes do not need a rebuild.

Can viewers use the same coins on the web and in the app?

Yes. The wallet and the unlock record live in one database read by the web app, the store app and the console, so coins bought in one place spend in the other. A viewer who unlocks an episode on the web finds it already open in the mobile app. Store billing rules can still affect where you choose to sell coins.

What happens to reward coins that nobody spends?

Reward coins carry an expiry window that you configure, and the wallet applies the expiry before any credit or spend. Purchased coins do not expire. Because spending draws reward coins first, promotional balance is consumed before the money a viewer paid. Choose the window before launch, since changing it later touches balances already issued.

Can I run the service without a mobile app at first?

Yes. The consumer web app is a static build that works on its own, and the console and API do not depend on the store app. Many operators validate pricing on the web first and publish the Flutter app later. Rewarded ads earn only through the store app, so that income waits for the app.

Can I add new payment gateways later?

Gateway switches and keys are managed in the console for the ones that ship, and a new gateway means an additional switch, keys and a route. That is development work we scope with you. Each processor also needs its own merchant account and approval, which usually takes longer than the code.

How do I move titles between categories without breaking anything?

Categories are genre buckets, titles belong to them, and episodes belong to titles. Reordering episodes renumbers them and relocks them automatically. Existing unlock records stay attached to the viewer and the episode, so people who already paid keep access after a re-cut.

Does the platform recommend titles automatically?

Shelves are assembled by the operator from banner, trending, new release, coming soon and category rails, and For You trailers are grouped by title. Ranking is editorial today, and we can build personalization as tailored work. The series analytics help you decide which titles deserve front placement.

What happens if I want to move to another host later?

The deployment is yours: standard MongoDB, Node services under PM2 and a static web build, with storage you can repoint to another provider. Moving means copying the database and media and updating configuration. Nothing in the code ties it to our infrastructure, and your support and update terms continue.

Do coins have to be sold through Apple and Google billing?

Not for sales that happen outside the store apps, such as a checkout on your own website. Inside a store app, digital goods like coins generally fall under the store billing rules, with exceptions that vary by region and change over time. Read each store policy before launch, price the app and the web separately if you need to, and take advice for your market.

Can the iOS app sell coins through Apple purchase today?

Yes. The iOS app is delivered with Apple in-app purchase, alongside the Google Play billing switch and a store product key on each coin pack. We create the store products with you during delivery. Apple reviews each app and its purchases, so allow for review time in your launch plan.

How do I protect episodes from piracy?

Use layers. The access rule checks every request, playback links are signed and expire, titles carry territory and license windows, and release builds block screenshots. DRM and adaptive streaming are modules we set up for catalogs that need them. No control stops a determined copier, so agree realistic expectations with licensors and plan takedown handling.

Will you build an exact copy of the ReelShort app or its stories?

No. You receive a platform that follows the common drama pattern under your own name, with none of the brand, design assets or content of any existing app. The product is not affiliated with ReelShort. You supply your own catalog, licensed or original, and you are responsible for the rights to every title you publish.

Can I add AI recommendations, dubbing or subtitle tools later?

Yes, as tailored work, because you own the source and the stack is ordinary. Each one depends on an AI provider you contract, so cost per use is yours. Start with the problem, such as slow subtitling, and scope the smallest useful step.

Where can my video files be stored?

Media can sit on local disk, an Amazon S3 bucket or DigitalOcean Spaces, chosen during delivery and configurable afterward. The platform plays stored files as they are. If you want adaptive bitrate playback, we set up a streaming module that uses an encoding service on your own account.

Can I add or change features after launch?

Yes. You receive the full source for the web app, console, API and mobile app, so your own engineers or ours can extend it. Optional modules can be switched on and off at runtime without losing their data. Bigger changes are scoped as tailored work, and a year of free updates covers the maintained product.

Why do coin-unlock drama apps convert the way they do?

The decision is small and arrives at a moment of high interest. A coin asks for the next few minutes of a story the viewer already wants to finish, while a subscription asks about next month. That is a behavioral pattern, not a promise of results. Your own free window and price tests will show how your audience responds.

Do I get Android, iOS and web, or only one?

The package includes a consumer web app and a Flutter app for the stores. The release log names an Android build and an iOS TestFlight build, and publishing help is part of delivery. Store acceptance and review timing are decided by Apple and Google, so start the developer accounts early.

What does the release log tell me about ongoing development?

It shows a steady run of updates since the first release: payment verification and upload checks, then gems, quests and richer subtitles, then the modules and mobile builds. It does not promise a roadmap. You receive the current build, and a year of free updates applies to the maintained product after delivery.

→Start here

Tell us what you want to launch.

Share the platform and your market. You get a walkthrough of the live demo, the exact scope of what ships, and a fixed price in writing. First response in under 2 hours, Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 19:00 IST.

We reply to every inquiry. No newsletters, no shared data. See our privacy policy.

Trademark and independence notice

This page uses the name ReelShort to describe a type of platform. The product sold here is separate software, built independently, and ReelShort has no part in it.

Why this name

"ReelShort clone" is industry shorthand that founders use when searching for software with a comparable business model. It names a category of product, not a copy of ReelShort.

Who built this

The platform is an original product designed and written by Miracuves. It contains no code, design, graphics or content originating from the ReelShort website or applications, and it ships under your own brand.

Trademarks

ReelShort and its logos are trademarks of their respective owner and are named here for reference only. GetFame is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by ReelShort. Rights holders can write to legal@miracuves.com.

Operator responsibility. The operator of a launched platform is responsible for legal compliance in the markets it serves. Nothing on this page is legal advice.Read the full disclaimer