Short drama apps are taking over the entertainment world. Since ReelShort became a big hit last year, it has captured the attention of businesses. The bite-sized drama episodes apps is keeping users hooked and coming back for more. The market is expanding fast, and competition is getting tough.

In early 2024, ReelShort and DramaBox were the top short drama apps. ReelShort made $52 million, while DramaBox earned $35 million. Together, they made up a big part of the total earnings of the top 10 apps in this category. 

With such high profits, many entrepreneurs are now looking to develop their own short drama apps. If you are also thinking about investing in this growing market, you might be wondering about the short drama app development cost. 

Thus, in this blog, we will discuss the cost to develop a short video app along with factors, features and other crucial aspects that will help you build an amazing solution. 

So, let’s begin!  

 

What is a Short Drama App?

A short drama app is an on-demand app that lets people watch or make short drama videos, which are usually between a few seconds and a few minutes long. These apps are made to keep you entertained quickly by giving you short stories in themes like action, romance, and thriller.  

Users can watch short dramas, keep up with their favorite artists, and even post their own content. Some apps also have interactive parts that let people connect with the story by commenting, reacting, or voting for different endings.    

 

 

Market Statistics of Video Streaming Industry 

• By 2025, experts predict that the global live video streaming app market would have generated a whopping $119.09 billion in revenue.
• By 2029, the predicted market volume is US$155.51bn, with revenues growing at a CAGR of 6.90% from 2025 to 2029.
• With an anticipated income of US$47.89bn in 2025, the United States will create the largest revenue when compared globally. 
• Among Chinese apps for viewing short dramas online, Red Fruit Short Drama had the most viewers in September 2024, with over 120 million active users per month.

 

Source: Statista

• Forecasts indicate that the short drama platform market will grow from an estimated $7.21 billion in 2025 to $11.91 billion in 2030, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.50%.

 

How Much Does It Cost To Build A Short Drama App?

The cost to build a short drama app can range between $8000 – $25000. The cost to build a video streaming app depends on multiple factors like the features implemented in the short video app and the development team’s location. Let’s look at the below table of cost to develop a short drama app.  

 

App Complexity	Costs Estimation
Simple Short Drama App	$8000 – $15000
Medium Short Drama App	$15000 – $20000
Complex Short Drama App	$25000+

 

These are just the ballpark estimations. However, if you are willing to know the exact cost to develop a short drama app then you must consult from an OTT app development company to get a customized package.    

Besides, you can calculate the short video app development cost, follow the below formula: 

 Total Short Drama App Development Cost = Developer’s Rate * Development Time 

 

Now that you know the cost to develop a short video app, it is time to know about the crucial factors that plays a major factor in affecting the cost.   

 

Factors Affecting the Short Drama App Development Cost

Developing a short drama app involves various aspects that influence the overall cost. If you are planning to create a short drama app, understanding these factors will help you estimate the cost effectively. Below are major factors that affect short drama app development costs.

 

 

1. App Features and Functionality

It will cost more to make your app if it has a lot of advanced features. An app with basic features like video streaming and user profiles will be less expensive than one with advanced features. 

For example, personalized ideas, offline downloads, interactive stories, and content suggestions based on AI. Due to the app complexity, the social media app development cost will go up even more if you want to add social sharing, live streaming, or in-app payments. 

 

Feature Description	Estimated Cost Range
Sign-up/Login (Email, Social)	$1,000 – $3,000
User Profile (Picture, bio, saved shows)	$1,500 – $4,000
Password recovery	$500-$1500
Video Playback (Short Dramas)	$3,000 – $7,000
Content Categorization & Search	$1,500 – $4,000
“Continue Watching” Feature	$2,000-$5000
Subtitle Support	$2,000 – $5,000
Comments & Reviews	$1,500 – $4,000
“Like/Share” Functionality	$500 – $2,000

 

2. App Design and User Interface

The style to build a live streaming app like Reelshort is very important for keeping users interested. Expert UI/UX designers are required to build a system that looks good and is easy to use, which raises the short video app development cost.  

An app with animations, high-quality graphics, and interactive features takes more time and skill, so it costs more. A design that is simple and minimalistic costs less. Spending money on good design guarantees a better experience for users and increases their interest.

 

Task/Phase	Estimated Cost Range (INR)
User Research & Analysis	₹20,000 – ₹50,000
Wireframing & Prototyping	₹30,000 – ₹80,000
UI Design	₹50,000 – ₹150,000
Design Revisions & Iterations	10,000- 50,000

 

3. Platform Selection 

The short drama app development cost also changes based on whether you want to make it for iOS, Android, or both. It costs more as making a native app for each platform separately takes more time and resources.  

On the other hand, using tools to make a cross-platform app like Netflix can lower the cost to create a short video app, but it might not work as well as native apps. The platform you choose should fit your budget and the people you want to reach. 

 

Platform Selection	Estimated Cost
Hybrid	$15,000 – $25,000
Native	$13,000 – $22,000
Cross-platform	$8,000 – $20,000

 

4. Tech Stack and Development Team

The cost to build a short video app is also affected by the platforms and tools that are used to make the app. The short video app development cost clone will be higher if you need one with a strong backend, cloud interface, AI-powered suggestions, or blockchain security. 

The prices are also affected by the knowledge and location of your development team. It costs different amounts to hire a mobile app development company to do the work for you. For cost-effective development, it is important to pick the right development team based on their skills and funds. 

 

Location	Hourly Rate
India	$15 – $25
Eastern Europe	$30 – $60
Southeast Asia	$25 – $50
South America	$30 – $70
North America	$50 – $150+
Western Europe	$40 – $120+
Australia	$60 – $140+

 

5. App Maintenance and Updates

After you release your app, it needs regular upkeep, bug fixes, and updates to keep it running well. Maintenance costs vary based on things like server prices, security updates, new feature additions, and getting used to new OS versions. 

If you do not do maintenance, it can cause problems with speed and make users unhappy. A well-kept app will be successful for a long time and keep people interested.

 

Application Maintenance	Costs
Feature Enhancements	$1000 – $1500
Third-party integrations	$1500 – $2000
Server Hosting	$800 – $1500

 

 

Key Features to Add in Short Drama App Development

ReelShort or DramaBox was successful because of its size video content and unique features. Their monetization strategy, storytelling in curated content, and a standout app experience were the keys to success. Let’s break down the short drama app revenue model: 

 

 

• Serialized Storytelling

Short drama apps are different from other short-form video app like TikTok, which are all about random or viral videos. It is about sharing stories in a series. The stories on the site are typical dramas, like love stories, betrayals, and family secrets. 

 

• Monetization via Virtual Currency

You can buy coins on apps similar to short video, which is a virtual currency, to get access to premium shows. You don’t have to login for a full subscription to stream a few shows. You can pay with different payment gateway options. You can get coins by doing things inside the bite-sized drama app, like watching ads, which makes it feel more like a game.

 

• Bite-sized Content

Every episode lasts approximately one to two minutes, yet it is packed with drama, cliffhangers, and plot twists. So you can read when taking breaks between chores, on your way to work, or at your coffee break.     

 

• High Engagement through Cliffhangers

There is a cliffhanger at the end of every show to keep people wanting more. This is an old way of telling a story, but the very short length of each show makes it work even better, creating a cycle of constant anticipation and engagement.  

 

• Targeted at Specific Audiences

The mini drama app is aimed at middle-aged women who like dramatic shows like soap operas and episodes from Hallmark movies. With this focused approach, you can develop an app like ReelShort that stands out from other micro series app.

 

• In-video Advertisements

Showing appropriate in-video ads based on users’ favorite genres can greatly increase impressions and click-through rates, giving quick story app owners an extra way to make money. Users can also win virtual coins by watching ads that are related to their favorite genres. This makes the experience better for them while also helping the advertisers.

 

• Personalized Recommendations    

This is a big part that many short video app alternatives are missing. Artificial intelligence and ML are growing. Using machine learning algorithms to pick out material will definitely get people more involved. Automated push notifications are customized to each user’s tastes will also assist in keeping them as a user.     

 

• Subtitle Team

It will be easier for people to watch videos in any language if you have an entertainment app development company who are trained and allowed to add subtitles. It also gets people involved in the community by giving rewards like free credits or fees based on how many times a video is watched and how many subtitles are used. 

 

• Watch Party    

By turning on the “watch party” tool, users can share videos with their friends, which raises the referrals engagement. People who do not have the bite-sized drama application yet will receive it so they may join the watch parties.

 

• Community

It is always a good idea to build a closed group, and keeping that same vibe in the instant drama app would make it more interesting. Users will be more interested in a community with forums where they can leave reviews about shows they have watched, want to watch, and do many other things. 

 

Best Short Drama Apps in the Market

If you are looking for the top short drama apps like Reelshort, then you must check out the below table. The below list covers the most popular short video app alternatives.  

 

 

Top Short Drama Apps	Available Platforms	Downloads	Ratings
ReelShort	Android | iOS	50M+	4.5
DramaBox	Android | iOS	50M+	4.4
ShortMax	Android | iOS	50M+	4.1
GoodShort	Android | iOS	10M+	4.9
FreeReels	Android | iOS	5M+	4.8

 

How To Optimize Short Video App Development Cost? 

The cost to build a short drama app will be more, but if you know what you are doing, you can keep quality high while cutting costs. There are some ways to build a short video app cheaper. Here are some ideas.   

 

 

1. Start with an MVP 

Instead of starting from scratch with a fully-featured app, make an MVP that has the most important features, like the ability to record, edit, and share videos. 

 This saves money on short drama app development costs and lets you see what users think before spending money on extra short drama app features. Once the short drama app clone starts to get popular, you can add more advanced features like tips based on AI and ways to make money. 

 

2. Use Pre-Built Solutions

Starting from scratch costs huge amount and takes more time. Use ready-made tools for editing, filtering, and adding effects to videos instead. A lot of open-source tools and SDKs have great features that are cheaper. If you want to use video streaming app APIs instead, you do not have to build your own video hosting system. 

 

3. Choose Cross-Platform Development

The cost to create a short drama app twice as much to make apps for both iOS and Android. Cross-platform tools let you make one bite-sized drama app that works on both, which reduce short video app development cost and time. 

 

 

4. Outsource Development

It can cost a lot to hire an in-house team. Hiring an experienced short video app development company in cost-effective places to work on your app can save the short drama platform development cost. But make sure you choose developers you can trust who have a strong resume to keep quality high.

 

5. Optimize Cloud & Server Costs

Video apps need cloud services to work, but the short drama app production cost more. Choose cloud storage services like AWS, Google Cloud, or DigitalOcean that do not cost to make a short drama app more. 

Use compression to make video files smaller, and make sure the backend design is optimized to keep server costs as low as possible. You can use the content delivery network in short video app alternatives that can also help you spend less on data.

 

Why Is the Short Drama App Getting Popular?

Short entertainment apps are becoming very popular and changing the way people watch shows. People now prefer short, immersive stories to long TV shows or movies, thanks to the rise of short-form content sites. The demand for similar short drama apps is rising because of the following things.

 

 

1. Growing Demand for Short-Form Content

People would rather have short, interesting fun than long shows. A study says that 78% of people who watch videos do so once a week. Short-form stories are popular, as shown by video streaming apps like Quibi and TikTok’s short drama shows.

 

2. Mobile-First Viewing Experience

With over 6.9 billion mobile app users globally, short drama apps are perfect for people who like to watch content on the go. This trend is great for apps like Snapchat Originals and YouTube Shorts. 

 

3. Increased Content Monetization Opportunities

Ads, subscriptions, and pay-per-view methods are how short drama apps make money. One example is Kuaishou, a Chinese website for short videos that made $19 billion in 2023 from ads and premium content. 

 

4. AI and Personalization Boost Engagement

Users stay hooked with suggestions made by AI. Video streaming apps like Netflix and Viu suggest short shows based on what users like, which makes people watch more and makes the short drama app clone more popular. 

 

5. Rise of Independent Content Creators

Short drama apps let small companies and independent filmmakers show off their skills. With live streaming apps like Hooked and Wattpad Studios, user-generated stories can be turned into short, interesting plays.   

 

How To Monetize a Short Video Application?

A short drama application offers engaging, bite-sized content for users who love quick and immersive storytelling. If you’re planning for OTT app development, monetization is crucial to sustain and grow your platform. Here are the effective methods to generate revenue from your short drama app.   

 

 

1. Subscription-Based Model

Offering a service that people pay for is one of the best ways to make money with your live streaming app development. Users can pay a fee once a month or once a year to get access to premium dramas, exclusive material, or streaming without ads. 

There can be more than one level of subscription, like base and premium. This model makes sure that you always make money and keeps users interested with new, high-quality material.

 

Did You Know: For instance, YouTube has introduced a new $7.99 monthly subscription tier called “Premium Lite” in the U.S., providing an ad-free experience for most videos, excluding music.

 

2. In-App Advertisements 

Advertisements inside the short film app are a great way to make money while still giving people free access. At key times, like before or after a short scene, you can show banner ads, video ads, or pop-up ads. 

You can make money from ad views and clicks by working with ad networks. But ensure that the ads do not get in the way too much, or people might delete your flash drama app.  

 

Fun Fact: YouTube’s free tier relies heavily on ads, and YouTube made $40 billion+ from ads in 2023.

 

3. Pay-Per-View or Rental Model

Users can be charged “pay-per-view” instead of a full membership. In other words, they pay a small fee to rent episodes of certain shows and watch them for a certain amount of time. 

This model works well for people who do not want to sign up for a subscription but still want to watch premium material sometimes. It can bring in more people and help you make more money by offering discounts or special bundles.

 

Did You Know: Amazon Prime Video offers a pay-per-view model where people may rent or buy movies/shows separately without a subscription.

 

4. Merchandise and Digital Goods

If your app has popular drama series, you can sell t-shirts, posters, or digital stickers that are related to the shows inside the app. You can also sell digital goods that people can buy and send to their favorite actors or creators. 

For example, behind-the-scenes material that no one else has access to, unique emojis, or virtual gifts. This gives you an extra way to make money and keeps people using the short drama app clone.  

 

Fun Fact: Virtual gifts and merchandise sales on VLive helped K-pop artists generate millions, with some earning over $10M from fan purchases.

 

5. Sponsorships and Brand Collaborations

A great way to make money with your short drama app is to work with brands to get donations. Businesses that want to reach your community can pay to promote episodes, series, or even whole categories in your app. 

For example, a fashion brand could sponsor a romantic drama show and use the plot to show off their goods. These will not only bring revenues, but they also make the stories more interesting. 

 

Did You Know: Product placements in TV and web series generate $20+ billion annually, making sponsorships a highly profitable model.

 

 

Ready to Create Your Own Short Drama App?

So, after reading the complete guide, you should have a clear picture of short drama app development cost. Now you can plan your budget to create a short drama app. To proceed with your short video app development clone, you must first gather all necessary data about the purpose, target audience, market scenarios, and so on. 

Of course, having a sound strategy is essential when developing your app. Once you are completely set up, you can partner with Dev Technosys, a short video app devlopment services provider, to create an incredible short drama app development solution. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q1. How Long Does It Take To Make A Short Drama App?

The estimated time to develop a short drama application can take around 2 – 7 months or more. But the cost to launch a short drama app is not the actual time as depends on your project requirement.  

 

Q2. How Much Does It Cost To Develop A Short Drama App?

The short drama clone app development cost can be around $8000 – $25000. However, if you add more customized short video app features and design, then the cost will increase. So, it is advisable to consult with a short drama app development company about the cost to make a short video app.  

 

Q3. How To Develop A Short Video App?

• Do market research 
• Plan out the Features 
• Create UI/UX design 
• MVP app development 
• Test the app 
• Launch a short video app

 

Q4. What Are the Top Short Video Apps?

• DramaBox 
• ShortMax 
• ReelShort 
• GoodShort 
• FreeReels 

 

Q5. Does Adding Monetization Features Increase the Cost?

Yes, integrating ads, subscriptions, pay-per-view, or in-app purchases increases development costs but enhances revenue generation.

 

Q6. Can I Reduce Short Drama App Development Costs?

Yes, by starting with an MVP, using pre-built solutions, and outsourcing development to cost-effective regions.