The Ultimate Guide to Build an App Like ReelShort in 2025 (with Cost)

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Looking for ways to build a successful app like ReelShort? Then you are in the right place! 

If you have searched “how to create a ReelShort app” or “how to start an app like ReelShort” and landed here, it is no surprise as the year 2024 and beyond is going to be the era of short-form content and short video apps.

In the past few years, short video apps have gone ballistic and it is not showing any signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Just look at your phone—how many short video apps do you already have? Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, these apps are everywhere!

Now, let us talk about the ReelShort app—its download numbers speak for itself: ReelShort ranked #3 overall in the US App Store and #16 on Google Play and made $22 million in revenue.

Clearly, these numbers prove that short video content is not going anywhere and creating a ReelShort-like app is the best way to ride this wave!

But before we get into “how to build a ReelShort app,” let us first look at what makes apps like ReelShort successful.

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How Does a ReelShort App Work?

Before we get into how to make a ReelShort app, let us first understand how the platform works and what makes it special. 

ReelShort is a Chinese platform that has quickly become popular for short-form serialized dramas.

Launched in August 2022 by Crazy Maple Studio, ReelShort is for users looking for bite-sized entertainment delivered in the quickest time possible.

A big part of the app’s success is its marketing strategy which includes paid social ads on Meta platforms and influencer partnerships.

This has driven over 30 million downloads globally with the US accounting for 40% of that.

So, how does a ReelShort app work?

It is quite easy—users download the app from the Google Play Store for Android or the App Store for iPhone. Once installed they can sign up with their Google account and start browsing the content library. 

While many shows are free to watch, premium titles and new episodes require in-app purchases that can be done with the help of coins.

This monetization model is perfect for busy users who want quick and convenient entertainment. Now that you know how the application works, let us now see how to build a ReelShort app! 

How to Build an App Like ReelShort?

(i) Pick a Focused Streaming Niche

To build a ReelShort app, you need to pick a specific streaming niche. When we talk about ReelShort, over the years it has excelled at short-form, serialized dramas for mobile-first users. 

Choose a genre that is trending and in demand—entertainment, education or fitness content. Having a unique selling point will set you apart in the crowded short video app space. 

(ii) Target Your Audience with Compatibility

Make sure your ReelShort-like app is compatible with a wide audience. Whether users are on Android or iOS, they should have a lag free experience. 

Who is your audience—youth looking for entertainment or professionals looking for quick educational content? Building for compatibility means broader reach, better user retention while providing more value to the users. 

(iii) Plan Your Resources Around Your Services

When building an app like ReelShort, match your resources to your services. If your app is about high quality video streaming, you will need robust infrastructure—cloud storage and high speed servers. 

Prioritize what is important—content creation, marketing or user support—and allocate your resources accordingly for the best results.

(iv) Improve the Viewing Experience

No doubt, a user-friendly interface and seamless streaming is key to success. If we talk about ReelShort, it excels at its simplicity and ease of use, allowing users to browse and watch content easily. 

Focus on improving the user experience by optimizing loading times, offering HD videos, content variety and reducing buffering. A smooth and immersive experience will keep users engaged and coming back for more.

(v) Track User Behavior

To succeed in building an app like ReelShort, you need to measure and analyze user behavior.

Use analytics to see what content goes well with your audience, how long users stay on the app and which features they use most and what type of content they actually like the most. 

This data will help you optimize your application, improve content and user experience and increase user retention to a much greater extent.

(vi) Monetize with the Right Business Model

ReelShort uses in-app purchases, offering free content and charging for premium features. If you plan to monetize your video content and want to maximize your ROI, choose a video monetization platform model that fits your audience. 

Consider subscription services, pay-per-view or advertising video on demand revenue models. Match your business model to your users needs and behavior to generate steady revenue.

(vii) Go for Branded OTT Apps

To be different in the market, go for a branded over-the-top (OTT) app that reflects your brand and builds trust with end users. 

If the OTT TV app is 100% customizable, then it would be really great. Why? Custom branding gives you a unique identity for your app and sets you apart.

In fact, a branded app will increase visibility, user loyalty and engagement which is key to long term success.

 

If You’re Thinking of Creating Your Own App Like Reelshort? Your App Journey Begins Here!

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Must-Have Features in an App Like ReelShort

1. Video Hosting

Video hosting is a must have for any app like ReelShort. After the pandemic, short video consumption among users has increased and it is not showing any signs of slowing down.

The hosting service must be scalable and can handle high traffic without slowing down. For an app like ReelShort, efficient hosting means users can upload, stream and share content.

VPlayed and AWS Cloud have robust video hosting solutions which are essential for smooth content delivery and no disruptions.

2. Video Content Management

Just like how books are managed in a library, managing video content is key to users finding what they are looking for quickly.

A good content management system (CMS) will allow for easy categorization, tagging and search functionality so users have a great browsing experience.

For example, YouTube’s powerful CMS categorizes videos based on user preferences so as to come up with personalized recommendations.

In an app like ReelShort, organized content will drive user engagement and content discovery.

3. 100% Customizable

Customization is a must in building an app like ReelShort, so you can tailor the platform to your audience’s needs.

From branding to UI/UX design or navigation, being customizable will increase user retention.

For example, apps like Netflix allows users to customize subtitles and viewing preferences which enhances user experience.

Being flexible will give you an edge, you will be different from others who are struggling to get your spot.

4. Cloud Transcoding

Next on our must have list in an app like ReelShort is Cloud transcoding. It is essential for handling a large volume of videos across different devices.

By converting videos into formats that suit different bandwidths, transcoding guarantees optimal playback quality for all users.

Apps like Twitch use cloud video transcoding to offer smooth streaming to millions of users.

For ReelShort, this feature means users can watch content without buffering, regardless of their internet speed or device.

5. Adaptive Streaming

In simple words, adaptive streaming adjusts video quality based on a user’s internet connection, giving the best viewing experience possible.

It has been years, apps like YouTube and Netflix have implemented this feature to have a top-notch experience across different network conditions.

For an app like ReelShort, adaptive streaming means users can watch content smoothly even in areas with slower internet speed—reduces churn rate due to poor video performance.

6. Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A CDN is a must for delivering content globally with minimal latency. It caches content in servers closer to the user so the load times are faster.

Amazon CloudFront, Google, Akamai, Microsoft Azure are some of the popular video CDN services that can handle massive amounts of data.

For a ReelShort like app, integrating a Content Delivery Network (CDN) will deliver content to its global audience fast and keep users engaged.

7. Monetization Models

As with many short video apps, ReelShort uses a freemium model with in-app purchases for premium content.

When we talk about your short video app, it should have flexible monetization models such as subscriptions, ad revenue or pay-per-view.

For example, TikTok has ads and in-app purchases so users can see special features. Choosing the right monetization strategy will make your app profitable and user-friendly.

8. Security

At any point in time, user data and content security is non negotiable. An app like ReelShort needs robust encryption and security measures especially with payments and user data involved.

Implementing features like SSL certificates, two-factor authentication and encrypted payment gateways will help build trust.

Apps like Instagram have high security standards to prevent unauthorized access and hacking which is pretty much important for your app’s success.

9. Marketing & Analytics

No app can survive long term without the right marketing strategy and data driven decisions.

Integrating analytics from day 1 will help you track user behavior, engagement rates and content performance that is being uploaded in the application.

Platforms like Google Analytics can give you insights to refine your app’s strategy.

For ReelShort like apps, tracking data helps in targeting the right audience and optimizing short form content to drive user engagement and profitability.

How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App Like ReelShort?

Building an app like ReelShort can cost you between $15,000 to $30,000 or more. However, the actual cost depends on app complexity, platform (iOS, Android or both) and the location of the development team.

In this section, let us break down the costs so you can see where your money goes.

1. Front-End Development:

User Interface & User Experience falls under front-end development. This includes smooth navigation, intuitive design and mobile responsiveness.

For an app like ReelShort, you will need a team of skilled people to make sure the app looks good and works without any issues.

When we talk about a ReelShort like app, Front-end development could cost between $5,000 to $10,000 (depending on the design complexity).

2. Back-End Development:

Back-end development involves creating the server, database and APIs that make the app work. This is where user accounts, content management and streaming features are built.

For a ReelShort like app, back-end development is important for video uploads, storage and security. Expect costs to range from $5,000 to $15,000 depending on the functionality required.

3. Cross-Platform Development:

If you want to build a ReelShort app for both iOS and Android, costs will go up. Building an app for both platforms requires additional time for development, testing and optimization. This could add $5,000 to $15,000 to the total cost.

4. Third-Party Integrations:

Features like cloud storage (AWS, Google Cloud), payment gateways or social media login will require third-party services. The cost of integrating these can vary but typically ranges from $3,000 to $8,000.

5. Testing and Maintenance:

After launch, the app will require regular updates, bug fixes and optimizations. Set aside an additional $5,000 to $8,000 for testing and maintenance.

Development Costs by Region:

This table shows how costs can vary depending on where you hire your development team.

Hiring from North America will be more expensive, while countries like India will be more affordable without compromising on quality.

Region	Hourly Rate	Cost for App (Approx)
North America	$100 – $200/hr	$80,000 – $150,000
Europe	$50 – $120/hr	$60,000 – $120,000
Asia (India, China)	$20 – $50/hr	$15,000 – $40,000
South America	$30 – $70/hr	$50,000 – $90,000
Eastern Europe	$40 – $80/hr	$50,000 – $100,000
Australia	$80 – $150/hr	$75,000 – $140,000

How VPlayed Can Help You Build a Short Video App Like ReelShort

VPlayed offers a team of experienced engineers with decades of experience working for highly complicated projects and in building applications, including short video apps like ReelShort.

The team excels at brainstorming ideas from scratch, troubleshooting glitches, and delivering projects at the quickest time possible. 

With a deep understanding of front-end and back-end development, VPlayed ensures that your short video app is well optimized for performance, scalability, and security.

As short-form content consumption continues to grow, now is the perfect time to develop a short video app.

Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts have shown how users crave quick, engaging content, in the need for entertainment or education. 

Whether they are commuting or on a quick break, people are quickly turning to short videos instead of long form videos.

In fact, short-form video content has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in digital media.

With that, we would like to conclude this blog and leave it to you to decide on building a ReelShort app in 2025.