State of Short Drama Apps: The Quiet Trend That Became a $1 Billion Market
Short drama apps quietly crossed $1.1B in U.S. consumer spending, evolving from a niche into one of mobile entertainment’s fastest-growing categories.
Spending is surging.
Attention is shifting.
Discover the trends reshaping mobile streaming in 2026.
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Quick Takeaways
Short Drama Apps - at a Glance.
42%
Short Drama Share of Streaming Downloads in 2025
Short Drama Apps Quietly Siphon Users From Traditional Streamers
Short Drama apps now account for 42% of streaming app downloads, up sharply year over year.
61%
YoY Download Growth
Short Drama Apps Are Scaling Fast
Downloads grew 61% year over year in 2025, signaling rapid adoption as short drama moves from niche format to mainstream mobile entertainment.
2X
Revenue Growth vs. Downloads
Consumer Spending Outpaces Adoption
Short drama app revenue is growing nearly twice as fast as downloads, signaling improving monetization and a shift from experimentation to sustained consumer spend.
See Where Short Drama Apps are Headed.
Download the report to see how short drama apps are growing, where spending is accelerating, how they’re competing with traditional streamers, and what it means for the mobile streaming market.
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