Full disclosure before anything else: we make Hobi, one of the apps on this list. So instead of pretending to be neutral, we will do something better. We will tell you what each app is genuinely best at, where it falls short, and who should pick it. If you disagree with a call, tell us on r/hobi.
2026 is a strange year to be shopping for a tracker. TV Time, the biggest one, shuts down on July 15 and deletes every account, which means millions of people are looking for apps like TV Time at the same time. If that is you, one thing outranks everything on this page: save your TV Time export file before the deadline. It works with several of the apps below, forever.
What a good tracker has to get right
We judged every app on the same six things:
- Your history and ratings survive a move in.
- One tap episode marking, because that is 95% of what you do.
- Real statuses: Watching, On hold, Dropped, Plan to watch.
- A calendar and reminders so you know when shows return.
- Movies and TV together, not one or the other.
- Portable data, so you are never trapped again.
The short version
| App | Free to track | TV + movies | TV Time import that keeps ratings | Trakt sync | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobi | Yes | Yes | Yes, ratings included | Two way | iOS, Android |
| Trakt | Yes, VIP for extras | Yes | Imports history, drops ratings | It is Trakt | Web, iOS, Android |
| Simkl | Yes, import is paid | Yes, plus anime | Behind paid tiers | Yes | Web first, mobile apps |
| Serializd | Yes | TV only | Has its own import | No | Web, iOS, Android |
| JustWatch | Yes | Yes, as a guide | Imports, no ratings at all | No | Web, iOS, Android |
| MyShows | Yes, paid tiers | Yes | Announced, not live yet | No | Web, iOS, Android |
| Moviebase | Yes, premium tiers | Yes | Check current version | Yes | Android only |
1. Hobi: the best daily tracker, and the safest landing for TV Time users
Best for: people who actually track, every day, and want to keep everything.
Hobi is built around the thing you do most: open the app, see what is next, mark it in one tap. Every show carries a real status, the calendar counts down to every next episode and premiere with reminders that fire, and movies live right next to your shows. It is free on iOS and Android, built by two independent developers, and it has been going for over ten years with more than 10 million downloads.
For anyone leaving TV Time, this is also the practical pick. Hobi is the official migration partner for TV Time users: upload your official export file as is and Hobi brings across your watch history, watchlist, movies and the ratings most importers throw away. And because Hobi keeps two way sync with Trakt, your data stays portable for good. Start at the migration page.
2. Trakt: the best data hub
Best for: media server people and tinkerers who want an open standard.
Trakt is the backbone of the whole tracking world, and it earns the spot. An open API, scrobbling from Plex, Kodi and Jellyfin, and a data format nearly every app can read. The trade offs: the official app is deliberately simple compared to a dedicated daily tracker, some features sit behind the VIP subscription, and its TV Time importer brings your history but not your ratings. The good news is you do not have to choose. Run Hobi on top of Trakt and you get the hub and the daily app in one setup.
3. Simkl: the best pick for anime watchers
Best for: people who track anime alongside TV and movies.
Simkl's catalog breadth is real: TV, movies and a serious anime database in one account, with powerful web tools on top. It is the most complete option for mixed anime libraries. The catch for TV Time refugees is that import tools are tied to its paid tiers at the time of writing, and the experience leans web first. If anime is not your thing, a dedicated mobile tracker will feel faster day to day. Our full Simkl comparison goes deeper.
4. Serializd: the best for reviews and hot takes
Best for: people who want Letterboxd energy for TV.
Serializd is a review diary first and a tracker second, and that is its charm. Season reviews, lists and a genuinely fun community. It shipped its own TV Time import in July 2026 too. It is TV only though, so your movies need another home, and episode logistics like calendars and reminders are not the focus. Plenty of people pair it with a daily tracker. More in Hobi vs Serializd.
5. JustWatch: the best streaming guide, but barely a tracker
Best for: figuring out where to stream something tonight.
JustWatch is excellent at the question it was built for: where can I watch this, in my country, right now. After TV Time's shutdown announcement it added an import tool, and for casual viewers a watchlist plus a seen flag may be enough. But there are no episode ratings, no real statuses, and as of this writing no way to export your library back out. After a month like this one, walking into another app with no exit door is worth thinking twice about.
6. MyShows: the long running veteran
Best for: spreadsheet brains who love watch time stats.
MyShows has been tracking TV for well over a decade and has a loyal base to show for it, with deep watch statistics and a solid web app. It is freemium with paid tiers, and its TV Time importer has been announced but is not live as of this writing. If you are migrating this week rather than someday, that timing matters: save your export file either way, since it keeps working after the shutdown.
7. Moviebase: the Android discovery machine
Best for: Android users who browse more than they track.
Moviebase packs a huge discover experience: trending, streaming info, people pages and solid tracking underneath, with premium tiers unlocking the extras. It syncs with Trakt too. The hard limit is the platform: it is Android only, so iPhone users are out, and check the current version for what its import covers before you commit a decade of history to it.
The bottom line
If you mostly want tonight's answer, JustWatch. If you live in a media server, Trakt. If you review everything, Serializd. If you watch a lot of anime, Simkl. And if you want the app you will actually open every day, one that marks episodes in a tap, reminds you when shows return, tracks your movies and brings your whole TV Time history across with the ratings intact, that is exactly what we built Hobi to be. Free, independent, and ten years in.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best TV show tracker app?
It depends on how you track. For fast day to day episode tracking with a calendar, reminders and movies in one place, Hobi is the strongest pick, free on iOS and Android. If you want an open data hub that scrobbles from media servers, Trakt is the standard. Many people run both, since Hobi keeps two way sync with Trakt.
What is the best TV Time replacement?
The best TV Time replacement keeps your history and your ratings, marks episodes in one tap and reminds you when shows return. Hobi is the official migration partner for TV Time users: upload your TV Time export file as is and your watch history, watchlist, movies and ratings come across in one go. See the full TV Time alternative breakdown.
Which TV show trackers can import from TV Time?
Hobi imports the official TV Time export file directly and keeps your ratings. Trakt has an importer, but it does not carry ratings across. Serializd and JustWatch shipped their own import tools in July 2026, and MyShows has announced one. Whatever you choose, save your export file before July 15, 2026. The file keeps working forever.
Are TV show tracker apps free?
Most trackers are free to use with optional paid tiers for extras. Hobi is free to download and track on iOS and Android. Trakt, Simkl, MyShows and Moviebase all have subscription tiers that unlock additional features.
Moving from TV Time? Start at hobiapp.com/tv-time, then get Hobi free on iOS and Android.
