Best TV and movie tracker apps: 4 picks compared

LazyWatch is our pick among the best TV and movie tracker apps for keeping episode progress, film history and fan conversations together. It combines swipe-to-mark tracking with Comments on every episode and movie, 6 import sources and group viewing without ads or paywalls.

We build LazyWatch and publish this blog. This is our editorial ranking, based on documented features, not a claim that we've tested every app on every device. We checked official sources on October 29, 2026.

Which TV and movie tracker apps are worth considering?

Our ranking is LazyWatch first, followed by Trakt, Simkl and SeriesGuide. All 4 cover shows and movies. We favor a tracker you can return to after watching: record your progress, save your take, talk about the ending and keep your history when you change apps.

This guide compares the overall watching routine. For the narrower question of what you get without paying, see our free TV tracker comparison.

1. LazyWatch: our best overall pick for tracking and talking

LazyWatch earns first place here because it keeps your watching record beside the conversations you came back for. You can track shows episode by episode, keep a movie Watchlist and watched diary, and leave Comments on the exact episode or film you've finished. That combination drives our ranking.

A swipe marks an episode watched. Continue watching shows what comes next. Films have their own watching history, so a movie night doesn't disappear into a separate app you forget to update.

Ratings run from 0.5 to 5 stars in half-star steps on shows, seasons, episodes and movies. Comments are separate from ratings: you don't have to turn every thought into a score. Threads support GIFs, images, replies and @mentions. Spoiler tags and controls for unwatched discussions help you decide what to open.

That matters when you're watching a weekly drama and catching up on a film series at the same time. Your episode theory belongs beside that episode. Your movie take belongs beside the film.

What makes LazyWatch our first choice?

The strongest reason is how the pieces work together:

• Your old history can come with you. Imports support TV Time, Trakt, Netflix, AniList, Letterboxd and Bingers. Imports only add to what you've tracked. What transfers depends on the source.
• You can keep pace with friends. Watch together supports up to 4 people, with individual episode progress and a group chat.
• You can decide what comes next together. Movie night and Binge night use group swiping. The first title everyone says yes to wins.

Those are shipped features, checked against our roadmap. LazyWatch is free on iPhone, iPad, Android and the web, with no ads or paywalls.

It's still early, and bugs happen. We aren't claiming the largest community or perfect matching for every import. Keep your original export and check familiar titles after moving your history.

2. Trakt: a strong choice for connected viewing history

Trakt deserves its place for tracking movies and episodes through a wider playback setup. Its official app lists viewing history, show progress, calendars, ratings and comments. Its developer documentation explains automatic logging through playback events, often called scrobbling, which compatible software sends as you watch.

That is a meaningful strength if you want your playback app to update your record. A manual checkmark is only useful when you remember it. Before committing, check the specific integration you use rather than assuming every streaming service connects in the same way.

Trakt also offers a watchlist and personal lists. Its official app listing identifies unlimited lists, advanced filters and show-rewatch progress recalculation as VIP features.

We rank LazyWatch above Trakt for this guide's mix of fan conversation, group decisions and combined tracking without paywalls. Trakt remains a credible contender when connected playback is your main requirement.

Already have years recorded there? Our Trakt import guide explains what LazyWatch brings across. An import moves records; it isn't a promise of ongoing two-way sync.

3. Simkl: a broad tracker with a strong automation focus

Simkl is worth considering when TV, anime and movies all take up space in your week. Its official site documents those 3 categories, episode notifications, calendars and automatic tracking tools. It also advertises imports from more than 20 services, a real strength for scattered viewing records.

Don't assume LazyWatch has the widest import selection. Simkl documents more source services. Compare the fields that matter to you, such as dates and ratings, rather than treating the source count as proof that everything transfers.

Its official plans page separates free access from PRO and VIP extras. It lists no ads and rewatch tracking among PRO benefits, and automatic backup and list exports among VIP benefits. Check those details before planning your watching routine around a particular feature.

Simkl makes a persuasive case for broad tracking and automation. LazyWatch takes our higher position for its documented combination of episode and movie Comments, Watch together and unanimous group swiping, all without a premium tier.

4. SeriesGuide: an open-source option for Android

SeriesGuide belongs on the shortlist if you want an Android app focused on recording shows and movies. Its official project publishes the source under GPL 3.0 or later. That gives it a concrete distinction beyond another set of screenshots: you can inspect the project itself.

The official help center documents watched marking, file export and import, backups, and connections to SeriesGuide Cloud or Trakt. Those are useful areas to investigate if you care about where your record lives and how you'll recover it.

Check the current requirements for the sync and paid features you need. SeriesGuide's existence as an open-source project doesn't mean every hosted service or optional feature is free.

We place LazyWatch first for the fuller combination this guide favors: tracking across phone and web, conversations attached to what you've watched, and ways to watch or choose together. SeriesGuide's Android focus and published source remain worthwhile strengths.

What should you test before moving your watch history?

Test an unfinished show and a watched film before importing everything. Record the right episode, find the next one, save a film for later and check a watch date you remember. That tells you more about your nightly routine than a long feature checklist.

Then look at the part you'd miss most. If you care about discussions, open an episode thread and inspect the spoiler controls. If you care about automation, verify your actual playback connection. If dates matter, compare imported entries against your original record.

Keep an untouched export. Include a show with specials or unusual season numbering in your checks. A supported file format doesn't guarantee every title matched as expected.

If you need a tracking routine before choosing an app, start with how to keep track of TV shows. The habit matters as much as the app.

More detailed comparisons

This is the starting point for a combined TV and movie tracker. These guides cover narrower decisions without treating them as the same question:

• TV Time alternatives focuses on switching and preserving saved history.
• Best anime tracker apps looks at anime-focused watching.
• Best movie diary apps focuses on recording films you've seen.
• Best apps to discuss TV shows compares places to talk after an episode.
• Best apps to pick a movie with friends tackles the group decision.
• LazyWatch vs Serializd compares our approach with a TV-focused diary.

Our verdict: start with LazyWatch

LazyWatch is our first recommendation for a TV and movie tracker that carries you from marking something watched to talking about it and choosing the next watch. Its 6 import sources, episode and movie Comments, Watch together groups and Movie night swiping give that recommendation concrete reasons.

Trakt's connected playback, Simkl's automation and import breadth, and SeriesGuide's open-source Android project each deserve credit. For the combined tracking and fandom routine we've ranked here, LazyWatch wins.

Get LazyWatch, bring over your history and open the Comments for the show you've been wanting to talk about.