Best Anime Tracking Apps 2026: MyAnimeList, AniList, Kitsu, Achriom

The best anime tracking app depends on what you want from it. MyAnimeList (MAL) is best for sheer scale. The largest community, the deepest catalog, the default most viewers land on. AniList is best for a modern interface, a proper API, and customizable list display. Kitsu is best for social-first viewers who want a friendlier vibe than MAL. Achriom is best if you want anime tracked alongside live-action films, books, music, and TV, with an AI librarian that can recommend anime based on the novel you just finished or the film that’s still rattling around in your head.

If you want the biggest community and the manga side too, use MAL. If you want a clean UI and API access, use AniList. If you want anime understood in context with the rest of your taste, use Achriom.

Last reviewed: April 18, 2026.

What a serious anime tracker needs to do

Anime viewers have specific needs that generic TV trackers miss:

1. Series, films, OVAs, and specials all first-class, not afterthoughts
2. Episode-level progress with season/cour awareness
3. Score calibration, because anime scoring is its own art form
4. Seasonal releases: this season, next season, and your watchlist
5. Connection to manga (for some viewers)
6. Finding the next thing with recommendations that understand genre conventions

MAL covers most of these. AniList covers them with better UI. Achriom adds cross-media reasoning that no anime-only app provides.

MyAnimeList (MAL)

Best for: Scale, community, manga parity

MAL has been running since 2004 and remains the default for anime tracking. Millions of users, a score distribution everyone references, and deep integration with seasonal release tracking. Free (ad-supported).

What it does well:

• Largest anime and manga catalog
• Seasonal charts, airing schedules, recommendation threads
• Scores that have become cultural shorthand
• Forums that are actually active

The limitation: The UI has not been meaningfully redesigned in a decade. Ads are aggressive in the free tier. Recommendations feel algorithmic in a 2010 way.

AniList

Best for: Modern UI, API access, customizable list views

AniList is the most modern of the big three. Clean design, a real API that third-party clients use, customizable statuses and displays. Free.

What it does well:

• UI that doesn’t fight you
• Proper API so third-party apps and agents can read your list
• Custom statuses beyond watched/watching
• Active development

The limitation: Catalog is slightly smaller than MAL. Community is smaller but generally nicer.

Kitsu

Best for: Social-first viewers, easier onboarding

Kitsu positions itself as the friendlier anime tracker. Social features are more prominent; onboarding is gentler. Free tier; Pro tier removes ads and adds features.

The honest read: Good if MAL feels overwhelming and AniList feels too minimal. Smaller than both.

Achriom

Best for: Anime alongside your films, books, TV, and music, with an AI librarian

Achriom tracks anime in a single library with your live-action films, novels, albums, and TV shows. The librarian can answer “what should I watch if I loved Mushishi and The Remains of the Day” because it actually sees both sides of your taste. Free with unlimited items and 50 AI messages; Pro $9.99/month. See the anime tracker page for the scoped pitch.

What it does differently:

• Cross-media recommendations connecting anime to live-action and books
• Conversational discovery in natural language
• Private by default, with no public profile and no score-culture pressure
• Series, films, and OVAs all first-class

The limitation: No MAL or AniList import yet (on the roadmap). No manga support, since Achriom is media tracking, not manga-specific. Smaller anime-specific community than MAL or AniList.

Quick comparison

App	Scope	Community	AI	Manga	Price
MyAnimeList	Anime + manga	Massive	No	Yes	Free (ads)
AniList	Anime + manga	Active	No	Yes	Free
Kitsu	Anime + manga	Social	No	Yes	Free / Pro
Achriom	Anime, films, books, TV, albums	Private	AI librarian	No	Free / $9.99 mo

Which should you use?

Use MyAnimeList if: You want the biggest catalog, the most active forums, and manga parity. You’re comfortable with a dated UI.

Use AniList if: You want a modern UI and API access. You don’t need MAL’s scale.

Use Kitsu if: MAL feels overwhelming and you want a softer social experience.

Use Achriom if: Anime is part of a broader taste you want understood together. You read, watch live-action, and listen to albums, and you want an AI librarian that sees all of it.

The honest answer

• Scale and community: MyAnimeList
• Modern UI and API: AniList
• Softer social experience: Kitsu
• Cross-media context: Achriom

MAL or AniList plus Achriom is a common combination. MAL handles anime-specific community; Achriom handles the big-picture taste.

Common questions

What is the best anime tracking app?

MyAnimeList for scale and community. AniList for modern UI and API. Kitsu for a friendlier experience. Achriom for cross-media tracking with an AI librarian.

Is there an anime tracker with AI?

Achriom is the anime tracker with a built-in AI librarian. Ask for anime similar to a favorite film or novel, and it reasons across your full media library to answer.

What is the best MyAnimeList alternative?

AniList is the direct modern alternative with better UI and a real API. Achriom is a cross-media alternative that tracks anime alongside films, books, TV, and music.

Can I import my MyAnimeList or AniList list into Achriom?

Direct imports are on the roadmap. For now, add anime via search or ask the librarian to add a list of titles in natural language.

Does Achriom track anime films and OVAs?

Yes. Series, films, OVAs, and specials are all first-class. The librarian understands the distinction when reasoning about your watch history.

Does Achriom support manga?

No. Achriom tracks anime, films, books (including graphic novels), TV, and albums. Manga-specific tracking is handled better by MAL and AniList.