Simkl vs Trakt: Which Auto-Tracker Wins in 2026?
Simkl and Trakt both promise automatic tracking, but they automate different things. Simkl scrobbles from Netflix and Crunchyroll in your browser.
Some links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Achriom earns from qualifying purchases. For books we prefer Bookshop.org, which supports independent bookstores.
If you watch on Netflix, Crunchyroll, or other streaming sites in a browser, or you track anime seriously, pick Simkl. If you run Plex, Jellyfin, or Kodi and want your tracker connected to the rest of your media setup, pick Trakt.
That answer covers most people searching this comparison. Both apps sell themselves on automatic tracking, and both deliver it. They just automate opposite ends of the watching world. The rest of this post breaks down where each one is strong, where each one falls short, and how to decide if you sit somewhere in between.
What to look for in an auto-tracker
“Auto-tracking” means different things depending on where you watch. Sorting that out first makes the choice much easier.
Where the scrobbling happens. Simkl’s headline feature is a browser extension that watches what you play on streaming sites and logs it for you. Trakt’s headline feature is scrobbling from media servers and players: Plex, Jellyfin, Kodi, Emby, and Infuse. Neither app does both well. Match the tracker to your setup, not the other way around.
Anime handling. Anime breaks normal TV trackers. Absolute episode numbering, split cours, and specials rarely map cleanly onto the season structure Western databases use. Simkl treats anime as a first-class category with its own lists and imports. Trakt files anime under regular TV, and long series can get messy there.
Import options. If you have years of history in another app, the tracker that can absorb it wins by default. Simkl imports from Trakt, MyAnimeList, TV Time, and even your Netflix viewing history. Trakt is more limited on the way in, though its open API means plenty of tools can move data around with some effort.
Statistics and ecosystem. Both apps keep watch history and show you totals. Trakt goes deeper on statistics and has by far the larger third-party ecosystem, with dozens of apps built on its API. Simkl’s numbers are respectable but the surrounding tooling is thinner.
The apps themselves. Trakt’s website and mobile apps are more polished. Simkl’s interface is functional but dated, and it shows its web-first origins.
Simkl
Simkl is the tracker built for people whose watching happens in a browser tab.
Install the extension, and Simkl quietly logs what you play on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, and a long list of other streaming sites. Finish an episode of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End on Crunchyroll and it lands in your history without a tap. For streaming-first viewers, this is the automation Trakt never quite offers, since Trakt’s scrobbling assumes you control the video files or the server they live on.
Anime is where Simkl separates itself further. Anime gets its own section, its own lists, and status categories that mirror what MyAnimeList users expect. The MAL import works well, which makes Simkl a natural landing spot for anime watchers who want their western TV and their seasonal anime in one place. If you are weighing dedicated anime trackers instead, our MyAnimeList vs AniList vs Kitsu comparison covers that side of the world.
The import tooling deserves its own mention. Simkl pulls in history from Trakt, TV Time, MyAnimeList, and Netflix, which makes trying it close to free. You lose nothing by moving your data in and looking around.
The weaknesses are real, though. The interface is cluttered compared to Trakt, and the design has not changed much in years. The community is small, so comments and social features feel quiet. Movie tracking works but is clearly the third priority behind TV and anime. And the browser extension only helps on desktop; watch mostly on a phone or a TV app and you are back to manual check-ins like everyone else.
Simkl’s free tier covers auto-tracking, lists, imports, and history. Simkl VIP adds advanced filters, deeper statistics, and an ad-free experience for a few dollars a month, with a lifetime purchase option.
Simkl suits: streaming-first viewers on desktop, anime watchers, and anyone consolidating history from several other apps.
Trakt
Trakt is the tracker built around your watch history as portable, connected data.
The media server scrobbling is the anchor. Connect Trakt to Plex, Jellyfin, Kodi, Emby, or Infuse and every episode you play gets logged in the background. Work through a season of Slow Horses on your own server and Trakt keeps the record without you thinking about it. For anyone running a home media setup, this remains the best automatic tracking available anywhere.
The ecosystem is the other half of the argument. Trakt’s open API powers dozens of third-party apps, from mobile clients to smart playlist tools, and your history syncs across all of them. No other tracker comes close on this front, which is a big part of why Trakt keeps its position even as alternatives multiply.
Statistics run deep: total runtime, genre breakdowns, yearly summaries, and a calendar of upcoming episodes across everything you follow. The community layer is quieter than a social app but present, with lists, comments, and ratings from a large user base.
The gaps are the mirror image of Simkl’s strengths. Trakt has no official browser scrobbling for streaming sites, so Netflix-only viewers do a lot of manual checking in. Anime handling is the sore spot, since Trakt’s season-based numbering regularly disagrees with the absolute numbering anime uses, and long series become a chore to log correctly. The free tier also carries ads and caps some features, which has nudged parts of its user base toward exactly the comparison you are reading now.
Trakt’s free tier includes tracking, scrobbling, lists, and a 30-day calendar. Trakt VIP, around $3 per month billed yearly, removes ads and adds advanced statistics and a full-year calendar.
Trakt suits: media server owners, statistics lovers, and anyone who wants their history connected to a wide ecosystem of apps. We have also compared it head to head with TV Time and Letterboxd if those are on your list.
Want all of it in one place? Achriom tracks your shows, movies, and anime alongside your books, films, music, and TV, with an AI librarian that finds the threads between them. That is the part no single-format tracker can do.
Try Achriom free →Simkl vs Trakt: at a glance
| Feature | Simkl | Trakt |
|---|---|---|
| Browser auto-tracking (Netflix, Crunchyroll, etc.) | Yes, via extension | No |
| Media server scrobbling (Plex, Jellyfin, Kodi) | Limited | Yes, excellent |
| Anime support | Native, first-class | Weak (numbering issues) |
| Movie tracking | Basic | Strong |
| Statistics depth | Good | Deep |
| Third-party app ecosystem | Small | Very large |
| Import options | Trakt, MAL, TV Time, Netflix | Limited |
| Interface polish | Dated | Good |
| Free tier | Generous | Yes, with ads and caps |
| Paid tier | VIP (few dollars/month, lifetime option) | VIP (~$3/month) |
| Data export | Yes | Yes (CSV, JSON) |
Which should you use?
Choose Simkl if:
- You watch mostly on streaming services in a desktop browser and want it logged automatically
- Anime is a meaningful part of your watching
- You have history scattered across Trakt, TV Time, MyAnimeList, or Netflix and want it in one place
- You want the most generous free tier
Choose Trakt if:
- You run Plex, Jellyfin, Kodi, or Emby and want scrobbling from your own server
- You track movies as seriously as TV
- You want your history feeding a wide ecosystem of third-party apps
- Deep lifetime statistics matter to you
Consider Achriom if:
- You also track books, albums, or your reading life and want one library for all of it
- You want an AI librarian that reasons across your media, not just your watch history
- You care about the connections between formats, like the manga behind the anime or the novel behind the series
The honest answer
Simkl and Trakt are both good at automatic tracking. They just made different bets about where you watch.
Trakt bet on people who own their media pipeline: servers, players, files, and an ecosystem of apps on top. Within that world it is still the best tool available, and nothing about Simkl changes that.
Simkl bet on people who rent their watching from streaming services and needed someone to automate the browser. It won the anime crowd along the way by taking a format seriously that Trakt never quite figured out.
So the choice is less about which app is better built and more about which bet describes you. Streaming and anime, Simkl. Servers and statistics, Trakt. Both are free to try, and Simkl will even import your Trakt history, so testing your instinct costs you an afternoon at most.
Common questions
Is Simkl better than Trakt?
Simkl is better for streaming-first viewers who want browser auto-tracking and for anime watchers. Trakt is better for media server owners who want scrobbling from Plex or Jellyfin and a large ecosystem of connected apps. Both handle core tracking well, so the right one depends on where your watching happens.
Does Simkl automatically track what I watch on Netflix?
Yes. Simkl’s browser extension detects playback on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, and other streaming sites and logs episodes automatically. It only works in desktop browsers, so viewing in native mobile or TV apps still needs a manual check-in.
Does Trakt work well for anime?
Trakt tracks anime as ordinary TV, and its season-based episode ordering often clashes with the absolute numbering anime uses, which makes long series tedious to log. Simkl handles anime natively with dedicated lists and MyAnimeList import, so it is the stronger pick for anime-heavy libraries.
Can I import my Trakt history into Simkl?
Yes. Simkl imports directly from Trakt, along with MyAnimeList, TV Time, and Netflix viewing history. Going the other way is harder, since Trakt’s own import options are limited and usually involve third-party tools.
Is Simkl completely free?
The core features are free: auto-tracking, lists, imports, and full history. Simkl VIP adds advanced filters, deeper statistics, and an ad-free experience for a few dollars a month, with a lifetime option available.
Is Trakt free to use?
Yes, with limits. The free tier covers tracking, scrobbling, lists, and a 30-day calendar, but it shows ads and caps some features. Trakt VIP, around $3 per month billed yearly, removes ads and unlocks advanced statistics and the full-year calendar.