Trakt vs TV Time: Which TV Tracker Should You Use?
Trakt and TV Time both log what you watch, but they're built for different people. Here's how to pick the right one.
Update: TV Time is shutting down on July 15, 2026 and will permanently delete all watch history after that date. If you are choosing where to go next, export your TV Time data first, then see the full list of TV Time alternatives. Trakt, covered below, is the closest all-round replacement.
If you use Plex, Infuse, Jellyfin, or another media server, Trakt is the clear pick. It is also the closest match for TV Time users who want automatic tracking and a large community now that TV Time is closing.
That covers most people. The rest of this post breaks down exactly what each app does well, where each one falls short, and how to decide if you are somewhere in between.
What to look for in a TV tracker
The best tracker is the one that matches how you actually watch. Before comparing apps, think about a few things.
Scrobbling vs. manual check-ins. Scrobbling means the app logs episodes automatically when you play them. Trakt does this through integrations with Plex, Infuse, Kodi, Emby, and Jellyfin. TV Time requires a manual tap after each episode. If you watch through a media server, scrobbling saves real time. If you watch through streaming apps, manual check-ins are the norm and neither app has an edge.
Statistics and history depth. Both apps keep a watch history and surface some statistics. Trakt goes much deeper, with genre breakdowns, decade summaries, and a detailed year-in-review. TV Time keeps it lighter.
Social and community features. TV Time has a lively community: reactions, episode comments, and friends’ activity. Trakt has lists and a follow system, but the social side is quieter by design.
Movie tracking. If you track films alongside shows, Trakt handles both with real depth. TV Time added movies, but television remains the core.
Push notifications. TV Time tells you when new episodes of shows you follow drop. Trakt has a calendar view, but does not push alerts to your phone.
Import and export. Both apps let you export your data. Trakt’s open API makes your history portable to dozens of other tools. TV Time is more closed.
Trakt
Trakt is the tracker built around data portability and automation.
The scrobbling integrations are the headline feature. Connect Trakt to Plex, Infuse, Jellyfin, Kodi, or Emby, and it marks episodes as watched automatically as you play them. You watch Succession on Infuse, Trakt logs it. No tapping, no manual entry. For anyone with a media server, this alone makes Trakt the obvious choice.
The statistics go deep. Trakt tracks your total runtime, episode and season counts, genre breakdowns, and play history by year. The calendar view shows upcoming episodes across every show you follow, which is useful if you are keeping up with a long list of ongoing series simultaneously.
The API is open, and the third-party ecosystem reflects that. Dozens of apps integrate with Trakt for two-way sync. If you want your watch history connected to other tools, Trakt makes that straightforward.
The social layer is present but quiet. You can follow friends, share lists, and browse what others are watching. The community activity is a fraction of what TV Time offers, and there is no episode-level reaction system.
Trakt free tier includes tracking, scrobbling, lists, and a 30-day calendar. Trakt VIP (around $3 per month or $20 per year) adds advanced statistics, ad-free browsing, priority support, and a full-year calendar view.
Trakt suits: people with media servers, data-focused viewers, and anyone who wants their watch history portable and connected to other software.
TV Time
TV Time is built around the experience of following shows week to week on streaming.
The mobile app is clean and well-designed. After each episode, you tap to check in, leave a reaction or comment, and see what others thought. The community layer is active. Popular shows have thousands of reactions per episode, and the comment sections fill up quickly when something big happens. If you want to share your take on The Bear’s latest season finale with people who just watched it, TV Time is where that happens.
Push notifications are a genuine selling point. TV Time alerts you when a new episode of a series you follow drops, across all the streaming platforms it tracks. For anyone juggling multiple ongoing shows, this is genuinely useful, and it is something Trakt does not replicate.
The progress tracking is clean and simple. Marking where you left off mid-season is easy. The “plan to watch” list is organized. The recommendation engine, based on your watch history, is decent for surfacing similar shows.
Movie tracking exists, but the experience shows its television roots. The community is stronger around TV, and the data depth on films is lighter than what Trakt offers.
TV Time free tier includes tracking, community, notifications, and most features. TV Time Premium removes ads and unlocks extras, but the free version covers what most users need.
TV Time suits: casual viewers, people who watch primarily on streaming services, and anyone who wants a social layer around their television watching.
Want all of it in one place? Achriom tracks your TV shows alongside your books, films, music, and anime, with an AI librarian that finds the threads between them. That is the part no single-format tracker can do.
Try Achriom free →Trakt vs TV Time: at a glance
| Feature | Trakt | TV Time |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic scrobbling | Yes (Plex, Infuse, Kodi, Jellyfin, Emby) | No |
| Manual check-ins | Yes | Yes |
| Push notifications | No | Yes |
| Mobile experience | Good | Excellent |
| Statistics depth | Deep | Basic |
| Social and community | Minimal | Active |
| Movie tracking | Strong | Basic |
| Open API | Yes | Limited |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Paid tier | VIP (~$3/month) | Premium |
| Data export | Yes (CSV, JSON) | Limited |
Which should you use?
Choose Trakt if:
- You use Plex, Infuse, Jellyfin, Kodi, or Emby and want scrobbling
- You care about detailed statistics and long-term watch history
- You want your data portable and accessible through an open API
- You track both TV and movies and want depth in both
Choose TV Time if:
- You watch mostly on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, or other streaming apps
- You want push notifications when new episodes drop
- You enjoy reading community reactions or leaving your own
- You want the cleaner, more casual check-in experience on mobile
Consider Achriom if:
- You also track books, films, albums, or anime and want them all in one library
- You want an AI librarian that reasons across your media, not just television
- You care about cross-media connections (the novel a show was adapted from, the album that shares its tone)
The honest answer
Neither Trakt nor TV Time is objectively better. They reflect two different ideas about what a tracker is for.
Trakt treats your watch history as data. It should be accurate, portable, and connected to the rest of your media setup. If you have a media server or care about lifetime statistics, Trakt is the more thoughtfully built tool for that purpose.
TV Time treats watching as social. It is designed around the rhythm of following shows week to week: checking in, reacting, being part of a community of people who watch the same things. If that is how you experience television, TV Time fits more naturally.
Both are free. Both do the core job. Choosing between them is mostly about deciding whether scrobbling automation or social community matters more to you.
Common questions
Is Trakt better than TV Time for tracking TV shows?
Trakt is better for power users who want automatic scrobbling and detailed lifetime statistics. TV Time is better for casual viewers who want push notifications and a social community. Both handle the core job well. The right choice depends on how you watch.
Does Trakt work with Plex?
Yes. Trakt integrates directly with Plex, Infuse, Kodi, Emby, and Jellyfin, automatically logging episodes as watched when you play them. This scrobbling feature is one of Trakt’s strongest selling points for home media server users. Setup takes a few minutes and runs reliably in the background.
Does TV Time track movies too?
Yes. TV Time expanded to include movie tracking alongside its television features. The app was designed around television, though, and Trakt has deeper movie tracking for users who want real history across both formats.
Can I import my Trakt history into TV Time?
Trakt exports your data in CSV and JSON formats, but TV Time does not offer a direct Trakt import. You would need a third-party migration tool. If you have years of Trakt history, switching to TV Time means starting fresh or doing manual work to recover your records.
Is Trakt free to use?
Trakt has a free tier covering tracking, scrobbling, lists, and a 30-day calendar. Trakt VIP (around $3 per month) adds advanced statistics, ad-free browsing, and a full-year calendar view. Most casual users find the free tier sufficient.
Is TV Time free to use?
TV Time is free to use. The core tracking, community features, and push notifications are all available without paying. TV Time Premium removes ads and adds extras, but the majority of users never need to upgrade.