Best Letterboxd alternatives for iPhone in 2026 (we compared 5)
Letterboxd is the best film diary and community there is, and on iPhone it is excellent. People look for an alternative for specific reasons: they want TV tracked alongside film, they want their notes private rather than public, or they want streaming availability and recommendations Letterboxd does not do.
This page compares the five worth knowing on iPhone for someone leaving or supplementing Letterboxd, and it is honest about where Letterboxd itself is still the one to keep.
This roundup is published by the makers of I Like Movies, which is one of the apps below. We say that up front, credit every other app for what it does best, place ourselves only where we genuinely fit this job, and take no payment for any placement.
Last reviewed October 2026.
The ranking
1. I Like Movies
Best for a private tracker for film and TV, shared with your household.
I Like Movies is the closest fit if what you want is Letterboxd for iPhone with TV as well as film, away from a public feed, and shared with the people you live with. It tracks films and TV in one library down to the episode, your notes and ratings go to friends rather than becoming public reviews, it shows per-country streaming, and it imports your Letterboxd .zip directly so a library built over years comes across.
If public reviews and a reading community are why you use Letterboxd, that is the one thing this does not replace.
Strengths
- Film and TV in one private library, tracked by episode
- Imports your Letterboxd .zip; per-country streaming
- Shared household library; free, no ads
Trade-offs
- No public review community; notes go to friends or stay private
- No web app; iPhone and Android only
2. Matinee
Best for a social film-and-TV diary, closest to Letterboxd for TV.
Matinee is the nearest thing to a Letterboxd for TV on iPhone: a diary, half-star ratings, a social feed of what friends are watching, and streaming availability across more than 30 services, also on iPad and Mac. If you want the public-diary feel but with TV included, this is it.
Strengths
- A social diary and reviews, with TV included
- Strong discovery and streaming filters
Trade-offs
- Smart search and optimiser need Pro; free tier has ads
- A public feed, so less private than a tracker
3. Serializd
Best for public TV reviews, a Letterboxd for television.
Serializd is Letterboxd for TV: log shows and seasons, write public reviews, and read a community of TV watchers. Since TV Time closed, much of that culture moved here.
Strengths
- A real public TV-review community
- Season and show logging
Trade-offs
- TV only, no films
- Public reviews, not a private tracker
4. Cronica
Best for a minimalist private tracker with iCloud sync.
Cronica is a clean, native iPhone tracker for films and TV, with an Up Next view, release alerts, iCloud sync and JustWatch streaming links. It suits someone who wants the tidiness of Letterboxd without the social feed.
Strengths
- Clean native design; iCloud sync
- Up Next and release alerts
Trade-offs
- No public community or reviews
- Stays in the Apple ecosystem
5. IMDb
Best for ratings and the deepest reference database.
IMDb is not a diary, but it carries a watchlist and lets you rate, and its database and rating are the reference everyone knows. As a Letterboxd substitute it is a downgrade for diary culture and an upgrade for looking things up.
Strengths
- The deepest reference database and a known rating
- Free; exports ratings as .csv
Trade-offs
- No real diary or private-notes flow
- Ad-supported
Compared side by side
| Feature | I Like Movies | Matinee | Serializd | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tracks film and TV | Yes | Yes | TV only | Both, as a database |
| Kept off the public web | Yes, friends only | No, social feed | No, public reviews | Ratings are public |
| Public review community | No | Yes | Yes | Ratings and reviews |
| Imports a Letterboxd library | Yes, the .zip | No | No | Its own .csv ratings |
| Streaming availability | Per country | 30+ services | No | Limited |
| Price | Free, no ads | Free with ads, optional Pro | Free | Free with ads |
The honest verdict
If you want a private tracker for film and TV that imports your Letterboxd library and shares with your household, I Like Movies fits best on iPhone. If you want the public-diary feel with TV included, Matinee is the closest to Letterboxd for television, and Serializd is the place for public TV reviews. Cronica is the tidiest private option, and IMDb is the one to keep for ratings and reference. If public film reviews and the community around them are the point, the honest answer is to stay on Letterboxd, and use one of these alongside it for TV.
Questions people ask
Is there a Letterboxd alternative for iPhone that tracks TV?
Yes. Letterboxd is film only, so if you want TV as well, I Like Movies and Matinee track both films and TV, and Serializd covers TV specifically. I Like Movies keeps them in one private library down to the episode.
Can I import my Letterboxd history into these apps?
I Like Movies imports a Letterboxd .zip export directly, ratings and watchlist included, so your library comes across. Most of the others start fresh, and IMDb works from its own .csv rather than a Letterboxd file. If keeping your existing library matters, that direct import is the difference.
Which is the most private Letterboxd alternative on iPhone?
I Like Movies has no public reviews or profiles: ratings and notes go only to the friends you accept, any note can stay just for you, and activity can be switched to Only me. Cronica is a personal tracker synced through your own iCloud. Matinee and Serializd are built around a public feed and public reviews, so they are the opposite of private by design.
Should I just stay on Letterboxd?
If public film reviews and the community around them are why you track films, yes, stay on Letterboxd and add one of these alongside it for TV. If you want TV in the same library, notes without a public audience, or streaming and recommendations, switching or supplementing makes sense.
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Compared head to head: Letterboxd, Trakt, Simkl, IMDb, Serializd, Maimovie, Moviebase, JustWatch, Matinee, Cronica, Flick.
Browse every guide and comparison.