Best movie tracker apps for iPhone in 2026 (we compared 5)
A tracker keeps an honest record of what you have watched and what you mean to, films and TV, without turning into a chore. On iPhone the field runs from polished single-purpose trackers to cross-platform apps that also live on the web, and they differ most in how your history is stored and synced.
This page compares the five worth knowing on iPhone, by how completely they track, how they sync across your devices, and how little work they ask of you.
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 one free, ad-free library of films and TV, synced across devices and shared with your household.
I Like Movies keeps films and TV in a single history down to the episode, with ratings, notes and statistics, imports from Letterboxd, IMDb, Trakt and TV Time, and a library that lives on the server so it is already there when you sign in on another iPhone or on Android. A household can see each other’s watchlists, and the same app also handles discovery and an AI assistant.
It does not scrobble automatically: you mark things watched yourself. For people who want a clean, free, shared record rather than a media-server integration, that is a fair trade.
Strengths
- Films and TV in one library, tracked by episode
- Ratings, notes and statistics
- Server-side library that syncs to any iPhone and to Android
- A shared household library; free, no ads
Trade-offs
- No automatic scrobbling; you mark things watched yourself
- No web app; it is a phone app for iPhone and Android, not the browser
2. Trakt
Best for automatic scrobbling and a portable history.
Trakt is the backbone the rest of the ecosystem plugs into: it scrobbles automatically from Plex, Kodi, Infuse and other players, exposes an open API, and keeps a history other apps can read. On iPhone many people run a polished third-party Trakt client rather than the official app.
Strengths
- Automatic scrobbling from media servers and players
- Open, portable history across many apps
Trade-offs
- Official iPhone app is basic; a third-party client is better
- Some features require VIP
3. Simkl
Best for an all-in-one that also covers anime.
Simkl tracks films, TV and anime together, can auto-track, and imports widely, with an iPhone app that syncs to the same account as its web and other clients. It is the best single app if your watching spans all three.
Strengths
- Films, TV and anime in one tracker
- Automatic tracking and broad imports; free core
Trade-offs
- Busier interface
- Anime-forward feel
4. Matinee
Best for a polished iPhone-first tracker with discovery.
Matinee is an iPhone-first tracker for films and TV, with a diary, half-star ratings, a social feed and streaming availability across more than 30 services, and it also runs on iPad, Mac and Apple Vision. Its headline is discovery: a natural-language search and a daily pick.
The smart search and watchlist optimiser sit behind a Pro subscription, and the free tier carries ads.
Strengths
- Polished, iPhone-first, and across the Apple ecosystem
- Strong discovery and streaming filters
Trade-offs
- Smart search and optimiser need Pro
- Free tier has ads
5. Cronica
Best for a minimalist iPhone 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 something focused and Apple-native rather than a full recommender.
Strengths
- Clean native design with iCloud sync
- Up Next and release alerts
Trade-offs
- iCloud based, so it stays in the Apple ecosystem
- Lighter on discovery and recommendations
Compared side by side
| Feature | I Like Movies | Trakt | Simkl | Matinee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Films and TV in one library | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic scrobbling | No, you mark it | Yes | Yes | No, you mark it |
| Episode-level tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Syncs across your devices | Yes, via your account | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | None | None | None on the core | Free tier has ads |
| Price | Free | Free plus VIP | Free | Free with ads, optional Pro |
The honest verdict
If you want one free, ad-free app that tracks films and TV together, syncs to every device on your account and shares with your household, I Like Movies fits best on iPhone. If you want tracking to happen automatically as you watch, Trakt is the backbone to build on. Simkl is the strongest all-in-one when anime is in the mix, Matinee is the most polished iPhone-first tracker with real discovery, and Cronica is the cleanest minimalist option with iCloud sync.
Questions people ask
What is the best free movie tracker for iPhone?
For a free, ad-free tracker of films and TV, I Like Movies and Simkl both qualify, and Cronica is free too. Trakt has a capable free tier; Matinee is free with ads. The best one depends on whether you want a shared household (I Like Movies), automatic scrobbling (Trakt), the widest coverage (Simkl) or a minimalist iCloud app (Cronica).
Can I track movies on iPhone without marking each one by hand?
Yes, with an app that scrobbles. Trakt and Simkl can detect what you play on a connected media server or service and mark it automatically. I Like Movies and Cronica do not scrobble: you mark things watched yourself, which some people prefer for an accurate, deliberate record.
Will my history sync to my iPad or a new iPhone?
It depends where the app stores it. I Like Movies, Trakt and Simkl keep your library on the server, so you sign in anywhere and it is there; Cronica syncs through iCloud across your Apple devices. Always check that a tracker syncs to an account or iCloud rather than only to the device before you invest years of history in it.
Do these iPhone apps track TV episodes as well as films?
Yes. All five track both films and TV, most down to the individual episode and season. If TV episode tracking matters, any of them covers it.
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Compared head to head: Letterboxd, Trakt, Simkl, IMDb, Serializd, Maimovie, Moviebase, JustWatch, Matinee, Cronica, Flick.
Browse every guide and comparison.