I Like Movies vs Simkl
This page is written by the developer of I Like Movies. A comparison written by one side is not neutral, so it names where the other app is the better choice and does not score anything.
I Like Movies as a Simkl alternative
Simkl tracks TV, anime and films across the web and mobile, with browser extensions that can record what you watch on streaming sites automatically. It is especially strong for anime.
I Like Movies is a phone-first app for films and TV, built around deciding what to watch next and sharing one library with the people you live with. The overlap is real, and so are the differences.
Where Simkl is better
Anime as a first-class citizen
Simkl treats anime as its own medium, with the season structures, statuses and community that anime tracking needs. I Like Movies carries anime as ordinary TV series and films, which works, but an anime-first tracker it is not.
Automatic tracking
Simkl’s browser extensions can log what you watch on streaming sites by themselves. I Like Movies has no automatic tracking; you mark things watched yourself.
A web app
Simkl works in a browser on any machine. I Like Movies is a phone app only, Android today with iOS in development.
Import breadth
Simkl imports from a long list of other services. I Like Movies reads a Letterboxd .zip or an IMDb .csv and nothing else.
What is different in I Like Movies
Built for the decision
AI collections rebuilt monthly from your own ratings, an assistant you can ask in plain language, and streaming availability per country, all pointed at the question of what to watch tonight.
A household shares one library
One watchlist and one watched history for the people you live with, so nobody has to remember whose list the film is on.
Private notes, no public profile pressure
Ratings and notes are private by default. Friends you follow see activity, strangers see nothing.
No ads
No advertising at any point. Simkl is free with ads and premium tiers.
Feature by feature
| Feature | I Like Movies | Simkl |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Android (iOS in development) | Web, iOS, Android |
| Anime-specific tracking | As ordinary TV and films | Yes, first-class |
| Automatic tracking | No | Yes, via browser extensions |
| TV and episode tracking | Yes, per episode | Yes, per episode |
| AI recommendations | Yes, from your own ratings | Limited suggestions |
| Shared household library | Yes | No |
| Streaming availability | Yes, per country | Yes |
| Import | Letterboxd .zip, IMDb .csv | Many sources |
| Price | Free, no ads | Free with ads; premium tiers |
Moving your library
There is no Simkl import. Imports read a Letterboxd .zip or an IMDb .csv, so a Simkl library starts fresh here. If your film ratings also live on Letterboxd or IMDb, importing from there carries those across; TV progress is set as you go, and marking a season watched takes a tap.
What I Like Movies does not do
- There is no iPhone app yet. I Like Movies is Android only today; an iOS version is in development.
- There is no automatic tracking. Nothing scrobbles from a media server, a browser or a streaming app; you mark things watched yourself.
- There are no public reviews. Notes are private, and there is no feed of strangers to read.
- There is no web app. The library lives on the server, but you reach it from the phone app.
- There is no offline mode. The app needs an internet connection.
- Imports read a Letterboxd .zip or an IMDb .csv only. There is no importer for Trakt, Simkl or TV Time exports.
The honest verdict
If anime is a big part of what you watch, or you want your streaming automatically logged from a browser, Simkl is the better fit and you should use it.
If your watching is films and TV on a phone, you want help deciding what is next, and the people you live with should see one list instead of three, that is what I Like Movies is for.
Questions people ask
What is Simkl?
Simkl is a free service for tracking TV, anime and films, with browser extensions that can log what you watch on streaming sites automatically. It is especially popular for anime, and runs on the web and on phones.
Is Simkl safe?
Yes. Simkl is a long-running, legitimate tracking service, and using it is safe in the ordinary sense. It is free with ads and sells premium tiers.
I Like Movies is a separate app with no ads. Which one fits depends on whether you want anime-first tracking and browser auto-logging, or a private films-and-TV library your household shares.
Can I import my Simkl history into I Like Movies?
No. Imports read a Letterboxd .zip or an IMDb .csv export only. A Simkl library starts fresh here, though film ratings that also exist on Letterboxd or IMDb can come across from those exports.
Does I Like Movies track anime?
Yes, as ordinary TV series and films, at episode level. What it does not have is anime-specific structure: no separate anime lists, statuses or seasonal charts. If anime tracking is the main event, Simkl or a dedicated anime tracker serves it better.
Does I Like Movies track automatically like Simkl extensions do?
No. There is no automatic tracking. You mark films and episodes watched yourself, and marking a whole season takes a tap.
Is I Like Movies free?
Yes, free with no advertising. Simkl is free with ads and sells premium tiers.
More comparisons: Letterboxd, Trakt, IMDb, Serializd, Maimovie, Moviebase, JustWatch, Matinee. Or browse every guide and watch order.