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.

Import breadth

Simkl imports from a long list of other services. I Like Movies reads exports from Letterboxd, IMDb, Trakt and TV Time, 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

The people you live with can see each other’s watchlists and share one collection of what you own, so nobody has to remember whose list the film is on.

Friends, not strangers

Ratings and notes go to the friends you follow, and any note can stay just for you. 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	iPhone, Android	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, IMDb, Trakt and TV Time exports	Many sources
Price	Free, no ads	Free with ads; premium tiers

Moving your library

There is no Simkl import. Imports read Letterboxd, IMDb, Trakt and TV Time exports, so a Simkl library starts fresh here. If your history also lives on Letterboxd, IMDb or Trakt, importing from there carries it across; otherwise 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 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 go to your friends or stay just for you, 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 four kinds of export: a Letterboxd .zip, an IMDb .csv, a Trakt .zip and a TV Time export saved before that service closed. There is no importer for Simkl exports, and an import is a one-time copy, not a sync.

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 Letterboxd, IMDb, Trakt and TV Time exports only. A Simkl library starts fresh here, though history that also exists on Letterboxd, IMDb or Trakt 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, Cronica, Flick. Or browse every guide and watch order.

The best-of roundups:

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