Alternatives / Simkl
Looking for an open source Simkl alternative? We compared 3 open source TV, movie, and anime trackers by license, platforms, data sources, and sync. They are apps rather than a web service like Simkl, and one of them depends on Trakt for syncing.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| SeriesGuide | Tracking shows and movies on Android | GPL-3.0-or-later |
| Showly | Android and iOS tracker (uses Trakt) | GPL-3.0 |
| Tonkatsu Box | Tracking anime, games, movies, and books | MIT |
We looked for open-source tools that overlap with Simkl's core: logging what you watch, keeping a watchlist, and following shows, movies, and anime. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, platforms, and releases in its repository. Simkl is a hosted web service with integrations and automatic tracking, and none of these replaces that service, so we note where each stores your data. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Simkl offers a web platform, a calendar, and integrations that scrobble what you watch from other services. SeriesGuide, Showly, and Tonkatsu Box are apps you install, and none replicates automatic tracking across streaming services or a hosted community.
Showly is open source under GPL-3.0, but its repository belongs to the Trakt organization and it integrates tightly with Trakt.tv to sync your history across devices. It is therefore not an independent replacement, because you still use a Trakt account.
SeriesGuide is an Android app for TV shows and movies using TMDb data. Showly runs on Android and on iOS since January 2025. Tonkatsu Box is a Flutter app for Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android that tracks anime, manga, games, movies, TV shows, and books, so it is the best fit if you track anime like Simkl users do.
SeriesGuide is GPL-3.0-or-later, with some parts such as its API library under Apache-2.0. Showly is GPL-3.0, and Tonkatsu Box is MIT.
All three projects were updated within days of this update. Tonkatsu Box is still a young project with versions below 1.0, and it needs optional API keys for some data sources.
Simkl is a proprietary hosted service: your history is stored on its servers, some features such as ad removal and advanced tools need a paid plan, and you depend on its availability and integrations. Open-source alternatives let you track on your own devices, inspect the code, and avoid subscriptions, at the cost of no shared web platform and often a single platform.
| Alternative | Platforms | License | Data storage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SeriesGuide | Android | GPL-3.0-or-later | On device | Android users |
| Showly | Android, iOS | GPL-3.0 | Synced with Trakt | Trakt users on mobile |
| Tonkatsu Box | Windows, Linux, macOS, Android | MIT | Local SQLite | Anime, games, and movies |
Want to track shows and movies on Android
SeriesGuide logs viewing history and watchlists using TMDb data, under GPL-3.0-or-later.
Want to track anime, games, and books too
Tonkatsu Box is an MIT Flutter app with local storage, tier lists, and visual boards, though it needs optional API keys for some sources.
Want a mobile tracker for Android and iOS that syncs with Trakt
Showly is GPL-3.0 and syncs with your Trakt account, so it does not remove the dependency on a hosted service.