How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Letterboxd is the best diary and community app for film lovers, with more than 4 billion films logged, while IMDb is the biggest free database.
- JustWatch answers the question every movie night starts with: where can I stream this, on the services I already pay for.
- Trakt is the only app that tracks episodes automatically and syncs watched history from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, HBO Max, and more.
- MUBI is the only app on this list that actually plays the films, with a hand curated catalogue and a weekly cinema ticket on its GO plan.
- JustWatch TV launched in October 2026 with a free ad supported tier and a 3.99 dollar a month ad free Plus plan, turning the guide into a streamer itself.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Letterboxd | Film diary and community | Free | Yes |
 IMDb | Biggest database | Free | Yes |
 JustWatch | Where to stream | Free | Yes |
 Trakt | Automatic episode tracking | Free | Yes |
 Reelgood | All services in one place | Free | Yes |
 MUBI | Curated arthouse streaming | $14.99/month | No |
 Rotten Tomatoes | Critic and audience scores | Free | Yes |
 TMDB | Community database | Free | Yes |
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The best app for movies
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Letterboxd is social film discovery done right: track films you have watched, save those you want to see, and tell your friends what is good. The diary is the core, with a rating per viewing, written reviews, lists, and year in review stats that turn a lifetime of watching into a visible record.
The community is the draw. Popular reviews and lists surface every week, and the platform has logged more than 4 billion films watched. Pro at 18.99 dollars a year adds the watchlist streaming filter, personalized stats, and more, while Patron at 48.99 dollars a year adds further customization.
Letterboxd fits film lovers who want a diary and a community. It does not track TV episodes, and it does not tell you where to stream without Pro, so pair it with JustWatch for movie night logistics.
What we like- Free core diary
- Pro at 18.99 dollars a year, Patron at 48.99 dollars a year
- 4 billion plus films watched logged
- Lists, stats, and reviews
- IOS, Android, and Apple TV apps
Watch out for- No TV episode tracking
- Streaming filter sits behind Pro
- No playback of its own
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
IMDb is the database everything else references. It holds the largest collection of movie and TV information, from cast and crew to trivia, trailers, and user ratings, and its watchlist and ratings are free with no subscription at all.
The practical advantage is export: you can export your ratings to CSV from Your Ratings, and Letterboxd can import IMDb exports, which makes IMDb a safe home base even if you later move your diary elsewhere. The downside is social depth: IMDb is a database with comments, not a diary community, and it records one rating per title rather than one per viewing.
IMDb fits everyone as a reference and a free watchlist. Film lovers should pair it with Letterboxd for the diary, and streamers should pair it with JustWatch for availability.
What we like- Completely free
- Biggest movie and TV database
- Watchlist and ratings
- Export ratings to CSV
- Cast, crew, trivia, and trailers
Watch out for- Not a social diary
- One rating per title rather than per viewing
- No official Letterboxd import
- Ads and Amazon cross promotion
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
JustWatch is the purest streaming availability search, and it is the source of truth that most other tools pull from under the hood. Type a movie name, and it shows every service that streams it, every store that rents or sells it, and the price for each, filtered by the services you actually pay for.
In October 2026 JustWatch went further, launching JustWatch TV across 11 markets including the United States, with free ad supported viewing, rentals, and an optional ad free Plus subscription at 3.99 dollars a month covering more than 300 titles. Existing users move from searching for a title to watching it without switching apps.
JustWatch fits anyone asking where can I stream this tonight. It is not a diary, so pair it with Letterboxd or Trakt for tracking what you have seen.
What we like- Free streaming guide
- Covers every major service
- 50 million users
- JustWatch TV launched October 2026 with free ad supported viewing
- Plus at 3.99 dollars a month ad free with 300 plus titles
Watch out for- Not a diary or a community
- Free users limited to 2 custom lists
- Pro future unclear now that Plus bundles guide features
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Trakt is the only app that tracks what you watch automatically and covers TV episode by episode. It discovers what is hot and where to stream it, tracks shows and movies you watch, and shares comments, recommendations, and ratings with a community.
The standout is streaming sync in beta for VIP members: Trakt automatically syncs watched history and ratings from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Apple TV Plus, Paramount Plus, Peacock, and Hulu, updating every day with no manual logging. Community apps scrobble from media centers automatically, and direct links cover hundreds of streaming services in 139 countries.
Trakt fits TV watchers and anyone who hates manual logging. Film only viewers should choose Letterboxd for the diary, and availability only users should choose JustWatch.
What we like- Free core tracking
- VIP at 6 dollars a month or 60 dollars a year
- Automatic scrobbling from media centers
- Streaming sync from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Apple TV Plus, Paramount Plus, Peacock, and Hulu
- 139 countries
Watch out for- Film diary less social than Letterboxd
- VIP needed for streaming sync and advanced features
- Interface busier than JustWatch
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Reelgood is closer to a full discovery app than a pure guide, layering a watchlist and recommendations on top of availability data from more than 300 services. Browse, search, and watch TV and movies from every service you pay for in one place, with curated lists from sci fi to female directors to 80s action.
The Roulette feature is the fun differentiator: set filters, spin, and let chaos pick tonight's film, with themed versions for romance, horror, and date night. Recommended lists cover best of the decade, great movies under 90 minutes, and best Korean films, among many others.
Reelgood fits streamers who want discovery as well as availability. Pure availability users should choose JustWatch, and diary keepers should choose Letterboxd or Trakt.
What we like- Free
- Browses 300 plus services in one place
- Watchlist and recommendations
- Roulette feature for picking a film
- Strong web experience
Watch out for- Mobile app has lagged behind the web version
- No diary depth of Letterboxd
- No automatic tracking like Trakt VIP
Starting price$14.99/month
Free planNo
MUBI is the only app on this list that actually plays the films, and it does so with a point of view. Everywhere's best cinema, curated by film lovers by hand, from the greatest ever directors to the greatest new directors and voices from all over the globe.
MUBI Classic costs 14.99 dollars a month or 119.88 dollars a year in the United States, with a 7 day free trial. MUBI GO at 19.99 dollars a month or 167.88 dollars a year adds a weekly cinema ticket in select cities, and Notebook magazine covers the art and culture of cinema in print.
MUBI fits arthouse lovers who want curation rather than endless choice. Mainstream streamers should use JustWatch to find films across services, and diary keepers should pair MUBI with Letterboxd.
What we like- Hand curated arthouse catalogue
- MUBI Classic at 14.99 dollars a month or 119.88 dollars a year
- 7 day free trial
- MUBI GO at 19.99 dollars a month adds a weekly cinema ticket in select cities
- Notebook magazine
Watch out for- No free tier beyond the trial
- Catalogue smaller than mainstream services
- Not a tracker, and no official Letterboxd import
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Rotten Tomatoes is the quickest way to answer whether a film is worth your evening. The Tomatometer aggregates critic reviews into a fresh or rotten percentage, shown beside an audience score, so you can see at a glance where critics and viewers agree or split.
The app and site cover trailers, reviews, editorial features, box office, coming soon titles, and a free to watch section with no login required. Recent coverage spans new releases, festival favorites, and hidden gems in limited release, alongside certified fresh lists and weekly staff picks.
Rotten Tomatoes fits viewers who decide by scores and reviews. It does not track what you have seen or tell you where to stream in depth, so pair it with Letterboxd for the diary and JustWatch for availability.
What we like- Free
- Tomatometer critic scores and audience scores side by side
- Trailers, reviews, and editorial
- Box office and coming soon coverage
- Free to watch section
Watch out for- Scores simplify complex opinions into a binary fresh or rotten
- No diary or tracking
- No streaming availability depth of JustWatch
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
The Movie Database, known as TMDB, is the community maintained database behind many of the apps film lovers use every day. It holds millions of movies, TV shows, and people to discover, with trending, latest trailers, popular, free to watch, and leaderboard sections that reward contributors.
TMDB's strength is data quality and openness: community editors keep entries current, and the database powers third party apps, trackers, and media centers. The leaderboard shows top contributors by all time and weekly edits, which reflects how actively the community maintains the catalogue.
TMDB fits data lovers, developers, and contributors who want a free, community owned database. Casual viewers should start with IMDb for reference, Letterboxd for the diary, and JustWatch for streaming.
What we like- Free
- Millions of movies, TV shows, and people
- Community maintained data
- Trending, popular, and free to watch sections
- Powers many third party apps
Watch out for- No streaming availability depth of JustWatch
- No diary community of Letterboxd
- Interface geared to contributors as well as viewers
How we chose
We compared movie apps by diary depth, database size, streaming availability, TV tracking, community, curation, and price. We opened every vendor homepage to confirm it loads and belongs to the product described. We favored apps with a free core tier and a clear single job, and we excluded apps that only play one studio's catalogue without discovery or tracking features.
What to check before you pick a movie app
First, decide your job. Diary and community means Letterboxd, biggest database means IMDb, where to stream means JustWatch, automatic TV tracking means Trakt, and curated watching means MUBI. Most film lovers end up with two apps, not one.
Next, check your services. JustWatch, Reelgood, and Trakt all let you filter by the services you pay for, which turns a 200 title watchlist into the 10 titles you can start tonight. Set your services before judging any guide app.
Finally, protect your data. Export your IMDb ratings, back up your Letterboxd diary, and check that your tracker syncs before you switch. A diary built over years is worth more than any single app's features.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app for movies?
Letterboxd is the best diary and community app, IMDb is the biggest free database, JustWatch is the best streaming guide, and Trakt is the best automatic tracker. The best app depends on whether you track, discover, or decide what to watch.
Is there a free app for tracking movies?
Yes. Letterboxd, IMDb, JustWatch, Trakt, Reelgood, Rotten Tomatoes, and TMDB all offer free core tiers. Letterboxd Pro at 18.99 dollars a year and Trakt VIP at 6 dollars a month add advanced features, but the free tiers cover diary, database, and guide basics.
Which app tells me where a movie is streaming?
JustWatch is the best answer, with availability across every major service and filters for the services you pay for. Reelgood covers 300 plus services as well, and Trakt links to hundreds of services in 139 countries.
Can an app track my TV episodes automatically?
Yes. Trakt VIP syncs watched history from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Apple TV Plus, Paramount Plus, Peacock, and Hulu, and community apps scrobble from media centers. Letterboxd does not track TV episodes.
Does any movie app actually play films?
Yes. MUBI streams its hand curated arthouse catalogue, and JustWatch TV launched in October 2026 with free ad supported viewing and rentals. Letterboxd, IMDb, and Trakt are guides and trackers, not players.
Sources we checked (11)
- https://letterboxd.com
- https://www.imdb.com
- https://www.justwatch.com
- https://trakt.tv
- https://reelgood.com
- https://www.mubi.com
- https://www.rottentomatoes.com
- https://www.themoviedb.org
- https://www.mycultbox.com/guides/app-to-track-movies
- https://goodrecmovies.com/blog/best-letterboxd-alternatives
- https://www.gadgetreview.com/justwatch-tv-launches-free-streaming-tier-turning-its-discovery-app-into-a-destination
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.