Cinopsys
- Cinopsys is 100% free with no ads — every feature, from day one.
- Moviebase is free with ads; removing them is its main paid upgrade.
- Cinopsys adds two-way Simkl sync, standalone mode and Google Drive backup that Moviebase doesn't offer.
- Moviebase has real strengths too — slick TMDB-powered discovery and a polished Material You look.
Both apps track movies and TV, both sync with Trakt, and both look modern. The differences that matter are in the business model and in how far each app's features reach.
The money question: ads and upgrades
Moviebase is free to download and lets you track plenty without paying — but it's an ad-supported app, and getting rid of the ads is the headline reason to buy its premium upgrade. That's a fair model, and lots of people happily pay it.
Cinopsys takes a different route: there is no ad to remove and no premium tier to buy. The full app — statistics, filters, widgets, theming, notifications, sync — is simply free. (You're welcome to support development on Ko-fi, but nothing in the app is gated behind it.) It's telling that even Moviebase's own guides describe Cinopsys as "completely ad-free."
Where Cinopsys reaches further
- Two backends. Cinopsys does full two-way sync with both Trakt and Simkl. Moviebase centers on Trakt.
- Standalone & offline-friendly. Cinopsys works fully without any account, so you can track privately with nothing connected.
- Google Drive backup. Export a full backup to your own Drive and restore it anywhere — your data, your cloud.
- Personalization. Gradient theming and a deep advanced-settings menu let you shape the app to taste.
- Hide-spoilers masking for episode titles, art and overviews.
Where Moviebase is strong
Credit where it's due. Moviebase leans on the huge TMDB community database for discovery, with browsable categories and curated collections, and its Material You theming looks great on modern Android. If your priority is browsing and discovering new titles in a big, mainstream catalog — and ads don't bother you — Moviebase is a great pick.
Cinopsys focuses on being the most capable tracker and client: deep stats, flexible filters, widgets, two-backend sync and total data ownership, with nothing behind a paywall.
If you want a polished discovery app and don't mind ads or a one-time purchase, Moviebase is a fine choice. If you want every feature free with no ads — plus Simkl, standalone mode and Drive backup — Cinopsys is hard to beat.
The verdict
Same category, different deal. Cinopsys gives you the whole app for free with no ads, two-way Trakt and Simkl sync, standalone use and your own Drive backups. Try it and see how much you get for nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cinopsys or Moviebase better?
It depends on your priorities. Cinopsys is 100% free with no ads, does two-way Trakt and Simkl sync, works standalone and backs up to Google Drive. Moviebase has excellent TMDB-powered discovery and Material You theming, but it's ad-supported.
Does Moviebase have ads?
Yes. Moviebase is ad-supported and removing ads is its main paid upgrade. Cinopsys has no ads at all.
Can Moviebase sync with Simkl?
No. Moviebase centers on Trakt. Cinopsys does full two-way sync with both Trakt and Simkl.
Is Moviebase free?
Moviebase is free to use with ads, and some features plus ad removal require payment. Cinopsys is entirely free with nothing behind a paywall.