Cinopsys
Last checked October 26, 2026
The short answer
Pick Trakt for its many third-party apps and scrobblers; pick Simkl for cross-platform use and its Anime tab. The app is a separate choice: Cinopsys syncs with Trakt, Simkl, MDBList and WeTrakr, so you can keep an account on either, switch between them, or run standalone with a Google Drive backup.
When people ask "Trakt, Simkl or MDBList?", they're usually really asking "where should my watch history live?" Both are cloud services that store your movies, shows and ratings and sync them across devices and apps. The app you actually look at every day is a separate choice, and that's where this gets interesting.
Trakt has many apps and scrobblers; Simkl is cross-platform and keeps a separate Anime watchlist. Trakt and Simkl no longer sync directly: Simkl can only take a one-off Trakt export file. Cinopsys syncs with either, or both: so you can choose a service for its strengths without being locked in.
What Trakt and Simkl actually are
Neither Trakt nor Simkl is mainly about its own app. They're sync services: an account, an API, and a database that remembers what you've watched. Dozens of apps, media centres and browser extensions plug into them. So the real decision is two-part, which service stores your data, and which app you use to interact with it.
Trakt, with many apps and scrobblers
Trakt is long-established. Its main advantage is reach: it scrobbles from Plex, Kodi and other players, and many third-party apps support it (Cinopsys included). From 1 November 2026 its Plex webhook only scrobbles, and history sync goes through Trakt's Plex Sync (Trakt's announcement; check whether your plan includes it). If you want your viewing tracked automatically as you watch, Trakt has many apps and scrobblers to choose from.
The trade-offs are in each service's basic tier, and they differ. Trakt's 2026 limits (announced 27 February 2026) are a 250-item watchlist, 5 personal lists of up to 250 items each and 1,000 list items in total on a free account, and 5,000, 100, 5,000 and 100,000 on paid VIP. Trakt says the higher free watchlist and per-list caps are live and the rest are being phased in, with enforcement dates still to be announced (see its follow-up thread). A free Simkl account shows ads and has no custom lists: custom lists need Simkl PRO or VIP and access to Simkl's Watchlists V2 beta, PRO and VIP remove the ads, and Simkl gives PRO free to members who visit 20 days a month (simkl.com/vip, October 2026). Simkl does not publish a watchlist cap on its plans page. From July 2026 Trakt also lets a free account connect only one third-party app at a time (announced 22 July); existing connections over the limit keep working for now, but a free account cannot authorize another until it is back within the limit. We cover that, and how Cinopsys keeps your library intact regardless, in our guide to Trakt's list limits.
Simkl, cross-platform and anime-friendly
Simkl tracks movies, TV and anime in one account and is cross-platform: iOS, Android, web, browser extensions, Plex and Kodi. It says it supports importing from 20+ other services (simkl.com/vip), though not Trakt directly (see below). It keeps separate TV Shows, Anime and Movies watchlists, with a dedicated Anime tab.
One thing to know: Simkl can import a Trakt export file (Trakt to Simkl, one time). Simkl's own import page says Trakt has blocked Simkl's API access, so the live Trakt connection no longer imports anything (checked October 2026). Changes you make in Simkl do not flow back to Trakt. Competitor details on this page were checked against Trakt's and Simkl's own pages on 26 October 2026.
Trakt vs Simkl at a glance
| Feature | Trakt | Simkl |
|---|---|---|
| Movies & TV | Yes | Yes |
| Dedicated Anime tab | Not verified | Yes |
| Scrobbling (Plex/Kodi) | Yes (Plex change 1 Nov) | Yes |
| Cross-platform (web/iOS/ext.) | Yes | Yes |
| Free-tier list limits | 5 lists, 250-item watchlist (some limits phased in) | No custom lists, no watchlist cap published |
| Paid plan | VIP | Pro / VIP |
| Syncs with Cinopsys | Yes | Yes |
The honest answer: you may not have to choose
You may not have to commit to one. The app you use day-to-day matters as much as the logo on the account. Cinopsys syncs with Trakt, Simkl, MDBList and WeTrakr: independently, so you can:
- Use Trakt for its scrobbling and ecosystem, with Cinopsys as the front-end.
- Use Simkl for anime and cross-platform reach, with Cinopsys as the front-end.
- Keep an account on both, switch between them in Cinopsys, and optionally copy new activity to a second service.
- Use neither: run Cinopsys standalone with a Google Drive backup.
So which should you pick?
- You scrobble from Plex/Kodi and want many apps to choose from: Trakt.
- You watch a lot of anime or want cross-platform apps: Simkl.
- You're not sure: start standalone in Cinopsys, then connect whichever service you like later, nothing is lost.
The verdict
Pick the service that fits how you watch, but pick the app first. Cinopsys gives you Trakt, Simkl, MDBList and WeTrakr sync, plus a standalone mode and Drive backup, so the "Trakt vs Simkl" question stops being a lock-in and becomes a preference.
Frequently asked questions
Is Trakt or Simkl better?
Neither is strictly better. Trakt has many third-party apps and scrobblers; Simkl is cross-platform and has a dedicated Anime tab. With Cinopsys you can sync with either, or both, so you don't have to commit.
Does Simkl sync with Trakt?
Not directly. Simkl can import a Trakt export file, but Trakt has blocked Simkl's API access (per Simkl's import page), and nothing flows back to Trakt. Cinopsys, by contrast, syncs with each service independently.
Can I use more than one service?
Cinopsys works with Trakt, Simkl, MDBList and WeTrakr, but your library lives in one of them at a time. Under Settings then Sync & Backup you pick This device only, Trakt, Simkl, MDBList or WeTrakr, and you can switch whenever you like. A Google Drive backup can run alongside whichever you choose.
Which is better for anime, Trakt, Simkl or MDBList?
Simkl has a dedicated Anime tab and separate TV Shows, Anime and Movies watchlists. Since Cinopsys syncs with Simkl, you can track anime alongside movies and TV in one app.