Cinopsys
TV Time and Trakt aren't really the same kind of thing, and that's the point. TV Time is a single app that kept your data inside its own walls — which is why its shutdown takes your history with it. Trakt is an open service that dozens of apps can read and write, so your watch history isn't tied to any one piece of software. If you're leaving TV Time, moving to Trakt is less "switching apps" and more "finally putting your data somewhere it can't be taken away."
TV Time shuts down on July 15, 2026 and deletes everything. Whatever you decide, export your TV Time data first — then read on.
The key difference: an app vs. an open service
TV Time is polished and social, but closed: no Trakt or Simkl sync, and your years of history could only ever live inside TV Time. Trakt flips that. Your watched episodes, ratings and lists live in the Trakt service, and you choose which app you use to view and update them. Change apps, or lose one to a shutdown, and your history is still there — you just point a new client at the same account. That portability is the single biggest reason ex-TV Time users move to Trakt.
Where Trakt asks something of you
Trakt isn't perfect. It's freemium: the free tier now carries usage limits (for example a 250-item watchlist in 2026's updated limits) and shows ads, while Trakt VIP (paid) removes the ads and unlocks extra features. The official Trakt app also divides opinion. So most people don't use Trakt on its own — they keep Trakt as the open backbone and pair it with a nicer client. That's where Cinopsys comes in.
Trakt uses TMDB for TV show data, while TV Time is built on TheTVDB. Moving TVDB-rooted history to a TMDB-based service means some shows get re-matched — usually fine, occasionally messy. If minimum data loss is your top priority, Simkl uses TheTVDB like TV Time and maps more cleanly (more in what happens to your TV Time data). Trakt's win is openness and portability, not a like-for-like database match.
TV Time vs Trakt vs Cinopsys + Trakt
| Feature | TV Time | Trakt (free) | Cinopsys + Trakt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status in 2026 | Shuts down Jul 15 | Active | Active |
| Price | Free + paid | Free + VIP | Free |
| No ads | VIP only | ||
| Portable, open data | |||
| Keeps your full library beyond free limits | Free limits apply | ||
| Works without an account | |||
| Social feed & community | Strong | Limited | Minimal |
| Platforms | iOS · Android | Web · many apps | Android |
Reflects each service's widely documented features as of 2026, including Trakt's updated free-tier limits. Services change often — if something here is out of date, tell us on Discord. TV Time and Trakt are trademarks of their owners; this is an independent comparison.
The r/TV_TIME community's own migration guide puts the same thing first: back up your data immediately, because the export servers are under heavy load near the deadline. Trakt comes up again and again as a destination precisely because it's open — and users warn each other to be wary of apps pushing themselves too hard. We'd rather just be useful: export first, own your data, pick the app you like.
Trakt has a built-in TV Time importer. Export your data from TV Time, then in Trakt go to Settings → Data → Import Data → TV Time and upload it — no VIP required. Then connect that Trakt account in Cinopsys and your history syncs in. Step-by-step: the migration guide.
So which should you use?
- You want your history somewhere it can never be deleted by a shutdown: move it to Trakt.
- You're on Android and don't want Trakt's free-tier ads or its official app: use Cinopsys as your Trakt client — free and ad-free.
- You mostly miss TV Time's social feed: Trakt is light on community; consider Simkl or see all the alternatives.
The verdict
Trakt is the right answer to the real problem TV Time exposed: your history should live in an open service, not a single company's app. Move your data to Trakt, then use Cinopsys as the app on top — free, ad-free, with your full library intact and a Google Drive backup for good measure.
Frequently asked questions
Should I move from TV Time to Trakt?
If your priority is never losing your history again, yes. Trakt is an open service that dozens of apps can read and write, so your data isn't trapped in one company's app the way it was in TV Time. Export your TV Time data first, then build your history on Trakt.
Is Trakt free?
Trakt has a free tier and a paid tier called Trakt VIP. The free tier now includes usage limits (for example a 250-item watchlist in 2026) and shows ads; Trakt VIP removes ads and unlocks extra features. You can avoid the free-tier ads entirely by using an ad-free client like Cinopsys on top of your Trakt account.
Does TV Time sync with Trakt?
No. TV Time keeps your data in its own ecosystem with no Trakt sync, which is exactly why the shutdown puts your history at risk. Cinopsys does full two-way Trakt sync, so your library lives in an open service you can always take elsewhere.
What's the best Trakt app for Android?
Cinopsys is a strong choice: it's 100% free with no ads, does full two-way Trakt sync, and adds movies-and-TV tracking, stats, widgets, standalone use and Google Drive backup — so you get Trakt's portability with a better, ad-free app.