TV Track vs Sofa Time

Here is the thing most comparisons skip: Sofa Time and TV Track are remarkably alike once you look past the icons. Both track shows and movies, both do GIFs in comments and comment translation, both let you rate characters, both import a TV Time GDPR backup, and both keep the lists you expect. So this is not a feature shoot-out where one app is missing the basics. The real fork in the road is which devices you use and whether you want to pay once. The two cards below sum up who each app is for, and the sections after that explain why in plain terms.

Where Sofa Time is genuinely better

Sofa Time is a well-made, well-loved app, and if you live entirely inside the Apple ecosystem it is easy to recommend. It is a truly native iPhone and iPad app, so it feels at home on iOS in a way a web app cannot always match. Its pricing model appeals to a lot of people too: there is a free version, and a one-time purchase unlocks full functionality as a perpetual license, with no recurring subscription to think about. It also ships a streaming guide that lists where titles are available by country across services like Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+, and it syncs with both Trakt and Simkl.

Its social side is rich, with custom profiles, the ability to follow other users and see what they watch, favorite actors, GIFs in comments and comment translation. The organising tools are the ones you would expect from a mature tracker: a list of next episodes to watch, a watchlist and a watched list, so nothing slips through the cracks. It handles both TV shows and movies, and it can bring your history across when you switch, importing TV Time GDPR backup files including comments and character ratings. If a native, buy-once Apple app with a good streaming catalog is what you are after, Sofa Time is a strong choice and we are happy to say so.

Where TV Track wins

The catch with Sofa Time is right there in the store listing: it is iOS and iPadOS only, with no Android app and no web version. If anyone in your household uses Android, or you like to check in from a laptop, that is the end of the conversation. TV Track is a single installable web app that looks and works identically on iPhone, Android and desktop, and a dedicated free Android app is on Google Play. TV Track is also completely free with no ads and no premium tier, so nothing is gated behind a purchase.

On top of the features the two apps share, TV Track adds a few things worth calling out. There is two-way Trakt sync, so your watched state stays consistent in both places rather than flowing one direction. There are free daily 9am release notifications and a release calendar, so you know when the next episode of anything you follow lands. And there is a full .zip account export with no lock-in, alongside 7 languages and correct anime episode ordering from TVDB. On the tracking side you get an automatic "up next" queue, watch statistics, custom lists, ratings out of 10 with written reviews, twelve community reactions with live averages, favorite-character voting per title, a custom poster per title, and comments with photos and GIFs that are auto-translated.

Getting your data in is a one-click job. TV Track imports your TV Time GDPR backup, including comments and ratings, and also imports from Trakt, Letterboxd, Watchfolio and Refract, never duplicating on re-import and preserving your real watch dates. It is private by design. In short, if you are not all-Apple, TV Track gives you the same everyday tracking for free, everywhere.

TV Track vs Sofa Time, side by side

Comparison based on publicly available information, July 2026. Check the App Store for current features and pricing.

Frequently asked questions

Is TV Track or Sofa Time better?

They are very similar in features, so the honest answer comes down to platform and price. Sofa Time is a polished tracker for iPhone and iPad, with a free version plus a one-time purchase to unlock full functionality and its own streaming guide. TV Track is completely free with no ads and runs as one installable app on iPhone, Android and desktop. If you are all-Apple and prefer a native app with a one-time buy, Sofa Time is a great fit. If you use Android or desktop, want it free, or want two-way Trakt sync and free daily release notifications, TV Track fits better.

Does Sofa Time work on Android or desktop?

No. Sofa Time is available on iOS and iPadOS only, with no Android app and no web version. TV Track is an installable web app (PWA) that behaves the same on iPhone, Android and desktop, so you can pick it up on any device. TV Track also has a free native Android app on Google Play.

How much does Sofa Time cost?

Sofa Time offers a free version with limited functionality, plus a one-time purchase that unlocks the full app. It is a perpetual license rather than a subscription. TV Track is fully free with no ads and no premium tier, so everything is included at no cost.

Can I import my TV Time history into either app?

Yes to both. Sofa Time imports TV Time GDPR backup files, including comments and character ratings. TV Track also imports your TV Time GDPR zip, including comments and ratings, and additionally imports from Trakt, Letterboxd, Watchfolio and Refract. TV Track never duplicates on re-import and preserves your real watch dates.

Do both apps have social features?

Yes. Sofa Time has custom profiles, following other users, favorite actors, GIFs in comments and comment translation. TV Track has comments with photos and GIFs that are auto-translated, ratings out of 10 with reviews, twelve community reactions with live averages, and favorite-character voting per title. The two apps overlap heavily here.