5 apps that tell you when and where something is on TV
Relying on Google or Alexa to let you know when new seasons of shows like Outlander and Yellowstone premiere is pretty common. You probably do the same thing to stream new movies like John Wick 4. However, researching upcoming release dates for Netflix, Disney Plus, Max, and any other streaming service can be time consuming.
So what’s the best way to research which titles will be available on a streaming platform? Write it on a post-it? Add it to your phone’s calendar? Use streaming app’s callback? All of these techniques are useful, but there are apps that can do better.
Here are my suggestions for free apps that help you keep track of which streaming TV shows and movies you’re planning to watch, which ones you’re already immersed in, and which titles you might be interested in but need solid recommendations. They can alert you when new episodes are about to come out or remind you where you left off on a show. I should mention that some of the apps below are built into Trakt, a web-based platform that syncs with your PC, phone, or home media center, but its native app is still pretty clunky, so we’ve left it off this list. .
Learn more: Max: The 34 Absolute Best TV Shows To Watch
TV Time tracks TV shows and movies, offers recommendations, and connects you with other fans on social media. The app is available for Android and Apple users and you can create an account using Google, Apple, Twitter, Facebook or email. To get started, choose the shows you’ve watched on which streaming service (or network). Interestingly, when you scroll through Hulu’s selections, only its originals are listed, but the app tells you that you can add more later.
You may already be familiar with JustWatch as an app that selects where a title plays, but you can also create a watchlist, track upcoming releases, and watch a show with just one click. Once you open the app, you can select each streaming service you use, including Disney Plus, Crunchyroll, and Fubo, to watch shows and movies. There are over 100 providers listed on JustWatch, and the app recently added a sports streaming guide.
Available on iOS and Android, Hobi is one of the most popular and comprehensive tracking apps. When you open it, you can select the shows you plan to watch or have watched, and Hobi shows where you left off. The titles are added to your watchlist. If it’s an old series, Hobi notifies you that the series is over but still reminds you which episodes are next for you. The Discover feature highlights trending shows, series returning in the current week, news airing for the month, and recommendations across all genres and networks, including HBO and Netflix.
SeriesGuide is available on Android and Amazon Fire TV and claims that it contains no ads and does not track your personal information.
Cinetrak lets you track both TV shows and movies, but you need to set up a Trakt connection in order to create watchlists. You’ll see ads at the bottom of the screen, but the interface is clean and intuitive. In the TV Shows menu, you can find titles in several categories: Genres, Trending, Popular, and Most Watched. Click on a series and Cinetrak displays general information about the series and seasons. Tap the plus sign to add a show by title, episode, or season.
TV Streaming Tracker Apps FAQ
What about privacy issues?
Take the time to review the privacy notices and settings for each service. JustWatch explains that it collects user data that can be used to target advertisements based on your movie tastes, while TV Time also uses non-personal information for marketing and advertising purposes. With the latter, you can also toggle your personal account settings and set it to private, which prevents non-followers from seeing your activity. You can also unlink social media accounts.
Do I have to pay to upgrade to get more tracking benefits?
While some of these apps offer the ability to upgrade, we recommend sticking to the free versions, especially if you just want an easy way to remind yourself of upcoming releases or track your progress for a show. .
Why didn’t Reelgood make this list?
Reelgood is a great platform that lets you keep track of movies and TV shows that have already been released or those that are slated for arrivals in the current month. However, it does not provide any information for the coming months. JustWatch and TV Time, on the other hand, display the new season’s release date along with an episode count. You can even set a notification for its arrival.
CNET
