The Polygon piece this week about the original Pokemon anime landing on Hulu and Disney+ was a good reminder that anime schedules keep expanding. The fall 2026 slate has more simulcasts than any previous quarter, and picking one from Crunchyroll, Netflix, HIDIVE, and Disney+ without a tracker is a lost cause. These are the eight Android apps we run on a phone to catalogue upcoming anime, track what we’ve seen, and get notified when the next episode drops.
What to look for in an anime tracking app
- Fresh schedule data. The seasonal chart has to update within hours when a release date slips.
- Simulcast metadata. Which service, which region, English sub or dub, delay window. All four matter.
- Watchlist notifications. New episode drops should page you. Weekly digests are second best.
- Cross-platform sync. Log on the phone, review on the tablet or the web.
- Community activity. Discussion threads on new episodes make MAL and AniList feel alive.
- Import support. If you already track on MAL or AniList, the new app should adopt that history.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Live schedule | Notifications | Free plan | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crunchyroll | Simulcast source of truth | Yes | Yes | Free with ads | 4.5 |
| MyAnimeList | Longtime tracking database | Yes | Yes | Free | 4.4 |
| AniList | Modern tracking with community | Yes | Yes | Free | 4.6 |
| Simkl | Anime plus film and TV | Yes | Yes | Free tier | 4.5 |
| Kitsu | Social-focused anime tracker | Yes | Yes | Free tier | 4.3 |
| Anime Tracker | Lightweight offline-first | Yes | Yes | Free | 4.4 |
| Trakt | Cross-media library | Partial | Yes (VIP) | Free tier | 4.4 |
| TV Time | Episode-first tracking | Yes | Yes | Free with ads | 4.5 |
The 8 best upcoming anime tracking apps
1. Crunchyroll, best for the simulcast source of truth
Crunchyroll is where a large share of new anime releases actually stream, which makes its own “Coming Up” and “New Releases” tabs the closest thing to the source of truth. The 2026 app update tightened notifications; subscribe to a series and the episode notification lands the second the simulcast unlocks.
Where it falls short: Only surfaces anime on Crunchyroll and Sony properties. Misses Netflix and HIDIVE exclusives.
Pricing:
- Free: full features with ads
- Paid: from $7.99/month for ad-free
Platforms: Android.
Download: Crunchyroll on Google Play · Crunchyroll on Aptoide
Bottom line: The pick for people whose anime lives on Crunchyroll. Notifications land fast.
2. MyAnimeList, best for longtime tracking database
MyAnimeList (MAL) is the reference database for anime and manga. The seasonal chart is the community’s default calendar, the tracking API is used by half the third-party apps here, and the review system carries 20 years of context. Not the prettiest app, but the deepest.
Where it falls short: UI feels dated. Notifications are basic.
Pricing:
- Free: full tracking
- Paid: MAL Supporter at $2.95/month
Platforms: Android.
Download: MAL on Google Play
Bottom line: The database everyone else builds on top of. Solid choice as the primary tracker.
3. AniList, best for modern tracking with community
AniList is the modern alternative to MAL. Cleaner UI, better activity feed, and a GraphQL API third-party apps have adopted quickly. Seasonal schedule is filterable by studio, source material, and streaming service.
Where it falls short: No official app. AniTrail, AniHyou, and other third-party clients cover Android.
Pricing:
- Free: full features
- Paid: none
Platforms: Android via third-party clients.
Download: AniList (web) — mobile via AniTrail or AniHyou on Google Play
Bottom line: The pick for people who want a lively community around their tracking.
4. Simkl, best for anime plus film and TV
Simkl treats anime as first-class alongside TV and film. The seasonal calendar covers Crunchyroll, Netflix, Disney+, HIDIVE, and a dozen smaller services. Sync between phone, tablet, and web works cleanly.
Where it falls short: Free tier has occasional ads. Some UI overload for people who only want anime.
Pricing:
- Free: full features with ads
- Paid: Premium at $2.49/month
Platforms: Android.
Download: Simkl on Google Play
Bottom line: The pick when anime is only half of what you watch.
5. Kitsu, best for social-focused anime tracker
Kitsu puts activity feeds front and centre. Follow other fans, see what they logged, and comment on episodes as they air. Also imports MAL and AniList histories cleanly.
Where it falls short: Smaller community than MAL. Occasional data lag on the seasonal chart.
Pricing:
- Free: full features
- Paid: Pro at $4.99/month for stat features
Platforms: Android.
Download: Kitsu on Google Play
Bottom line: The pick when the community is why you’re tracking.
6. Anime Tracker, best for lightweight offline-first
Anime Tracker is the pragmatic pick. Loads seasonal charts from MAL or AniList, tracks episodes, and works offline once the schedule is cached. No account needed. Notifications for airing dates configurable per series.
Where it falls short: No community, no discussion threads, no reviews.
Pricing:
- Free: full features
- Paid: Pro at $2.99 removes upgrade prompts
Platforms: Android.
Download: Anime Tracker on Google Play
Bottom line: The pick when you don’t want an account.
7. Trakt, best for cross-media library
Trakt tracks anime alongside TV and film in one library. Community anime lists cover seasonal charts, top of the season picks, and comprehensive watchlists. VIP unlocks calendar push notifications.
Where it falls short: Anime metadata is less complete than MAL or AniList. Localised titles occasionally misfile.
Pricing:
- Free: base tracking
- Paid: VIP at $30 per year
Platforms: Android.
Download: Trakt on Google Play · Trakt on Aptoide
Bottom line: The pick when your anime tracking lives inside a broader library.
8. TV Time, best for episode-first tracking
TV Time treats each anime as a TV show with episodes and stats. Weekly recap emails, “next up” reminders, and simple tick-off progress. Not a database, an episode journal.
Where it falls short: Weaker as a discovery tool. Doesn’t compete with MAL for reviews.
Pricing:
- Free: full features with ads
- Paid: TV Time Plus at $2.99/month removes ads
Platforms: Android.
Download: TV Time on Google Play
Bottom line: The pick for viewers who care more about “did I finish?” than about ratings.
How to pick the right one
- If you want the widest simulcast notifications and pay for Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll’s app.
- If tracking history matters most: MyAnimeList.
- If UI and community matter most: AniList via AniHyou or AniTrail.
- If anime shares space with your film and TV log: Simkl or Trakt.
- If you’re social about it: Kitsu.
- If you don’t want an account: Anime Tracker.
FAQ
Which app has the most accurate seasonal chart? AniList and MyAnimeList update within hours of schedule changes. Simkl mirrors both quickly.
Can I get notifications when a specific series releases a new episode? Yes on Crunchyroll, MAL, AniList (via third-party clients), Simkl, Kitsu, and Trakt VIP.
Where can I watch the original Pokemon anime? Hulu and Disney+ carry it in North America. Simkl and Trakt both surface the Disney+ Pokemon listings.
Do these apps track manga too? MAL, AniList, Kitsu, and Simkl track manga. Others focus on the video side.
Which app has the best import for existing MAL histories? AniList, Kitsu, and Simkl all import in minutes with an API token or an XML export.
