OpenTV vs Trakt
Both read the TV Time export, both track TV shows and films, and both have comments. The difference is what survives the import, where your library lives, and what you pay for. This page is written by the OpenTV team — we have tried to say plainly where Trakt is the better choice, and every claim about Trakt links to its source.
Side by side
| OpenTV | Trakt | |
|---|---|---|
| Imports the TV Time export | Yes — episodes with dates, show, film and episode ratings, emotions, favourites, lists, rewatches | Yes — episode ratings are not imported (Trakt staff, 9 Jul 2026) |
| Where your library lives | On your own phone (works offline), with free iCloud or Google Drive backup | On Trakt's servers, with your account |
| Account needed | No — only for the optional community | Yes |
| Rewatches | Free | Part of VIP |
| Lists | Unlimited lists on your phone | Free: 5 lists of up to 250 items (2026 limits) |
| Comments under episodes | Yes, including the archived TV Time comments, with one-tap translation | Yes |
| Paid tier | Optional OpenTV Plus: $2.99/month or $19.99/year | VIP: $60/year (since May 2025) |
| Ads | None | On the free tier |
| Open source | Yes — app MPL-2.0, server AGPL-3.0 | No |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Android | Web, iPhone, Android, plus many third-party apps |
| Automatic tracking | Plex, Jellyfin and Stremio | The widest range: media centres, streaming services and third-party apps |
Trakt details checked on 9 October 2026; its limits and prices change, so check Trakt's site for the current ones.
Choose Trakt if…
- You want a web app as well as a phone app — OpenTV is phone and tablet only.
- You rely on the Trakt ecosystem: Kodi, media-centre plugins and the many third-party apps built on Trakt's API.
- You want the longest track record — Trakt has been running since 2010.
Choose OpenTV if…
- You want everything from your TV Time export, including episode ratings, emotions and rewatches with their dates.
- You want your library on your own phone, working offline, with no account and nothing to lose if a company shuts down.
- You want the old TV Time comments back under each episode, translated in one tap.
- You want it free with no ads and no list limits, and open source.
Questions
- Is OpenTV better than Trakt for former TV Time users?
- For bringing your TV Time history across, usually yes: OpenTV imports episode ratings, emotions and rewatches that Trakt's importer leaves out, and keeps everything on your phone. Trakt is the better choice if you need a web app or its ecosystem of connected apps.
- Does Trakt import TV Time episode ratings?
- No. Trakt staff confirmed on 9 July 2026 that episode ratings are not supported by the TV Time importer; only show and movie ratings come across. OpenTV imports episode ratings.
- Can I move from Trakt to OpenTV?
- Yes. OpenTV imports Trakt exports as well as the TV Time export, so you can bring your Trakt history with you.
- Is OpenTV free?
- Yes, with no ads. An optional OpenTV Plus subscription ($2.99/month or $19.99/year) adds sync across devices, cloud backup and extras. Trakt VIP is $60/year.
- Is OpenTV open source?
- Yes. The app is MPL-2.0 and the optional community server is AGPL-3.0; the server can be self-hosted with one Docker container.