Have you ever found yourself scratching your head trying to remember when Stranger Things will the episodes return to netflix? Google can be your friend, sure, but many of us want to keep up with more than just one show or movie. And we do it multiple times streaming services.
So what is the best way to find information for a release Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu etc? Write it on a sticky note? Put it on your phone’s calendar? While these methods can be effective, there are apps that do it better.
Here are my suggestions for free apps to help you catch the streaming TV shows and movies you plan to watch, the ones you’re immersed in, and the titles you might be interested in but they need a solid recommendation. They can notify you when new episodes are set to drop or remind you where you left off in a show. I should mention that some of the apps below are integrated with 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.
Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson/CNET
TV Time is available for Android and Apple users, and you can sign up for an account using Google, Apple, Twitter, Facebook or email. Choose which shows you watched on which streaming service (or network). Interestingly, when browsing through Hulu’s selections, only its originals are listed, but the app tells you that you can add more later.
With TV Time, you can choose from several lineups, including Trending Shows like The Boys, Superman & Lois, MasterChef or Evil. There are also categories for genres, a “Most Added” section with titles like You, Riverdale, American Horror Story, and Rick and Morty, and even a “Most Added Animated Series” row.
Once you’ve locked in your choices, TV Time pulls together a watch list and suggests which episodes of your chosen shows you should watch next. There is a separate tab called “Upcoming” that lists the day and time new episodes will be released. Thanks to TV Time, I now know that Reserve Dogs Season 2 premieres on August 3rd and Never Have I Ever Season 3 arrives on August 12th.
The app also prompts you to check off which movies you’ve watched, and the list includes decades, platforms, and genres. Even new movies like Thor: Love and Thunder are here. After completing this step, TV Time will ask what movies you want to watch. Here you can search for specific titles or choose from TV Time’s trending list and add them to your calendar. I added Knives Out 2 (Netflix) to test, which smoothly added itself to my fall calendar.
Additionally, you can filter your TV time view by progress – including what you’ve finished, shows and movies you’ve stopped in the middle of, or what you’re currently watching.
Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson/CNET
You may already know JustWatch as an app that manages where a title is streaming, 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 choose any streaming service you use — including Disney Plus, Crunchyroll, and Fubo — to watch shows and movies. More than 100 providers are listed on JustWatch.
Use the app to search for TV shows and movies, or click Discover to go on a scrolling adventure. Narrow your search by platform, genre, year or rating. When you click on a show tile, you can tap “Watch” to keep track of each episode and season. JustWatch will ask you which episodes you’ve watched, and you can check off entire seasons or individual episodes. Where this app excels is when you go to ‘Watch Now’, click on the streaming service logo and you’re instantly taken to the show’s landing page to start watching. Talk about convenience.
Add a title to your watchlist and JustWatch will tell you which episode to watch next, or you can tick it off when you’re caught up. It also shows the dates of upcoming episodes.
The app also has a personal recommendation feature and shows the price of each streaming platform. You can use JustWatch in a web browser, on Fire TV devices, or on iOS and Android mobile devices. Register directly in the application or with a Google or Facebook account.
Hobby
Available for iOS and Android, Hobi is one of the most popular and comprehensive tracking apps out there. When you open it, you can choose the shows you plan to watch or have watched, and Hobi marks where you left off. Titles are added to your Watchlist. If it’s an old show, Hobi will let you know the series is over, but it will still remind you which episodes are next for you. The Discover feature highlights trending shows, current week’s returning series, monthly releases, and recommendations across genres and networks, including HBO and Netflix.
In addition to tracking your watchlist and new episode release dates, Hobi provides personal viewing statistics about how much TV you’ve watched. It will also estimate your favorite genres based on these statistics. The application can be integrated with Trakt.
Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson/CNET
Available for Android and Amazon Fire TV, SeriesGuide claims to be ad-free and does not track your personal information.
When you first sign in to SeriesGuide, you’ll have the option to block spoilers for episodes of shows you haven’t seen yet. You can either search for the title or click Discover to scroll through the long list of contents. Like Hobi and TV Time, the app will let you know on which platform the series or movie you would like to watch or watch is located. It also integrates with Trakt.
Once you’ve selected your shows, SeriesGuide will provide upcoming release dates or recent release dates and times. For example, the display shows that Stranger Things Episode 9 dropped five days ago on Netflix at 3 a.m. ET, and Harley Quinn Season 3 dropped on HBO Max in three weeks on Thursday. I was able to get information about watching content on Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, HBO Max, Paramount (Yellowstone), and more.
His movie listings are pulled from TMDB and JustWatch, and the page includes release date, run time, cast credits, and synopsis. You can add movies to your personal watchlist, click on the trailer link, or tap Stream/Buy if the digital version is available.
Its features include a notification system that notifies you when new episodes are available, a favorites list, and a catalog of how many episodes remain unwatched per season. With SeriesGuide, you can click “Skip” and the app will consider the episode you watched. The user interface is very easy to navigate, and you can sync notifications to your device’s calendar, rate content, or view viewing statistics for movies and shows.
Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson/CNET
Cinetrak lets you watch both TV shows and movies, but you need to set up a Trakt login to create watch lists. You’ll see ads at the bottom of the screen, but the interface is clean and intuitive. In the TV programs menu, you can find titles in several categories: Genres, Trends, Popular and Most Watched. Click on a series and Cinetrak will pull up general information about the show and seasons. Tap the plus sign to add a show by title, episode, or season.
The calendar feature allows you to view episodes that have been watched, added to collections, or added to your watchlists. Basic access is free, but you can upgrade your account to get additional features such as creating “Like” lists, curating collections or sharing with friends.
FAQ about TV streaming apps
What about privacy concerns?
Please 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 ads 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, preventing non-followers from seeing your activity. You can also disconnect your social media accounts.
Should I pay to upgrade for more viewing benefits?
Although some of these apps offer the option to upgrade, we recommend sticking with the free versions, especially if you just want a basic way to remind yourself of an upcoming release or track your progress at a show.
Why didn’t Reelgood list this?
Reelgood is an excellent platform that allows you to watch movies and TV shows that have already been released or those with scheduled arrivals for the current month. However, it does not provide information for the following months. For example, the Quantum Leap reboot is set to premiere on NBC and Peacock in September, but Reelgood only lists information for the original version. Hobi, on the other hand, shows that Quantum Leap season 1 debuts on September 19, and the first episode is 60 minutes long. You can even add it to your Hobi Watchlist.