The Best MyAnimeList Alternatives in 2026
Outgrowing MyAnimeList? Discover the best alternatives to track your anime, manga, series and films in one place.
The KEZAI Team
Written by The KEZAI Team
The Best MyAnimeList Alternatives in 2026
MyAnimeList (MAL) has been the undisputed king of anime/manga cataloging since 2004. But in 2026, its limitations are increasingly apparent: aging interface, no automatic tracking, and most importantly — it only covers anime and manga.
If you also watch TV series, films, and read books, you end up with 4 different apps. Here are the alternatives that do better.
1. AniList
Strengths: Modern interface, public API, active community, detailed statistics.
Limitations: Like MAL, AniList focuses exclusively on anime and manga. You'll still need another tool for series and films.
Best for: Anime fans who want a better UX than MAL.
2. Trakt
Strengths: Excellent for TV series and films, automatic scrobbling through apps like Plex and Jellyfin.
Limitations: No manga/anime support. The interface can feel cold and utilitarian.
Best for: Movie buffs and serial watchers.
3. Letterboxd
Strengths: The gold standard for films. Passionate community, quality reviews, curated lists.
Limitations: Films only. No series, no manga, no books.
Best for: Film purists.
4. Goodreads
Strengths: The world's largest book catalog. Reading challenges, recommendations.
Limitations: Books only. Dated interface. Owned by Amazon.
Best for: Avid readers.
5. KEZAI — The all-in-one alternative
Strengths:
- Cross-media: manga, anime, series, films, books, comics — all in one place
- Automatic tracking: browser extension detects your reading and watching
- Couple mode: shared watchlist, synced progress, alerts
- Free and unlimited: no limit on tracked content
- Modern interface: native dark mode, responsive, fast
Limitations: In beta, the community is still growing.
Best for: People who consume multiple types of cultural content and want everything in one place.
Comparison table
| Feature | MAL | AniList | Trakt | KEZAI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anime | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Manga | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| TV Series | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Films | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Books | No | No | No | Yes |
| Auto-tracking | No | No | Yes* | Yes |
| Couple mode | No | No | No | Yes |
| Free | Yes | Yes | Freemium | Yes |
*Trakt via third-party apps (Plex, Kodi)
Conclusion
If you only watch anime, AniList is still an excellent choice. But if you want a single place for everything — manga, series, films, anime and books — with automatic tracking, KEZAI is made for you.
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