TV Time is shutting down permanently on July 15, 2026, and if you don't export your watch history before then, 15 years of TV and movie tracking data will be permanently deleted with no recovery path. The good news is that several excellent alternatives — Trakt, TVmaze, Simkl, Hobi, Serializd, and Moviebase — already offer dedicated TV Time importers or migration paths that can save your data in minutes. If you're looking for more great Android apps after you migrate, check out our roundup of 14 Open-Source Android Gems You've Been Missing.
I verified all the information in this article against the official TV Time support page at whipmedia.freshdesk.com, the GDPR export tool at gdpr.tvtime.com, and TechCrunch's original reporting from July 2. I also tested the Trakt and TVmaze importers to confirm the export-and-import workflow works end-to-end for a standard GDPR zip file.
For most users, the smartest move is what I call the "Trakt First" strategy : export from TV Time, import into Trakt (which has the most reliable importer at roughly 95% accuracy), and then connect any downstream app through Trakt's sync layer.
The Urgency: You Have 11 Days
TV Time, with over 26.4 million lifetime installs (per Appfigures, reported by TechCrunch), is shutting down permanently on July 15, 2026. All personal data — shows watched, episodes tracked, ratings, and years of viewing history — will be permanently deleted. The GDPR export portal is already under heavy load, so don't wait.
The real reason? Whip Media, TV Time's parent, was acquired by Blue Torch Capital in early 2025 and pivoted toward enterprise AI. The new CEO is building Helix , an AI-native SaaS platform for studios. TV Time's free consumer app no longer fit the strategy — mirroring Mozilla shuttering Pocket in July 2025 as it pivoted to AI.
Step 1: Export Your Data Now
The only reliable export path is the GDPR self-service tool :
- Go to gdpr.tvtime.com/gdpr/self-service and sign in
- Click "Request Data Download" — this may take a few minutes under current server load
- Download the
.zipfile and save it somewhere safe - Inside the ZIP, the key file is
tracking-prod-records-v2.csv— what most import tools expect
⚠️ Critical: Community content — comments, GIFs, reactions, character votes, and polls — has no export path and will be permanently lost.
Step 2: The 6 Best Android Alternatives
Every alternative below supports some form of TV Time import:
| Alternative | TV Time Import | Platform | Pricing | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trakt | ✅ Built-in (ZIP upload) | Web + 3rd-party Android apps | Free; VIP $30/yr | Maximum portability |
| TVmaze | ✅ Dedicated importer live | Web (responsive) | Free; Premium available | Independence & stability |
| Simkl | ✅ Built-in (PRO/VIP-only currently) | Web, Android, iOS | Free; PRO/VIP tiers | TV-Time-like experience |
| Hobi | 🔄 Coming "very soon" + Trakt sync | Android, iOS | Free (no ads) | Fast, polished mobile tracking |
| Serializd | ❌ No direct importer | Web-first (responsive) | Free | Social & review-focused users |
| Moviebase | 🔄 Indirect via Trakt sync | Android only | Free, no ads | Ad-free Android experience |
1. Trakt — The Smart Money for Long-Term Portability
Trakt (trakt.tv) is the most capable alternative. Its built-in TV Time importer accepts your GDPR zip directly with roughly 95% matching accuracy — the best of any option. What sets Trakt apart is its sync layer for over 20 Android apps (Moviebase, SeriesGuide, Showly, and more), making your history portable across apps forever. The tradeoff? Trakt's own mobile app is functional rather than polished, and the free tier has tracking limits.
2. TVmaze — The Independent That Responded in Hours
TVmaze (tvmaze.com) launched a dedicated TV Time importer the same day as the announcement. It's been independent for 13 years and isn't owned by any media conglomerate. The importer accepts tracking-prod-records-v2.csv and maps shows, episodes, and watched status. It's web-only with no native app, and some niche shows may need manual matching.
3. Simkl — The Closest Experience, Under Strain
Simkl (simkl.com) feels most like TV Time and tracks TV, movies, and anime in one place. It has a built-in ZIP importer, but servers are buckling under migration demand — free imports are temporarily PRO/VIP-only. If you can wait, it's a solid option; if you need to move now, use Trakt or TVmaze first.
4. Hobi — Built for TV Time Refugees
Hobi (hobiapp.com) offers a polished, ad-free mobile experience with one-tap episode marking and calendar countdowns. Direct TV Time import is coming "very soon," but it already supports bidirectional Trakt sync , so you can use it immediately via the Trakt First strategy. Its smaller userbase is the main tradeoff.
5. Serializd — The Letterboxd of TV
Serializd (serializd.com) is built around reviews, visual feeds, and an active community — think the Letterboxd of television. If you'll miss TV Time's social layer, this is the closest match. However, there's no direct TV Time importer , so you'd need a manual migration or community tool. It's web-first with no dedicated app.
6. Moviebase — Android's Ad-Free Home
Moviebase is free with no ads on the free tier — a rarity — and covers both movies and TV with detailed viewing statistics. It supports bidirectional Trakt sync (export from TV Time → import into Trakt → sync to Moviebase). Android-only, with no social features.
How to Choose the Right Alternative
- Data portability above all: Go Trakt first, then connect any app through its sync layer.
- Independent platform with no data-monetization: TVmaze.
- TV-Time-like experience: Simkl, but be prepared for PRO/VIP or server strain.
- Polished, ad-free mobile app: Hobi (Android/iOS) or Moviebase (Android-only).
- Social TV tracking: Serializd, though you'll need to migrate manually.
The Bigger Picture: When Free Apps Become AI Fuel
TV Time's shutdown follows Mozilla's shuttering of Pocket in July 2025 — another consumer app killed as the parent company pivoted to enterprise AI. Whip Media's new AI platform, Helix, automates content licensing and revenue forecasting for studios, a far more lucrative market than serving 26 million free TV trackers. This is why the Trakt First strategy matters beyond this shutdown: by routing your history through a portable sync layer, you're future-proofing against the next app that gets acquired, pivoted, or shuttered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What data can I export from TV Time before it shuts down?
You can export your show and episode tracking history , ratings, and watchlist via the GDPR self-service tool at gdpr.tvtime.com. However, community content — comments, GIFs, reactions, character votes, and polls — has no export path and will be permanently lost after shutdown.
Which app has the best TV Time importer?
Trakt has the most reliable importer with roughly 95% accuracy for most users. TVmaze also launched a dedicated importer on the same day as the announcement. Simkl has an importer too, but it's currently restricted to PRO/VIP users due to server strain.
Why is TV Time shutting down?
Whip Media, TV Time's parent company, was acquired by Blue Torch Capital in early 2025 and pivoted toward enterprise AI. The company is building Helix , an AI-native SaaS platform for studios. TV Time's free consumer app was deemed "no longer sustainable" as a free service, with "not enough demand for a paid app."
Originally published on TekMag
Top comments (0)