TV Time costs $35/mo.
These cost $0.
3 free alternatives to TV Time, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
The top-rated free, open-source replacement for TV Time is SeriesGuide (Open Source Open Source). Across this category, 1 self-hostable tool is available (including Tonkatsu Box). Switching a 5-person team saves up to $2,100/year compared to TV Time's $35/mo subscription.
The catch: Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
TV Time vs Free Alternatives
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $35/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SeriesGuide | open source | Open Source | Local | ★ 2.2k | TV Time vs SeriesGuide → |
| Showly | open source | Open Source | Local | ★ 1.5k | TV Time vs Showly → |
| Tonkatsu Box | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 602 | TV Time vs Tonkatsu Box → |
The picks
3 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
SeriesGuide
open sourceOpen SourceLocal2.2knov 2026Android app for tracking TV shows and movies you're watching, have watched, or plan to watch, powered by TMDb data.
The catch vs TV TimeCommunity-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopcross-platformone-click install
- install
- Clone https://github.com/UweTrottmann/SeriesGuide/ or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- your data
- All application data lives locally on your own machine.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 02
Showly
open sourceOpen SourceLocal1.5knov 2026Android and iOS app for tracking TV shows and movies, managing watchlists, and syncing viewing history with Trakt.tv across devices.
The catch vs TV TimeCommunity-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopcross-platformone-click install
- install
- Clone https://github.com/trakt/showly or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- your data
- All application data lives locally on your own machine.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 03
Tonkatsu Box
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host602nov 2026Cross-platform collection manager for retro games, movies, TV shows, anime, manga, visual novels, and books with tier lists, visual boards, and import/export.
The catch vs TV TimeRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed TV Time.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/hacan359/tonkatsu_box or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
TV Time Head-to-Head Comparisons (2027)
Side-by-side trade-off breakdowns · 3 free alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · TV Time open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to TV Time?+
The top free alternative to TV Time is SeriesGuide (open source, Open Source). Android app for tracking TV shows and movies you're watching, have watched, or plan to watch, powered by TMDb data. Other popular TV Time replacements include Showly, Tonkatsu Box.
Can I self-host a free replacement for TV Time?+
Yes. Of the 3 free alternatives to TV Time, 1 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Tonkatsu Box (Open Source).
How much does switching from TV Time to a free alternative save?+
TV Time starts at $35/month per seat ($420/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like SeriesGuide saves $2,100 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own TV Time clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for TV Time is NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens). Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for TV Time or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 3 battle-tested open-source alternatives like SeriesGuide.
What is the catch when switching from TV Time to SeriesGuide?+
Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
