MyAnimeList Alternatives in 2026
Last updated September 28, 2026 · By Sensei · Disclosure: AnimeDives is our site. We include it where it fits and say plainly where it doesn't.
The best MyAnimeList alternative for tracking your list is AniList: it's free, it imports your MyAnimeList export file, and its interface is faster and more modern. If you track TV shows and movies too, useSIMKL, which can sync with MyAnimeList both ways. If what you actually want is to know whether a show has finished, how many episodes it has, what order to watch a franchise in, or what's airing this season — without an account — that's what AnimeDives is built for.
Quick comparison
| Site | Personal list tracking | Imports your MAL list | Actively maintained | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MyAnimeList | ✅ | — | ✅ | Community, reviews, forums, the largest user base |
| AniList | ✅ | ✅ XML import | ✅ | Tracking your list with a modern interface and detailed stats |
| SIMKL | ✅ | ✅ plus two-way sync | ✅ | Tracking anime, TV shows and movies in one place |
| Anime-Planet | ✅ | ✅ XML import | ✅ | Discovery, recommendations and legal streaming links |
| AniDB | ✅ | Not verified | ✅ | Deep metadata: releases, tags and technical details |
| Kitsu | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ stalled since early 2025 | Existing users only — no longer actively maintained |
| AnimeDives | ❌ not yet | ❌ | ✅ | Checking if a show is finished, watch orders and seasonal charts, no account needed |
Sources: SIMKL's MAL import page,Kitsu status report (Achriom),AlternativeTo. Checked September 28, 2026.
Why people look for a MyAnimeList alternative
MyAnimeList is still the biggest anime database and community, and for many fans it's the default. The reasons people leave tend to be the same few: an official app that fans consider unreliable (we coveredwhy the MAL app is so broken that fans build replacements),MAL-Sync breaking every few months,review bombing skewing scores, and ads on free accounts — MyAnimeList hides them only with a paid MAL Supporter membership.
Before switching, decide what you actually use MAL for. If it's your list, you need a tracker. If it's looking up shows, you may not need an account at all. Scores differ between sites anyway — seewhy your anime tracker scores are meaningless.
1. AniList — the best all-round replacement
AniList is where most MyAnimeList users go. Lists are fast to update, the stats pages are detailed, and you can customize scoring (10-point, 100-point, stars or smileys). It covers anime and manga, has an active community, and a public API that many third-party apps use. It imports the XML file that MyAnimeList exports, so moving your history takes minutes.
The limitation: it's a tracker first, so casual lookups ("is this finished?") mean opening a full entry page. For a detailed head-to-head, read ourAniList vs MyAnimeList vs Kitsu comparison.
2. SIMKL — if you watch more than anime
SIMKL tracks anime alongside TV series and movies, with calendars and progress bars. Its standout feature for MyAnimeList users is two-way sync with MAL, so you can try it without abandoning your MAL list.
The limitation: its anime community and anime-specific depth are smaller than MAL's or AniList's.
3. Anime-Planet — for discovery
Anime-Planet leans into recommendations and discovery, and partners with licensed services such as Crunchyroll so you can watch many shows directly in supported regions. It can import a MyAnimeList XML export.
The limitation: list management and stats are simpler than AniList's.
4. AniDB — for data completists
AniDB is a community-maintained database with very detailed tags, episode data and release information. If you care about which fansub or Blu-ray release you watched, nothing else comes close.
The limitation: the interface is dated and the learning curve is steep.
5. Kitsu — no longer recommended
Kitsu was once a popular open-source alternative with a social feed. Its Android app wasremoved from Google Play in April 2024 and web development stalled in early 2025. Existing users can still log in, but new users should pick AniList. We wrote aboutwhy Kitsu faded without anyone noticing.
6. AnimeDives — for looking things up, no account needed
AnimeDives (this site) covers 10,000+ anime from 2000 to today. Instead of lists, it's built around the questions people search MyAnimeList for:
- Is it finished? Every title page opens with the answer, episode count and air season — see Solo Leveling.
- What order do I watch it in? Title pages list the whole franchise in release order, e.g. Attack on Titan.
- What's airing this season? Seasonal charts for every season since 2000, plus shows ending soon with final-episode dates and upcoming anime.
- What's worth watching? Top 100 of all time, the best of each year and genre.
The limitation: no personal lists, reviews, forums, character pages or manga database yet, and nothing before 2000. If you need a tracker, use AniList alongside it.
AnimeDives vs MyAnimeList, feature by feature
| Feature | MyAnimeList | AnimeDives |
|---|---|---|
| Anime covered | All eras | 2000 to today (10,000+ titles) |
| "Is it finished?" answer at the top of each title | Status field on the entry | ✅ one-sentence answer + episode count |
| Franchise watch order | Related entries (prequel/sequel links) | ✅ full list in release order |
| Seasonal charts | ✅ with type, genre and theme filters | ✅ every season since 2000, all statuses |
| Shows ending soon, with final-episode dates | Weekly airing schedule | ✅ |
| Top rankings | ✅ Top Anime | ✅ all-time, per year, per genre |
| Personal lists and scores | ✅ | ❌ |
| Reviews, forums, clubs | ✅ | ❌ |
| Characters, voice actors, studios | ✅ | ❌ |
| Manga database | ✅ | ❌ (a sources directory only) |
| Account needed to browse | No | No |
| Ads | Yes, removable with paid MAL Supporter | No |
| Mobile app | Official iOS and Android apps | Android app (APK) |
How to move your MyAnimeList list
- On MyAnimeList, open your list settings and export your anime list. You'll get an XML file.
- On AniList, go to Settings → Import and upload that file. Anime-Planet accepts the same file.
- Prefer to keep MAL? Connect it to SIMKL instead and turn on two-way sync.
Syncing across several trackers is still fiddly — here'swhy syncing between AniList, MAL and Kitsu is so hardand our roundup of the best anime tracking apps for phones.
FAQ
What is the best MyAnimeList alternative?
For tracking your anime list, AniList is the most common choice: it's free, imports your MyAnimeList export file, and has a modern interface. SIMKL is better if you also track TV shows and movies, and it can sync with MyAnimeList both ways.
Can I move my MyAnimeList list to another site?
Yes. Export your list from MyAnimeList's settings as an XML file, then upload it in AniList's import settings. SIMKL can import from MyAnimeList directly and keep both lists in sync.
Is Kitsu still active in 2026?
Not really. Kitsu's Android app was removed from Google Play in April 2024 and web development stalled in early 2025, so it's not a good choice for new users.
Is AnimeDives a replacement for MyAnimeList?
Partly. AnimeDives replaces MyAnimeList for looking things up — whether a show has finished, how many episodes it has, what order to watch a franchise in, and what's airing this season — without an account or ads. It doesn't have personal lists, reviews or forums yet, so pair it with a tracker like AniList for those.