Comparisons
Moviebase vs SeriesGuide (2026)
Updated Sep 19, 2026
Last checked 2026-09-19. This page is single-sourced from Moviebase's own comparison page — SeriesGuide's own site/store listing was not independently re-checked this pass, a gap disclosed rather than smoothed over.
Moviebase's own framing: "Find the episode workflow that suits you." Both track shows and movies and surface where to watch; the split is platform reach and who owns the code underneath.
What they have in common
Where they differ
Platform reach
Moviebase covers Android and Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac). SeriesGuide is Android only — "Apple devices: Not available" per Moviebase's own feature table.
Source code and ownership
SeriesGuide is open source; Moviebase is proprietary. Moviebase's own page is careful to note open source "does not mean every feature is free" — SeriesGuide Cloud sits behind payment despite the open codebase.
Account model
SeriesGuide offers optional accounts — you can run it without signing in. Moviebase's comparison page doesn't frame an equivalent no-account path as a selling point.
Backup format
SeriesGuide's local backup is a JSON file, a format a user could in principle inspect or script against. Moviebase's local backup format isn't specified beyond "Included" on the same table.
Bringing in history
Moviebase's page frames imports as "selected file imports" rather than a blanket guarantee — "App-specific records from another service may not transfer" is stated as Moviebase's own trade-off, not SeriesGuide's.
Cost of "open"
SeriesGuide's own trade-off, per Moviebase's page: "SeriesGuide Cloud requires payment." Moviebase's trade-off is the mirror image — viewing statistics and ad removal require Moviebase Premium.
Which one, if you have to pick
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Pick Moviebase if you split your viewing across Android and Apple devices, or you'd rather not manage an open-source app's cloud add-on payment separately.
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Pick SeriesGuide if you're Android-only, want to run without an account, and like owning a JSON export of your own episode-checkbox history.
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Neither settles a shared decision. Episode checkboxes and JSON backups are single-account tools. CouchReel's comparison pages cover the household side directly, if that's the gap you're trying to close.