The recent XDA piece on cleaning up a Jellyfin anime library with Shoko is a useful reminder that the file-level metadata problem and the watchlist-tracking problem are different. Shoko cares about which episode is on disk and how it maps to AniDB. The watchlist apps in this list care about how many episodes you have watched, whether the next one is out, and what the community ratings look like on the show you are about to drop. The two stacks complement each other, but the watchlist side often gets handled in a browser tab when a proper desktop app would be sharper.
The desktop options matter because watching anime on a PC is still common (Crunchyroll, Hidive, downloads played in mpv or Plex), and a scrobbler that watches the video player and updates your list in the background beats opening a website to tick boxes by hand. We tested 7 apps that handle anime watchlist tracking on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and ranked them on AniList and MyAnimeList sync, scrobbling reliability with mpv, MPC-HC, VLC, and Plex, offline list support, and how cleanly they survive a daily-use loop.
What to look for in a desktop anime-tracking app
- AniList and MAL sync. The two big lists. A good app keeps both up to date so the choice of “which service do I use” stays open.
- Scrobbler integration. The app should detect that an episode is playing and bump the count without you doing anything. Watch the file name, send the bump to AniList or MAL.
- mpv and MPC-HC support. mpv is the desktop player most enthusiasts use. MPC-HC and VLC are the second tier. A tracker that supports them is portable across player choices.
- Plex and Jellyfin hooks. If the library is on a server, the tracker should hook into the playback events from Plex or Jellyfin rather than watching files.
- Offline list browse. The watchlist should be readable when the wifi is down. Cloud-only trackers do not pass this bar.
- Cross-platform. Windows is the obvious target, macOS and Linux are non-negotiable for many users.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Open source | Sync targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taiga | Windows scrobbler with deep player hooks | Yes | Yes | AniList, MAL, Kitsu, AniDB |
| AniList Desktop | Wrapper for the AniList web app | Yes | Yes | AniList |
| MALClient | Universal MAL and AniList client | Yes | Yes | MAL, AniList |
| Shinjiru | Cross-platform scrobbler | Yes | Yes | AniList, MAL, Kitsu |
| MovieMan | Multi-source watchlist with anime support | Yes | Yes | MAL, AniList, Trakt |
| Anikku | Desktop anime browser plus tracker | Yes | Yes | AniList, MAL, Kitsu, Simkl |
| Trackma | Long-running terminal and GTK client | Yes | Yes | AniList, MAL, Kitsu, AniDB |
The 7 anime-tracking apps
1. Taiga, best for Windows scrobbler with deep player hooks
Taiga is the longstanding Windows scrobbler. It watches the title bar of mpv, MPC-HC, VLC, and PotPlayer, parses the file name into a series and episode, and bumps the watch count on AniList, MAL, Kitsu, or AniDB. The default settings catch most common file-name conventions, and the rules engine handles the exceptions. It is the app most desktop anime watchers settle on after trying everything else.
Pricing: Free, MIT-licensed.
Platforms: Windows. Linux via Wine, macOS via Wine or virtualisation.
Bottom line: Pick this on Windows. It will scrobble for you.
2. AniList Desktop, best for an AniList web wrapper
AniList Desktop is the official-style web wrapper that some users build as an Electron container around the AniList site. The watchlist editor, social feed, and forum all sit inside one window without the browser tab juggling. There is no scrobbling, but for users who do their tracking by hand, the dedicated window is a quality-of-life upgrade.
Pricing: Free, open-source.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: AniList Desktop on GitHub
Bottom line: Pick this when you want the AniList site in its own window.
3. MALClient, best for a universal MAL and AniList client
MALClient is the Windows desktop and UWP client that handles both MyAnimeList and AniList in one interface. The watchlist editor, search, and forum all work without leaving the app, and the design follows Fluent Design conventions cleanly. It is the closest thing Windows has to a first-party MAL app.
Pricing: Free.
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Microsoft Store
Bottom line: Pick this if MAL is the primary list and Windows is the desktop.
4. Shinjiru, best for cross-platform scrobbling
Shinjiru is the cross-platform Qt scrobbler. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, watches the same set of media players Taiga does, and syncs to AniList, MAL, and Kitsu. The Linux build is the only mainstream desktop scrobbler that runs without Wine on a fresh KDE or GNOME install.
Pricing: Free, open-source.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: Shinjiru on GitHub
Bottom line: Pick this when scrobbling is the goal and Taiga’s Windows-only scope is too narrow.
5. MovieMan, best for multi-source watchlist with anime support
MovieMan is the desktop multi-tracker that handles movies, TV, and anime in one library. The anime side hooks into MAL, AniList, and Simkl, and the scrobbler picks up plays from Plex, Trakt, and the major desktop players. For users who watch anime alongside Western TV, having one app for both is the right shape.
Pricing: Free.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: MovieMan on GitHub
Bottom line: Pick this when anime is one of several things you track.
6. Anikku, best for browsing plus tracking
Anikku is the Mihon-style anime browser that some users run on desktop via the official build or community ports. Browse sources, watch episodes inline, and have the watch count bump in AniList, MAL, Kitsu, or Simkl on completion. The desktop variant runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Pricing: Free, GPL.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: Anikku on GitHub
Bottom line: Pick this when you want the browse-and-watch experience in one app with tracking built in.
7. Trackma, best for the long-running terminal user
Trackma is the venerable Python client with both a GTK GUI and a curses TUI. It syncs to AniList, MAL, Kitsu, AniDB, and Shikimori, and the scrobbler handles the major desktop media players. The Linux and BSD support is the best in this list. The interface is functional rather than pretty.
Pricing: Free, GPL.
Platforms: Linux primarily, also Windows and macOS.
Download: Trackma on GitHub
Bottom line: Pick this on Linux when you want a terminal-friendly tracker.
How to pick the right one
- For Windows scrobbling: Taiga. It is the default for a reason.
- For cross-platform scrobbling: Shinjiru. Same idea, runs everywhere.
- For Linux terminal users: Trackma.
- For a clean MAL-and-AniList editor on Windows: MALClient.
- For an AniList-only web wrapper: AniList Desktop.
- For multi-source media tracking that happens to include anime: MovieMan.
- For an all-in-one browse, watch, and track experience: Anikku.
FAQ
What is the best free anime watchlist app on desktop?
Taiga on Windows, Shinjiru on macOS and Linux. Both scrobble plays from desktop media players to AniList, MAL, and Kitsu without manual updates.
Does Plex sync to AniList automatically?
Not natively. A scrobbler like Taiga or Shinjiru can pick up plays from the Plex Media Player and forward the watch count. Some users also use Plex-AniList scrobbler scripts that run on the server side.
Can I sync MyAnimeList and AniList at the same time?
Yes. Taiga, Shinjiru, and MALClient all support writing to both services from one update. The lists stay in lockstep if you configure them as such.
Which anime tracking app works on Linux without Wine?
Shinjiru, Trackma, and Anikku all run natively on Linux. Taiga and MALClient are Windows-first and require Wine on Linux.
How does a scrobbler know which episode I am watching?
It parses the file name in the media player’s title bar. As long as the file name follows a recognisable pattern (series name, season, episode number), the scrobbler matches it against AniList or MAL and bumps the count.
