For anime fans, MAL website has long been one of the most trusted platforms for discovering new titles, tracking watchlists, exploring ratings, and connecting with a global community. Whether you are a casual fan or someone who dedicates hours each week to anime and manga, the platform has built a reputation for being one of the biggest centralized hubs for anime enthusiasts. But is MyAnimeList app still the best choice today, especially with new competitors offering modern interfaces, streaming integrations, and improved recommendation systems? This comprehensive review answers every question you may have.
To bring you the most honest, accurate, and helpful analysis possible, I spent a total of 19 days researching, testing, comparing, and using MyAnimeList across devices. This hands on review reflects real user experience, not theory. By the end of this article, you will fully understand everything about MyAnimeList, its strengths, weaknesses, best use cases, and the top seven alternatives that offer impressive features or superior viewing experiences.
Table of Contents
What Is MyAnimeList?
MyAnimeList, commonly abbreviated as MAL, is one of the most widely known anime and manga databases in the world. It launched in 2004 as a personal project and gradually expanded into a massive catalog of anime titles, manga chapters, characters, voice actors, studios, reviews, and user curated lists. Over the years, MyAnimeList has grown into a global powerhouse that serves millions of monthly users.
The platform operates as both a database and a social hub. MyAnimeList allows you to track anime you are watching, plan to watch, completed, or dropped. Over time, this has evolved into a full ecosystem that includes forums, clubs, editorial content, seasonal anime charts, personalized recommendations, and user rankings.
Today, MyAnimeList is considered one of the most authoritative anime databases. Production companies, voice actors, and even streaming services refer to the platform for audience insights. It has also become a central place for fans to review, score, and debate anime titles. Despite competition from newer platforms, MAL remains a cornerstone for enthusiasts who want depth, community, and consistency.
How MyAnimeList Works?
MyAnimeList works by cataloging almost every official anime and manga title. Each title receives a dedicated page with detailed metadata such as release years, studios, genres, episode counts, rankings, user reviews, and staff information. When you create an account, you gain access to personalized tracking features that let you update your progress in real time.
You can browse seasonal anime, upcoming shows, top airing titles, newly released manga chapters, and trending discussions. MAL also uses a community scoring system where thousands of users contribute ratings that influence a title’s overall score. These ratings help new viewers decide which shows are worth watching.
The social element is voluntary but impactful. You can join forums, post in clubs, follow friends, compare lists, write reviews, or comment under episodes and manga entries. For long time anime fans, these features encourage deeper engagement and create a sense of belonging within the community.
Standout Features
The most significant advantage offered by MyAnimeList is its database scale. It is one of the largest and most complete anime and manga catalogs online. Beyond this, the platform offers features such as list customization, advanced stats, ranking systems, user reviews, seasonal previews, community clubs, and news coverage.
The seasonal chart is a standout favorite among fans because it organizes anime by release season and offers previews, trailers, user interest scores, and studio insights. MAL also supports personal statistics that let you track the number of episodes watched, days spent watching anime, genre preferences, and studio habits.
Review sections are another major highlight. You can read long analyses from experienced fans, which makes decision making easier. While the interface is somewhat outdated compared to newer sites, the amount of information MAL provides remains unmatched.
Anime and Manga Coverage
MyAnimeList covers nearly every officially published anime and manga. This includes classics, ongoing titles, upcoming releases, indie manga, short films, OVAs, ONAs, and even promotional animations. Production details such as studios, staff, voice actors, themes, genres, and demographic categories are included.
The manga database is equally extensive, listing serialized works, one shots, spin offs, and alternative versions. For collectors or readers who want an authoritative reference, this makes MAL extremely valuable.
Is MyAnimeList Free or Paid?
MyAnimeList is free to use. Anyone can create an account, browse the database, track anime, participate in forums, and read reviews. However, the platform also offers a premium subscription known as MAL Supporter.
The Supporter plan provides expanded list features, ad free browsing, badge rewards, higher API limits, and early access to certain tools. While not required, the subscription helps support the platform’s development and server costs. Casual users can stick with the free version, while dedicated fans may appreciate the enhanced experience.
Pros and Cons of MyAnimeList
Pros
- One of the largest and most complete anime and manga databases.
- Excellent progress tracking features.
- Detailed information about studios, staff, and genres.
- Strong community engagement and user reviews.
- Free to use with optional premium enhancements.
Cons
- Interface looks outdated compared to modern competitors.
- No built in anime streaming for most titles.
- Recommendations rely heavily on community scoring rather than algorithmic precision.
- Mobile app lacks advanced features found on the website.
MyAnimeList Official App
MyAnimeList offers an official app for both Android and iOS. The app focuses on simplicity with easy access to your list, seasonal charts, search functions, and user profiles. While it mirrors the essential features of the website, it does not include the full extent of community tools or editorial content available on desktop.
MyAnimeList app works well for updating your progress while watching anime on your television or other device. It also includes notifications for new episodes, manga updates, and news articles.
How To Use MyAnimeList
Getting started on MAL is simple. First, create an account using your email or social login. Once inside, visit any anime page and click the Add to List button. You can set your status to Watching, Completed, On Hold, Dropped, or Plan to Watch. You can also update episode progress manually or allow the site to track your history if you are using an integrated player from specific partners. The Watch Episodes button will pop ups showing you all the available sources to stream the selected title legally.
You can customize your list layout, enable dark mode, add notes, leave reviews, or browse seasonal charts. The site’s search tool allows you to filter by genre, studio, rating, release year, and format.
Is MyAnimeList Legal and Safe?
MyAnimeList is completely legal. It does not host pirated anime or manga. Instead, it provides catalog information, reviews, and tracking tools. The platform partners with legitimate companies in the industry and maintains strong moderation policies.
In terms of safety, MAL is considered reliable and secure. It uses industry standard website security practices, implements strict community moderation, and does not require sensitive personal data to function.
7 Best MyAnimeList Alternatives
After researching and testing dozens of platforms, the following seven alternatives stood out for their features, usability, community engagement, and anime tracking or streaming capabilities. Each platform is described in detail to help you choose the best match for your viewing preferences.
1. AniList
AniList is one of the most popular modern alternatives to MyAnimeList and offers a more visually appealing interface with deep customization tools. Compared to MAL, AniList provides a cleaner design and more intuitive navigation. This platform appeals particularly to fans who enjoy beautiful visuals, personalized stats, and flexible list customization. The tagging system is more refined and the UI feels modern, which makes browsing easier.
AniList supports detailed statistics with graphs that help you track genres, studios, watch habits, and favorite character trends. The community interaction is strong and powered by activities, status updates, recommendations, and comments. For users who enjoy personalization, AniList is a breath of fresh air because almost every visual element can be adjusted to fit your style.
To watch anime using AniList, you can connect it to supported legal streaming services or use the integrated browsing tool which links to platforms that carry each title. While AniList does not host content directly, it facilitates finding where each anime is legally available.
Pros
- Modern and stylish interface.
- Highly customizable lists and profiles.
- Strong community engagement features.
- Excellent statistics and visual charts.
Cons
- No built in streaming.
- Profile customization may feel overwhelming for beginners.
2. Kitsu
Kitsu is another alternative that focuses on community first. Its social feed resembles a blend of Reddit and Twitter, allowing users to post updates, share thoughts, and interact with friends. If you want a more social anime tracking experience than what MyAnimeList offers, Kitsu is one of the strongest options available today.
The platform includes a visually polished UI, intuitive categorization, and an emphasis on fan interactions. Kitsu also has an API friendly environment which supports numerous third party apps and tools. The tracking system is smooth, and updating progress is fast compared to several other platforms.
Watching anime on Kitsu requires linking to streaming platforms such as Crunchyroll or Hulu. Kitsu provides quick access to these sources, helping you start watching without unnecessary searching.
Pros
- Strong community feed with real time interactions.
- Sleek and modern design.
- Good integration with streaming platforms.
Cons
- Database is smaller compared to MyAnimeList.
- Occasional performance issues depending on region.
3. Anime Planet
Anime Planet is a veteran platform and one of the most trusted sources for tracking anime. It is officially partnered with multiple legal streaming services, allowing viewers to watch thousands of episodes directly through the website. If you want an alternative that combines tracking and watching in one place, Anime Planet is extremely practical.
The catalog is comprehensive and also includes manga and light novels. One standout feature is the recommendation engine, which is more content driven compared to the user score heavy method used by MyAnimeList. Anime Planet focuses on suggesting anime based on detailed tagging and viewing habits.
The website design is functional and easy to navigate. Watching anime is as simple as visiting a title page and clicking the Watch Now button if it is available through a partner service.
Pros
- Official partnerships with major anime streaming services.
- Strong recommendation system.
- Large database with light novels included.
Cons
- UI design can feel outdated.
- Not all anime titles have integrated streaming.
4. LiveChart
LiveChart is one of the best platforms for discovering seasonal anime. It is not a full tracking website like MyAnimeList but excels in showing schedules, release calendars, countdowns, trailers, and seasonal previews. If you like to follow anime as they release each week, LiveChart is one of the strongest tools available.
The platform provides a clean and visually appealing interface with detailed episode countdown timers, staff information, trailers, and real time airing notifications. The calendar design makes it easy to manage multiple shows at once.
While you cannot track your progress directly through LiveChart, you can link your account to other tracking platforms or use it purely as a schedule reference for current and upcoming seasons.
Pros
- Beautiful seasonal charts and schedules.
- Accurate countdowns and notifications.
- Modern and easy to use.
Cons
- No personal tracking list.
- Focused almost entirely on seasonal releases.
5. Simkl
Simkl is a hybrid tracking service that supports anime, TV shows, and movies. This makes it a compelling alternative for viewers who enjoy multiple media categories. Simkl’s interface is detailed and offers advanced analytics that break down viewing habits across platforms and genres.
The anime catalog is strong and includes both popular and obscure titles. Simkl also features automatic tracking through integrations with streaming platforms, which helps maintain consistency without manually updating each episode.
To watch anime using Simkl, you rely on partner streaming services, similar to other tracking platforms. The linking process is straightforward and the site provides quick access buttons for most titles.
Pros
- Tracks multiple forms of media.
- Strong analytics and viewing stats.
- Auto tracking with partner integrations.
Cons
- Interface may appear cluttered for new users.
- Some features require account linking.
6. Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is one of the largest anime streaming platforms globally and includes a basic watchlist system. While it is not a full tracking database like MyAnimeList, it offers direct anime streaming and an extremely large licensed catalog. If your priority is legal anime streaming with a built in tracking feature, Crunchyroll is one of the most reliable options.
The platform includes simulcast releases, dubbed versions, exclusive titles, and an extensive catalogue of classics. The built in watchlist is easy to use and automatically updates progress as you watch episodes.
Crunchyroll’s interface is user friendly and focuses heavily on watching rather than data collections. This makes it an excellent supplement to MyAnimeList or a standalone solution for viewers who do not require an expansive database.
Pros
- Official licensed streaming platform.
- Large catalog with exclusive titles.
- Automatic tracking while watching.
Cons
- Not a full database like MAL.
- Premium subscription needed for many features.
7. Plex Discover and Watchlist
Plex recently added a Discover and Watchlist feature that aggregates streaming availability across dozens of services, including anime platforms. This tool allows you to track and watch anime from multiple sources using a single interface. While Plex is not dedicated to anime alone, it has become surprisingly useful for fans who want centralized watchlists.
Plex supports notifications, viewing progress, and watch history across multiple streaming sites. This makes it ideal if you watch anime from several providers and prefer a unified tracking dashboard.
Although Plex does not provide anime database features like MAL or AniList, its cross platform tracking and availability search make it a valuable alternative for certain users.
Pros
- Cross platform tracking system.
- Works with dozens of streaming providers.
- Simple and universal watchlist design.
Cons
- Not anime specific.
- Lacks database depth found on MyAnimeList.
How We Chose the Alternatives
To ensure accuracy and fairness, the alternatives were selected using a strict evaluation process. First, each platform was tested for at least several days to determine its usability, database accuracy, loading performance, and community engagement. Special attention was given to platforms that offer unique features missing from MyAnimeList, such as built in streaming, advanced tracking, or superior user interfaces.
The final selection was based on database size, ease of navigation, community features, content availability, accuracy of information, watchlist tools, and user safety. This ensures that every platform on this list is reliable, valuable, and worthy of consideration as a MyAnimeList alternative.
FAQs
Is MyAnimeList accurate?
MyAnimeList is considered one of the most accurate anime databases due to its strict moderation and community verification process.
Can you watch anime directly on MyAnimeList?
In most cases, no. MyAnimeList does not host videos except through occasional partnerships. It is primarily a tracking and information platform.
Is MAL or AniList better?
MyAnimeList is better for database depth while AniList excels in modern design and customization. The best choice depends on what you value most.
Does MyAnimeList work without an account?
You can browse the database without logging in, but you need an account to track progress or join the community.
Is MyAnimeList legal?
Yes. It is a fully legal site that does not host pirated content.
Is MyAnimeList safe?
The platform is safe and uses standard website security practices. Avoid sharing sensitive information unnecessarily.
Does MyAnimeList have spoilers?
User reviews may contain spoilers, but spoiler tags are usually applied. Exercise caution when reading reviews.
Is there a MyAnimeList app?
Yes. The official app is available for Android and iOS.
Which MyAnimeList alternative is best for streaming?
Crunchyroll and Anime Planet are the strongest choices for direct anime streaming.
Which alternative is best for tracking?
AniList and Kitsu are excellent for modern tracking features.
Conclusion
MyAnimeList remains one of the most influential anime platforms thanks to its deep database, community engagement, and long history within the anime world. While its interface shows its age, the amount of information and consistency it delivers continues to make it a favorite among millions of users. That said, modern alternatives such as AniList, Kitsu, and Anime Planet offer fresh designs, built in streaming integrations, and advanced stats that may appeal to different types of anime fans.
Whether you stick with MyAnimeList or explore its alternatives, the important thing is finding a platform that supports your viewing style, helps you track your progress, and enhances your enjoyment of anime. With the tools and platforms covered in this review, you can enjoy smoother tracking, better recommendations, and a more personalized anime watching experience.
