Refract vs Letterboxd: films plus TV shows and anime, free, no ads

Short answer: keep Letterboxd if films are all you log and its community matters most; choose Refract if you also watch TV shows or anime and want one free library with no ads and no paid stats. Refract is independent, owned by its founders, and imports your Letterboxd history with dates, so switching costs nothing.

Letterboxd is the gold standard for film logging and has one of the best movie communities on the internet, but as of 2026, it remains movies-only. TV support is a stated future plan, not a live feature. If you watch TV shows or anime alongside films, Refract tracks all three in one library, completely free with no ads and no stats paywall.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Refract	Letterboxd
Movies	✓ Full tracking	✓ Full tracking
TV Shows	✓ Full tracking	✗ As of 2026, Letterboxd remains movies-only; TV support is a stated future plan, not a live feature
Anime	✓ Dedicated anime support	✗ Anime films treated as movies only; no series support
Books	Coming soon	✗
Games	Coming soon	✗
Free forever	✓ Always free	✓ Free tier available
No ads	✓ Zero ads	Ad-supported on free tier (✓ Pro only)
Stats free	✓ Full stats for free	✗ Paywalled behind Pro ($19/yr)
Import history	✓ Letterboxd, TV Time, IMDb, Trakt	Limited
Cross-device sync	✓ iOS & Android	✓ iOS, Android & Web
Price	Free forever	Free (limited) / Pro $19/year

Where Letterboxd is better

Letterboxd has the richest film social community and the best movie-logging experience available: detailed reviews, lists, activity from critics and cinephiles, and a culture built entirely around film. Refract doesn't try to replace that community. If movies are your primary focus and you love the social side of film discussion, Letterboxd is excellent at what it does.

Why use Refract instead?

If you also watch TV shows or anime (and most people do), Letterboxd leaves you without a home for that content. Refract keeps your entire watch life in one place: movies, TV, and anime, all tracked together with a unified diary, ratings, and stats. And unlike Letterboxd, Refract's stats are completely free with no upgrade required.

Can I import my Letterboxd history into Refract?

Yes. Refract has a built-in Letterboxd importer. Export your diary and ratings from Letterboxd, then use the Import screen in Refract to bring everything over. The import runs in the background and shows progress as it goes.

Is Refract really free with no ads?

Completely free, no catch. Tracking, diary, stats, social and recommendations cost nothing and show no ads, ever. The only paid thing is Refract Pro, optional cosmetic supporter tiers (badges, profile frames, name styles) that unlock nothing in the tracker.