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Keep Up With What’s Streaming on TV Using These 5 Free Apps

You won’t have to ask Google or your friends about release dates.

When you’re looking to stream the latest seasons of shows like Outlander, Yellowstone or new movies like Avatar 2, you probably search Google. But finding upcoming release dates for Netflix, Disney Plus, Max and any other streaming service can be time-consuming without a system.

So what’s the best way to hunt for which titles will be available on a particular streaming platform? Write it on a sticky note? Add it to your phone’s calendar? Use the streaming app’s reminder feature? While those methods may be effective, there are apps that can do it better.

Here are my suggestions for free apps that help you track streaming TV shows and films you plan to watch, ones you’re already immersed in and titles you may be curious about but need solid recommendations. They can alert you when new episodes are set to drop or remind you where you left off in a show. I should mention that some apps below are integrated with Trakt, a web-based platform that syncs with your PC, phone or home media center, but its native app is still pretty clunky, so we left it off this list. 

Read more: Max: The 34 Absolute Best TV Shows to Watch

TV Time app display with thumbnails for The Boys, Evil, Marvel Studios: Assembled TV Time app display with thumbnails for The Boys, Evil, Marvel Studios: Assembled

Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson/CNET

TV Time tracks TV shows and movies, pitches recommendations and connects you with fellow fans on social media. The app is available for Android and Apple users and you can sign up for an account using Google, Apple, Twitter, Facebook or email. To get started, choose what shows you’ve watched on which streaming service (or network). Interestingly, when scrolling through Hulu’s selections, only its originals are listed but the app tells you that you can add more later.

With TV Time, you can choose from multiple lineups, including Trending Shows like Ted Lasso, Demon Slayer or Grey’s Anatomy. There are also categories for genres, a «Most Added» section with titles such as You and even a «Most Added Animation Series» row.

Once you lock in your choices, TV Time collates a Watch List and suggests which episodes of your chosen shows you should watch next. There’s a separate tab labeled «Upcoming» that outlines the day and time that new episodes drop. Thanks to TV Time, I now know the exact premiere dates for The Witcher season 3 on Netflix and the new season of Reservation Dogs on Hulu.

The app also prompts you to check off which movies you’ve watched, and the list spans decades, platforms and genres. Once you’ve completed that step, TV Time then asks what movies you want to watch. Here is where you search for specific titles or pick from TV Time’s trending list to add them to a calendar. 

Additionally, you can filter your TV Time display by progress — including what you finished, shows and movies you stopped midway or what you’re currently watching.

justwatch app showing NFL streaming guide justwatch app showing NFL streaming guide

Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson/CNET

You may already be familiar with JustWatch as an app that curates where a title is streaming, but you can also make a watchlist, track upcoming releases, and watch a show with a single click. Once you open the app, you can select each streaming service you use — including Disney Plus, Crunchyroll and Fubo — to watch shows and films. There are 100-plus providers listed on JustWatch, and the app recently added a streaming guide for sports.

Use the app to search for TV shows and movies or click Discover to go on a scrolling adventure. Narrow your search by platform, genre, year or rating. When you click a show tile, you can tap «Track» to keep up with every episode and season. JustWatch will ask which episodes you’ve watched, and you can check off entire seasons or individual installments. Where this app stands out is when you navigate to «Watch Now» to click a streaming service’s logo, and you’re immediately taken to the show’s landing page to begin watching. Talk about convenience.

Add a title to your watch list, and JustWatch tells you which episode to watch next or you can check off when you’re caught up. It also displays the dates for upcoming episodes.

For sports fans, JustWatch Sports directs you to where you can stream football (NFL and NCAA), basketball (NBA), baseball (MLB), soccer (MLS, Liga MX and all major European leagues), tennis and Formula 1 legally online.

The app also has a personal recommendation feature and displays the price of each streaming platform. You can use JustWatch on a web browser, on Fire TV devices or on iOS and Android mobile devices. Sign up directly on the app or with your Google or Facebook account.

Available on iOS and Android, Hobi is one of the most popular and comprehensive tracking apps out there. When you open it, you can select the shows you plan to watch or have watched, and Hobi indicates where you left off. The titles are added to your watch list. If it’s an old show, Hobi lets you know the series ended but still reminds you which episodes are next for you. The Discover feature highlights trending shows, series returning in the current week, new ones airing for the month, and recommendations across genres and networks, including HBO and Netflix.

In addition to monitoring your watch list and new episode release dates, Hobi provides personal viewing stats on how much TV you’ve watched. It also estimates your favorite genres based on those statistics. The app can be integrated with Trakt.

A screenshot of SeriesGuide listings for Yellowstone, Stranger Things and more A screenshot of SeriesGuide listings for Yellowstone, Stranger Things and more

Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson/CNET

SeriesGuide is available on Android and Amazon Fire TV, and touts that it has no ads and doesn’t track your personal information.

When you first sign on to SeriesGuide, it gives you the option to block spoilers for show episodes you haven’t watched yet. You can either search for a title or click Discover and scroll through a lengthy list of content. Like Hobi and TV Time, the app lets you know which platform houses the series or movie you’d like to watch or track. It also integrates with Trakt.

Once you select your shows, SeriesGuide provides upcoming release dates or recent release dates and times. For example, the display shows that episode 9 of Succession dropped on Max at 9 p.m. ET on May 21, and Power Book IV season 2 debuts on Starz on Friday, Sept. 1. I’ve been able to glean tracking information for content on Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, Max, Paramount (Yellowstone) and more.

Its movie listings are pulled from TMDB and JustWatch, and you’ll find the release date, run time, cast credits and synopsis on the page. You can add films to your personal watchlist, click on the trailer link or tap the Stream/Purchase option if the digital version is available. 

Among its features, there’s a notification system that alerts you when new episodes are available, a favorites list and a catalog of how many episodes remain unwatched per season. With SeriesGuide, you can click «Skip» and the app will consider an episode watched. The user interface is very easy to navigate, and you can sync alerts to your device’s calendar, rate content or check out your viewing statistics for movies and shows.

Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson/CNET

Cinetrak allows you to track both TV shows and movies, but you have to set up a Trakt log-in in order to create watch lists. You will see ads at the bottom of the screen, but the interface is clean and intuitive. Under the TV Shows menu, you can find titles under several categories: Genres, Trending, Popular and Top Watched. Click on a series and Cinetrak pulls up general information about the show and the seasons. Tap the plus sign to add a show by title, episode or season. 

The calendar feature allows you to see episodes that have been watched, added to collections or added to your watch lists. Basic access is free, but you can upgrade your account for additional features such as creating «Liked» lists, curated collections or sharing with friends.

Streaming TV tracker apps FAQs

What about privacy concerns?

Take the time to review the privacy notices and settings for each service. JustWatch explains that it collects user data that may be used to target ads based on your movie tastes, while TV Time also uses nonpersonal information for marketing and advertising purposes. With the latter, you’re also able to toggle your personal account settings and set it to private, which prevents nonfollowers from viewing your activity. You can also unlink social media accounts.

Should I pay to upgrade for more tracking perks?

Though some of these apps offer the ability to upgrade, we recommend sticking with the free versions, especially if you just want a basic way to remind yourself of upcoming releases or to track your progress for a show. 

Why didn’t Reelgood make this list?

Reelgood is an excellent platform that enables you to track movies and TV shows that have already been released or those with scheduled arrivals for the current month. However, it doesn’t provide information for the months ahead. JustWatch and TV Time, on the other hand, show the release date for the new season along with an episode count. You can even set a notification for its arrival.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for July 4, #284

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for July 4, No. 284.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.


Today’s Connections: Sports Edition has kind of a July 4 flavor. But come on, New York Times puzzle makers, is the blue category really a sport? Read on for hints and the answers. And pass the mustard.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.  

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: What you won.

Green group hint: Lone Star State sports.

Blue group hint: Chow down.

Purple group hint: Not cold.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: A monetary reward.

Green group: A Texas basketball player.

Blue group: Nathan’s hot dog contest eating winners.

Purple group: Hot ____.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is a monetary reward. The four answers are prize, purse, stakes and winnings.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is a Texas basketball player. The four answers are Maverick, Rocket, Spur and Wing.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is Nathan’s hot dog contest eating winners. The four answers are Bertoletti, Chestnut, Kobayashi and Sudo.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is hot ____. The four answers are corner, dog, hand and stove.

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for July 4, #754

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for July 4, #754.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.


Today’s NYT Connections puzzle was a fairly simple one, I thought. Maybe it was a July 4 gift from the puzzle-makers. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Round and round.

Green group hint: Salute.

Blue group hint: Turn the air on.

Purple group hint: Threw away your shot.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Parts of a wheel.

Green group: Military clothing descriptors.

Blue group: Used in ventilation.

Purple group: Fail to take advantage of, as an opportunity.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is parts of a wheel. The four answers are hub, rim, spoke and tire.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is military clothing descriptors. The four answers are camo, drab, fatigue and khaki.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is used in ventilation. The four answers are duct, exhaust, hose and pipe.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is fail to take advantage of, as an opportunity. The four answers are blow, lose, miss and waste.

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Technologies

Motorola’s July 4th Sale Can Save You Up to $650 on Popular Phones Like the Foldable Razr Ultra

This massive sale from Motorola brings you brand-new, unlocked Android phones, starting at just $130.

The Fourth of July holiday weekend is upon us and with it a huge array of bargains to be had. If you’ve been thinking about a new Android phone, Motorola is having a big sale on its most popular devices, making these already affordable options even more attainable. With savings of up to $650 on phones in the Razr, Edge and Moto G families, there’s something for every style and budget. Just keep in mind that these deals are likely to fade as fast as fireworks in the sky. We don’t have an exact end date, but «limited time» means if you see something you like, don’t wait.

The Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 is the company’s competitively priced foldable phone. You can pick one up with 1TB of storage for $1,300, which is $200 off the regular price and available in a variety of colors and finishes. If you prefer the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 model instead, you’ll find that starting at $799, again $200 less than the typical retail price. We spotted this same deal at Amazon right now as well, if you prefer to shop there.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

If the Motorola Edge lineup is more your style for a limited time, you can get the Motorola Edge 2024 for just $350 and the Motorola Edge Plus 2023 for $400, both deals reflecting a $400 savings. We also spotted the Edge 2024 for the same price of $350 at Best Buy.

And for the most wallet-friendly phones, the Moto G phones make a great option. These already super-affordable phones are now even less, including the Moto G Power 5G 2024, which is $210 at Amazon or at Motorola, a price that falls $90 below the regular cost.

More Motorola July 4th phone deals:

Why this deal matters

Concerns over the rising cost of tech because of tariffs may have you feeling more urgent about getting a new phone before there’s a further price increase. Between the Fourth of July discounts and forthcoming Prime Day offers, it’s a great time to stock up on tech. Motorola is already known for making some of the more affordable Android phones on the market, including foldable options, so if you’ve been wanting to upgrade or try one out, this July 4th sale is the time to do it.

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