# Compare Watchlists

On Simkl, **Compare Watchlists** lets you see how your viewing habits overlap with another SIMKL member’s. You can instantly spot titles you both enjoy, Whether you’re planning a watch party or hunting for new recommendations, comparing lists side-by-side is the fastest way to discover common favorites or hidden gems.

{% content-ref url="../../social-and-community/following-friends" %}
[following-friends](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/social-and-community/following-friends)
{% endcontent-ref %}

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FtDxneixC85aVa1Y9UW7t%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=332a2db6-0f65-42a4-a120-1e473819649c" alt=""><figcaption><p>Compare Watchlist (4 Members)</p></figcaption></figure>

## Why Compare Watchlists?

Watching alone is fine. Watching together is better! With **Compare Watchlists**, you can:

* **Discover Shared Favorites:** Quickly identify shows/movies you both love.
* **Find New Recommendations:** Uncover titles they’ve seen that you haven’t.
* **Coordinate Binge Sessions:** Plan what to watch together next.
* **Track Progress Differences:** See what they’re currently watching vs. what you’re watching.

***

## 1) Quick Overview Of Mutually Watched

Discover how your Simkl viewing tastes align with friends or fellow members in just a few clicks.

{% content-ref url="../../social-and-community/finding-members" %}
[finding-members](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/social-and-community/finding-members)
{% endcontent-ref %}

#### 1. Navigate to the Member’s Profile

* Go to the Simkl website and search for a friend or member (e.g., [**https://simkl.com/51/**](https://simkl.com/51/)).

#### 2. Open the “Overview” Tab

* Under their profile banner, select **OVERVIEW** in the navigation menu.
* This section provides a high-level summary of your shared and unshared content.

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FNs8kJQO1xpiJDka1XDvq%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=50a6806d-a626-4e0c-8e54-6535ccf26204" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### 3. Understand Your Compatibility Score

* **Your Compatibility**: A percentage that represents how many titles you both have watched.
  * **61.4%** means you share 61.4% of your watchlists.

#### 4. See Counts of Shared Titles

* Below the percentage, you’ll find the exact numbers:
  * **355 TV Shows**
  * **73 Anime**
  * **892 Movies**
* These counts show how many items overlap in your profiles.

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FwyF9BlTEAkKbqlwJKUcp%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e43f99ba-570a-4873-9848-a767eabae1d5" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### 5. Explore “Mutually Watched” Lists

* Scroll down to see three distinct sections:
  1. **Mutually Watched TV Shows**
  2. **Mutually Watched Movies**
  3. **Mutually Watched Anime**
* Each section displays posters, your rating (blue stars), and their rating (gray stars).

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FvE4Db6yj3Of1Lmbuejhc%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=246fedaf-de33-40b8-9bd4-a00a290c1315" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### 6. Identify Unwatched but Common Titles

* Right below the mutual watchlists, find **“You have not seen”** lists:
  * TV Shows
  * Anime
  * Movies
* These are titles they’ve watched that you still need to catch up on.

***

## 2) Comparing Watchlists

Whether planning a binge session, finding fresh titles, or keeping in sync on ongoing series, Compare Watchlists offers powerful filters and layouts to suit every use cas

### A. Choose Your Lists

1. **Go to the user’s profile** whose lists you want to compare. (e.g., [`https://simkl.com/51/`](https://simkl.com/51/))
2. Click **Overview** or any section so the filter sidebar appears.
3. Select **Watchlists for Comparing**—the dual-list view appears side by side:
   * **(Users) TV Shows List**
   * **(My) TV Shows List**

> **Tip:** Works for TV Shows, Anime, or Movies—switch tabs at the top.

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2Fp3ks2XfNF3TtZ6Ej6jQc%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=a7bf215e-ecee-4e6e-928c-569861edeebb" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

4. Select **Your List** type (e.g., **Watching**, **Completed**).
5. Select **Their List** type (e.g., **Plan to Watch**).

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Member's / User's Watchlist" %}

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FD0bzLYKm17urIXYfjkMc%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=9bac8cbc-b64e-489b-9de8-9c615d029ffb" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Your's / My Watchlist " %}

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FcOcqvg6F9YcCbOvHoDum%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=096529eb-dc54-4ebd-ad77-c402d23be945" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

#### <mark style="color:purple;">Basic Watchlist Filters (Dual-Sidebar Filters)</mark>

Both lists have identical filter panels so you can refine each side independently:

| Section        | Your Profile                                                                                                                                                                                                          | Other User’s Profile                                                                                                 |
| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Full List**  | <ul><li>Watching </li><li>Plan to Watch </li><li>Completed </li><li>On Hold </li><li>Dropped</li></ul>                                                                                                                | <ul><li>Watching </li><li>Plan to Watch </li><li>Completed </li><li>On Hold </li><li>Dropped</li></ul>               |
| **Filter by:** | <ul><li>Favorites </li><li>Not Watched </li><li>Not 100% Progress </li><li>Not Rated </li><li>Has Memos </li><li><em><strong>- Not Watched</strong></em></li><li><em><strong>- Not in My List</strong></em></li></ul> | <ul><li>Favorites </li><li>Not in My List </li><li>Not Rated </li><li>Not 100% Progress </li><li>Has Memos</li></ul> |

* **Use Case**: Show only “Watching” on both sides to find common currently-airing series.
* **Use Case**: Show “Plan to Watch” on your list vs. “Completed” on theirs to locate must-watch recommendations.

For example:

* Compare your **Completed** shows with their **Watching** to find new recommendations.
* Compare your **Plan to Watch** with their **Completed** to see if they’ve already seen your picks.

#### <mark style="color:purple;">Advanced v2 Filtering</mark>

Beyond the basic “Full List” filters, SIMKL’s v2 filter pane lets you drill down across both lists:

{% content-ref url="../../search-and-discovery/discovering-and-exploring-with-filters" %}
[discovering-and-exploring-with-filters](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/search-and-discovery/discovering-and-exploring-with-filters)
{% endcontent-ref %}

* **Ratings** (0–10 stars)
* **Vote Count** (popularity)
* **Rank** (SIMKL’s internal ranking)
* **Drop Rate**
* **Exclude My Custom Lists** (hide Auto-Lists)
* **Type & Format** (TV Show Type, Anime Format, Movie Genre)
* **Themes/Tags** (e.g., “Psychological,” “Sci-Fi”)
* **Country** (e.g., “Japan,” “USA”)
* **Language** (original audio language)
* **Network** (e.g., Netflix, HBO)
* **Parental Guidelines** (US TV ratings)
* **Release Date / Last Air Date**
* **Season / Episode Count**
* **Running Time**

> **Use Case:**
>
> * Filter both “Watching” lists to only “Sci-Fi” TV Shows rated 8+.
> * Compare “Plan to Watch” anime by “Fantasy” tag to find joint viewing possibilities.
> * Narrow down “Completed” movies from 2020–2022 for a film discussion group.

***

### B. View the Results

Once you’ve applied the desired filters (e.g. “Watching,” “Not 100% progress,” specific genres) to both your watchlist and the member’s watchlist and chosen your sorting preferences, you’ll see a unified results view.

Here’s how to understand and use the comparison data:

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2Fxb5xNC7XWvZynJXA7drL%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=01019e8b-2621-46c9-a9e0-b056ff92f064" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### 📺 My List Status Icons :blue\_circle:

| **Icon**                             | **Meaning on Your List** | **Example Use-Case**                                                     |
| ------------------------------------ | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| :eye: **Eye**                        | **Watching**             | You’re currently watching this show (e.g. mid-season).                   |
| :pause\_button: **Pause**            | **On Hold**              | You’ve paused the show—for instance, taking a break after a cliffhanger. |
| :thumbsdown: **Thumbs Down**         | **Dropped**              | You stopped watching it permanently.                                     |
| :star: **Star**                      | **Plan to Watch**        | You’ve added it to your “to-watch” queue.                                |
| :ballot\_box\_with\_check: **Check** | **Completed**            | You’ve finished every released episode.                                  |
| :1234: **Number**                    | **Your Rating**          | You rated the show (e.g. 8/10).                                          |

*Note: All of the above icons appear in blue when associated with your own watchlist.*

***

#### 👥 Other Member’s Status Icons :black\_circle:

When you look at the **TV SHOWS LIST** (another user’s list), you’ll see icons rendered in **grey** or on a **white background**. Those indicate *their* statuses, not yours:

| **Icon**                                    | **Meaning on Their List** | **Example Use-Case**                               |
| ------------------------------------------- | ------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| :eye: **Eye (grey)**                        | They’re *Watching* it     | They’re in the middle of the show.                 |
| :pause\_button: **Pause  (grey)**           | They’ve put it *On Hold*  | They paused viewing for now.                       |
| :thumbsdown: **Thumbs Down (grey)**         | They’ve *Dropped* it      | They decided not to continue watching this series. |
| :star: **Star (grey)**                      | They plan to watch it     | It’s in their “Plan to Watch” section.             |
| :ballot\_box\_with\_check: **Check (grey)** | They’ve *Completed* it    | They’ve seen all episodes.                         |
| :1234: **Number (grey)**                    | Their Rating              | Their score for the show (e.g. 7/10).              |

### How to Read a Side-by-Side Comparison

1. **Filter Both Lists to the Same Status**
   * Select **Watching** in both “TV SHOWS LIST” and “MY TV SHOWS LIST.”
   * You’ll see which shows *you* and *they* are both actively watching.
2. **Spot Your Differences**
   * Let’s say **Game of Thrones** has a blue check (✓) on your list (you completed it), but on their list it has a grey star (☆) (they’re planning to watch).
   * This tells you that you finished the series, but they haven’t started yet.
3. **Compare Ratings**
   * Next to each title you’ll see a blue number (your rating) and a grey number (their rating).
   * If you rated it 9/10 but they rated it 6/10, you might discuss why your opinions differ.
4. **Find Common Ground & Gaps**
   * Shows marked with ✓ on both lists (blue on yours, grey on theirs) are *mutually completed*—talk about those shared favorites.
   * Shows that are ✓ (completed) for you but ☆ (plan to watch) for them are great recommendations.
5. **Use the Detailed Filters for Deeper Comparison**
   * Scroll down to **Filter Options** and **Maximize** the panel to reveal advanced filters (genres, parental rating, release year, etc.).
   * Combine those with your watch statuses to find, for example, *completed sci-fi shows* you both watched.

***

## 3) Plan To Watchlist Compare

Compare your personal watchlists (TV, anime, movies) with friends to discover overlaps and find new shows you both (or all) want to watch.

You can quick filter by&#x20;

* Released on DVD/Digital
* No DVD
* In Theaters
* Last 2 Years
* All Time

“Watch a Movie With Your Friends” tool isolates only **Plan to Watch** items among up to 4 friends to help you pick your next group watch.

{% content-ref url="../../social-and-community/watch-party-with-friends" %}
[watch-party-with-friends](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/social-and-community/watch-party-with-friends)
{% endcontent-ref %}

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2F433D9fvSuq0ZgMTciwvH%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=a64f33b3-bb65-4c2d-a9b8-0452ca70beab" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

## Use Cases & Variations

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FoU7Ejpgqj1764hoZhBYq%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=172cd5c2-6052-4884-9682-dcc9724fbcff" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### <mark style="color:yellow;">Plan a Binge Watch</mark> <mark style="color:yellow;"></mark>*<mark style="color:yellow;">(of a Completed Show or Movie)</mark>*

* **You**: Completed “Game of Thrones”
* **Friend**: Completed “Game of Thrones” → **Mutual**!
* **Friend**: Completed “Breaking Bad.” → Add **“Black Mirror”** to your **Plan to Watch** and schedule a marathon.

#### <mark style="color:yellow;">Discover New Anime</mark>

* Filter your list to **Anime → Plan to Watch**.
* Filter theirs to **Anime → Completed**.
* Any titles appearing **only** on their side? **Instant recommendations**.

#### <mark style="color:yellow;">Track Ongoing Shows</mark>

* Filter both to **Watching**.
* Identify series you’re both currently following: perfect for live-tweeting or weekly catch-ups.

#### <mark style="color:yellow;">Find Forgotten Gems</mark>

* Filter your **Completed** vs. their **Dropped**.
* Spots where they dropped a show you finished? Offer insights or decide on a rewatch.

***

## Tips & Best Practices

* **Multiple Comparisons:** Repeat for each media type (TV, Anime, Movies) to get a full picture.
* **Save Filter Presets in Layouts (** [creating-new-view-layout](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/custom-layout-and-view-designs/creating-new-view-layout "mention") ) for your most common comparisons (e.g., “My Watching vs. Friends’ Watching”).
* **Privacy Reminder**: Only public profiles can be compared. Users with **Private** watchlists will not display data.

SIMKL’s **Compare Watchlists feature** transforms watching TV, anime, and movies into a social experience.

From scheduling shared binges to uncovering hidden gems, powerful filters, clear side-by-side layouts, and detailed progress insights keep you and your friends in sync.

Try out different list combinations, save your favorite filters, and make your next watch party a breeze!