Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

TheTVDB.com VS TMDB

Compare TheTVDB.com VS TMDB and see what are their differences

TheTVDB.com logo TheTVDB.com

An open TV series database that can be modified by anybody, and accessed vi an XML API.

TMDB logo TMDB

free movie database
  • TheTVDB.com Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-24
  • TMDB Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-17

TheTVDB.com features and specs

  • Comprehensive Database
    TheTVDB.com hosts a vast collection of TV show data, encompassing both popular and obscure series from around the world. This makes it a go-to resource for finding information on nearly any TV show.
  • User Contributions
    The platform allows users to contribute and edit information, ensuring that the database is regularly updated and as accurate as possible.
  • APIs for Developers
    TheTVDB.com provides robust APIs that allow developers to integrate TV show data into their own applications, making it highly valuable for app development and data analysis.
  • Multi-Language Support
    The site supports multiple languages, making it accessible to users from various linguistic backgrounds and allowing them to find or add content in their preferred language.
  • Detailed Information
    The database includes comprehensive information such as cast, crew, episode guides, air dates, and more, providing a complete picture of each TV show.

Possible disadvantages of TheTVDB.com

  • Subscription Model
    Some features, including certain API access, are behind a paywall, which could be a disadvantage for users unwilling or unable to pay for a subscription.
  • User-Generated Content
    While user contributions can keep the database up-to-date, they can also lead to inconsistencies or inaccuracies if not properly moderated.
  • Interface Usability
    Some users find the website's layout and navigation to be less intuitive, which could hinder the user experience.
  • Occasional Data Conflicts
    The collaborative nature of the database can sometimes lead to data conflicts or duplicate entries, which may require resolution by moderators.
  • Limited Free API Usage
    The free tier for API usage has limits, which can be restrictive for developers looking to make extensive use of TheTVDB’s data without investing in a paid plan.

TMDB features and specs

  • Wide Range of Data
    TMDb offers a comprehensive database with extensive information on movies, TV shows, actors, crew members, and more. This includes detailed metadata, images, and user-generated content such as reviews and ratings.
  • API Access
    TMDb provides a powerful and flexible API that allows developers to integrate its extensive database into their applications. The API covers a variety of endpoints, enabling access to a wealth of movie and TV resources.
  • Community-Driven
    TMDb is largely driven by its community of users who contribute content and keep the database up to date. This helps ensure the accuracy and breadth of information available.
  • Multilingual Support
    TMDb supports multiple languages, making it accessible to an international audience. Users can contribute and retrieve information in various languages.
  • High-Quality Images
    The platform offers a vast collection of high-resolution images, including posters, backdrops, and stills, which can be valuable for both casual users and developers.

Possible disadvantages of TMDB

  • API Rate Limits
    The TMDb API has rate limits, which can be restrictive for high-traffic applications or developers who require frequent data access. This may necessitate paid plans for higher usage.
  • User-Generated Content
    While community contributions are a strength, the reliance on user-generated content can sometimes lead to inconsistencies or inaccuracies in the data, particularly for lesser-known titles.
  • Dependency on External Contributions
    As TMDb relies on its community for data updates, the completeness and timeliness of information can vary. Some new releases or niche titles might have incomplete details or delayed updates.
  • Commercial Use Limitations
    While the API is free for non-commercial use, commercial applications have restrictions and may require a paid license, which could be a barrier for some developers or startups.
  • Complexity for New Users
    For users unfamiliar with API integration or data management, the breadth of options and endpoints available in the TMDb API can be overwhelming and might have a steeper learning curve.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to TheTVDB.com and TMDB)
Movie Reviews
48 48%
52% 52
Movies
45 45%
55% 55
Movie Ratings
42 42%
58% 58
Video & Movies
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare TheTVDB.com and TMDB

TheTVDB.com Reviews

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TMDB Reviews

Best Sites For Rating Movies: 6 Top Movie Review Websites
The Movie Database (TMDb) is a popular choice for movie enthusiasts looking for an extensive and community-driven film database.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, TheTVDB.com should be more popular than TMDB. It has been mentiond 149 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

TheTVDB.com mentions (149)

  • Series Faraway Downs is not on the site
    When I attempted to create an account to update the page with season/episode info, I never received an email to verify my account. Seemed kind of odd since I saw one page offering to give me points for contributing to thetvdb.com site. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Episode showing up in one instance of Plex but not the other?
    Use the full show name as listed in TMDB or TVDB. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Website or Tracker to get untouched/uncompressed movie posters?
    Fanart.tv, themoviedb.org, thetvdb.com will have artwork for TV shows and movies at pretty good quality. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Auto tag file name
    Check the listing at TVDB to see if one of those matches your episode numbers. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • How to name single episodes, specifically natgeo
    First, read through the naming guidelines to see how Plex expects shows/episodes to be named and organized. Then, you can look at TVDB/TMDB to see what episodes your files can actually be matched against:. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

TMDB mentions (82)

  • CineCue - A seamless localization demo with RoR.
    Dynamic Content Updates: The latest movies and recommendations, refreshed for a tailored experience every time using the TMDb API. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • My Dragons Den journey
    So I like watching Dragon's Den Canada but it's never easy. I've added the meta data from the CBC website to themoviedb.org for each episode and will continue to do so. I can't be bothered adding thumbnails but I do enter descriptions of the episodes. The problem is the sources keep pulling Dragons' Den UK. Took me a bit a playing around but I finally figured out if I use a Rescrape menu (any fork of Venom will... Source: over 1 year ago
  • You like to follow filmmakers and don't want to miss their releases? So do I. That's why I built movienerd.tv (its free!)
    Movienerd features over 3 Mio. International filmmakers you may browse through and follow. As other services like letterboxd and trakt do, I access the database of themoviedb.org, hence the pool of available actors, directors, editors, composers, screenwriters, make-up artists and more is huge! As soon as you follow at least one filmmaker, your radar feed displays you automatically past and upcoming releases, that... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Website or Tracker to get untouched/uncompressed movie posters?
    Fanart.tv, themoviedb.org, thetvdb.com will have artwork for TV shows and movies at pretty good quality. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • How to name single episodes, specifically natgeo
    First, read through the naming guidelines to see how Plex expects shows/episodes to be named and organized. Then, you can look at TVDB/TMDB to see what episodes your files can actually be matched against:. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing TheTVDB.com and TMDB, you can also consider the following products

IMDb - Internet Movie Database

Letterboxd - Letterboxd is a social site for sharing your taste in film, now in public beta.

Simkl - Simkl is a TV, anime, and movie tracker that keeps a history of all the shows and movies you watch in one, central location. It’s a mobile app, a website, Google Chrome extension to keep track of everything you watch and integrates with many TV apps

MovieLens - MovieLens helps you find non-commercial, personalized movie recommendations.

Trakt.tv - Automatically track TV shows & movies you're watching.

Rotten Tomatoes - Rotten Tomatoes, home of the Tomatometer, is the most trusted measurement of quality for Movies & TV. The definitive site for Reviews, Trailers, Showtimes, and Tickets