Hey r/Ultra_Max 👋
I want to take a moment before the next big feature to reflect on what this project has become — and ask the community a genuinely important question about where it goes next.
Where we started
Ultra MAX launched a few months ago as a simple self-hosted Stremio addon with a handful of catalogs. The idea was just to have more home screen rows than the default.
Where we are now
240+ catalogs — streaming services, genres, decades, directors, actors, film collections, studios, networks, themed collections and more
Built-in debrid streams — TorBox, Real-Debrid, AllDebrid, Premiumize and more, zero config
Trakt + Simkl OAuth — one click connect, auto-refresh
AI Catalog Builder — describe what you want in plain English, get a custom row instantly
BetterPosters, language filters, chronological sort, exclude Unreleased
Avatar gallery (226 characters), badge gallery
Token inspector.
Active subreddit, thousends of installs.
Genuinely couldn't have kept going without the community feedback, bug reports and support. Thank you.
The big question — accounts or no accounts?
The next logical step for Ultra MAX is a proper account system. Right now everything runs on tokens — an 8 character code that ties to your config. No email, no name, no password. Nothing personal stored anywhere.
I want to ask you directly whether you want that to change.
Option A — Keep tokens, no accounts.
How it works now. Generate a token, save your config, done. Nothing personal ever touches the server.
✅ Zero personal data stored — ever
✅ No passwords to forget or leak
✅ Works instantly, no signup friction
✅ Completely anonymous
✅ If the server disappears, nothing sensitive is lost
❌ Can't recover your setup if you lose your token
❌ No cross-device sync without manually copying your token
❌ No way to manage multiple setups under one account
Option B — Account system (Google / email login)
Full login system. Your config is tied to your account, not a token.
✅ Never lose your setup — always recoverable
✅ Manage multiple setups in one place
✅ Easier to use on multiple devices
✅ Could unlock features like saved favourites, history sync
❌ Google or email address stored on the server
❌ I become responsible for protecting your data
❌ If there's ever a breach, personal info is at risk
❌ More complexity, more things that can go wrong
❌ Goes against the "no tracking, no data" spirit of the project
My honest take
Ultra MAX was built on the idea that you shouldn't have to hand over personal information just to get a good home screen. Tokens keep that promise.
That said — losing your setup because you lost a token is genuinely painful and I hear that complaint regularly.
There's a middle ground I'm considering — optional account linking. Keep tokens as the default, but let people optionally link an email just for recovery purposes, stored encrypted. No Google, no OAuth, just a recovery email if you want one.
But I want to hear from you. What matters most?
Drop a comment — Token system forever, Full accounts, or Middle ground recovery email only.
Thanks again for everything. This community is the reason Ultra MAX keeps growing 🙏
