IMDb list sync tools for documentary watchlist keepers in 2026

IMDb list sync tools for documentary watchlist keepers, with what each reads, how it reaches Radarr or Sonarr, and what to check first.

By VLClean · 2026-11-01

VLClean is published by the makers of Askarr and Watcharr, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Watcharr reads one public IMDb list and gives you one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] Other options below start from different sources, such as Trakt, so compare what each one reads before you choose. ^[2]

Option	What it does with IMDb lists or titles	Setup or access
Watcharr	Turns one public IMDb list into one Radarr link for movies and one Sonarr link for shows. ^[1]	The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1]
MDBList	Imports external lists from Trakt, IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and other sources. ^[3]	Requires login or sign-up. ^[4]
Traktarr	Uses Trakt to find shows and movies to add to Sonarr and Radarr. ^[2]	Requires Python 3.5 or newer. ^[2]
Listrr	Creates personalized lists for shows and movies with many filters. ^[5]	Not published.
FlexGet	Manages and tracks series and/or movies directly from Trakt, TheTVDB or IMDb. ^[6]	Can run in the background on its own, and its settings are kept in a plain text file. ^[6] ^[6]

What documentary watchlist keepers need from IMDb list sync tools

Documentary watchlist keepers usually build one IMDb list over a long time, adding titles as they come up in reviews, recommendations, and friends' suggestions. They want those titles to reach the right app, so documentary films go to Radarr and documentary series go to Sonarr without being sorted by hand each time. A sync tool has to read the list, match each title to the ids its app needs, and keep the result current as new titles are added.

Limits show up in the details. Some titles may not match a show database id, so a tool that skips them should say which ones it skipped. Refresh timing matters too, since a list that is re-read rarely may lag behind the titles you add. Before connecting anything, check which list source the tool reads, how often it refreshes, and what it asks for, such as a login or an API key.

Watcharr for documentary watchlist keepers

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site. You paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. ^[1] It accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] It finds each show's TheTVDB listing by looking it up through TVMaze and TMDB, which are movie and show lookup services. It leaves out shows it can't match and tells you which ones it skipped. ^[1] A bookmark you click inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list for you, using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. ^[1] The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1] Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence. ^[1]

MDBList for documentary watchlist keepers

MDBList is a tool for creating dynamic, auto-updating movie and show lists tailored to user preferences. ^[3] Its site describes a Supporter membership, so check its current terms before you rely on any member benefit. ^[4]

Traktarr for documentary watchlist keepers

Traktarr uses Trakt to find shows and movies to add to Sonarr and Radarr. ^[2] It supports official Trakt lists, such as Trending, Popular, Anticipated, Box Office, Most Watched and Most Played. ^[2] It has an automatic scheduled mode. ^[2] If your list lives on IMDb rather than Trakt, check how the tool reads it before you choose.

Listrr for documentary watchlist keepers

Listrr creates personalized lists for shows and movies with many filters. ^[5] Listrr can create lists by IMDb or TMDB title ids, which are the numbers those sites use to identify each movie or show. ^[5] List updates can run every 3 hours instead of every 24. ^[5]

FlexGet for documentary watchlist keepers

FlexGet lets you manage and track series and/or movies directly from Trakt, TheTVDB or IMDb. ^[6] It supports torrents, nzbs, podcasts, comics, TV, movies, RSS, HTML, CSV and more. ^[6] Its page also reports a critical security vulnerability that allows remote code execution with specially formed titles when using the exec plugin, so check the version you install. ^[6]

Matching the tool to the job

For getting one IMDb list into both Radarr and Sonarr, Watcharr gives one link for movies and one for shows. ^[1] For keeping that list current without pasting it again, a signed-in user gets a re-read about every 15 minutes. ^[1] For a list that sometimes fails to load, the links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. ^[1] For a household that shares one set of lists, signed-in users can combine several IMDb lists into one link for each app, and a title on two lists is added only once. ^[1]

For a Trakt list rather than an IMDb list, Traktarr finds shows and movies through Trakt to add to Sonarr and Radarr. ^[2] For a run that starts on a schedule, Traktarr has an automatic scheduled mode. ^[2] For managing series and movies across Trakt, TheTVDB or IMDb, FlexGet is one option to compare. ^[6]

Questions to ask before you choose

Which list source does the tool read, and does it match where your documentary list lives? Do you want one link for movies and one for shows, or one feed for everything? How often does the tool re-read the list, and can you see when a read fails? When a read fails, does the tool keep the last good result available? Does a sign-in or an install suit how you run your media? Do the cost or membership terms match the way you plan to use the tool?

Frequently asked questions

Which IMDb list sync tool should documentary watchlist keepers compare first?

Start with the list source, since each tool reads titles differently. Watcharr reads a public IMDb list and gives one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] Traktarr uses Trakt to find shows and movies to add to Sonarr and Radarr. ^[2] Listrr creates personalized lists for shows and movies with many filters. ^[5] Compare what each one needs from you before you connect it.

Does Watcharr need an account to sync an IMDb list?

The hosted version needs no account and nothing to install. ^[1] You paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] If you sign in, Watcharr re-reads your list about every 15 minutes and warns you when a list fails three reads in a row. ^[1]

Can Watcharr read a private IMDb list?

Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] The links are built from the IMDb list's id, so the same list always gives the same two links. ^[1] Paste a list that is public, and check that it loads on IMDb before you add the links to Radarr or Sonarr.

How often does Radarr check a Watcharr link?

Radarr checks a Watcharr movie link every 15 minutes, and Sonarr checks its show link every 5. ^[1] Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server. ^[1] A bookmark you click inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list for you, using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. ^[1]

What should documentary watchlist keepers check before choosing an IMDb list sync tool?

Check which list source the tool reads, since Traktarr uses Trakt to find titles. ^[2] Check whether a scheduled run is available, since Traktarr has an automatic scheduled mode. ^[2] Check what happens when a read fails, because Watcharr keeps serving the last list that loaded correctly. ^[1] Check how a tool handles shows it cannot match, since Watcharr tells you which ones it skipped. ^[1]

Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence; older versions remain under MIT. ^[1]

Try Watcharr