IMDb list sync tools for genre focused curators in 2026

Compare IMDb list sync tools for genre focused curators, with notes on how each option reads lists, matches titles, and reaches Radarr and Sonarr.

By VLClean · 2026-10-17

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

Watcharr turns one public IMDb list into separate Radarr and Sonarr links. ^[1] The other options are compared in the table by what their own pages say they do, so check each one against the job you have.

Option	List approach	Cost details
Watcharr	You paste one public IMDb list and get one Radarr link for movies and one Sonarr link for shows. ^[1]	Own fee: not published. Card fee: not published.
MDBList	Creates dynamic, auto-updating movie and show lists tailored to user preferences. ^[2]	Own fee: a Supporter membership is offered, with sign-up linked through Memberful and Patreon. ^[3] Card fee: not published.
Trakt	not published	Own fee: free on web, iOS and Android. ^[4] Card fee: not published.
Traktarr	Uses Trakt.tv to find shows and movies to add to Sonarr and Radarr. ^[5]	Own fee: not published. Card fee: not published.
Simkl	Tracks what you watch and helps discover new shows and movies. ^[6]	Own fee: not published. Card fee: not published.
Ryot	Tracks books, movies, TV shows, workouts, and daily habits. ^[7]	Own fee: a free trial is offered. ^[7] Card fee: not published.
Kometa	Creates collections and overlays using TMDb and IMDb. ^[8]	Own fee: not published. Card fee: not published.
Listrr	Creates personalized lists for shows and movies with many filters. ^[9]	Own fee: not published. Card fee: not published. Donors get list updates every 3 instead of 24 hours. ^[9]

What genre focused curators need from IMDb list sync tools

Genre focused curators usually build lists around one kind of film or show, such as horror, documentaries or anime, and want those lists to reach the apps that manage a media library. The main work is picking titles, keeping the list current as new entries appear, and having each title matched to the right entry in the app that adds it. Curators should check which list sources an option reads, whether it can read a list from the IMDb site on a desktop or a phone, and how it handles titles that cannot be matched to a show or movie id. Update timing matters for a list that changes often, and a list shared by several people in a household may need a tool that combines lists. The right option depends on whether the main job is building a list, keeping it updated, matching titles to library apps, or presenting the results.

Watcharr for genre focused curators

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] 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] It looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it can't match, and tells you which ones it skipped. ^[1] The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1]

MDBList for genre focused curators

MDBList is a tool for creating dynamic, auto-updating movie and show lists tailored to user preferences. ^[2] MDBList offers a Supporter membership, with sign-up linked through Memberful and Patreon. ^[3] Check how often a list refreshes and whether it reads public IMDb lists before choosing, since those details decide how well the list stays current for a genre.

Trakt for genre focused curators

The facts available here cover where Trakt is free: web, iOS and Android. ^[4] A curator who already keeps lists on Trakt should check how it connects to Radarr and Sonarr, and whether it reads public IMDb lists, before deciding whether it fits the way the lists are kept.

Traktarr for genre focused curators

Traktarr uses Trakt.tv to find shows and movies to add in to Sonarr and Radarr, respectively. ^[5] It can add a single movie to Radarr. ^[5] The official Trakt lists it supports include Trending, Popular, Anticipated, Box Office, Most Watched and Most Played. ^[5] Check whether it reads public IMDb lists before choosing.

Listrr for genre focused curators

Listrr creates personalized lists for shows and movies with many filters. ^[9] Listrr automatically updates every list it creates. ^[9] Donors can create lists by IMDB or TMDB ids. ^[9] A curator should check how those ids are used and whether the lists reach the library apps the way the curator needs.

Matching the tool to the job

For a public IMDb list that needs separate movie and show links for Radarr and Sonarr, Watcharr provides one link for each. ^[1] Signed-in users can also combine several lists for a household, and a title on two lists is added only once. ^[1] For a list that should keep itself current, the options to compare are Watcharr and Listrr. Watcharr re-reads a signed-in user's list about every 15 minutes. ^[1] Listrr automatically updates every list it creates. ^[9] For matching titles to library apps, Traktarr uses Trakt.tv to find shows and movies to add to Sonarr and Radarr. ^[5] Kometa integrates with Sonarr and Radarr to automate library growth. ^[8] For presenting results with artwork, Kometa can customize artwork, titles, and summaries. ^[8] Watcharr also shows the covers of a list in a row, each opening TMDB's plot, genres, rating, backdrop and trailer. ^[1]

Questions to ask before you choose

Before choosing, ask whether the tool reads the public IMDb list format you use, such as a desktop, phone or other-language list. Ask how often a list refreshes and whether the tool warns when a read fails. Ask how titles without a matching id are handled, and whether skipped titles are reported. Ask which apps the results need to reach, and whether several people need one combined list. Finally, check the licence terms against the way the list will be used, and whether any account or sign-up is needed before the first list is made.

Frequently asked questions

Does Watcharr need an account or an install?

The hosted version of Watcharr needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1] Signed-in users get automatic refresh, which re-reads a list about every 15 minutes and warns after a list fails three reads in a row. ^[1] The code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence, and commercial use is not licensed. ^[1] ^[1]

Can Watcharr turn one IMDb list into Radarr and Sonarr links?

Watcharr lets 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] 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]

Does Watcharr work with IMDb watchlists and lists?

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] If a read of the list fails, the links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. ^[1]

Can Watcharr combine IMDb lists for a household?

Signed-in Watcharr users can combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link for the whole household. ^[1] A title that is on two lists is added only once. ^[1] The page also shows the list's covers in a row, each opening TMDB's plot, genres, rating, backdrop and trailer. ^[1]

What should genre focused curators check before choosing an IMDb list sync tool?

Curators should check which list formats an option reads, how it handles titles it cannot match, how often a list refreshes, and which apps the results reach. Watcharr looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it cannot match, and tells you which ones it skipped. ^[1] Listrr automatically updates every list it creates. ^[9] Traktarr uses Trakt.tv to find shows and movies to add to Sonarr and Radarr. ^[5]

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

Try Watcharr