Best IMDb list sync tools for self hosted tinkerers in 2026

Compare IMDb list sync tools for self hosted media setups and see how each handles lists, tracking, automation, and Radarr or Sonarr.

By VLClean · 2026-10-28

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

Self hosted tracker tinkerers often need a way to turn an IMDb list into something their media apps can use without repeating the same work. Watcharr turns one pasted public IMDb list into 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]

Option	What it does	Cost details
MDBList	Creates dynamic, auto-updating movie and show lists tailored to preferences. ^[2]	not published
Trakt	Trakt is free on web, iOS and Android. ^[3]	Free on web, iOS and Android. ^[4]
Traktarr	Uses Trakt to find shows and movies to add to Sonarr and Radarr. ^[5]	not published
Simkl	Tracks TV shows, anime, and movies. ^[6]	Free, Pro, and VIP membership options. ^[6]
Ryot	Tracks books, movies, TV shows, workouts, and daily habits. ^[7]	Free trial. ^[7]
Kometa	Customizes media library metadata, collections, and overlays. ^[8]	not published
Listrr	Creates personalized lists for shows and movies with many filters. ^[9]	not published
FlexGet	Manages and tracks series and movies directly from Trakt, TheTVDB or IMDb. ^[10]	not published
Watcharr	Splits one pasted public IMDb list into a link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1]	Commercial use is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. ^[1]

What self hosted tracker tinkerers need from IMDb list sync tools

People who run their own media tracker often want a clear path from a list of titles to the apps that manage those titles. The real job can be as narrow as taking one IMDb list, separating movies from shows, and giving each media app something it can read. Other setups may focus more on tracking what has been watched, building lists from several sources, or changing how an existing library is organized.

A useful choice depends on how much of that work needs to happen automatically. Tinkerers may care about whether a tool can use a public IMDb watchlist or list, whether it keeps the same list reference over time, and how it handles titles that cannot be matched. It also matters whether the tool requires an account, local installation, configuration, or another service before it can be used.

The limits are just as practical. A list can contain titles that need matching to a show database, while a tracker can have a wider purpose than feeding Radarr or Sonarr. Before choosing, check the exact list sources, refresh behavior, matching rules, installation needs, and licensing terms that matter to the setup.

MDBList for self hosted tracker tinkerers

MDBList is a tool for creating dynamic, auto-updating movie and show lists tailored to user preferences. ^[2] It syncs watchlist, ratings, and progress with Trakt without leaving the MDBList interface. ^[2]

Traktarr for self hosted tracker tinkerers

Traktarr uses Trakt to find shows and movies to add to Sonarr and Radarr. ^[5] Traktarr supports public lists. ^[5] Traktarr also supports private lists. ^[5]

Simkl for self hosted tracker tinkerers

Simkl offers Free, Pro, and VIP membership options. ^[6] Simkl lists 1,197,907 movies in its catalog. ^[6] Simkl tracks TV shows, anime, and movies. ^[6]

Watcharr for self hosted tracker tinkerers

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site. Watcharr runs as one Cloudflare app with a Cloudflare database, plus a GitHub job that reads IMDb. ^[1] 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]

Watcharr looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it cannot match, and tells you which ones it skipped. ^[1] The page shows the list's covers in a row, each opening TMDB's plot, genres, rating, backdrop and trailer. ^[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] If a read of the list fails, the links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. ^[1]

The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1] You can paste, copy and browse from any screen in the web app; the one-click sticker shows on bigger screens. ^[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] Signed-in users can combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link for the whole household, and a title that is on two lists is added only once. ^[1] Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence; older versions remain under MIT. ^[1] Commercial use is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. ^[1]

Kometa for self hosted tracker tinkerers

Kometa can create collections based on streaming services. ^[8] Kometa integrates with Sonarr and Radarr to automate library growth. ^[8] Kometa can create collections and overlays using TMDb and IMDb. ^[8]

Frequently asked questions

Can Watcharr turn any public IMDb list into Radarr and Sonarr links?

Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] You paste one list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] The links come from the IMDb list's id, so the same list always gives the same two links. ^[1]

Does Watcharr need an account or anything to install?

The hosted version of Watcharr needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1] You can paste, copy and browse from any screen in the web app, and the one-click sticker shows on bigger screens. ^[1] A bookmark you click inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. ^[1]

How often does Watcharr check the IMDb list?

Each Watcharr link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. ^[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] If a read fails, the links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. ^[1]

Can several IMDb lists be combined into one Watcharr link?

Signed-in users can combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link for the whole household. ^[1] A title that appears on two lists is added only once. ^[1] The combined link still serves the movie half to Radarr and the show half to Sonarr, matching how the site splits a single list. ^[1]

What should self hosted tracker tinkerers check before choosing?

Check whether the tool accepts the exact IMDb list type needed, how it handles unmatched shows, and how often it refreshes its data. For Watcharr, public IMDb watchlists and lists are accepted, unmatched shows are skipped and named, and signed-in lists are re-read about every 15 minutes. ^[1] ^[1] ^[1] Also check installation, account requirements, and licensing before adding the tool to a self hosted setup.

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

Try Watcharr