Best media request managers for Plex sharing friends in 2026

Q: How does Askarr show request progress?

Askarr's plans include request history with live status. Radarr and Sonarr tell the site when a title is added and downloaded. This gives the owner and friends a way to check the progress of a request. The exact request allowance depends on the selected Askarr plan.

Compare media request managers for Plex sharing friends, including website requests, chat tools, access controls, request status, and pricing.

By VLClean · 2026-10-29

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

Plex server owners sharing with friends can compare request tools by how friends submit titles, how access is controlled, and how request progress is shown. Overseerr is a request tool that works with Jellyfin, Plex, or Emby servers. ^[1] Jellyseerr is a free application for managing requests for a media library. ^[2] Ombi has native mobile apps for iOS and Android. ^[3] Ombi also has an optional approval system for admins. ^[3] Doplarr is an *arr request bot for Discord. ^[4] Requestrr lets users request content through Discord using slash commands and buttons. ^[5] Askarr provides website requests that your existing Radarr or Sonarr processes. ^[6] Askarr's plans include request history with live status. ^[6]

Option	Request approach	Access or workflow details	Cost details
Overseerr	Free request management and media discovery for Jellyfin, Plex, or Emby servers. ^[1]	Configurable limits for movie and TV season requests. ^[1]	Own fee: not published here; card fee: not published.
Jellyseerr	Free application for media library requests. ^[2]	Granular permissions and support for Sonarr and Radarr. ^[2] ^[2]	Own fee: free; card fee: not published.
Ombi	Request management with native iOS and Android mobile applications. ^[3]	Optional administrator approval system. ^[3]	Own fee: not published here; card fee: not published.
Doplarr	An *arr request bot for Discord. ^[4]	Repository archived on June 15, 2026, and read-only. ^[4]	Own fee: not published here; card fee: not published.
Requestrr	Requests through Discord slash commands and buttons. ^[5]	Current platform is Discord only. ^[5]	Own fee: not published here; card fee: not published.
Notifiarr	Monitors services on a network and notifies users when they go down or become unreachable. ^[7]	Lists integrations including Apprise, Authentik, Better Stack, and Cronitor. ^[7]	Own fee: not published here; card fee: not published.
nzb360	Android app for managing common home lab services. ^[8] ^[8]	Supports management of unlimited servers. ^[8]	Own fee: not published here; card fee: not published.
Seerr	Free request management and media discovery tool. ^[9]	Granular permissions and support for 25 or more languages. ^[9] ^[9]	Own fee: free; card fee: not published.
Oscarr	Provides a request interface for movies and shows without exposing the *arr admin panels. ^[10]	Offers quality selection and encryption for stored service credentials. ^[10] ^[10]	Own fee: not published here; card fee: not published.
Cantinarr	Media requests and server management in one app. ^[11]	Supports household requests and admin controls. ^[11]	Own fee: not published here; card fee: not published.
Cinegration		Cinegration connects climate control and energy management to security cameras, door locks, and alarm systems. ^[12]	Own fee: not published here; card fee: not published.
Searcharr	Allows users to add movies to Radarr and series to Sonarr through Telegram. ^[13]	Provides a ready-made setup file for Docker. ^[13]	Own fee: not published here; card fee: not published.
Askarr	Website requests for movies and shows, processed by the owner's Radarr or Sonarr. ^[6]	Request history with live status and a hosted setup using existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[6] ^[6]	Own fee: $0 for 10 requests a month, $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month, or $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. ^[6] ^[6] ^[6] Card fee: not published.

What Plex sharing friends need from media request managers

Plex server owners who share a library with friends often need a clear way to collect movie and show requests without managing every request through private messages. Friends need to identify the title they want, while the server owner needs to understand what has been requested and what happens next.

The choice depends on how friends prefer to communicate. A website lets people search for titles and submit requests through a browser. A chat-based tool may suit a group that already uses Discord. Mobile access can matter when the owner wants to review requests away from a computer, while approval controls can help decide which requests proceed.

Request status is another consideration. A request list is more useful when it shows whether a title has been added and downloaded. Owners should also check whether a tool works with their existing Radarr and Sonarr arrangement, how access is controlled, and whether request limits apply.

Overseerr for Plex sharing friends

Seerr is a free request management and media discovery tool that works with Jellyfin, Plex, or Emby servers. ^[1] It supports request limits that restrict how many movies or TV seasons a user can request over a configurable time period. ^[1]

Seerr also supports notification services including email, Discord, Pushbullet, Pushover, Slack, and Telegram. ^[1]

Before choosing Overseerr, check how its current version handles the permissions and request workflow needed for the server. Compare its request controls with the owner's existing setup and confirm the current pricing and maintenance requirements from the project's own information.

Jellyseerr for Plex sharing friends

Seerr is a free application for managing requests for a media library. ^[2] It has a granular permission system. ^[2] Seerr currently supports Sonarr and Radarr. ^[2]

Those details make permissions and compatibility useful points to compare when friends share access to a media library. Owners can consider which people should be allowed to request titles and whether the existing Radarr and Sonarr arrangement matches the application's supported services.

Check the current installation instructions, access controls, and request settings before deciding. Also confirm which features are available in the version being considered rather than assuming that every request workflow is configured the same way.

Ombi for Plex sharing friends

Ombi offers native mobile applications for iOS and Android for request management. ^[3] It has an optional approval system that lets administrators manage and control what content gets added to a server. ^[3] Ombi also lists support for Sonarr, Radarr, CouchPotato, SickRage, and other services for fulfilling requests. ^[3]

For a Plex owner sharing with friends, mobile access may be useful for reviewing requests while away from the main computer. The approval system is relevant when the owner wants to review a request before allowing it to proceed.

Check the current app requirements, supported services, and approval options against the existing media setup. Pricing and any limits that apply to the intended use should also be verified before choosing.

Doplarr for Plex sharing friends

Doplarr is an *arr request bot for Discord. ^[4] Its repository was archived by its owner on June 15, 2026, and is now read-only. ^[4]

A Discord-based request approach may be worth considering when friends already use that chat service to communicate. The archived status is an important maintenance consideration for anyone deciding whether to adopt it for an ongoing server setup.

Check whether the available version supports the services and request flow already in use, and review the project's current instructions before relying on it.

Requestrr for Plex sharing friends

Requestrr lets users request content through Discord using slash commands and buttons. ^[5] Its current platform is Discord only. ^[5] Owners can change the port the application listens on when configuring it. ^[5]

This approach can be considered when friends want to make requests through Discord rather than a dedicated request website. The Discord-only platform is a key point to weigh if some friends prefer using a browser or mobile interface outside that chat service. ^[5]

Before choosing Requestrr, check the current setup instructions, service compatibility, and the way access to the request bot will be managed. Confirm whether its available request controls match the rules for the shared library.

Askarr for Plex sharing friends

Askarr is made by the team that publishes this site, VLClean. Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[6] Friends can search for a movie or show on the Askarr website and request it, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[6]

The owner adds Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as a list those apps check, and they read requests from it. ^[6] Askarr never connects to Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[6] Radarr and Sonarr tell the site when a title is added and downloaded. ^[6]

Friends can paste a TMDB, IMDb, or TVDB link to find a title. ^[6] Askarr's plans include request history with live status. ^[6] A throwaway demo account with sample data lets people try the dashboard without signing in. ^[6]

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[6] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. ^[6] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. ^[6] Each friend who signs up through your link adds 10 requests a month to your limit. ^[6]

Askarr is an option for owners who want requests to start on a website while keeping their existing Radarr and Sonarr workflow. ^[6] Check which request allowance matches the number of requests expected and whether the website-based approach suits everyone who shares the library.

Matching the tool to the job

For website-based movie and show requests, Askarr lets friends search for a title and submit a request that the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds. ^[6] Its request history shows live status, and Radarr and Sonarr report back when a title has been added and downloaded. ^[6] ^[6]

For owners who want to consider request limits over a configurable period, Overseerr provides that type of control for movies and TV seasons. ^[1] For permissions, Jellyseerr has a granular permission system. ^[2] For owners who want mobile request apps and an optional approval process, Ombi provides mobile applications for iOS and Android and an approval system for administrators. ^[3] ^[3]

For requests through Discord, Doplarr is an *arr request bot for that service, while Requestrr supports slash commands and buttons. ^[4] ^[5] Doplarr's archived repository is also relevant when considering ongoing maintenance. ^[4]

No single workflow suits every shared server. The useful comparison is how friends submit requests, how much review the owner wants, which connected services are already in place, and how the tool reports progress. Owners should compare the current documentation and pricing before settling on an option.

Questions to ask before you choose

Before choosing a media request manager, consider how friends will submit requests and how much control the owner needs. Check whether the tool matches the existing Plex sharing arrangement and whether its permissions allow the owner to manage who can request content.

Ask whether requests happen through a website, a chat service, or a mobile app. Check whether the tool shows request progress and what notifications are supported. If Radarr and Sonarr already manage the media workflow, confirm how the request manager works with those apps and what information or access it requires.

Request limits and costs deserve a separate check. Compare the monthly allowance with expected use, and look for any conditions that apply to paid plans. For a project that is maintained by its community, review the latest release and support information. For a hosted service, check the current plan details and what happens when the request allowance is reached.

Finally, consider how easily friends can find a title and whether the owner can review requests before they proceed. A straightforward request process matters only if its controls and limits also match the way the library is shared.

Frequently asked questions

Which media request manager should Plex sharing friends compare?

The main comparison points are how friends submit requests, how the owner manages permissions, and whether the tool shows request progress. Askarr provides website requests that the owner's existing Radarr or Sonarr processes. ^[6] Overseerr offers configurable request limits, while Ombi offers mobile request apps and an optional approval system. ^[1] ^[3] ^[3] The choice depends on the existing setup and preferred way to request titles.

Can Askarr work without installing another application?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[6] Nothing is installed for Askarr itself; the owner adds it to Radarr and Sonarr as a list those apps check, and they read requests from it. ^[6] The existing media workflow remains responsible for adding requested titles. ^[6] Check that Radarr or Sonarr is already part of the server's arrangement before choosing this approach.

How does Askarr show request progress?

Askarr's plans include request history with live status. ^[6] Radarr and Sonarr tell the site when a title is added and downloaded. ^[6] This gives the owner and friends a way to check the progress of a request. ^[6] The exact request allowance depends on the selected Askarr plan. ^[6] ^[6] ^[6]

Can Askarr keep its connection to Radarr and Sonarr separate?

Askarr never connects to Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[6] The owner adds Askarr as a list those apps check, and Radarr and Sonarr read the requests from it. ^[6] Radarr and Sonarr tell the site when a title is added and downloaded. ^[6] Owners should still review the setup instructions for their current Radarr and Sonarr arrangement before sharing access with friends.

How much does Askarr cost for a shared Plex library?

Askarr's Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[6] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. ^[6] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. ^[6] Each friend who signs up through the owner's referral link adds 10 requests a month to the limit. ^[6] Compare expected request volume with these allowances before choosing a plan.

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[6]

Try Askarr