---
{"title": "Cantinarr vs Cinegration in 2026: Two Different Jobs", "description": "Cantinarr and Cinegration compared for people who manage a home media library: what each does, what each costs, and what to check first.", "url": "https://vlcleanplayer.com/cantinarr-vs-cinegration/", "date": "2026-10-17"}
---
Cantinarr and Cinegration compared for people who manage a home media library: what each does, what each costs, and what to check first.

Radarr and Sonarr are the apps that add movies and shows to a home media library, and this page compares two tools whose own pages describe different jobs. Cantinarr's pages describe one app that handles media requests and server management together. [^1] Askarr is a hosted website where you request a title and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [^2] Cinegration's own pages describe home automation connections, from climate control and energy management to security cameras, door locks and alarm systems. [^3] Askarr's claims cover the needs of a self-hoster with a request page: the Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month, Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month, and Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [^2] [^2] [^2] Cantinarr's sources say it can run on a server or NAS. [^1]

| Option | Price | What its sources say it is for | Also stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cantinarr | not published | Media requests and server management in one app [^1]; manages Radarr, Sonarr, Chaptarr, Lidarr and download clients [^1] | Browse movies, shows, books and music [^1]; optional request queue, global or per person [^1]; can run on a server or NAS [^1] |
| Cinegration | not published | Home automation that connects climate control and energy management to security cameras, door locks and alarm systems [^3] | Open Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm [^3] |
| Askarr Free [^2] | $0 [^2] | Hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr [^2] | Request history with live status [^2] |
| Askarr Plus [^2] | $3.99 a month [^2] | Hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr [^2] | Request history with live status [^2] |
| Askarr Pro [^2] | $6.99 a month [^2] | Hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr [^2] | Request history with live status [^2] |

## The short answer

Radarr and Sonarr are the apps that add movies and shows to a home media library, and this page compares two tools whose own pages describe different jobs. Cantinarr's pages describe one app that handles media requests and server management together. [^1] Askarr is a hosted website where you request a title and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [^2] Cinegration's own pages describe connections for home automation, from climate control and energy management to security cameras, door locks and alarm systems. [^3]

Askarr's claims cover the needs of a self-hoster with a request page: the Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month, Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month, and Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [^2] [^2] [^2] Cantinarr's sources say it can run on a server or NAS. [^1]

## What Cantinarr, Cinegration is built for

Cantinarr's pages say the app can be run on a server or NAS. [^1] Its pages also say you can choose to request the ebook, the audiobook, or both. [^1] Beyond those two points, the facts given here say nothing more about Cantinarr, so check its own pages for what it manages and how its requests are queued.

Cinegration's pages describe home automation connections, from climate control and energy management to security cameras, door locks and alarm systems. [^3] Its pages give business hours, open Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm. [^3] The sources for Cinegration make no claim about media requests, Radarr, Sonarr or Plex, so you will need to look at its own pages to see whether it has anything for a home media library.

## What Askarr is built for

Askarr is made by the team that publishes this site. It is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. [^2]

You search for a movie or show on the Askarr site and request it, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [^2] If you already have a link, you can paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find the title. [^2]

Askarr says it never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [^2] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [^2] You can see your request history with live status. [^2]

Each friend who signs up through your link adds 10 requests a month to your limit. [^2] You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing up. [^2]

## Pricing and fees

Cantinarr's facts give no price, so what it costs is not published here. [^1] Cinegration's facts give no price either, so that part is not published. [^3]

Askarr has three plans. [^2] [^2] [^2] The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [^2] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [^2] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [^2] The Pro plan has no monthly request limit. [^2]

No card fee or other charge from a payment service is stated for Askarr, so that part is not published here.

## Setting it up with your server

For Cantinarr, the facts say it can be run on a server or NAS. [^1] The facts say nothing more about connecting Plex, Radarr or Sonarr, so check its own pages for those steps. Cinegration's pages describe home automation connections [^3] and say nothing about a media server, so check how, if at all, it fits a media library.

For Askarr, nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [^2] That is a list Radarr and Sonarr read your requests from, and you add it once. [^2] A bookmark you run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. [^2] After that, you request a title on the site and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [^2]

## Things to check before you choose

Start with where you want the tool to run. Cantinarr's facts say it can run on a server or NAS. [^1] Askarr is a hosted website. [^2] Ask what content you want: Cantinarr's pages mention requesting the ebook, the audiobook, or both. [^1]

Ask how many people will make requests, and check each tool's request options before you rely on a limit. Ask whether you want notifications, and check each tool's pages for them. Ask whether a demo is available before you commit; Askarr offers a demo account. [^2]

## How to choose

If you want a media request app you can run, Cantinarr's sources say it can run on a server or NAS. [^1] If you want books as well as shows, its pages mention requesting the ebook, the audiobook, or both. [^1] For home automation connections, Cinegration's own pages describe those. [^3]

If you want nothing installed, Askarr's claims say you only add a list in Radarr and Sonarr. [^2] If you want to know what the site can reach, Askarr says it never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr. [^2] If you want no monthly request limit, Pro has none and costs $6.99 a month. [^2] [^2]

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does Askarr cost?

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [^2] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [^2] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [^2] No card fee or other charge from a payment service is stated for Askarr, so that part is not published here.

### Does Askarr need anything installed?

Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [^2] That is a list those apps read your requests from, and you add it once. [^2] A bookmark you run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. [^2]

### Can Askarr see your Radarr or Sonarr?

Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [^2] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [^2] Your own Radarr or Sonarr adds the title. [^2]

### Does Cantinarr cost anything?

The facts for Cantinarr give no price, so what it costs is not published here. [^1] Its pages describe what the app does rather than a hosting charge, so check its own pages for any cost before you plan around a total.

### Does Cinegration work with a media library?

Cinegration's own pages describe connections for home automation, from climate control and energy management to security cameras, door locks and alarm systems. [^3] Its pages give business hours, open Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm. [^3] Its sources say nothing about media requests, Radarr, Sonarr or Plex, so check its own pages for anything you need before you rely on it.

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [^2] - [Visit Askarr](/go/start)

## Sources

[^1]: Cantinarr, cantinarr.com, read 2026-10-13 (https://cantinarr.com)
[^2]: Askarr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start)
[^3]: Cinegration, cinegration.com, read 2026-10-15 (https://cinegration.com)