Cantinarr vs Searcharr in 2026
Cantinarr and Searcharr compared for people who run Plex with Radarr or Sonarr, and how Askarr fits.
VLClean is published by the makers of Askarr and Watcharr, which are compared here alongside other tools.
Cantinarr's page says it manages Radarr, Sonarr, Chaptarr, Lidarr and download clients, and can run on a server or NAS. Searcharr adds movies and series through Telegram, and its pages say Docker is the suggested way to run it. Askarr is a hosted website where you request a title and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. No price is stated for Cantinarr or Searcharr, while Askarr has three published plans.
| Option | Price | Works with | What you can do | Also stated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cantinarr [1] | not published | Radarr, Sonarr, Chaptarr, Lidarr, and download clients [1]; runs on a server or NAS [1] | request something, follow its progress, and get notified when it is ready [1] | request ebooks, audiobooks, or both [1]; optional request queue, global or per person [1]; household requests and admin controls [1] |
| Searcharr [2] | not published | Telegram messaging app [2] | add movies to Radarr and series to Sonarr via Telegram [2] | Docker is the suggested method [2]; Python 3.8.3+ from source [2]; admin access by starting a chat with the admin password [2] |
| Askarr Free [3] | $0 [3] | 10 requests a month [3] | Your existing Radarr and Sonarr [3] | Request history with live status [3] |
| Askarr Plus [3] | $3.99 a month [3] | 50 requests a month [3] | Your existing Radarr and Sonarr [3] | Request history with live status [3] |
| Askarr Pro [3] | $6.99 a month [3] | No monthly limit [3] | Your existing Radarr and Sonarr [3] | Request history with live status [3] |
The short answer
Cantinarr and Searcharr compared for people who run Plex with Radarr or Sonarr, and how Askarr fits. Cantinarr manages Radarr, Sonarr, Chaptarr, Lidarr, and download clients. [1] It lets users manage media services and investigate stuck downloads from a phone or browser. [1] Searcharr's pages say Docker is the suggested method to run the tool. [2] Askarr is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. [3]
If you run several media apps and want to follow downloads, Cantinarr's pages say it manages those apps and investigates stuck downloads. [1] [1] If you want a request page you open in a browser, Askarr says you request a title on its site and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [3] The facts give no price for either rival, while Askarr states its three plans.
What Cantinarr, Searcharr is built for
Cantinarr manages Radarr, Sonarr, Chaptarr, Lidarr, and download clients. [1] It can be run on a server or NAS. [1] From a phone or browser, users manage media services and investigate stuck downloads. [1]
Searcharr's pages say Docker is the suggested method to run it, rather than stating that it is the only method. [2] When run in Docker, its data folder, where settings and data live, maps to a place inside the container. [2] Searcharr lets administrators start a chat with the admin password to get administrator access. [2]
The table lists more of what the two pages state, such as a global or per-person request queue and book and music services for Cantinarr. Neither set of facts gives a price. Each tool covers a different part of the work, so which one helps depends on how the library is run.
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. [3]
You search for a movie or show on the Askarr site and request it, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [3] If you already have a link, you can paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find the title. [3] Each friend who signs up through your link adds 10 requests a month to your limit. [3]
Askarr says it never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [3] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [3] You can see your request history with live status. [3] You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data before signing in. [3]
Pricing and fees
Neither the Cantinarr nor the Searcharr facts state a price or a paid plan, so what each costs is not published. Check its own pages for hosting cost before planning around a figure.
Askarr has three plans. [3] [3] [3] The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [3] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [3] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [3] The Pro plan has no monthly request limit. [3]
No card fee or other charge from a payment service is stated for any of the tools, so that part is not published.
Setting it up with your server
Cantinarr's page says it manages Radarr, Sonarr, Chaptarr, Lidarr, and download clients, and can be run on a server or NAS. [1] [1] Its facts say nothing more about the steps for Plex, so check its own pages.
Searcharr's pages say Docker is the suggested way to run it. [2] Running in Docker means the data folder, where settings and data live, is mapped to a place inside the container. [2] Administrators use a separate password to gain admin access. [2]
For Askarr, nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [3] That is a list Radarr and Sonarr read your requests from, and you add it once. [3] A bookmark you run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. [3] The claims for Askarr do not mention Plex directly, so check how your library fits.
Things to check before you choose
Start with where the tool runs. Cantinarr can run on a server or NAS. [1] Searcharr recommends Docker. [2] Askarr is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. [3] Ask which setup you can maintain.
Ask who makes requests and through which route. Cantinarr lets users manage media services from a phone or browser. [1] Searcharr lets users add movies to Radarr and series to Sonarr through Telegram. [2] Askarr lets users request a movie or show on its site. [3] Check Cantinarr's and Searcharr's own pages for current prices and any costs of running them, since those details are not stated in the available facts. Ask whether a demo exists before you commit; Askarr offers one. [3]
How to choose
If you want one place to manage Radarr, Sonarr, Chaptarr, Lidarr, and download clients, Cantinarr's page says it does that. [1] If you want to manage media services and check stuck downloads from a phone or browser, its pages say it supports that. [1]
Searcharr's pages say Docker is the suggested method for running it. [2] Administrators can start a chat with the admin password to get administrator access. [2]
If you want nothing installed and a request page you open in a browser, Askarr's claims say you only add a list in Radarr and Sonarr. [3] If you want to see when a title was added and downloaded, its claims cover that. [3] If you want no monthly request limit, Pro has none and costs $6.99 a month. [3] [3]
Frequently asked questions
Is Cantinarr free?
The facts for Cantinarr give no price and no paid plan, so what it costs to run is not published. Its page says it manages Radarr, Sonarr, Chaptarr, Lidarr, and download clients, [1] and it can be run on a server or NAS. [1] Check its own page for any hosting or running cost before you plan around a total figure.
What does Searcharr need to run?
Searcharr's page says Docker is the suggested method to run it. [2] When run in Docker, its data folder, where settings and data live, is mapped to a place inside the container. [2] The page also describes a separate password for administrator access. [2] Check its page for any other requirements before you set it up.
Can Cantinarr work from a phone?
Yes. Its page says users can manage media services and investigate stuck downloads from a phone or browser. [1] Its page says it manages Radarr, Sonarr, Chaptarr, Lidarr, and download clients. [1]
How does Searcharr handle administrator access?
Searcharr lets administrators start a chat with the admin password to get administrator access. [2] The page's facts give no price, so check its own page for that. The administrator password is set in Searcharr's settings. [2]
How does Askarr add requests to Radarr or Sonarr?
You add Askarr once as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr, and they read your requests from it. [3] On the Askarr site you request a movie or show, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [3] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr. [3] A webhook reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [3]
The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [3]
Try AskarrSources
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