VLClean Plain comparisons of self-hosted media tools

Approve or reject family media requests for Jellyfin hosters in 2026

Learn how Jellyfin hosters can review, approve, and reject family media requests with practical steps and tool options.

By VLClean ยท

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

Jellyfin hosters can manage family media requests by preparing a review workflow, choosing a request method, and checking each title before it is added to the library.

OptionRequest methodCost details
AskarrRequest a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [1]The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1]
Request formPeople submit movie or show titles through the chosen form.not published
Shared request listPeople add movie or show ideas to the chosen shared list.not published

What you need before you start

Make sure the Jellyfin server already has the movies and shows that family members can watch, and decide which people in the household should be able to send requests.

Prepare the titles or types of content that are allowed, so people know what kinds of requests fit the server. Keep the request rules simple, such as whether family members can ask for any title or only certain types of movies and shows.

Radarr and Sonarr are free helper programs that many Jellyfin owners run to find and add movies (Radarr) and shows (Sonarr) to the library. Have them ready if they are part of the way requested titles are added to the library. Decide who will review requests before anything is added.

Choose where family members will send requests. The choice can be a request tool, a form, or another method that gives viewers a clear place to submit titles.

Step by step

  1. Pick one place where family members will send requests, such as a request website or a shared message thread, and tell everyone to use only that place.
  1. Write down who looks at each request and whether a title needs approval before it is added to the library.
  1. Write a short note for family that says who can request, what kinds of titles are accepted, and how they will hear that a title was added or rejected.
  1. Send the note and the request location to the family members you want to allow, with two lines on how to search for a title and how to submit it.
  1. Look through new requests on a regular day each week. Approve the ones you want by sending them on to Radarr or Sonarr, and reject the ones you do not by marking them declined so the person who asked knows the answer.
  1. Ask a few family members after the first week what confused them, and edit your note to fix those points.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is made by the team that publishes this site. Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] A movie or show can be requested on Askarr, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [1]

Askarr is added to Radarr and Sonarr one time as an import list, and they then read requests from it. [1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1]

The Askarr site shows when a title was added and downloaded through a webhook from Radarr and Sonarr. [1] A TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link can also be pasted to find a title. [1]

Askarr's plans include a request history with live status, which the source gives without naming a plan, so check the plan page for which ones include it. [1] The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [1]

No other tool is named here because no source facts about other tools were provided. Before choosing a tool, check how it handles title searches, approvals, updates, and the way requests move into the library workflow.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid sharing a request method without explaining the rules. Family members need to know what types of titles can be requested and who decides what gets added.

Avoid choosing a tool without checking how it fits the current way movies and shows are added to the Jellyfin library. The request process should be clear for both the people sending titles and the person managing the server.

Avoid forgetting to review requests after setup. A request list can become harder to manage if old or unwanted requests are left without attention.

Avoid skipping account and privacy checks. Review what information a tool asks for and what access it uses before sharing it with other people.

Frequently asked questions

How can Jellyfin hosters let family request movies and shows?

A Jellyfin hoster can choose a request method, decide who can submit titles, and explain what happens after a request is sent. The important parts are giving family members a clear place to request movies and shows and keeping the review process easy to follow.

Can a request tool work with Radarr and Sonarr for Jellyfin?

Check how each request tool handles Radarr and Sonarr before choosing one. Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] Askarr is added to Radarr and Sonarr one time as an import list, and they read requests from it. [1]

Does Askarr require changes to the Jellyfin server?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] Nothing is installed; Askarr is added as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [1]

How does family find movies and shows to request with Askarr?

Family members can request a movie or show on Askarr, and the owner's own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [1] A TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link can also be pasted to find the title. [1]

What should be checked before choosing a request tool for Jellyfin?

Check how a tool handles requests, title searches, updates, and the process for adding movies and shows. Askarr's plans include a request history with live status, which the source gives without naming a plan, so check the plan page for which ones include it. [1] Compare those details with the way the Jellyfin server is managed before choosing a request method.

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1]

Try Askarr

Sources

  1. Askarr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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