VLClean Plain comparisons of self-hosted media tools

How to install media request containers from a community app store for Unraid server owners in 2026

Learn how to prepare an Unraid server, choose a community app store option, install media request tools, and check how requests reach your media library.

By VLClean ยท

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

To install media request containers on Unraid, prepare the server, review the available community app store options, check each tool's requirements, and follow its installation instructions. Before choosing a container, confirm how it handles movie and show requests, what access it needs, and how requests reach your existing media library. Askarr is another option to consider because it is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1]

OptionRequest methodCost details
AskarrSearch for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [1]The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1]
Community app store containerCheck the selected application's listing and instructions for its request method and supported services.not published
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 Unraid server is running and that you can access its management page. Decide which media request tools you want to consider before changing the server. A community app store can provide a place to browse available applications, but check the instructions and requirements for each option before starting an installation.

Identify how movies and shows currently reach your media library. Radarr and Sonarr are programs used to manage adding movies and shows, respectively. 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.

Check the storage locations and network settings relevant to the application you choose. Read its requirements so you know what information, permissions, and existing services it needs. Keep a note of the current settings before making changes, so you can identify what changed if the application does not work as expected.

Decide who should be allowed to submit requests and what kinds of titles are acceptable. Prepare a short explanation for those people that describes where to send requests, whether approval is needed, and how they will know when a title has been added.

You can also consider a hosted request website instead of installing another container. Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] Nothing is installed when using Askarr. [1]

Step by step

  1. Open the Unraid management page. Confirm that the server is available and that you have permission to manage applications. Review the current services and settings before making changes.
  1. Find the community app store option. Open the application browsing area available on your Unraid server and look for the media request tool you want to evaluate. Read its description and installation notes. Do not assume that two tools with similar names have the same requirements or features.
  1. Check the requirements before installing. Review the application's storage, network, and access requirements. Confirm which existing programs it works with and whether those programs are already available on the server. If the instructions are unclear, pause and find out what the application needs before proceeding.
  1. Review the available settings. Read each setting before changing it. Check where the application will keep its files, which network connections it uses, and which existing services it must communicate with. Use the application's documented values rather than guessing. Keep a record of any settings that you change.
  1. Follow the application's installation instructions. Use the steps provided for the selected tool. Check that the required settings are complete before starting it. If installation reports an error, read the message and compare the settings with the documentation rather than repeatedly changing unrelated values.
  1. Open the application and check that it responds. Follow the tool's documented way to access it. Confirm that its main page loads and that the settings reflect the choices made during installation. A page that opens does not by itself confirm that requests will reach the media library.
  1. Connect the request process to the existing media workflow. Check how the chosen tool passes requests to the programs responsible for adding movies and shows. If you use Radarr and Sonarr, verify the documented steps for both where applicable. Confirm who approves requests and whether the tool reports progress back to the people who submitted them.
  1. Check the full request process. Follow the tool's documented method for submitting a request, then check whether the request appears in the expected place. Verify how the status is reported and what happens when a title is unavailable or needs review. Avoid inviting other people until the process is clear.
  1. Share simple instructions. Tell permitted users where to submit titles, what they can request, and how to check the status. Explain who decides whether a request is accepted. Review the process after people begin using it and update the instructions when something is unclear.

Tools that can do it

Askarr

Askarr is a hosted website made by the team that publishes this site, VLClean. It works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [1] Nothing is installed when using Askarr. [1]

Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1] You can paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find a title. [1] You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [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] Each friend who signs up through your link adds 10 requests a month to your limit. [1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1] Its project file marks its code as private. [1]

Other community app store options

A community app store listing is a starting point for evaluating a container, not a substitute for checking what it does. Review each candidate's published description, installation instructions, supported services, and access requirements. Check each other option's own page for its name, features, and how it handles requests before comparing it with Askarr.

A request form is another possible method. People submit movie or show titles through the chosen form. Its cost and connection to the media library depend on the specific form and any related services, so check those details before choosing it.

A shared request list is also an option to consider. People add movie or show ideas to the chosen shared list. Check who can edit the list, how requests are reviewed, and how accepted titles reach the existing media workflow.

Before choosing a tool, check how it handles title searches, approvals, updates, and the way requests move into the library workflow. For a container, also confirm what it needs from the Unraid server and which services it communicates with.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid installing a container before reading its requirements. A tool's listing may not answer every question about storage, network access, or the programs it needs. Review its instructions and confirm that the existing server setup meets those requirements before making changes.

Avoid assuming that installing a request tool completes the entire request process. Check how a submitted title moves from the request page to the programs that manage adding movies and shows. Then check whether the status is reported back to the requester.

Avoid changing several unrelated settings at once when something does not work. Read the error message, compare the current values with the tool's instructions, and keep track of each change. This makes it easier to identify the setting that needs attention.

Avoid sharing a request page without explaining the rules. Friends and family need to know which titles they can request, who reviews them, and how they can check progress. Keep the instructions short and clear.

Avoid skipping access and privacy checks. Review what information the tool requests, which services it communicates with, and what access is needed before allowing other people to use it. Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1]

Avoid treating all options as interchangeable. Check the actual documentation for the tool being considered, including its costs, supported services, request limits, and status reporting. Where a detail is not published, confirm it before relying on that feature.

Things to check before you choose

Check whether the selected option is a container installed on Unraid or a hosted website. Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] Nothing is installed when using Askarr. [1]

Check how users search for titles, whether requests need approval, and how they learn that a title has been added. Askarr supports title lookup by pasting a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link. [1] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1]

Check the published price and request allowance for the plan you would use. 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] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1] Check the plan details to confirm which plan includes the history you need.

Finally, confirm how the tool fits the way the Unraid server is managed today. Choose an option only after its installation requirements, access needs, request workflow, and ongoing costs are clear.

Frequently asked questions

How can Unraid server owners install media request containers?

Open the Unraid management page, find the community app store listing for the chosen tool, and read its requirements before installing it. Follow the application's instructions, review its storage and network settings, and confirm that it starts successfully. Then check how requests reach the programs that manage adding movies and shows. Verify the complete request process before sharing it with other people.

What should be checked before installing a media request container on Unraid?

Check the application's documented requirements, including the existing services it uses, the settings it needs, and the way it handles requests. Confirm that the server is ready for those requirements and that you understand the installation steps. Also check how users submit titles, who reviews requests, how status updates work, and what information or access the tool requires.

Can Askarr be used without installing a container on Unraid?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] Nothing is installed when using Askarr. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [1] This provides a request option without installing Askarr as a container on the Unraid server.

How do movie and show requests reach Radarr and Sonarr with Askarr?

You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [1] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1]

Does Askarr require Radarr or Sonarr API keys?

Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1] To understand another request tool's access requirements, read its documentation and check which services it communicates with before choosing it. Do not assume that a different tool uses the same approach as Askarr.

How much does Askarr cost for media requests?

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] Each friend who signs up through your link adds 10 requests a month to your limit. [1] Review the current plan details before choosing an allowance.

How can users find titles to request with Askarr?

You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [1] You can paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find the title. [1] You can also try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [1] The demo lets you review the request experience before deciding how to share it.

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)

Related comparisons