VLClean Plain comparisons of self-hosted media tools

How to keep Plex watchlists in step with a media server in 2026

Learn how Plex watchlist users can keep IMDb lists aligned with Radarr and Sonarr, with practical steps and tools to consider.

By VLClean ยท

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

Keep the source list clear, decide how often changes should reach Radarr and Sonarr, and check how unmatched titles are handled. Watcharr can turn one public IMDb list into separate Radarr and Sonarr links, with each app checking its link on its own schedule. [1] [1]

OptionHow titles reach the media workflowCost details
WatcharrOne public IMDb list gives one Radarr link for movies and one Sonarr link for shows. [1]The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. [1]
Manual IMDb listTitles stay in the chosen IMDb list and are moved into the media workflow manually.not published
Shared household listTitles are collected in the chosen shared list and moved into the media workflow according to that service's process.not published

What you need before you start

Make sure the Plex server already has the movies and shows that viewers can watch, and decide which IMDb lists should control additions to the media library.

Choose the lists you want to keep aligned and make sure each one is public if the chosen tool requires a public list. Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. [1]

Have Radarr ready for movies and Sonarr ready for shows if those are part of the media workflow. Decide whether one list should feed both apps or whether different lists should be used for different parts of the library.

Decide what should happen when a title cannot be matched. Watcharr looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it cannot match, and tells you which ones it skipped. [1]

Keep the list source simple enough that everyone managing the Plex server knows which list is the one to change. If several people maintain lists, agree on who can add or remove titles and which list should be treated as the source.

Step by step

  1. Pick the IMDb list that should hold the titles you want to bring into the media server. Keep its purpose clear, such as movies to add to Radarr or shows to add to Sonarr.
  1. Check that the list is public and that its titles are visible from the IMDb site. Watcharr accepts public IMDb watchlists and lists from the desktop site, phone site and other-language pages. [1]
  1. Decide how the list should reach Radarr and Sonarr. With Watcharr, one public IMDb list produces one Radarr link containing the movies and one Sonarr link containing the shows. [1]
  1. Add the appropriate links to the media apps. Each Watcharr link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr checks it every 5 minutes. [1]
  1. If you use the Watcharr bookmark, click it inside Radarr or Sonarr to add the list. The bookmark uses that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. [1]
  1. Keep changing the IMDb list rather than maintaining a second copy of the same list inside the media workflow. Watcharr builds its links from the IMDb list id, so the same list always gives the same two links. [1]
  1. Check skipped shows after the list is processed. Watcharr tells you which shows it could not match, so those titles can be reviewed separately. [1]
  1. If you sign in to Watcharr, it re-reads the list about every 15 minutes and warns you when a list fails three reads in a row. [1]
  1. Keep an eye on failures when the list matters to the household. If a read fails, Watcharr continues serving the last list that loaded correctly. [1]
  1. If several IMDb lists are used for the household, signed-in Watcharr users can combine them into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link, with a title appearing on two lists added only once. [1]

Tools that can do it

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site. Watcharr turns one public IMDb list into one Radarr link for movies and one Sonarr link for shows. [1] Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so the media apps check the links on their own schedules. [1]

A manual IMDb list is another option. Keep the list as the place where titles are chosen, then check the media server yourself and add titles through the normal library workflow. This avoids depending on an additional list service, but the supplied facts do not specify an automatic update process for this option.

A shared household list can also be used as the place where people collect titles before someone moves them into the media workflow. The supplied facts do not identify a particular shared-list service or give its update schedule, so check how it exports or passes titles to Radarr and Sonarr before choosing one.

Watcharr also shows the list's covers in a row, with each cover opening TMDB's plot, genres, rating, backdrop and trailer. [1] The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. [1]

Watcharr runs as a Cloudflare app with a Cloudflare database and a GitHub job that reads IMDb. [1] Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence, while older versions remain under MIT. [1] Commercial use is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. [1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid changing several copies of the same list. Pick one source list and make that the place where titles are added or removed.

Avoid assuming every show will reach Sonarr. Watcharr leaves out shows that it cannot match to a TheTVDB id and tells you which ones were skipped. [1]

Avoid treating a list failure as proof that the source list has changed. If a read fails, Watcharr keeps serving the last list that loaded correctly. [1]

Avoid forgetting who can edit a public IMDb list. Anyone responsible for the media server should know which list is being used and what changes are expected there.

Avoid overlooking the licensing terms if self-hosting or using the product for a business. Watcharr's code is under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence, and commercial use is not licensed. [1] [1]

Avoid choosing a list method before checking how it handles failed reads, unmatched shows, multiple source lists, and changes made after the first setup.

Frequently asked questions

How can Plex watchlist users keep IMDb lists aligned with Radarr and Sonarr?

Choose the IMDb list that should control the titles, then connect that source to the media workflow. Watcharr turns one public IMDb list into a Radarr link for movies and a Sonarr link for shows. [1] Radarr checks its link every 15 minutes and Sonarr checks its link every 5 minutes. [1]

Can Watcharr use an IMDb watchlist with Plex?

Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. [1] One public list produces separate links for Radarr and Sonarr, with movies going to the Radarr link and shows going to the Sonarr link. [1] This lets the IMDb list remain the place where titles are chosen.

How often does Watcharr update a list for Radarr and Sonarr?

Each Watcharr link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server. [1] Radarr checks its link every 15 minutes and Sonarr checks its link every 5 minutes. [1] If a signed-in user enables list refreshing, Watcharr re-reads the IMDb list about every 15 minutes and warns after three failed reads in a row. [1]

What happens when Watcharr cannot match a show?

Watcharr looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB. [1] Shows that cannot be matched are left out, and Watcharr tells you which ones were skipped. [1] Check those skipped titles separately before assuming the media server received every show from the source list.

What should be checked before choosing a list tool for Plex?

Check whether the tool accepts the list source you use, how changes reach Radarr and Sonarr, how often those apps check for changes, and what happens when a title cannot be matched. For Watcharr, also check the self-hosting and licensing terms. Its code uses the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence, and commercial use is not licensed. [1] [1]

Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence; older versions remain under MIT. [1]

Try Watcharr

Sources

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

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