VLClean Plain comparisons of self-hosted media tools

How to keep lists searchable for spreadsheet escapees in 2026

Keep movie and show lists easy to search with one naming pattern, then turn a public IMDb list into Radarr and Sonarr links with Watcharr.

By VLClean ยท

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

Keep one master list with movies and shows in separate groups, and use one naming pattern for every title. Watcharr can turn a public IMDb list into one link for movies and one link for shows. [1]

OptionWhat it doesSetup needed
WatcharrOne public IMDb list in, one Radarr link for movies and one Sonarr link for shows. [1]The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. [1]
Other list toolsnot publishednot published

What you need before you start

Gather every title you already track, from whatever file or app holds it now, and sort each one into movies or shows. Pick one master list that everyone in the household will check, and write down who can add to it.

Choose a naming pattern and use it for every entry, such as the title as it is written on IMDb followed by the year. A steady pattern makes search results match what people type.

Watcharr turns one public list into two links, one for movies and one for shows, so keep those two groups apart from the start. [1] Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list, including lists from the desktop site, the phone site and IMDb's other-language pages. [1] Make sure the list you plan to use is public on IMDb before you begin.

Step by step

  1. Put every title into the master list, with movies and shows in separate groups.
  2. Write the naming pattern at the top of the list and use it for every new entry.
  3. Check each title's spelling against IMDb so the list matches the way the site names it.
  4. Paste the public IMDb list into Watcharr. You get one link for Radarr with the movies and one link for Sonarr with the shows. [1]
  5. A bookmark you click inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list for you, using that app's access code without sending it anywhere else. [1] The bookmark button appears on bigger screens, and you can paste and copy from any screen. [1]
  6. Note that the links are built from the IMDb list's id, so the same list always gives the same two links. [1]
  7. Check the shows Watcharr skipped. Watcharr matches each show against online show databases, skips any it cannot match, and tells you which ones it skipped. [1]
  8. If you sign in, Watcharr re-reads your list about every 15 minutes and warns you when a list fails three reads in a row. [1]
  9. Review the master list once a week, fix any spelling that no longer matches the pattern, and move titles between groups as needed.

Tools that can do it

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site, VLClean.

Watcharr runs as one Cloudflare app with a Cloudflare database, plus an automated background task that reads IMDb. [1] The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. [1]

Signed-in users can combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link for the whole household, and a title that is on two lists is added only once. [1] If a read of the list fails, the links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. [1]

The page shows the list's covers in a row, and each cover opens TMDB's plot, genres, rating, backdrop and trailer. [1] Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence, and older versions remain under MIT. [1] Commercial use is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. [1]

Before choosing another list tool, check which list sources it accepts, how it sends titles to Radarr or Sonarr, and whether it can be added from inside those apps.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid keeping movies and shows in one undivided list. Watcharr gives a separate link for each group, so keep them apart from the start so each link carries the right group. [1]

Avoid skipping the spelling check. A title written differently in your master list may not match what you search for later.

Avoid ignoring warnings. If you sign in, Watcharr warns you when a list fails three reads in a row, so treat that warning as the cue to check the IMDb list. [1]

Avoid assuming a failed read empties the list. The links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. [1]

Avoid leaving skipped shows unchecked. Watcharr leaves out shows it can't match and tells you which ones it skipped, so read that list. [1]

Frequently asked questions

How can Watcharr help keep a movie and show list searchable?

Keep one master list, with movies and shows in separate groups and one naming pattern for every entry. A steady spelling makes each title easy to find when someone searches. Once the list is public on IMDb, Watcharr can turn it into one link for movies and one link for shows. [1] Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, and Radarr checks it every 15 minutes while Sonarr checks it every 5. [1]

Can Watcharr read a spreadsheet directly?

Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list, including lists from the desktop site, the phone site and IMDb's other-language pages. [1] If your titles sit in a spreadsheet, put them on a public IMDb list first, then paste that list into Watcharr. The facts on file do not describe spreadsheet input, so check any other input method on that tool's own page before relying on it.

Does Watcharr keep the same links when the list changes?

Watcharr builds the links from the IMDb list's id, so the same list always gives the same two links. [1] If you sign in, Watcharr re-reads your list about every 15 minutes, so changes to the list reach the links on that schedule. [1] If you need new titles right away, check the links after a change.

What does Watcharr do when a list cannot be read?

The links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. [1] If you sign in, Watcharr warns you when a list fails three reads in a row. [1] Treat that warning as a sign that the IMDb list needs a look, and check that it is still public on IMDb.

Does Watcharr need an account or installation for a household?

The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. [1] Signed-in users can combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link for the whole household, and a title that is on two lists is added only once. [1] Commercial use is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. [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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