VLClean Plain comparisons of self-hosted media tools

How to see what has been requested already for Plex sharing friends in 2026

Learn how Plex server owners can see which movies and shows friends have already requested and track their status.

By VLClean ยท

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

Plex server owners can see past requests by keeping every request in one place, agreeing on what status each title shows, and checking the list on a regular day. Askarr is offered as a request tool that keeps a history with live status. [1]

OptionHow past requests are seenCost details
AskarrAskarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1] A status update shows when a title was added and downloaded. [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]
Request formPeople's submissions stay where the chosen form collects them.not published
Shared request listPeople's entries stay on the chosen shared list.not published

What you need before you start

Make sure requests go through a setup that keeps a record of each title. A request method that only forwards titles without saving them leaves no way to see what has already been asked, so pick a place that records each request before you share it.

Decide who should be able to view the request list. Friends and family who submit titles may want to know their request was received, while the person running the server may be the only one who needs the full list.

Decide what information matters for each request. The most useful record shows who asked, what title, and where the request stands, such as whether it was added to the library or downloaded.

Radarr and Sonarr are free helper programs that many Plex owners run to find and add movies (Radarr) and shows (Sonarr) to their library. They matter here because status updates on a request often come from them.

Keep the review process simple, so each title is checked in one place and its status stays readable for everyone who looks at it.

Step by step

  1. Pick one place where every request is recorded, such as a request website, a form, or a shared list. Have all friends and family submit only there so the list stays complete.
  1. Decide who can view that list. Tell viewers whether they see their own requests only or the whole list.
  1. Decide how a request's status is shown. Common statuses are received, added to the library, and downloaded. Choose which ones you will actually update so the list stays truthful.
  1. Check the list on a regular day each week. Look at new requests, update their status, and deal with any that need approval or removal.
  1. Send friends and family two or three lines on how to find the list and what each status means.
  1. After the first week, ask a few viewers what confused them about finding their request or reading its status, and fix your note and your setup to match.

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] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1] A status update shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1]

Friends search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr one time, and they then pick up your requests from it. [1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [1]

A title can also be found by pasting a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link. [1] The dashboard can be tried 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] [1]

No other tool is named here because no source facts about other tools were provided. Before choosing a tool, check how it keeps a history of past requests, how status updates reach it, and how the list stays in line with the library.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid relying on a method that does not keep a record of past requests, because then nothing shows what has already been asked. Pick a place that stores each request before you share it with viewers.

Avoid letting requests arrive in several places. A title can be asked twice without anyone noticing when friends submit through different forms and threads.

Avoid neglecting to update status. If a status stays at received after a title is added, viewers cannot tell whether their request was handled.

Avoid skipping account and privacy checks. Review what a tool asks for and what access it uses before letting friends and family use it.

Frequently asked questions

How can a Plex sharer see what has already been requested with Askarr?

Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1] The history is filled when friends search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [1] To see how the history looks before deciding, a throwaway demo account with sample data can be tried without signing in. [1]

Does Askarr show when a requested title was added or downloaded?

Yes. A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr one time, and they then pick up your requests from it. [1]

Which Askarr plan includes request history?

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

What can a Plex owner check before relying on Askarr for request status?

Check how a tool keeps a history of past requests, how status updates reach it, and how requests move into the library workflow. Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [1]

Do friends need to set up anything to submit requests through Askarr?

The owner adds Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr one time as an import list. [1] Friends then search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1]

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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