How to sync movie ratings and watchlists across tracking tools for cinephiles in 2026

Steps for cinephiles who want to connect movie ratings and watchlists across tracking tools with a clear workflow.

By VLClean · 2026-11-05

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

Cinephiles can sync movie ratings and watchlists by choosing a main list, deciding which tools should read it, and checking how titles move between tools.

Option	How it syncs	Cost details
Watcharr	Paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1]	not published
Manual copy	Copy ratings and titles between tracking tools by hand.	not published
Shared list	Use a shared list as the place where titles and ratings are collected.	not published

What you need before you start

Decide which tools hold the movie ratings and watchlists that matter, and choose a main list so every change has a clear starting place.

Set the scope of what moves between tools, such as whether a rating, watched date, rank, or note should travel with a title.

Have ready the places where titles are tracked, and check how each tool handles titles that do not match between lists.

Decide who can change the list and who only views it. Pick when the sync should be checked and what should happen when a title cannot be matched.

Step by step

Pick a main list and put new ratings and titles there first, so changes have a clear source.

Choose the tools that should read the list and check the timing rules each tool uses before relying on the updates.

Connect the list to each tool using the method that tool provides, and review what access is requested before allowing the connection.

Use a list link that stays tied to the same list when possible. Watcharr builds links from the IMDb list's id, so the same list always gives the same two links. ^[1]

Run the sync and check which titles moved correctly and which titles need attention. Watcharr looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it cannot match, and tells you which ones it skipped. ^[1]

Check the list again on a regular schedule and review changes that do not look right. If a read of the list fails, Watcharr keeps serving the last list that loaded correctly. ^[1]

Update the rules for the sync when the workflow changes, so everyone using the lists knows which place is the source.

Tools that can do it

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site.

Watcharr lets cinephiles paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. ^[1]

A bookmark clicked inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list for you, using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. ^[1] Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1]

Watcharr shows list covers in a row, and each cover opens TMDB details with a plot, genres, rating, backdrop and trailer. ^[1] If you sign in, Watcharr re-reads the list about every 15 minutes and warns when a list fails three reads in a row. ^[1]

Manual copying and shared lists are other ways to move information between tools, but no source facts about specific tools were provided here. Before choosing a tool, check how it handles title matching, list updates, and the connection between the places where ratings and watchlists are stored.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid syncing without deciding which list is the main source. If several places are changed without a rule, it can become harder to know which version is current.

Avoid assuming every title will move over. Watcharr leaves out shows it cannot match and tells you which ones it skipped. ^[1]

Avoid treating scheduled checks as immediate updates. Watcharr checks links on its listed schedule, and scheduled runs can be delayed. ^[1]

Avoid ignoring failed reads. Watcharr keeps the last list that loaded correctly available when a read fails. ^[1]

Avoid skipping access reviews. Check what a tool asks for before connecting it to other parts of a movie tracking setup.

Frequently asked questions

Can Watcharr sync movie ratings and watchlists across tracking tools?

Does Watcharr support IMDb watchlists and lists?

Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] The workflow starts with an IMDb list, so check whether other sources are supported by a tool before choosing a sync method.

How does Watcharr handle shows that 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] This means unmatched shows need review before they can continue through the workflow.

How often does Watcharr check an IMDb list?

Each Watcharr link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. ^[1] If you sign in, Watcharr re-reads the list about every 15 minutes and warns when a list fails three reads in a row. ^[1] Scheduled runs can be delayed.

What should be checked before choosing a movie tracking sync tool?

Check how a tool matches titles, handles list changes, and connects the places where ratings and watchlists are stored. Watcharr provides links for Radarr and Sonarr from an IMDb list. ^[1] Compare that workflow with the tools already used before choosing a method.

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

Try Watcharr

Sources

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