VLClean Plain comparisons of self-hosted media tools

Jellyseerr vs Searcharr in 2026

Compare Jellyseerr, Searcharr, and Askarr for movie and show requests. Review supported features, setup steps, plan prices, and questions to check.

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

Jellyseerr is a free application for managing requests for your media library. [1] Searcharr lets users add movies to Radarr and series to Sonarr through Telegram. [2] Askarr is a hosted website where you request a movie or show, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [3] The right choice depends on whether you want a request page, Telegram messages, or a website that passes requests to your existing apps. Askarr has a free plan with 10 requests a month, a Plus plan with 50 requests a month for $3.99, and a Pro plan with no monthly request limit for $6.99 a month. [3] [3] [3]

OptionPriceRequest method or purposeSupported systems or connectionsOther stated details
JellyseerrFree [1]Request management for a media library [1]Not publishedGranular permission system [1]; watchlists and blocklists [1]; PostgreSQL and SQLite support [1]
SearcharrNot publishedAdd movies to Radarr and series to Sonarr through Telegram [2]Telegram bot, Radarr, and Sonarr settings [2]Docker is the suggested running method [2]; Docker Compose file provided [2]
Askarr Free$0 [3]10 requests a month [3]Your existing Radarr and Sonarr [3]Request history with live status [3]
Askarr Plus$3.99 a month [3]50 requests a month [3]Your existing Radarr and Sonarr [3]Request history with live status [3]
Askarr Pro$6.99 a month [3]Unlimited requests per month [3]Your existing Radarr and Sonarr [3]Request history with live status [3]

The short answer

Jellyseerr is a free application for managing requests for your media library. [1] Searcharr lets users add movies to Radarr and series to Sonarr through Telegram. [2] Askarr is a hosted website where you request a movie or show, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [3]

Jellyseerr's stated features include media watchlists, blocklists, and a granular permission system. [1] Searcharr's instructions describe configuring a Telegram bot and connecting it to Radarr and Sonarr. [2] Askarr works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr, without installing anything for Askarr itself. [3] [3]

The choice depends on the way requests should arrive and how much setup you want to handle. Check Jellyseerr if you want its stated media library support and request permissions, Searcharr if you want Telegram requests, and Askarr if you want a hosted website with request history and live status. [1] [1] [2] [3]

What Jellyseerr and Searcharr are built for

Jellyseerr's pages describe Seerr as a free application for managing requests for your media library. [1] Its listed features include watchlists and blocklists for media, along with a granular permission system. [1] [1] Seerr also supports PostgreSQL and SQLite databases. [1] These facts describe its supported features, but do not establish every setup requirement or the full range of available options.

Searcharr takes a different approach to requests. Its stated purpose is to let users add movies to Radarr and series to Sonarr through Telegram. [2] Its setup instructions identify a Telegram bot token and password, plus Radarr and Sonarr connection details and quality profile IDs, as settings to provide. [2] The instructions also describe authentication for users and a separate way to grant administrator access. [2] [2]

These facts point to different ways of handling requests. Jellyseerr describes media library requests and permissions, while Searcharr describes requests sent through Telegram. [1] [1] [2] Check the current documentation for any other features, operating requirements, and costs before choosing.

What Askarr is built for

Askarr is made by the team that publishes this site. It is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. [3]

You search for a movie or show on the Askarr site and request it, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [3] If you already have a link, you can paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find the title. [3]

Askarr says it never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [3] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [3] You can see your request history with live status. [3]

Each friend who signs up through your link adds 10 requests a month to your limit. [3] You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing up. [3]

Nothing is installed for Askarr itself; you add it as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [3] The project file marks Askarr's code as private. [3] These details help distinguish a hosted request website from a tool whose documented workflow centers on Telegram.

Pricing and fees

Jellyseerr's pages describe Seerr as free. [1] A separate hosting price is not published in the facts available here, so check any hosting and operating costs before comparing total costs.

The available Searcharr facts do not state a price or plan structure. Its setup instructions describe configuration requirements, but those details do not establish whether the software or any services needed to run it cost money. [2] Check the project's current information for any applicable costs.

Askarr has three plans. [3] [3] [3] The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [3] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [3] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [3] The Pro plan has no monthly request limit. [3]

No card fee or other payment service charge is stated for Askarr, so that part is not published here. Compare the stated plan prices separately from any hosting, service, or operating costs that apply to the other options.

Setting it up with your server

Jellyseerr's pages describe it as a free application for managing requests for your media library. [1] It also supports PostgreSQL and SQLite databases. [1] Its facts here do not explain the full installation process or every connection step, so check its documentation for the instructions that match your server.

Searcharr's setup instructions call for a Telegram bot password and token, along with Radarr and Sonarr connection details and quality profile IDs. [2] The instructions recommend Docker as the way to run it and provide a Docker Compose file. [2] They also describe requirements for the data and log folders. [2] [2] Check the current instructions before deciding whether that setup is suitable for your system.

For Askarr, nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [3] That is a list Radarr and Sonarr read your requests from, and you add it once. [3] A bookmark you run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. [3] After that, you request a title on the site and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [3] A webhook reports when the title was added and downloaded. [3] Check how your library connects to Radarr and Sonarr, since that step is not covered here.

Things to check before you choose

Start with the way people will send requests. Do you want a media library request page, requests through Telegram, or a hosted website where people search for titles? Jellyseerr describes media library request management, Searcharr describes Telegram requests, and Askarr describes website requests. [1] [2] [3]

Next, check the systems you already use. Jellyseerr's pages describe it as a free application for managing requests for your media library. [1] Searcharr's stated workflow uses Radarr and Sonarr. [2] Askarr works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. [3] Confirm any other library or server requirements in the relevant documentation.

Ask how requests are managed, what setup is needed, and what the total cost will be. Jellyseerr lists permissions, watchlists, and blocklists. [1] [1] Searcharr documents configuration for its bot and server connections. [2] Askarr offers request history with live status and a demo account that uses sample data. [3] [3] Check any feature that is essential to your setup rather than assuming it is available.

How to choose

If you want an application for managing requests for your media library, Jellyseerr's pages describe that. [1] If watchlists, blocklists, or granular permissions matter, those features are listed in its documentation. [1] [1] Its pages describe Seerr as free, although the available facts do not establish hosting costs. [1]

If you want people to request movies and shows through Telegram, Searcharr documents that workflow with Radarr and Sonarr. [2] Choose it only after checking its bot settings, server details, and running requirements against your own setup. [2] [2]

If you want a hosted website where requests are added by your own Radarr or Sonarr, Askarr supports that workflow through an import list. [3] [3] If seeing when titles are added and downloaded matters, Askarr reports that status through a webhook. [3] If you need to try the request page before signing up, its demo uses sample data. [3] The monthly request limit and price can help determine which Askarr plan meets your needs. [3] [3] [3]

Frequently asked questions

Is Jellyseerr free?

Jellyseerr's pages describe Seerr as a free application for managing requests for your media library. [1] The available facts do not publish a separate hosting price. Before choosing it, check how it will run on your system and whether any hosting or operating costs apply.

Can Searcharr send movie requests through Telegram?

Searcharr allows users to add movies to Radarr and series to Sonarr through Telegram. [2] Its setup instructions call for a Telegram bot token and password, along with Radarr and Sonarr connection details and quality profile IDs. [2] Check the current instructions to confirm the configuration needed for your system.

Does Jellyseerr work with Radarr and Sonarr?

Jellyseerr's pages describe Seerr as an application for managing requests for your media library. [1] Its pages also state that Seerr supports Sonarr and Radarr. [1] Check the current documentation for the connection steps and options that apply to your server.

How much does Askarr cost?

Askarr's Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [3] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [3] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [3] No card fee or other payment service charge is stated in the available Askarr claims, so that part is not published here.

Does Askarr need software installed on the server?

Nothing is installed for Askarr itself; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [3] You add the list once so those apps can read your requests. [3] A bookmark run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. [3]

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [3]

Try Askarr

Sources

  1. Jellyseerr, github.com/Fallenbagel/jellyseerr, read 2026-10-07
  2. Searcharr, github.com/toddrob99/searcharr, read 2026-10-22
  3. Askarr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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