MDBList vs Simkl in 2026

Compare MDBList, Simkl, and Watcharr for a self-hosted media setup using lists, Plex, Radarr, or Sonarr.

By VLClean · 2026-10-14

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

MDBList's pages say it is for discovering, tracking, and building movie and show lists. ^[1] Simkl is a tool to check separately using its own current pages and features for the needs that matter to a self-hoster. Watcharr is made for turning one public IMDb list into links that Radarr and Sonarr can use. ^[2] Its homepage also lists curated lists such as Most Pirated Movies and Trakt Trending. ^[3] Watcharr's hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[2]

Option	Main use	Server connection	Other stated details
MDBList	Creates dynamic, auto-updating movie and show lists tailored to user preferences. ^[3]	The supplied facts do not state Plex, Radarr, or Sonarr connection steps.	Promotes building lists, tracking progress, discovery, personalization, and use across devices. ^[1]
Simkl	not published	not published	not published
Watcharr	Turns one public IMDb list into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link. ^[2]	Links act like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, checked every 15 minutes by Radarr and every 5 minutes by Sonarr. ^[2]	Hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[2]

The short answer

MDBList's pages describe finding, tracking, and building movie and show lists. ^[1] Check Simkl's own current pages for the features a self-hosted setup needs. Watcharr is made for turning a public IMDb watchlist or list into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link. ^[2]

Watcharr says the hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[2] A self-hoster choosing between these tools should match the workflow needed rather than assume that every list tool works the same way.

What MDBList, Simkl is built for

MDBList describes itself as a place to discover, track, and build entertainment lists. ^[1]

It also gives access to curated lists such as Most Pirated Movies, Trakt Trending, and IMDb Most Popular. ^[3] Its pages say users can import external lists from Trakt, IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and other sources. ^[3]

This page does not describe Simkl; check Simkl's own pages for what it does. Check Simkl's own pages for its list, tracking, pricing, and server connection details.

What Watcharr is built for

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site. Watcharr is a hosted web app where a self-hoster can paste, copy, and browse from any screen. ^[2]

Watcharr says a public IMDb list can become one link for Radarr with movies and one link for Sonarr with shows. ^[2] A bookmark clicked inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list using the access key that app already uses, without sending it anywhere else. ^[2]

Watcharr accepts public IMDb watchlists and lists from the desktop site, phone site, or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[2] The links are built from the IMDb list id, so the same list gives the same two links. ^[2]

Pricing and fees

MDBList offers a Supporter membership, with sign-up linked through Memberful, a service for running paid memberships, and Patreon, a platform for supporting creators. ^[1] MDBList's Supporter membership price is not published. Simkl's price is not published.

Watcharr's hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[2] Watcharr's price or fee is not published.

| Option | Price or fee | Setup cost stated | |---|---|---| | MDBList | Supporter membership is offered; price not published ^[1] | not published | | Simkl | not published | not published | | Watcharr | not published ^[2] | no installation needed for hosted version ^[2] |

Setting it up with your server

MDBList's pages describe lists, tracking, discovery and imports but do not give Plex, Radarr or Sonarr connection steps. ^[3] Check MDBList's own pages for server connection steps.

Watcharr says you paste one public IMDb list and receive one Radarr link and one Sonarr link. ^[2] Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, with Radarr checking it every 15 minutes and Sonarr checking it every 5 minutes. ^[2]

Watcharr says a bookmark inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list using the access key that app already uses, without sending it anywhere else. ^[2] If a show cannot be matched, Watcharr leaves it out and tells you which ones it skipped. ^[2]

Things to check before you choose

Check which list sources matter for your library. MDBList says it supports external list imports from Trakt, IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and other sources. ^[3] Watcharr says it accepts public IMDb watchlists and lists. ^[2]

Ask whether the tool connects to the apps already running on your server and what setup it needs. Watcharr's claims describe Radarr and Sonarr links, while MDBList's pages do not describe those connections. ^[2] Check pricing, accounts, refresh timing, and supported services before choosing.

How to choose

If the goal is building movie and show lists, MDBList's pages describe finding, tracking, and building them. ^[1] If the goal is importing external lists, MDBList says it supports imports from sources including Trakt, IMDb, and Rotten Tomatoes. ^[3]

If the goal is turning a public IMDb list into Radarr and Sonarr links, Watcharr's claims describe that workflow. ^[2] If the goal is a hosted option without installation or an account, Watcharr's claims say the hosted version needs neither. ^[2]

Frequently asked questions

Is MDBList useful for self-hosted movie and show lists?

Its pages describe finding, tracking, and building lists and access to curated lists. ^[1] ^[3] Check its own pages for any server workflow needed.

Can Watcharr turn an IMDb list into Radarr or Sonarr links?

Watcharr says a public IMDb list can become one link for Radarr with movies and one link for Sonarr with shows. ^[2] The links are built from the IMDb list id, so the same list gives the same two links. ^[2]

Does Watcharr need installation for a self-hosted setup?

Watcharr says the hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[2] It also says a self-hoster can paste, copy, and browse from any screen in the web app. ^[2] Check whether a hosted web app suits how the self-hoster runs their server.

Does MDBList connect to Plex, Radarr, or Sonarr?

MDBList's pages describe list creation, tracking, discovery, and external list imports. ^[3] Plex, Radarr and Sonarr connection steps are not described here, so check MDBList's own pages.

How does Watcharr handle lists that do not match shows?

Watcharr says the list is matched to shows in TheTVDB database, through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it cannot match, and tells you which ones it skipped. ^[2] This lets a self-hoster check which items were not included before using the list.

Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence; older versions remain under MIT. ^[2]

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