VLClean Plain comparisons of self-hosted media tools

Notifiarr vs Ombi in 2026

Notifiarr monitors server health and sends alerts; Ombi fulfills media requests. See what each does, what it costs, and what to check first.

By VLClean ยท

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

Notifiarr's pages describe a service that monitors server health and services on a network, and sends notifications when a service goes down or becomes unreachable. [1] [1] Ombi's pages describe a request tool that integrates with Sonarr, Radarr, CouchPotato, SickRage, and more to automatically fulfill requests. [2] This page compares them with Askarr: what each does, what each costs, and what to check first.

Notifiarr's pages describe a service that monitors server health and the services on a network, and sends a notification when a service goes down or becomes unreachable. [1] [1] Ombi's pages describe a request tool that integrates with Sonarr, Radarr, CouchPotato, SickRage, and more to automatically fulfill requests. [2] Askarr is a hosted website where you search for a title and request it, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [3] [3]

| Option | Price | What it does | Also stated | |---|---|---|---| | Notifiarr | Not published | Monitors server health and services, and notifies when one goes down or becomes unreachable [1] [1] | Discord is the current platform, with 27,786 servers [1]; push, SMS, email, Slack, Telegram and Mattermost are roadmap items [1] | | Ombi | Not published | Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, and more, and fulfills media requests [2] [2] | Native mobile apps for iOS and Android [2]; optional approval system for admins [2] | | Askarr Free [3] | $0 [3] | A hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr [3] | 10 requests a month [3]; request history with live status [3] | | Askarr Plus [3] | $3.99 a month [3] | A hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr [3] | 50 requests a month [3]; request history with live status [3] | | Askarr Pro [3] | $6.99 a month [3] | A hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr [3] | No monthly request limit [3]; request history with live status [3] |

OptionPriceWhat it doesAlso stated
NotifiarrNot publishedMonitors server health and services, and notifies when one goes down or becomes unreachable [1] [1]Discord is the current platform, with 27,786 servers [1]; push, SMS, email, Slack, Telegram and Mattermost are roadmap items [1]; excessive use may add fees or restrict capacity [1]
OmbiNot publishedWorks on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, and more, and fulfills media requests [2] [2]Native mobile apps for iOS and Android [2]; optional approval system for admins [2]
Askarr Free [3]$0 [3]A hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr [3]10 requests a month [3]; request history with live status [3]
Askarr Plus [3]$3.99 a month [3]A hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr [3]50 requests a month [3]; request history with live status [3]
Askarr Pro [3]$6.99 a month [3]A hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr [3]No monthly request limit [3]; request history with live status [3]

The short answer

Radarr and Sonarr are the apps that add movies and shows to a home media library, and this page is for people who run them. Notifiarr's pages describe a service that monitors server health, memory, CPU, temperatures, SMART, IPMI and RAID status, and notifies users when a service on the network goes down or becomes unreachable. [1] [1] Ombi's pages describe a tool where users make media requests that Sonarr and Radarr fulfill automatically. [2] Askarr is a hosted website where you search for a title and request it, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [3]

Notifiarr's sources show it sending notifications through Discord, its current platform, with push, SMS and email planned. [1] [1] Ombi's sources show it working on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, and more, with native mobile apps for iOS and Android. [2] [2] With Askarr nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [3] On Askarr you can see your request history with live status. [3] You can also try a throwaway demo account. [3]

What Notifiarr, Ombi is built for

Notifiarr's pages describe a monitoring and notification service. It says it monitors system health, memory usage, CPU usage, temperatures, SMART status, IPMI status, iotop status, and RAID status. [1] It says it monitors services on the network and notifies users when they go down or become unreachable. [1] For alerts it says it integrates with Apprise, Authentik, Better Stack, Cronitor, and other applications. [1] Its pages list Discord as the current platform, with 27,786 servers, and list push, SMS, email, Slack, Telegram and Mattermost notifications as roadmap items. [1] [1]

Ombi's pages describe a media request tool. It says it works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, and more. [2] It says it integrates with Sonarr, Radarr, CouchPotato, SickRage, and more to automatically fulfill requests. [2] It says it has native mobile applications for iOS and Android for on-the-go request management. [2] Its pages also describe an optional approval system for admins to manage and control what content gets added to the server. [2] Beyond what is shown here, the sources give little detail, so check its own pages for anything else you need, such as how each is hosted.

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]

Pricing and fees

Notifiarr's pages do not publish a monthly price. They say all payments are final because they are for digital services. [1] They say users who pay by accident, forget to cancel, or pick the wrong option can contact the company, which will work with them. [1] They say excessive use may incur additional fees or have capacity restricted. [1] Under PIPEDA, an access request must be made in writing and carries a fee of $30.00. [1]

Ombi's pages do not publish a price, so what it costs to run is not stated there.

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 no monthly request limit. [3] [3] No card fee or other charge from a payment service is stated for Askarr, so that part is not published here.

Setting it up with your server

For Notifiarr, the facts say it monitors server health and the services on a network, and sends alerts through Discord and other applications. [1] [1] [1] The facts say nothing more about the steps, so check its own pages for how to connect it to your setup.

For Ombi, the facts say it works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, and more, and that it fulfills requests through Sonarr and Radarr. [2] [2] The facts say nothing more about the setup steps, so check its own pages for how to connect Plex, Radarr or Sonarr.

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] The claims for Askarr do not mention Plex or server monitoring, so check how your library and alerting fit.

Things to check before you choose

Start with what you want the tool to do. Notifiarr's facts cover monitoring and alerts but not media requests, so ask whether a monitoring tool or a request tool matches your need. Ombi's facts cover requests, and the facts say nothing about its hosting or cost, so check that before you rely on it.

Ask how many people will make requests. Askarr's Free plan allows 10 requests a month, and Plus allows 50. [3] [3]

Ask how you want alerts delivered, and check whether each tool supports the channel you use. Notifiarr's pages list Discord now and several channels on its roadmap. [1] [1] Ask whether a demo is available before you commit. Askarr offers a demo account. [3]

How to choose

If you want a tool that watches server health and sends an alert when a service goes down, Notifiarr's pages say it meets that. [1] [1] If you want alerts on Discord or other applications now, its pages list those. [1] [1] Check its own pages for the other channels you may want.

If you want a request tool that runs on Windows, macOS, Linux or Docker, Ombi's pages say it meets that. [2] If you want requests fulfilled through Sonarr and Radarr, its pages say it does that. [2] If admins want to approve what gets added, its pages list that option. [2]

If you want nothing installed, Askarr's claims say you only add a list in Radarr and Sonarr. [3] If you want to know what the site can reach, Askarr says it never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr. [3] If you want a request page with status, its claims cover that. [3] If you want to look first without signing up, Askarr has a demo account. [3]

Frequently asked questions

Is Notifiarr a media request tool?

Notifiarr's pages describe a monitoring and notification service, not a request tool. Its pages say it monitors server health and services and notifies users when a service goes down or becomes unreachable. [1] [1] If you want to make media requests, its pages do not cover that, so check its own pages for what it offers.

What does Ombi cost?

Ombi's pages do not publish a price, so what it costs to run is not stated there. Its pages say it works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, and more, and that it fulfills requests through Sonarr and Radarr. [2] [2] Check its own pages before you plan around a total cost.

How much does Askarr cost?

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 no monthly request limit. [3] [3] No card fee is stated for Askarr, so that part is not published.

Does Notifiarr charge extra fees?

Notifiarr's pages say all payments are final because they are for digital services. [1] They say excessive use may incur additional fees or have capacity restricted. [1] They also say users who pay by accident, forget to cancel, or pick the wrong option can contact the company, which will work with them. [1] No monthly price is published on those pages.

Does Askarr need anything installed?

Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [3] A bookmark run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. [3] The claims do not describe any other setup step, and Askarr says it never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr. [3]

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

Try Askarr

Sources

  1. Notifiarr, notifiarr.com, read 2026-10-09
  2. Ombi, ombi.io, read 2026-10-07
  3. Askarr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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