--- {"title": "Ombi vs Searcharr vs Askarr in 2026", "description": "Ombi and Searcharr compared with Askarr for people who run Plex with Radarr or Sonarr: what each does and what to check first.", "url": "https://vlcleanplayer.com/ombi-vs-searcharr/", "date": "2026-10-28"} --- Ombi and Searcharr compared with Askarr for people who run Plex with Radarr or Sonarr: what each does and what to check first. Ombi and Searcharr compared with Askarr for people who run Plex with Radarr or Sonarr. Ombi's pages describe an approval system for admins, mobile apps, and support for several operating systems. Searcharr's pages describe sign-in through a private bot message and setup needs. Askarr is a hosted site that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr, with plans that run from free at 10 requests a month and up to Pro with no monthly limit. | Option | Price | Request handling | Where it runs | Also stated | |---|---|---|---|---| | Ombi | Not published | Optional approval system for admins to manage and control what content gets added [^1] | Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, and more [^1] | Native mobile apps for iOS and Android [^1]; integrates with Sonarr, Radarr, CouchPotato, and more [^1] | | Searcharr | Not published | Lets users add movies to Radarr and series to Sonarr through Telegram [^2] | Docker is the suggested way to run it [^2] | Sign-in through a private /start message with a password [^2]; Python 3.8.3+ from source [^2] | | Askarr Free [^3] | $0 [^3] | 10 requests a month [^3] | Your existing Radarr and Sonarr [^3] | Request history with live status [^3] | | Askarr Plus [^3] | $3.99 a month [^3] | 50 requests a month [^3] | Your existing Radarr and Sonarr [^3] | Request history with live status [^3] | | Askarr Pro [^3] | $6.99 a month [^3] | No monthly limit [^3] | Your existing Radarr and Sonarr [^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. Ombi's pages say it has an optional approval system for admins and native mobile apps for iOS and Android. [^1] [^1] Searcharr's pages say you sign in by sending a private message to your bot with the /start command and a password. [^2] Askarr is a hosted website where you search for a title and request it, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [^3] Each tool starts from a different place. Ombi's pages say it works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Docker. [^1] Searcharr's pages say running it from source needs Python 3.8.3 or later. [^2] Askarr is a hosted website where nothing is installed. [^3] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [^3] A demo account is available to try before signing up. [^3] ## What Ombi and Searcharr are built for Ombi's pages say it works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, and more. [^1] Its pages describe an optional approval system for admins to manage and control what content gets added to a server. [^1] Its pages also say it has native mobile applications for iOS and Android. [^1] Searcharr's pages say you sign in by sending a private message to the bot with the /start command and a password. [^2] Its pages say running it from source needs Python 3.8.3 or later. [^2] On Docker, the log folder is mapped to a fixed path. [^2] Beyond these setup points, the facts for Searcharr give little about its full behavior, so check its own pages for what it does once it is running. Ombi's sources likewise say nothing about how it is hosted or what that costs, so look there for those details. ## 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 The facts for Ombi and Searcharr give no price or paid plan, so what each costs is not published here. Check their own pages for any cost to run them. 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 charge from a payment service is stated for Askarr, so that part is not published here. ## Setting it up with your server For Ombi, the facts say it works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, and more. [^1] The facts say nothing about how to connect it to Radarr or Sonarr, so check its own pages for those steps. For Searcharr, the facts say running it from source needs Python 3.8.3 or later. [^2] On Docker, the log folder is mapped to a fixed path. [^2] You sign in by sending a private message to the bot with the /start command and a password. [^2] The facts give no more setup detail, so check its own pages for how to connect Radarr and Sonarr. For Askarr, nothing is installed; you add Askarr once inside Radarr and Sonarr, so they read your requests from it. [^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, so check how your library fits. ## Things to check before you choose Start with who manages requests. Ombi's pages describe an optional approval system for admins. [^1] Searcharr's pages describe sign-in through a private /start message with a password. [^2] Ask where you want to run it. Ombi's pages say it works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Docker. [^1] Searcharr from source needs Python 3.8.3 or later. [^2] Askarr is a hosted website. [^3] Ask how requests show up once they are made, and whether you want to preview the tool before paying. Askarr offers a demo account. [^3] Ask whether the request limit fits who will use it; Askarr's Free plan allows 10 requests a month and Plus allows 50. [^3] [^3] ## How to choose If you want a tool where an admin approves what gets added, Ombi's pages describe an optional approval system for admins. [^1] If you want mobile apps, Ombi's pages say it has native apps for iOS and Android. [^1] If you want to choose where it runs, Ombi's pages say it works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Docker. [^1] If you want a service where sign-in is a password in a private bot message, Searcharr's pages describe that. [^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 live status, its claims cover that. [^3] ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Ombi free? The facts for Ombi give no price or paid plan, so a cost is not published here. Check its own pages for how it is hosted and what running it costs before you plan around a total. Its pages describe an optional approval system for admins and native mobile apps. ### 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 unlimited requests. [^3] No card fee is stated for Askarr, so that part is not published. The facts for Searcharr give no price either, so that cost is not published here. ### Does Askarr need anything installed? Nothing is installed; you add Askarr once inside Radarr and Sonarr, so they read your requests from it. [^3] A bookmark you 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. The facts do not cover how Askarr connects to your Radarr or Sonarr, so check Askarr's pages for that. ### What does Ombi let admins do? Ombi's pages describe an optional approval system for admins to manage and control what content gets added to a server. [^1] Its pages also say it has native mobile applications for iOS and Android for requests on the go. [^1] The facts give little more, so check its own pages for the exact options. ### How does Searcharr sign in? Searcharr's pages say you send a private message to the bot with the /start command and the configured password to authenticate. [^2] Running it from source needs Python 3.8.3 or later. [^2] The facts give little more about the steps, so check its own pages for how to connect Radarr and Sonarr. The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [^3] - [Visit Askarr](/go/start) ## Sources [^1]: Ombi, ombi.io, read 2026-10-07 (https://ombi.io/) [^2]: Searcharr, github.com/toddrob99/searcharr, read 2026-10-22 (https://github.com/toddrob99/searcharr) [^3]: Askarr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start)