---
{"title": "Simkl vs Traktarr in 2026: IMDb Lists, Sync, Setup", "description": "Simkl and Traktarr compared for people who run Plex with Radarr or Sonarr: what each does, what each costs, and what to check first.", "url": "https://vlcleanplayer.com/simkl-vs-traktarr/", "date": "2026-10-15"}
---
Simkl and Traktarr compared for people who run Plex with Radarr or Sonarr: what each does, what each costs, and what to check first.

Simkl and Traktarr compared for people who run Plex with Radarr or Sonarr: what each does, what each costs, and what to check first.

| Option | List source | Works with | Setup | Also stated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traktarr | Trakt.tv official, public, and private lists [^1] [^1] [^1] | Sonarr and Radarr [^1] | Python 3.5+ required [^1]; automatic scheduled mode [^1] | Multiple authenticated users [^1]; add single or multiple movies to Radarr [^1] [^1]; add single or multiple shows to Sonarr [^1] [^1] |
| Watcharr (hosted) | Public IMDb watchlists and lists [^2] | Radarr and Sonarr [^2] | Nothing to install, no account [^2] | Radarr checks every 15 minutes, Sonarr every 5 [^2]; shows TVDB matches and skips [^2]; combine multiple lists [^2]; last good copy on failure [^2] |
| Simkl | Not published | Not published | Not published | The facts given for this page do not describe Simkl |

## 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. Traktarr uses Trakt.tv to find shows and movies to add to Sonarr and Radarr. [^1] The facts given for this page do not describe a direct connection from Simkl to Radarr or Sonarr, so check Simkl's own pages for that. Watcharr is a tool that turns a public IMDb list into one link for Radarr and one for Sonarr. [^2]

Traktarr's sources say it supports official Trakt lists, public lists, and private lists. [^1] [^1] [^1] Watcharr's claims say it accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site, or IMDb's other-language pages. [^2]

## What Simkl, Traktarr is built for

The facts given for this page describe Traktarr as a tool that uses Trakt.tv to find shows and movies to add to Sonarr and Radarr. [^1] It can add a single movie to Radarr or multiple movies to Radarr. [^1] [^1] It can add a single show to Sonarr or multiple shows to Sonarr. [^1] [^1]

Traktarr's sources say it supports official Trakt lists, public lists, and private lists. [^1] [^1] [^1]

The facts do not describe Simkl, so check Simkl's own pages for what it does and how it connects to Radarr or Sonarr.

## What Watcharr is built for

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site. You paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. [^2]

Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. [^2] The links are built from the IMDb list's id, so the same list always gives the same two links. [^2]

Watcharr looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it can't match, and tells you which ones it skipped. [^2] It accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site, or IMDb's other-language pages. [^2]

The page shows the list's covers in a row, each opening TMDB's plot, genres, rating, backdrop, and trailer. [^2] The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. [^2]

## Pricing and fees

Traktarr's facts do not state a price, so what it costs is not published there. Check Traktarr's own pages for any cost.

The facts given for this page do not describe Simkl, so no price for Simkl is published here. Check Simkl's own pages for any cost.

Watcharr's claims do not state a price for the hosted version. [^2] Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence, and older versions remain under MIT. [^2] Commercial use is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. [^2]

No card fee or other charge from a payment service is stated for any of these tools, so that part is not published here.

## Setting it up with your server

Traktarr requires Python 3.5 or newer. [^1] Its page says it can work in operating systems other than Debian OS. [^1] The facts say nothing more about the steps to connect it to Plex, Radarr, or Sonarr, so check its own pages for those.

For Watcharr, the hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. [^2] You paste, copy, and browse from any screen in the web app. [^2] A bookmark you click inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list for you, using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. [^2]

If you sign in, Watcharr re-reads your list about every 15 minutes and warns you when a list fails three reads in a row. [^2] If a read of the list fails, the links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. [^2] Signed-in users can combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link, and a title that is on two lists is added only once. [^2]

The claims for Watcharr do not mention Plex, so check how your library fits. The facts given for this page do not describe Simkl's setup, so check Simkl's own pages.

## Things to check before you choose

Start with where you want the tool to run. Traktarr requires Python 3.5 or newer and its page mentions Debian OS, though it can work in other operating systems as well. [^1] [^1] If you want to run Watcharr yourself, its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence, and older versions remain under MIT. [^2]

Ask which list source you need. Traktarr supports official Trakt lists, public lists, and private lists. [^1] [^1] [^1] Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list. [^2]

Ask how many people will use it. Watcharr lets signed-in users combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link. [^2]

Ask whether you need Plex support, and check each tool's pages for it.

## How to choose

If you want to use Trakt lists to find shows and movies for Sonarr and Radarr, Traktarr's sources say it does that. [^1] If you want private lists, its sources say it supports private lists. [^1]

If you want to turn a public IMDb list into links for Radarr and Sonarr, Watcharr's claims say it does that. [^2] If you want nothing installed, the hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. [^2]

If you want to know which shows were skipped, Watcharr looks up TheTVDB ids, leaves out shows it can't match, and tells you which ones it skipped. [^2] If you want to combine several lists for a household, signed-in users can do that, and a title on two lists is added only once. [^2]

If you want to run Watcharr yourself rather than use the hosted version, its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence. [^2] Commercial use is not licensed. [^2]

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Traktarr free?

Traktarr's facts do not state a price, so what it costs is not published there. [^1] Traktarr requires Python 3.5 or newer. [^1] Check Traktarr's own pages for any cost or licence terms before you plan around a total.

### How much does Watcharr cost?

Watcharr's claims do not state a price for the hosted version. [^2] Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence, and older versions remain under MIT. [^2] Commercial use is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. [^2] No card fee is stated.

### Does Watcharr need anything installed?

The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. [^2] A bookmark you click inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list for you, using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. [^2] You paste, copy, and browse from any screen in the web app. [^2]

### Can Traktarr add single movies and shows?

Traktarr can add a single movie to Radarr or multiple movies to Radarr. [^1] [^1] It can add a single show to Sonarr or multiple shows to Sonarr. [^1] [^1]

### Can Watcharr combine multiple IMDb lists?

Signed-in users can combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link for the whole household, and a title that is on two lists is added only once. [^2] If you sign in, it re-reads your list about every 15 minutes and warns you when a list fails three reads in a row. [^2]

Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence; older versions remain under MIT. [^2] - [Visit Watcharr](/go/start-watcharr)

## Sources

[^1]: Traktarr, github.com/l3uddz/traktarr, read 2026-10-07 (https://github.com/l3uddz/traktarr)
[^2]: Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start-watcharr)