Best IMDb list sync tools for cinephiles in 2026

Compare IMDb list sync tools for cinephiles and see how options handle lists, matching, and connections to Radarr and Sonarr.

By VLClean · 2026-10-11

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

Cinephiles who keep movie and show lists on IMDb usually want those lists to reach the apps that manage titles. Watcharr turns one public IMDb list into one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] Each option differs in the lists it accepts, the way it handles titles, and the information it provides, so the right choice depends on the library workflow.

Option	What it does with lists	Cost details
MDBList	Creates dynamic, auto-updating movie and show lists tailored to user preferences. ^[2]	Supporter membership is offered, with sign-up linked through Memberful and Patreon. ^[3] Price: not published
Trakt	Free on web, iOS and Android. ^[4]	Free on web, iOS and Android. ^[4] Price: not published
Traktarr	Uses Trakt.tv to find shows and movies to add to Sonarr and Radarr. ^[5] Supports official Trakt lists and private lists. ^[5] ^[5]	not published
Kometa	Creates collections and overlays using sources including TMDb and IMDb. ^[6]	not published
Watcharr	Paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1]	not published

What cinephiles need from IMDb list sync tools

Cinephiles often keep running lists of movies and shows they want to see, and they want those lists to reach the apps that manage titles. A list sync tool can connect a list source with Radarr and Sonarr, the apps that handle movies and shows. The right choice depends on where the lists are kept, how often the tool checks them, and what happens when a title cannot be matched. Some tools focus on creating or organizing lists, while others turn a list into a source for Radarr or Sonarr. Cinephiles should check whether a service needs an account before it works, how often a list is re-read, and what is done with titles that cannot be matched. They should also check whether the tool keeps a working list available when a read fails.

MDBList for cinephiles

MDBList has a Streaming Charts section on its site. ^[3] MDBList offers a Supporter membership, with sign-up linked through Memberful and Patreon. ^[3]

Trakt for cinephiles

Trakt is free on web, iOS and Android. ^[4] Trakt is free on web, iOS and Android. ^[7]

Traktarr for cinephiles

Traktarr uses Trakt.tv to find shows and movies to add to Sonarr and Radarr. ^[5] Traktarr supports official Trakt lists such as Trending, Popular, Anticipated, Box Office, Most Watched, and Most Played. ^[5] Traktarr supports private lists. ^[5]

Kometa for cinephiles

Kometa lets users customize media library metadata, collections, and overlays. ^[6] Kometa can create collections based on trending and popular content. ^[6] Kometa provides pre-made modular Collections and Overlays. ^[6]

Watcharr for cinephiles

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site. Watcharr turns one public IMDb list into one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] You paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. ^[1] A bookmark you click inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list for you, using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. ^[1] It accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] The links are built from the IMDb list's id, so the same list always gives the same two links. ^[1] It looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it can't match, and tells you which ones it skipped. ^[1] The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1]

Matching the tool to the job

For turning one public IMDb list into separate Radarr and Sonarr links, Watcharr takes one public IMDb list and gives one link for movies and one for shows. ^[1] For combining several IMDb lists for a household, signed-in Watcharr users can combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link, and a title on two lists is added only once. ^[1] For tracking movie and show lists across devices, Trakt is free on web, iOS and Android. ^[4] For finding shows and movies through Trakt.tv before adding them to Radarr or Sonarr, Traktarr uses Trakt.tv to find shows and movies to add to Sonarr and Radarr. ^[5] For library organization, Kometa lets users customize media library metadata, collections, and overlays. ^[6]

Questions to ask before you choose

Before choosing an IMDb list sync tool, ask which list sources it accepts and whether those sources match where the lists already live. Check how often the tool checks a list and what happens when a title cannot be matched. Ask whether an account is required, whether several people can share lists, and whether the tool keeps a usable list after a failed read. Check whether the tool focuses on list creation, library organization, or sending titles to Radarr and Sonarr.

Frequently asked questions

Can Watcharr turn one IMDb list into links for both Radarr and Sonarr?

Yes. Watcharr lets a cinephile paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. ^[1]

Which IMDb lists can Watcharr use?

Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] It looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it can't match, and tells you which ones it skipped. ^[1]

Does Watcharr need anything installed or an account?

The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1] A bookmark inside Radarr or Sonarr can add the list using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. ^[1] The web app lets users paste, copy and browse from any screen. ^[1]

What happens when Watcharr cannot read an IMDb list?

If a read of the list fails, Watcharr keeps serving the last list that loaded correctly. ^[1] If a user signs in, Watcharr re-reads the list about every 15 minutes and warns when a list fails three reads in a row. ^[1]

What should cinephiles check before choosing an IMDb list sync tool?

Cinephiles should check the accepted list sources, account needs, matching behavior, and connection with existing library tools. Options differ in whether they create lists, track viewing activity, organize libraries, or provide links for Radarr and Sonarr, so the workflow matters when comparing choices.

Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence; older versions remain under MIT. ^[1]

Try Watcharr