VLClean Plain comparisons of self-hosted media tools

# How to follow new releases for streaming enthusiasts in 2026

Learn how streaming enthusiasts can keep up with new movie and show releases using public lists and Radarr or Sonarr.

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

Streaming enthusiasts can follow new releases by picking a public source where releases are announced, choosing a way to track titles, and checking it on a regular day each week.

OptionHow it follows new releasesCost details
WatcharrPaste one public IMDb list to get one Radarr link for movies and one Sonarr link for shows. [1]Nothing needs to be installed and no account is needed. [1]
Manual release listCheck a chosen public release list by hand on a set day each week.not published

What you need before you start

Decide which releases matter to you, such as new movies, new shows, or both, so the way you follow releases matches what you want to watch.

Pick a public source where new releases are announced, such as a public IMDb list you keep, and make sure it stays readable. Keep the list simple so titles are easy to find later.

Radarr and Sonarr are helper programs that many Plex owners run to find and add movies (Radarr) and shows (Sonarr) to their library. Have them ready if the way you follow releases moves titles into your library. Watcharr turns one public IMDb list into separate links, one for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. [1]

Choose where you will watch the list update, and decide how often you want to check for new titles so you do not miss a release you wanted.

Step by step

  1. Pick one public source where new releases are announced, such as a public IMDb list, and use only that source so titles are not missed.
  1. Decide which titles you want, such as movies only, shows only, or both, and how they will be added to your library.
  1. Choose a way to check the list on a regular day each week, and note any new titles you had not seen before.
  1. Set up Radarr or Sonarr if the list should move titles into your library automatically, and confirm the list is readable by the tool you use.
  1. Check your notes each week, follow the releases you want, and clear the titles you do not.
  1. After the first week, change how you check if releases were being missed, such as checking on a different day or using a clearer source.

Tools that can do it

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site. It turns one public IMDb list into 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] The links are built from the IMDb list's id, so the same list always gives the same two links. [1] Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. [1]

The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. [1] A bookmark clicked inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list for you, using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. [1] You paste, copy and browse from any screen in the web app; the one-click sticker shows on bigger screens. [1]

Watcharr looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it can't match, and tells you which ones it skipped. [1] The page shows the list's covers in a row, each opening TMDB's plot, genres, rating, backdrop and trailer. [1] If a read of the list fails, the links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. [1]

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. [1] 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. [1] Watcharr runs as one Cloudflare app with a Cloudflare database, plus a GitHub job that reads IMDb. [1] Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence; older versions remain under MIT. [1] Commercial use is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. [1]

No other tool is named here because no source facts about other tools were provided. Before choosing a tool, check how it handles lists, updates, and the way titles move into your library.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid following releases from a source that is not public or that you cannot keep updated. A list that grows or changes without your knowledge can lead you to miss titles.

Avoid choosing a way to follow releases without checking how it moves titles into your library. The process should be clear for anyone watching the list and for the person managing the library.

Avoid forgetting to check the list after you set it up. A release list can become stale if old titles are left without attention.

Avoid skipping account and privacy checks. Review what a tool asks for and what access it uses before you rely on it.

Frequently asked questions

How can streaming enthusiasts follow new releases?

Streaming enthusiasts can follow new releases by picking a public source where releases are announced, choosing a way to track titles, and checking it on a regular day each week. The important parts are a clear source for new titles and a review habit that does not let releases go by missed.

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

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site. It turns one public IMDb list into 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]

Does Watcharr need to be installed?

The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. [1] A bookmark clicked inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list for you, using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. [1] Watcharr runs as one Cloudflare app with a Cloudflare database, plus a GitHub job that reads IMDb. [1]

How often does Watcharr check an IMDb list?

Radarr checks its Watcharr link every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5 minutes. [1] These are the scheduled check times, and a scheduled run can be delayed. The links are built from the IMDb list's id, so the same list always gives the same two links. [1]

What should be checked before choosing a way to follow releases?

Check how a tool handles lists, updates, and the way titles move into your library before choosing one. Watcharr looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it can't match, and tells you which ones it skipped. [1] Compare those details with how you want to follow new releases.

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

Try Watcharr

Sources

  1. Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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