VLClean Plain comparisons of self-hosted media tools

How to manage who can request titles for Unraid server owners in 2026

Learn how Unraid server owners can manage movie and show requests, set clear rules for viewers, and choose a request method that fits their library workflow.

By VLClean ยท

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

Unraid server owners can manage title requests by choosing who may submit them, explaining which movies and shows are allowed, and deciding who reviews each request. Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] A request process should give viewers a clear place to submit titles and make it clear how requests are handled.

OptionRequest methodCost details
AskarrYou request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [1]Free: $0, 10 requests a month [1]; Plus: $3.99 a month, 50 requests a month [1]; Pro: $6.99 a month, unlimited requests [1]
Request formPeople submit movie or show titles through the chosen form.not published
Shared request listPeople add movie or show ideas to the chosen shared list.not published

What you need before you start

Decide which people should be able to request movies and shows for the Unraid server, and whether everyone should have the same permissions. A request process is easier to manage when viewers know who can submit titles, which titles are allowed, and who decides what gets added.

Make sure the server's existing library workflow is clear. Radarr and Sonarr are programs used to manage adding movies and shows, respectively. If they are part of the way titles enter the library, have them ready before choosing a request method.

Write down the rules for requests. Decide whether requests need approval, whether certain kinds of titles are excluded, and how viewers will learn about a request's progress. Also decide who will review pending requests and what should happen when a requested title is not approved.

Choose a place where people can submit requests and where the person managing the server can keep track of them. This could be a request website, a form, or a shared list. Check how each option handles access, status updates, and the existing library workflow before inviting viewers to use it.

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] Nothing is installed to use Askarr; it is added as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [1]

Step by step

  1. Decide who may submit requests. Make a clear rule for which friends, family members, or other viewers are allowed to request titles. Decide whether the same rules apply to everyone or whether requests need to come from an approved group.
  1. Set the boundaries for titles. Explain which movies and shows are acceptable and whether requests need approval before being added. Keep the rules short enough for viewers to understand before they submit a title.
  1. Choose one request location. Select a website, form, or shared list that gives viewers a clear place to send their requests. Tell everyone to use that location rather than scattering requests across separate conversations.
  1. Check how requests reach the library workflow. If Radarr and Sonarr are used to manage movies and shows, find out how the chosen method passes requests to them. You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [1]
  1. Decide how progress will be communicated. Tell viewers whether they should expect a status update and who can answer questions about a pending request. Askarr uses a webhook from Radarr and Sonarr to report back so the website can show when a title was added and downloaded. [1]
  1. Share the instructions. Give the permitted viewers the request location and explain the rules, approval process, and how to find titles. Askarr lets users paste a TMDB, IMDb, or TVDB link to find a title. [1]
  1. Review the process regularly. Look through pending requests, resolve requests that no longer fit the rules, and tell viewers when a decision has been made. Check whether the process is easy to follow and update the instructions when people are unsure what to do.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is a hosted website made by the team that publishes this site, VLClean. It works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [1]

Askarr does not connect to the owner's Radarr or Sonarr and does not receive their API keys. [1] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the website can show when a title was added and downloaded. [1] Users can also paste a TMDB, IMDb, or TVDB link to find a title. [1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1]

Free: $0, 10 requests a month [1]; Plus: $3.99 a month, 50 requests a month [1]; Pro: $6.99 a month, unlimited requests [1] Each friend who signs up through a user's referral link adds 10 requests a month to that user's limit. [1] A throwaway demo account with sample data lets people try the dashboard without signing in. [1]

A request form is another possible method. People submit movie or show titles through the chosen form. The form's access controls, notifications, and pricing need to be checked before choosing one.

A shared request list is another option. People add movie or show ideas to the chosen shared list. Check who can view or edit the list, how approval decisions will be recorded, and whether someone must manually move approved requests into the library workflow.

No source facts about other named request tools are available for comparison here. Before choosing a different tool, check how it limits access, handles title searches, reports progress, and passes requests into the existing workflow.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid sharing a request location without explaining who is allowed to use it. Viewers should know whether they are permitted to submit requests and whether a title needs approval before it is added.

Avoid leaving the accepted title rules unclear. If viewers do not know what kinds of movies and shows are allowed, the person managing the server may have to resolve avoidable questions or unwanted requests.

Avoid choosing a tool before checking how it fits the existing library workflow. Confirm how requests reach Radarr or Sonarr when those programs are used, and establish who handles requests that cannot proceed.

Avoid assuming that every request method reports progress in the same way. Check whether viewers can see a status, whether someone must provide updates manually, and how completed requests are identified.

Avoid overlooking account access and privacy. Review what information a tool asks for, who can view requests, and what access the tool uses. Askarr does not connect to Radarr or Sonarr and does not receive their API keys. [1]

Avoid setting up the process and then leaving it without review. Check pending requests regularly, update outdated instructions, and make sure viewers know how to find out whether their titles were added.

Frequently asked questions

How can Unraid server owners manage who can request titles?

Choose which viewers can submit requests, define the types of movies and shows that are allowed, and explain whether requests need approval. Give everyone who is permitted to request titles one clear place to submit them. Review pending requests regularly and make sure viewers understand how to find out whether a title was added.

Can Askarr work with Radarr and Sonarr on an Unraid server?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [1] You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [1] Check that this workflow matches the way the server currently manages its library.

Does Askarr need to be installed on an Unraid server?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [1] Before choosing a request method, check how it works with the programs already used to manage the server's movies and shows.

How can viewers find titles to request with Askarr?

You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [1] You can also paste a TMDB, IMDb, or TVDB link to find the title. [1] Clear instructions can help viewers use the same request location and follow the server owner's rules.

How much does Askarr cost for Unraid server owners?

Free: $0, 10 requests a month [1]; Plus: $3.99 a month, 50 requests a month [1]; Pro: $6.99 a month, unlimited requests [1] Each friend who signs up through the owner's referral link adds 10 requests a month to the owner's limit. [1] Compare the available plans with the expected number of requests before choosing one.

Can Askarr show whether a requested title has been added?

A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back to Askarr so the website can show when a title was added and downloaded. [1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1] Check the plan details to confirm which request history features are included and explain to viewers how to check a title's progress.

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1]

Try Askarr

Sources

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

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