Top 15 Tools to Automate Your Media Collection

Let's be honest, managing a media collection these days can feel like you're spinning plates. Movies, TV shows, music, ebooks, comic books—you name it, and it demands more of your time and energy than you might want to give. 

But here’s the good news: there are some amazing tools designed to take the load off your shoulders. They automate the entire process, letting you sit back and enjoy your media hassle-free. 

In this article, we'll dive into the top 15 tools that will completely transform how you handle your media collections. From Radarr for movies and Sonarr for TV shows to Lidarr for music and Mylar for comic books, we’ve got everything you need to keep your media life running smoothly.

Table of Contents

1. Radarr
2. Sonarr
3. Lidarr
4. Readarr
5. Overseerr
6. Prowlarr
7. Plex Media Server
8. Emby
9. Jellyfin
10. FileBot
11. Bazarr
12. Tautulli
13. Ombi
14. Medusa
15. Mylar

Final Words

1. Radarr

Ever wish your movie collection could just manage itself? That's where Radarr steps in. It’s like having a personal assistant for your movies, automatically finding and organizing them for you.

Key Features:

• Automated movie downloading: Radarr is constantly on the lookout for new releases and grabs them for you as soon as they hit the web.

• Integration with popular download clients: It works seamlessly with NZBGet, qBittorrent, and more, making the whole process smooth and effortless.

• Customizable quality profiles: You set the rules. Decide the quality and size of your downloads to fit your collection perfectly.

Use Case: If you're a movie buff who loves having the latest films without lifting a finger, Radarr is your new best friend.

2. Sonarr

For TV show addicts, Sonarr is a game-changer. Imagine never having to remember when new episodes come out because Sonarr does it all for you.

Key Features:

• Automated TV show downloading: It keeps an eye on your favorite shows and downloads new episodes automatically.

• Episode and season management: Keeps track of what you have and grabs any missing episodes to keep your collection complete.

• Integration with various download clients and media servers: Whether you use NZBGet, qBittorrent, or Plex, Sonarr fits right in.

Use Case: Perfect for TV enthusiasts who want to stay current with their favorite series effortlessly.

3. Lidarr

Music lovers, meet Lidarr. This tool takes the hassle out of managing your music library by automating the entire process.

Key Features:

• Automated music downloading: Lidarr tracks your favorite artists and downloads new albums as soon as they drop.

• Artist and album management: It organizes your collection neatly by artist and album.

• Integration with download clients: Works with NZBGet, qBittorrent, and others, so you don't have to juggle different tools.

Use Case: If you want to keep your music library fresh and up-to-date without doing the legwork, Lidarr is a must-have.

4. Readarr

Bookworms, rejoice! Readarr is here to make managing your ebook collection a breeze, automating downloads and organization.

Key Features:

• Automated ebook downloading: It scours the web for new releases from your favorite authors and downloads them for you.

• Author and book management: Keeps your ebooks organized by author and book title.

• Integration with download clients: Compatible with NZBGet, qBittorrent, and more, making it a versatile tool.

Use Case: Ideal for avid readers who want an effortlessly updated ebook library.

5. Overseerr

Handling media requests just got a lot easier with Overseerr. It simplifies the process of requesting and approving media in shared libraries. Learn more about this tool in this comprehensive Overseerr  guide.

Key Features:

• User-friendly interface for media requests: Lets users easily request movies and TV shows.

• Integration with Plex and other media servers: Makes requested media available quickly through seamless integration.

• Approval and denial workflows: Keeps you in control with straightforward approval processes.

Use Case: Perfect for families or communities sharing a media library, ensuring everyone gets what they want without any hassle.

6. Prowlarr

Prowlarr is your go-to indexer manager for media automation, simplifying the search and download process across various media types. Learn more about this tool in the Prowlarr Guide.

Key Features:

• Supports various indexers for movies, TV shows, and music: Works with a range of indexers to bring you diverse content.

• Easy integration with Radarr, Sonarr, Lidarr, and other tools: Enhances automation by connecting with other media management tools.

• Automated indexer management: Takes care of indexer management and configuration automatically.

Use Case: Essential for anyone using multiple indexers, ensuring a thorough and efficient media collection process.

7. Plex Media Server

Meet Plex, your ultimate media server solution. It organizes and streams your media, making it accessible on any device.

Key Features:

• Automatic media organization: Adds metadata, artwork, and organizes your library without you lifting a finger.

• Streaming to multiple devices: Whether it’s your TV, tablet, or phone, Plex streams your collection seamlessly.

• Integration with other automation tools: Works with various tools to enhance your media experience.

Use Case: Perfect for those who want a seamless, organized media streaming experience across multiple devices.

8. Emby

Emby is a fantastic alternative to Plex, offering similar media organization and streaming capabilities.

Key Features:

• Media organization and streaming: Keeps your media library in check and streams content to multiple devices.

• User-friendly interface: Easy to navigate and manage your media.

• Integration with automation tools: Enhances your experience by working with various automation tools.

Use Case: Great for users seeking an alternative to Plex with comparable functionalities.

9. Jellyfin

Jellyfin is the go-to free, open-source media server, offering streaming and organization without the subscription fees.

Key Features:

• Media streaming and organization: Manages and streams your media to various devices.

• No subscription fees: Completely free with no hidden costs.

• Integration with automation tools: Works with other tools to streamline media management.

Use Case: Perfect for those who prefer open-source solutions and want to avoid subscription fees.

10. FileBot

Keeping your media files organized just got easier with FileBot. It’s the ultimate tool for renaming and organizing media files.

Key Features:

• Batch renaming of media files: Rename multiple files at once based on your custom naming conventions.

• Integration with media libraries: Works with various media libraries for seamless organization.

• Support for various media types: Handles movies, TV shows, music, and more.

Use Case: Ideal for anyone who wants to keep their media files tidy and well-organized.

11. Bazarr

Bazarr takes the hassle out of managing subtitles by automating the download and organization process.

Key Features:

• Automated subtitle downloading: Automatically fetches subtitles for your movies and TV shows.

• Integration with Radarr and Sonarr: Works seamlessly with other automation tools.

• Support for multiple languages: Provides subtitles in various languages to meet diverse needs.

Use Case: Essential for anyone who needs subtitles for their media, ensuring a better viewing experience.

12. Tautulli

Plex users, meet Tautulli. This tool gives you detailed insights into your media server’s activity, helping you understand your usage patterns.

Key Features:

• Real-time monitoring of Plex activity: See what’s being watched in real time.

• Detailed usage statistics and reports: Get comprehensive reports on media consumption.

• Custom notifications: Set up alerts for various events and activities on your Plex server.

Use Case: Perfect for Plex users who want to dive deep into their media usage and optimize performance.

13. Ombi

Ombi is another great tool for managing media requests, similar to Overseerr, but with its own unique features.

Key Features:

• User-friendly request interface: This lets users request movies and TV shows easily.

• Integration with Plex, Emby, and Jellyfin: Works with popular media servers to fulfill requests.

• Approval workflows and notifications: Manage and approve requests with ease, keeping users informed.

Use Case: Ideal for handling media requests from friends and family, making sure everyone’s happy with the library.

14. Medusa

Medusa steps in as a TV show collection manager, much like Sonarr, automating the process from downloading to organization.

Key Features:

• Automated TV show downloading: It grabs new episodes and seasons as they become available.

• Episode and season management: Tracks watched and unwatched episodes, keeping your collection up-to-date.

• Integration with various download clients: Compatible with popular clients to streamline downloads.

Use Case: A fantastic alternative to Sonarr for managing TV show collections efficiently.

15. Mylar

Comic book fans, meet Mylar. This tool automates the downloading and organizing of your comic book collection, so you never miss an issue.

Key Features:

• Automated comic book downloading: Searches and downloads new comic book issues automatically.

• Series and issue management: Organize your collection by series and issue number.

• Integration with download clients: Works with popular clients to facilitate the downloading process.

Use Case: Perfect for comic book collectors who want to keep their collection current without the manual hassle.

Final Words

You don't have to slog through the tedious task of managing your media collection anymore. These 15 robust tools automate everything—from downloading and organizing to streaming and monitoring. 

Radarr keeps your movie library fresh, while Sonarr and Medusa ensure you’re always up-to-date with your favorite TV shows. Lidarr and Readarr effortlessly handle your music and ebooks, and Mylar makes sure your comic book collection is on point. Overseerr and Ombi make media requests a breeze, and Prowlarr connects you to the best indexers. For streaming, Plex, Emby, and Jellyfin have you covered, while FileBot keeps your files neatly organized. Bazarr fetches subtitles, and Tautulli provides deep insights into your Plex usage. 

Embrace these automation tools and enjoy a seamless media experience!