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Introduction to Pulsarr

Pulsarr Logo

Real-time Plex watchlist monitoring, routing, and notification center

Pulsarr bridges Plex watchlists with Sonarr and Radarr, enabling automated content acquisition directly from the Plex app. No additional services required for your users - all the magic happens from the primary user's Plex Token.

Pulsarr Dashboard

Quick Start​

  1. Deploy via Docker or standalone installation
  2. Connect your Plex account and Sonarr/Radarr instances
  3. Configure routing rules and notifications
  4. Done - users add to Plex watchlists, content appears automatically
Plex Pass Optional

Real-time RSS monitoring requires Plex Pass. Without it, Pulsarr polls every 5 minutes. All other features work identically.

Core Features​

FeatureDescription
Watchlist MonitoringReal-time RSS feeds (Plex Pass) or staggered polling cycling through users every 5 minutes
Content RoutingBuild custom rules with AND/OR logic using genre, user, language, year, certification, season, IMDb/RT/TMDB ratings, or streaming service. Rules can require approvals or bypass quotas
Approvals & QuotasAdmin approval workflows with daily/weekly/monthly limits per user
Multi-InstanceSync content across multiple Sonarr/Radarr instances simultaneously
NotificationsDiscord, Apprise (80+ services), native webhooks, Tautulli (Plex mobile app), and public broadcasts
User ManagementGranular controls, tag-based tracking, automatic multi-user monitoring
Plex Label SyncSync user labels to Plex content, import Radarr/Sonarr tags as Plex labels
Delete SyncAutomatically remove content when users remove from watchlists
Session MonitoringAuto-search next seasons when users near end of current season
Plex Library RefreshAuto-configure webhooks in Sonarr/Radarr to refresh Plex libraries instantly
Playlist ProtectionPreserve important content from automatic deletion
Modern Web InterfaceMobile-friendly dashboard with statistics and built-in API docs

How It Works​

┌─────────────┐     ┌─────────────┐     ┌─────────────┐     ┌─────────────┐
│    Plex     │ ──▶ │   Pulsarr   │ ──▶ │   Sonarr/   │ ──▶ │  Available  │
│  Watchlist  │     │   Router    │     │   Radarr    │     │  in Plex    │
└─────────────┘     └─────────────┘     └─────────────┘     └─────────────┘
                           │ ▲                 │
                    ┌──────┴─┼─────┐           │
                    │ Approvals    │◀──────────┘
                    │ Quotas       │  Webhooks (auto-configured)
                    │ Notify       │  for instant availability
                    └─────────────┘

  1. Content Detection - Monitor Plex watchlists in real-time (Plex Pass) or via interval polling. Detect when users add movies or TV shows.

  2. Content Analysis - Evaluate metadata (genres, language, year), apply routing rules, check user quotas, and determine target instance(s).

  3. Approval Processing - If required, create approval requests, notify administrators via Discord/webhooks, and allow approval, rejection, or automatic expiration.

  4. Automatic Acquisition - Route approved content to Sonarr/Radarr with configured quality profiles, root folders, and monitoring settings.

  5. Notification Delivery - Send personalized notifications when content is available. Support for Discord, Apprise, webhooks, and public channel broadcasts.

  6. Lifecycle Management - Optional automatic deletion when content leaves watchlists, with Plex playlist protection for preserving important content.

Next Steps​