Prowlarr Review

Last Updated: Sep 09, 2025

Rating
Price	Free
Features	Indexer Manager
	Supports Torrent Trackers
	Supports Usenet Indexers
	Integrates With Various PVR Apps

Introduction

If you’re running Radarr, Sonarr, Lidarr, or Readarr, you already know the hassle of keeping multiple indexers synced across apps. Every time an API key changes or a tracker updates, you end up repeating the same configuration steps. That’s where Prowlarr comes in.

Prowlarr acts as a central hub for your Usenet and torrent indexers. Instead of managing each one in every app, you configure them once in Prowlarr, and it syncs everything automatically. It’s especially powerful when deployed in a NAS + Docker setup, where it runs smoothly alongside the rest of your automation stack.

Key Features & Benefits

Prowlarr isn’t just a convenience add-on — it solves real problems in the *arr ecosystem:

Native Usenet support for 20+ indexers, plus any Newznab-compatible source
Torrent support for nearly 500 trackers, plus any Torznab tracker
Indexer Sync → configure once, sync across Radarr/Sonarr/Lidarr/Readarr
Per-Indexer Proxy → bypass region restrictions with SOCKS, HTTP, or Flaresolverr
Health Monitoring → get status notifications when an indexer fails
Manual or Automated Searches → flexible control at a category level

Prowlarr vs. Alternatives

Feature	Prowlarr	Jackett	NZBHydra2
Supported Sources	Usenet + Torrents (Torznab, Newznab)	Torrents only	Primarily Usenet (Newznab)
App Integration	Native sync with all *arr apps	Manual setup per app	Indexer aggregation, less sync
Deployment	Docker, NAS, Windows, Linux, macOS	Docker, Windows, Linux	Docker, Windows, Linux
Ease of Use	Modern UI, one-click sync	More manual, less polished	Powerful but complex
Development	Actively maintained, .NET 8 stack	Less frequent updates	Active, but niche focus

Bottom line: Prowlarr replaces Jackett for most torrent users and adds full Usenet support, making it the best all-around choice for mixed setups.

Recent Updates & Development

Prowlarr is under constant development, with active contributions on GitHub. The latest release (v2.0.5.5160, August 2025) introduced:

Migration to .NET 8 → better performance and compatibility
Redirect handling for Newznab indexers → more reliable downloads
Removed Basic Auth & Linux-x86 support → improved security and modern platform focus
Mac appdata migration → smoother upgrades on macOS
Mobile UI fixes → better experience on small screens

The takeaway? Prowlarr is future-proof and evolves rapidly, keeping pace with changes in the indexer ecosystem.

Installation & Deployment

Prowlarr supports Windows, macOS, and Linux with native installers, but the recommended method is Docker. Docker ensures simple updates, consistent environments, and easy integration with NAS platforms like Synology, Unraid, or TrueNAS.

Example: Docker Compose

services:
  prowlarr:
    image: lscr.io/linuxserver/prowlarr:latest
    container_name: prowlarr
    ports:
      - 9696:9696
    volumes:
      - /path/to/config:/config
    restart: unless-stopped

After deployment, browse to http://localhost:9696 to start configuring.

Configuration & Integration

Adding indexers is straightforward:

Click Indexers → Add (+)
Choose from the list or use Generic Newznab (Usenet) or Generic Torznab (torrents)
Enter API key / credentials
Test connection → Save

Depending on your sync settings, indexers are automatically propagated to Sonarr, Radarr, Lidarr, or Readarr.

App Integration

Go to Settings → Applications → Add (+)
Select the *arr app you use
Choose sync level (Full, Add-only, Disabled)
Repeat for each instance you run

Result: one indexer configuration is instantly synced everywhere.

Scheduling & Automation

Automation is where Prowlarr shines:

Refresh intervals keep indexers updated
Release restrictions let you block poor-quality uploads (e.g., CAM rips)
Health monitoring alerts you if an indexer fails
Download client integration pushes releases directly to SABnzbd, NZBGet, or qBittorrent

This makes Prowlarr a perfect automation bridge between indexers and your media apps.

Usability & User Experience

Prowlarr has a clean, React-based UI that’s modern and easy to navigate.

Search page: enter queries, choose indexers, filter by categories
Results table: sortable, customizable columns, one-click download icons
Indexer list: health indicators and quick edit buttons

On mobile, recent UI fixes make the indexer modal easier to use, meaning you can manage indexers from your phone just as easily as from your desktop.

Advanced Use Cases

For power users, Prowlarr offers flexibility:

Reverse proxy support (nginx, Caddy, Traefik) for secure external access
Per-indexer proxy → route specific trackers through VPN or Flaresolverr
Multi-instance setups → different Radarr/Sonarr builds for multiple libraries

This makes Prowlarr not just convenient, but essential for complex home media networks.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

A few common issues users face:

Indexer fails to test → check API key, login credentials, or proxy
Search returns empty → may be a retention mismatch with your Usenet provider
Sync not working → verify sync settings (Full vs Add-only)

Helpful resources:

Prowlarr Wiki
Prowlarr Discord & Reddit communities

Plans & Pricing

Prowlarr is free and open source, but development is supported via OpenCollective. Donating helps fund servers, development time, and ongoing improvements.

Conclusion

Prowlarr takes the headache out of indexer management. While you can manage indexers manually, once you try Prowlarr, you’ll never go back.

Beginners will love the one-click sync and clean UI.
Power users will appreciate advanced features like per-indexer proxies and automation.
NAS/Docker users will find it integrates seamlessly with the rest of their stack.

With active development, tight integration with the *arr suite, and broad support for both Usenet and torrents, Prowlarr is the best all-around indexer manager available today.

Visit Prowlarr