What is botdarr?

botdarr is a self-hosted chat bot that bridges multiple chat platforms (Discord, Slack, Telegram, Matrix) with *arr applications (Radarr, Sonarr, Lidarr). Users can search for and add movies, TV shows, and music through chat commands. It runs as a Java application (JAR) or Docker container, requiring Java 8+. Configuration is done via environment variables or a properties file. The bot supports features like adding media by search/TMDB/TVDB IDs, showing downloads, configurable limits, blacklisting, and status checking.

Should you self-host botdarr?

botdarr scores 44/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #71 of 110 in Chat. It has 206 GitHub stars.

It shipped 7 stable releases in the past year. The latest, 5.6.23, came out on 17 August 2026.

Setup is moderate: expect some configuration beyond a single command. An official Docker image is available. It is GPL-3.0-licensed and written mostly in Java.

Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is Zulip (82/100, 26 131 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See botdarr vs Zulip side by side.

Features

Configurable search results
Content blacklisting
Custom Command Prefix
Discord slash commands
Download status monitoring
Multi-platform chat support
Reaction-based selection
Request auditing
Request limits per user
Service status checking
URL base configuration

How to install botdarr

Install botdarr with Docker

Docker

Environment variables

DISCORD_TOKEN, DISCORD_CHANNELS, RADARR_URL, RADARR_TOKEN, RADARR_DEFAULT_PROFILE, RADARR_PATH, etc.

for latest

docker run -d --name botdarr -e DISCORD_TOKEN="blahblah" -e DISCORD_CHANNELS="channel1" -v <BOTDARR_HOME>/database:/home/botdarr/database -v <BOTDARR_HOME>/logs:/home/botdarr/logs shayaantx/botdarr:latest &

Requires at least one chat client and one media API configured via environment variables

Install botdarr with Docker Compose

Docker Compose

Environment variables

DISCORD_TOKEN, DISCORD_CHANNELS, RADARR_URL, RADARR_TOKEN, RADARR_DEFAULT_PROFILE, RADARR_PATH, etc.

version: '2.2' botdarr: image: shayaantx/botdarr:latest container_name: botdarr environment: DISCORD_TOKEN: blahblah DISCORD_CHANNELS: channel1 RADARR_URL: http://172.168.1.196:8989 RADARR_TOKEN: 5958585858jggfdsjjg RADARR_DEFAULT_PROFILE: profile1 RADARR_PATH: /some-path volumes: - <BOTDARR_HOME>/logs:/home/botdarr/logs - <BOTDARR_HOME>/database:/home/botdarr/database

Requires at least one chat client and one media API configured via environment variables

Install botdarr with Java

Get latest copy of botdarr botdarr-release.jar
Make sure you have openjdk 8 or oracle java 8 installed on your machine
Make sure you run botdarr on the same type of OS has radarr, sonarr, and lidarr (or paths when adding content won't match target OS)
Create a folder called "database" in same folder you run jar in
Create a file called "properties" (without double quotes) in same folder as the jar
Fill it with the following properties (you can omit sonarr properties if you aren't using it, same with radarr/lidarr, however everything else listed below is required) - See Sample properties
You can only configure discord or slack or telegram token/channels, otherwise you will get an error during startup
Run the jar using java

nohup java -jar botdarr-release.jar &

Requires Java 8 and a properties configuration file

How to configure botdarr

COMMAND_PREFIX!The command prefix (default is !). Any prefix is allowed (but I haven't tested every single prefix in every client)
The command prefix (default is !). Any prefix is allowed (but I haven't tested every single prefix in every client)
DISCORD_CHANNELSThe actual discord channel(s) names the bot has access to. If multiple channel names specified, separate via a comma
The actual discord channel(s) names the bot has access to. If multiple channel names specified, separate via a comma
DISCORD_TOKENThe discord bot token (don't share)
The discord bot token (don't share)
EXISTING_ITEM_PATHS_BLACKLISTIf you want content to NOT appear in searches against your library, you can list blacklisted paths here in comma delimited form, and they will be ignored when building up responses
If you want content to NOT appear in searches against your library, you can list blacklisted paths here in comma delimited form, and they will be ignored when building up responses
LIDARR_DEFAULT_METADATA_PROFILEThe lidarr default metadata profile (should be already configured in lidarr)
The lidarr default metadata profile (should be already configured in lidarr)
LIDARR_DEFAULT_QUALITY_PROFILEThe lidarr default quality profile (should be already configured in lidarr)
The lidarr default quality profile (should be already configured in lidarr)
LIDARR_PATHWhere your lidarr artists/music should go (if you add/update them)
Where your lidarr artists/music should go (if you add/update them)
LIDARR_TOKENThe lidarr api key (get this from Lidarr->Settings->General)
The lidarr api key (get this from Lidarr->Settings->General)
LIDARR_URLThe url of your lidarr instance
The url of your lidarr instance
LIDARR_URL_BASEOnly populate this if you use a custom lidarr url base (which is configurable in Lidarr->Settings->General->URL Base) don't include prefix/suffix slashes
Only populate this if you use a custom lidarr url base (which is configurable in Lidarr->Settings->General->URL Base) don't include prefix/suffix slashes
LOG_LEVELinfoThe log4j log level
The log4j log level
MATRIX_HOME_SERVER_URLThe url of your homeserver
The url of your homeserver
MATRIX_PASSWORDThe matrix bot password
The matrix bot password
MATRIX_ROOMThe comma delimited list of matrix rooms you want to send/receive messages from
The comma delimited list of matrix rooms you want to send/receive messages from
MATRIX_USERNAMEThe matrix bot username
The matrix bot username
MAX_ARTIST_REQUESTS_PER_USERThe max number of artist requests per user per month, day, or week
The max number of artist requests per user per month, day, or week
MAX_DOWNLOADS_TO_SHOW20The max number of downloads to show. If you set this to any value less than or equal to 0, no downloads will show
The max number of downloads to show. If you set this to any value less than or equal to 0, no downloads will show
MAX_MOVIE_REQUESTS_PER_USERThe max number of movie requests per user per month, day, or week
The max number of movie requests per user per month, day, or week
MAX_REQUESTS_THRESHOLDThe threshold type for max requests. i.e., WEEK, MONTH, DAY (WEEK is from monday to sunday)
The threshold type for max requests. i.e., WEEK, MONTH, DAY (WEEK is from monday to sunday)
MAX_RESULTS_TO_SHOW20The max number of results to show per search command. If you set this to any value less than 0, the bot won't startup
The max number of results to show per search command. If you set this to any value less than 0, the bot won't startup
MAX_SHOW_REQUESTS_PER_USERThe max number of show requests per user per month, day, or week
The max number of show requests per user per month, day, or week
NOTIFICATION_INTERVAL20The number of minutes between each notification. If you set this to any value less than 0, the bot won't startup
The number of minutes between each notification. If you set this to any value less than 0, the bot won't startup
RADARR_DEFAULT_AVAILABILITYAnnouncedhttps://wiki.servarr.com/radarr/faq#what-is-minimum-availability
https://wiki.servarr.com/radarr/faq#what-is-minimum-availability
RADARR_DEFAULT_PROFILEThe radarr quality profile (should be already configured in radarr)
The radarr quality profile (should be already configured in radarr)
RADARR_PATHWhere your radarr movies should go (if you add/update them)
Where your radarr movies should go (if you add/update them)
RADARR_TOKENThe radarr api key (get this from Radarr->Settings->General)
The radarr api key (get this from Radarr->Settings->General)
RADARR_URLThe url of your radarr instance
The url of your radarr instance
RADARR_URL_BASEOnly populate this if you use a custom radarr url base (which is configurable in Radarr->Settings->General->URL Base) don't include prefix/suffix slashes
Only populate this if you use a custom radarr url base (which is configurable in Radarr->Settings->General->URL Base) don't include prefix/suffix slashes
SLACK_APP_TOKENThe slack app authentication token
The slack app authentication token
SLACK_BOT_TOKENThe slack bot oauth authentication token (don't share)
The slack bot oauth authentication token (don't share)
SLACK_CHANNELSThe actual slack channel(s) you want to post slack messages to
The actual slack channel(s) you want to post slack messages to
SONARR_DEFAULT_PROFILEThe sonarr quality profile (should be already configured in sonarr)
The sonarr quality profile (should be already configured in sonarr)
SONARR_PATHWhere your sonarr shows should go (if you add/update them)
Where your sonarr shows should go (if you add/update them)
SONARR_TOKENThe sonarr api key (get this from Sonarr->Settings->General)
The sonarr api key (get this from Sonarr->Settings->General)
SONARR_URLThe url of your sonarr instance
The url of your sonarr instance
SONARR_URL_BASEOnly populate this if you use a custom sonarr url base (which is configurable in Sonarr->Settings->General->URL Base) don't include prefix/suffix slashes
Only populate this if you use a custom sonarr url base (which is configurable in Sonarr->Settings->General->URL Base) don't include prefix/suffix slashes
SONARR_V4falseWhether you are using sonarr v4 or not (true/false)
Whether you are using sonarr v4 or not (true/false)
STATUS_ENDPOINTSEndpoints that can be used to return statuses via !status command. The endpoints are separated by a comma and each endpoint is in the following format - name:hostname:port
Endpoints that can be used to return statuses via !status command. The endpoints are separated by a comma and each endpoint is in the following format - name:hostname:port
TELEGRAM_PRIVATE_CHANNELSYour actual telegram channels your bot can respond in. This should be a list containing the name and id of the channel, i.e., CHANNEL_NAME:CHANNEL_ID to get the channel id, right click any post in private channel and copy post link you should see something like this, https://t.me/c/1408146664/63 the id is between c/<id>/<postId> example: plex-channel1:id1,plex-channel2:id2
Your actual telegram channels your bot can respond in. This should be a list containing the name and id of the channel, i.e., CHANNEL_NAME:CHANNEL_ID to get the channel id, right click any post in private channel and copy post link you should see something like this, https://t.me/c/1408146664/63 the id is between c/<id>/<postId> example: plex-channel1:id1,plex-channel2:id2
TELEGRAM_PRIVATE_GROUPSYour actual telegram groups your bot can respond in. This should be a list containing the name and id of the group, i.e., GROUP_NAME:GROUP_ID to get the channel id, right click any post in private group and copy post link (you need to enable message history for this) you should see something like this, https://t.me/c/1408146664/63 the id is between c/<id>/<postId> example: plex-group1:id1,plex-gro
Your actual telegram groups your bot can respond in. This should be a list containing the name and id of the group, i.e., GROUP_NAME:GROUP_ID to get the channel id, right click any post in private group and copy post link (you need to enable message history for this) you should see something like this, https://t.me/c/1408146664/63 the id is between c/<id>/<postId> example: plex-group1:id1,plex-gro
TELEGRAM_TOKENThe telegram bot token (don't share)
The telegram bot token (don't share)
TIMEOUT5000The connection/read timeout value (in milliseconds) for all outbound requests
The connection/read timeout value (in milliseconds) for all outbound requests