Jackett vs Prowlarr: Which Indexer Manager?
Quick Verdict
Prowlarr is the better choice for new setups. It natively integrates with Sonarr, Radarr, and Lidarr — when you add an indexer in Prowlarr, it automatically pushes to all connected *arr apps. Jackett still works and has more indexer support, but requires manual API key configuration in each app.
Overview
Both tools solve the same problem: managing torrent and Usenet indexers in one place instead of configuring them separately in each *arr app.
Jackett is the original indexer proxy. It translates Torznab/Potato API queries from *arr apps into tracker-specific requests. Each *arr app connects to Jackett individually using an API key.
Prowlarr is the newer, *arr-native replacement built by the same team behind Sonarr and Radarr. It manages indexers centrally and pushes configurations directly to connected *arr apps via their APIs.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Jackett | Prowlarr |
|---|---|---|
| Indexer count | 500+ | 400+ |
| *arr native integration | No (manual API keys) | Yes (auto-sync) |
| Indexer sync | Manual per app | Automatic push |
| FlareSolverr support | Yes | Yes |
| Usenet support | Yes | Yes |
| Torrent support | Yes | Yes |
| RSS sync | Indexer-level only | App-level with scheduling |
| Search interface | Built-in web search | Built-in web search |
| Category mapping | Manual | Automatic |
| Health monitoring | Basic | Per-app sync status |
| Docker image | LinuxServer.io | LinuxServer.io |
| Active development | Maintained | Active (part of *arr project) |
| Web UI | Functional but dated | Modern, *arr-style |
Installation Complexity
Jackett: Simpler standalone setup. One container, one port, done. But then you must manually copy the API key and indexer URLs into each *arr app.
Prowlarr: Same simple Docker setup. One container, one port. But adding *arr apps to Prowlarr (Settings → Apps) enables automatic indexer syncing — add an indexer once, it appears in all connected apps.
Winner: Prowlarr — slightly more initial setup (connecting apps), but dramatically less ongoing maintenance.
Performance and Resource Usage
Both are lightweight:
| Metric | Jackett | Prowlarr |
|---|---|---|
| RAM (idle) | ~100 MB | ~150 MB |
| CPU | Low | Low |
| Disk | ~50 MB | ~50 MB |
Prowlarr uses slightly more RAM due to its database and sync engine, but the difference is negligible.
Community and Support
Jackett: Larger community, more Stack Overflow answers, longer track record. More indexers supported due to its longer history.
Prowlarr: Backed by the *arr development team. Better integration support. Actively developed with regular releases. Growing community that’s migrating from Jackett.
Use Cases
Choose Prowlarr If…
- You’re starting a new *arr stack from scratch
- You use multiple *arr apps (Sonarr + Radarr + Lidarr)
- You want indexers managed in one place with auto-sync
- You prefer the modern *arr-style UI
Choose Jackett If…
- You need a specific indexer that Prowlarr doesn’t support yet
- You use non-*arr software that only speaks Torznab
- You have an existing setup that works and don’t want to migrate
- You need the absolute widest indexer compatibility
Final Verdict
Prowlarr is the future of indexer management for the *arr stack. The native integration eliminates the tedious process of copying API keys and configuring each indexer in each app separately. If you’re setting up a new media automation stack, use Prowlarr. If you have a working Jackett setup, there’s no urgency to migrate — but Prowlarr is worth the switch when you next change your configuration.
FAQ
Can I run both Jackett and Prowlarr?
Yes, but there’s no reason to. They do the same thing. Running both wastes resources and complicates your setup. Pick one.
Will Jackett be discontinued?
Unlikely in the near term. Jackett has a large user base and active maintainers. But Prowlarr has the *arr team’s backing and is the recommended tool going forward.
How do I migrate from Jackett to Prowlarr?
- Install Prowlarr and connect your *arr apps (Settings → Apps)
- Add your indexers in Prowlarr (many have the same names)
- Prowlarr syncs them to your *arr apps automatically
- Remove the Jackett indexers from each *arr app
- Stop the Jackett container
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