Sonarr vs VideoSort: How They Work with NZBGet

If you’re setting up a Usenet automation workflow, you’ll likely come across Sonarr and VideoSort. These two tools serve different purposes, but they can also complement each other depending on how you handle downloads. This guide breaks down their differences, shows how they integrate with NZBGet, and helps you decide which one (or both) belongs in your setup.

What Is Sonarr?

Sonarr is a tool designed to automate the entire download process. It:

• Monitors RSS feeds from NZB indexers
• Finds and downloads new files
• Renames them
• Sorts them into designated folders
• Can trigger downloads via NZBGet

Example: Sonarr can automatically detect new items from your watchlist, download them, apply your preferred naming format, and organize the files into the correct destination folders without manual intervention.

What Is VideoSort?

VideoSort is a post-processing script that runs within NZBGet. It doesn’t search or download articles, but instead helps you:

• Rename downloaded files
• Move them to organized folders based on naming patterns
• Clean up file names and locations after downloads finish

Example: After a manual NZB download, VideoSort can rename a file with a generic or messy name to something cleaner and more easily identifiable, then move it into your preferred folder structure for easier access and organization.

Key Differences: Sonarr vs VideoSort

Can You Use Sonarr and VideoSort Together?

Yes—and in some cases, it’s ideal. Here’s how they can coexist:

Use Case 1: Fully Automated Workflow (Sonarr Only)

• Let Sonarr monitor your indexers
• Sonarr sends NZBs to NZBGet
• Sonarr watches your download folder and moves/renames completed files
• VideoSort is disabled

Use Case 2: Manual NZBs + Post-Processing (VideoSort Only)

• You manually add NZBs to NZBGet
• VideoSort automatically organizes them once the download finishes
• Sonarr is not used

Use Case 3: Hybrid Setup (Both Tools)

• Use Sonarr for scheduled and monitored downloads
• Use NZBGet + VideoSort for manually added .iso files or one-off downloads
• Set up paths so both systems organize files into places Sonarr can still scan (like matching destination directories)

Visual Workflow: Who Should Handle the Downloads?

This flowchart helps you decide who should take over the download handling based on how you use NZBGet and Sonarr. Some key configuration notes:

• If Sonarr handles everything:
  • In Sonarr → Settings → Download Clients (Show Advanced):
    • ✅ Enable: “Automatically import completed downloads from download client”
  • In NZBGet → Extension Manager:
    • ❌ Disable: VideoSort and EasySort
• If VideoSort is handling downloads:
  • In Sonarr → Download Clients:
    • ✅ NZBGet as the client
    • ❌ Disable: automatic import
  • In NZBGet:
    • ✅ Enable: VideoSort

Tip: To keep VideoSort’s output compatible with Sonarr scanning, make sure the folder VideoSort moves sorted files into matches your Sonarr root folder structure.

Which One Should You Use?

Choose based on your workflow:

• Use Sonarr if you want full automation for structured or ongoing files.
• Use VideoSort if you mostly download manually and want your downloads organized.
• Use both if you want automation for recurring posts and control over one-off or bulk downloads

Related Tools and Resources

• How to Configure NZBGet
• NZBGet Performance Optimization Guide
• Sonarr/Radarr Integration
• Path and Folder Structure Guide
• r/nzbget + Discord – community support