autobrr
Autobrr is a Go-based download automation tool for torrents and Usenet that monitors IRC announcements and RSS feeds to grab content matching user-defined filters. It integrates with popular download clients (qBittorrent, Deluge, Transmission) and media management applications (Radarr, Sonarr, Lidarr) to automate content acquisition at optimal times.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | autobrr/autobrr |
| Owner | autobrr |
| Primary language | Go |
| License | GPL-2.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 2.9k |
| Forks | 211 |
| Open issues | 33 |
| Latest release | v1.81.0 (2026-06-28) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-07 |
| Source | https://github.com/autobrr/autobrr |
What autobrr is
Built in Go with a React UI, autobrr monitors 75+ torrent tracker IRC channels and supports Newznab/Torznab/RSS feeds with regex-based filtering. It communicates with multiple remote download clients and media servers via direct integrations, webhooks, or custom script execution, storing configuration in SQLite or PostgreSQL.
Get the autobrr source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/autobrr/autobrr.gitcd autobrr# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- IRC channel monitoring requires active indexer accounts and proper channel join/auth configuration; misconfiguration may result in missed announcements.
- Filter logic using regex demands careful testing to avoid false positives/negatives; poorly tuned filters can spam download clients or miss desired content.
- Multi-client deployments require individual client authentication tokens and network accessibility; firewall/NAT traversal must be verified for remote clients.
- Database selection (SQLite vs. PostgreSQL) impacts scalability; SQLite suitable for single-instance, low-traffic setups; PostgreSQL recommended for high-volume or distributed deployments.
- Distroless Docker images incompatible with bash/shell-based filtering or custom script execution; standard image required if external script actions are used.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Public Tracker Focus Only — If targeting only public trackers without IRC announcements or private tracker requirements, RSS-based tools or native *arr feeds may suffice without added complexity.
- Minimal Operational Overhead Required — Requires dedicated hosting, database setup (SQLite or PostgreSQL), IRC channel configuration, and filter maintenance—unsuitable for users wanting zero-touch automation.
- Strict Legal/Compliance Environments — GPL-2.0 license and content automation use case may create compliance concerns in regulated industries; legal review required before deployment in corporate contexts.
- Windows Native-Only Deployment — While Windows builds exist, primary design targets Linux/containerized environments; Windows support is functional but less battle-tested than Docker/Linux deployments.
License & commercial use
Licensed under GPL-2.0, a copyleft open-source license requiring derivative works and distributions to include source code and maintain the same license terms.
GPL-2.0 is not a permissive license. Commercial use is possible but subject to copyleft obligations: any modifications or derivative distributions must provide source code and remain GPL-2.0. Requires legal review if incorporated into proprietary products. Using unmodified autobrr as-is in a commercial context is generally permissible, but modifications or bundling with closed-source software requires compliance assessment.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Strong |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Moderate |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
No explicit security audit or vulnerability disclosure program mentioned. Considerations: (1) Stores IRC credentials and indexer auth tokens; requires secure configuration file permissions. (2) Distroless Docker images offered to reduce attack surface. (3) No known disclosed vulnerabilities mentioned in provided data. (4) OIDC support available for federated auth in multi-user environments. (5) Webhook and custom script execution introduce potential injection vectors if filters are user-controlled. Standard application security best practices (dependency updates, input validation on filters) should be verified through code review.
Alternatives to consider
Autodl-irssi
Predecessor IRC-based torrent automation; lighter-weight but older, less actively maintained, and lacks modern UI and Usenet support that autobrr provides.
Flexget
Python-based automation engine supporting RSS/Newznab with regex filtering; more general-purpose but steeper learning curve and lacks real-time IRC monitoring.
Trackarr (via Radarr/Sonarr native RSS)
RSS-only approach integrated into *arr suite; simpler setup but slower feed updates, missing early-swarm IRC optimization, and no unified Usenet/torrent interface.
Build on autobrr with DEV.co software developers
Autobrr offers powerful, real-time download automation for private trackers and Usenet. Review the deployment considerations, licensing terms, and integration requirements with your infrastructure team. Test in a staging environment first, as IRC configuration and filter tuning require operational expertise.
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autobrr FAQ
Do I need to run autobrr on the same server as my download clients?
What database should I use: SQLite or PostgreSQL?
Can I use autobrr without IRC channels (RSS only)?
Is autobrr legal? Can I use it commercially?
Custom software development services
DEV.co helps companies turn open-source tools like autobrr into production software. Our software development services cover the full lifecycle — architecture, web development, integration, and maintenance — delivered by software developers and web developers who ship. Engage our software development agency to implement or customize it for your open-source devops stack.
Evaluate Autobrr for Your Self-Hosted Automation Stack
Autobrr offers powerful, real-time download automation for private trackers and Usenet. Review the deployment considerations, licensing terms, and integration requirements with your infrastructure team. Test in a staging environment first, as IRC configuration and filter tuning require operational expertise.