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Everything about editions, installing, updating and licensing. Still stuck? Visit support.
About WatchNexus
What is WatchNexus?
WatchNexus is a self-hosted, all-in-one media server. It replaces Sonarr, Radarr, Prowlarr, Bazarr, Jellyfin and more with a single application of 73 purpose-built modules — and drives your existing qBittorrent client for downloads.
Is there a free version?
Yes. WatchNexus Standard is free forever and includes 31 modules: library management, streaming, downloads, playlists, gadgets, themes and more. No credit card, no trial period.
What’s the difference between Standard, Pro and Ultra?
- Standard (free) — the core media server: library, streaming, downloads, playlists, gadgets and themes. 31 modules.
- Pro ($35 CAD) — adds automation and analytics: indexer search, movie automation, scheduled tasks, Live TV/IPTV with DVR, AI recommendations, ebooks, music, RSS, backups and 2FA. 49 modules.
- Ultra ($60 CAD) — the full suite: security center, GPU transcoding, disc ripping, retro gaming, Jellyfin/Emby sync, Jellyseerr, cloud backup, offline sync, Matrix, Usenet, subtitles and more. 73 modules.
Is my data stored locally?
Yes, 100%. Your media, database, settings and watch history all stay on your server. The only outside connections are to TMDB for metadata, the download clients you configure, and the license server for activation and updates.
Installing & updating
How do I install WatchNexus?
WatchNexus Standard runs from a single Docker image. Pull watchnexus/watchnexus:latest-standard, start it with your media folder mounted at /data/media, then open http://your-server:8001.
What are the system requirements?
Docker 20.10+ (or Compose v2) on Linux, macOS, or Windows with WSL2. At least 2 CPU cores and 2 GB of RAM, plus about 500 MB of disk for the app.
Can I run WatchNexus without Docker?
No. As of v1.0.4, Docker is the only supported way to install WatchNexus. The image includes every dependency and makes updates a one-line job.
How do updates work?
New releases are published to the latest-standard tag. Run docker compose pull && docker compose up -d — or pull and re-create the container if you used docker run. Your data lives in the watchnexus-data volume and carries over. Update guide →
Licensing & pricing
Is this a subscription?
No. Pro and Ultra are one-time purchases that are yours for good, and every edition includes lifetime updates. Standard is free forever.
How do I activate Pro or Ultra?
- Install WatchNexus Standard (free).
- Buy a Pro or Ultra serial at licenses.watchnexus.ca. It’s emailed to you once payment is confirmed.
- In WatchNexus, go to Settings → Activation and enter your serial.
Can I upgrade from Pro to Ultra later?
Yes. Standard → Pro, Standard → Ultra and Pro → Ultra are all supported. Enter your new serial in Settings → Activation.
What currency are the prices in?
Canadian dollars. Pro is $35 CAD (about $26 USD) and Ultra is $60 CAD (about $44 USD). No recurring fees.
Modules
Why do the modules have food names?
Every module gets a culinary codename — Compote searches indexers, Fondue automates movies, Truffle crunches your watch stats. It keeps 73 modules memorable, and it’s more fun than “Service 42”.
What is Pretzel?
Pretzel is a browser-based retro game console built into Ultra. It supports 15 systems including NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, Game Boy, GBA, PlayStation, Atari and MAME. Load ROMs from your server and play in the browser.
What is Chowder?
Chowder is the Ultra media-sync engine. Connect to remote Jellyfin or Emby servers, browse their libraries, and download with scheduling, bandwidth control and automatic library import.
NexusSMS & NexusAudio
When is NexusSMS available?
NexusSMS is in final testing and is coming to Google Play as a one-time $4.99 USD purchase. Learn more →
Is NexusAudio really free?
Yes. NexusAudio is free and open source for Windows, Linux and macOS. Downloads are on the way. Learn more →