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How StreamBridge compares to Bazarr

Bazarr works alongside Sonarr and Radarr and downloads missing subtitles for the library they manage. StreamBridge gives the films it puts in Plex their subtitles from a Mac app, with no Sonarr or Radarr.

What each one is

Bazarr

A companion service. Bazarr reads the shows and films Sonarr and Radarr manage, searches subtitle providers for your languages, and scores results against the release name. It can sync timing against the audio of the file on disk and machine-translate a missing language, including through SubDL's provider on a paid SubDL plan. It usually runs in Docker, with a web interface.

StreamBridge

A film gets its subtitles once it's in Plex, timed to that file. In Plex they're ordinary subtitles in Plex's own menu, on every device.

The Watch view: the film plays small on the TV it's going to, and the subtitles are drawn under it as they'll look. Clicking them is the choice: two languages, one, the release's own, or another language.

StreamBridge's Watch view: the film playing small on the TV it is going to, with English and Tiếng Việt drawn under it

Side by side

TopicStreamBridgeBazarr
NeedsA Mac and PlexSonarr and Radarr, which need a download client and storage
How it knows the libraryIt put the films in PlexFrom what Sonarr and Radarr manage
TimingTimed to your copySynced against the audio of the file on disk
Two languagesOne track, one line above the otherOne file per language
PriceSubtitles are part of Pro, a one-time purchaseFree

Where they differ

What each depends on

Both look for a subtitle that fits your release, adjust its timing and can translate. The difference is what they lean on. Bazarr needs Sonarr or Radarr to know what's in the library, and those need a download client and storage. StreamBridge already knows your library because it put the films in Plex.

Two languages in one track

Bazarr downloads one file per language, and Plex shows one at a time. StreamBridge can put two languages in one track, a second line under the first, which suits a household that speaks two languages or someone learning one.

Setup

Bazarr makes sense if you already run Sonarr and Radarr: install the container, connect both, add provider logins and set languages per profile. With StreamBridge you sign in to Plex and add Real-Debrid. To change a film's subtitles later, open its ⋯ menu, then Subtitles, then Change Subtitles. How StreamBridge subtitles work →

Which to choose

Bazarr, if

You run Sonarr and Radarr and like managing them. Bazarr is mature and free.

StreamBridge, if

You want films and their subtitles in Plex from one app with nothing to host. See pricing →

Download freemacOS 15+ · Pro is a one-time purchase