Comparison

SongBook+ vs iKlip Stage

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SongBook+

Manage your song library with lyrics, sheet music, and playbacks. This app offers extensive features for musicians, including MIDI control, audio playback, and video support, all accessible on stage. Unlock the full version via in-app purchase to remove song limits.

Highlights
  • Manage songs with search and sort
  • View lyrics and sheet music
  • Play audio and MIDI files
  • Control MIDI devices
  • Create playlists
  • Handwrite and annotate documents
  • Foot pedal control
Features
Read full description

SongBook+ is the digital songbook for musicians who want their repertoire firmly under control, especially live on stage. Lyrics and sheet music are on screen instead of in a binder, each song keeps its own backing track, and with a MIDI-capable keyboard, SongBook+ recalls the matching registration as you open the song. No changing settings by hand, no searching between songs. SongBook+ works with your own material: lyrics, sheet music, backing tracks, videos, and MIDI files in common formats such as PDF, ChordPro, and MP3. No songs, lyrics, sheet music, backing tracks, or other files are included. Import your files via the Files app, Finder, Wi-Fi, or “Open in”, guided by an illustrated online manual. For solo performers with a keyboard, singers with backing tracks, cover bands, hobby musicians, and anyone with a large repertoire. For practice, rehearsals, lessons, the studio, and the stage. On iPad, iPhone, and Mac, on the App Store since 2011, continuously expanded with new features and updated for new iOS versions and devices. Use up to 15 of your own songs for free and set them up for your next gig. When your repertoire grows, unlock the full version in the app, either as a subscription or as a purchase with five years of updates. After those five years, your installed version keeps working; newer versions require a new purchase. The sponsoring subscriptions in the list of in-app purchases are a voluntary way to support development, not needed for the full version. To try out the features, load sample songs directly in the app. Keyboard and MIDI, matched to every song: • Recall keyboard registrations when you open a song • Send MIDI commands when opening, starting, stopping, or closing a song • Trigger MIDI commands with assignable buttons in the document • Play MIDI files through external sound modules • MIDI monitor, macros, routing, and THRU On stage, without searching: • Find any song in seconds, even on the fly: search, filters, tags, sorting • As many playlists as you like, for example one setlist per gig • Live playlist: add songs for the next set during a break, played songs can disappear automatically • Preselect the next song while the current one plays • Turn full pages or scroll smoothly, also automatically • Control SongBook+ by foot pedal or MIDI, your hands stay on the instrument • Night mode with inverted colors for dark stages • Visual and/or audible metronome • Portrait or landscape orientation Backing tracks, click, and video, every track where it belongs: • Play MP3, WAV, AIFF, and M4A • Up to 5 stereo audio files in sync • Mixer with volume, EQ for audio files, global and per song • Click and backing track on separate outputs (external hardware required) • Global balance, pan, channel assignment to external outputs • Loop audio, MIDI, and video files • Play jingles • Fade out songs: audio, video, and MIDI • Play your own karaoke videos directly on the iPad • External monitor or projector, rotatable image, also for song videos With the band, everyone on the same song: • Connect multiple iPads wirelessly and open songs in sync • Sync the live playlist with your band's devices, everyone sees the same set • Only the song number is sent, so each musician keeps their own view and notes • Separate books, for example one per band or project Prepare and practice, set up once, open anytime: • Display PDF, TXT, images, LRC, and ChordPro • Scan lyrics and sheet music to PDF with the camera • Import lyrics from MIDI and MP3 files • Add notes, chords, symbols, highlights, and handwriting • Record the song position with your finger and play it back karaoke-style After the gig: • Music log for reporting to ASCAP, BMI, PRS, and others • Back up, restore, export, and share data See how other musicians use SongBook+ with their keyboards and sound modules in the customer videos on songbookplus.com. Terms of Use (EULA) and Privacy Policy: https://www.songbookplus.com/privacy-terms-conditions

About

iKlip Stage

This app helps musicians manage their music scores, lyrics, and tabs for live performances. Organize files into setlists and view them full-screen, with options for hands-free page turning via wireless accessories.

Highlights
  • Import music scores, lyrics, and tabs
  • Create and organize setlists
  • Full-screen score viewing
  • Hands-free page turning with accessories
  • Supports PDF, TXT, image, and RTF formats
  • Portrait and landscape modes
Read full description

iKLIP STAGE – SET LIST & SCORE MANAGEMENT MADE EASY Your live performances and gigs are about to get a whole lot easier: Introducing iKlip Stage, the new iPad companion app for iKlip products that lets you organize, manage and perform with your favorite music scores, lyrics, tabs and more. With iKlip Stage, you’ll have the confidence to play at your best. Its streamlined interface is easy to use and handles all the effort of organization for you. Just import your favorite scores, assemble them into setlists and let iKlip Stage do the rest — just select your score for full-screen view and either swipe left or right to turn the page or use iRig BlueTurn wireless backlit page turner or iRig BlueBoard wireless MIDI pedalboard for hands-free page turning. Now you can spend more time doing what you love: performing music! EFFORTLESS ORGANIZATION Organization is at the heart of iKlip Stage, which is why its interface is so simple. You’ll enjoy wide-ranging support for a variety of popular formats. Import scores, lyrics, tabs and more in the FILE page where they’re displayed as easy to view thumbnail previews. Then use the LIST page to drag and organize into setlists. It’s the simple, streamlined and powerful way to manage all your scores. SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE With iKlip Stage you’ll always see the full picture. When you’re ready to perform, just double-tap the score you’d like to use and you’ll see it displayed in full-screen mode. Use iRig BlueTurn to scroll and turn pages from the floor while you play. You can also use it in your favorite viewing position: just rotate your iPad to switch between landscape and portrait mode on the fly. BEYOND THE SCREEN Sometimes touch isn’t enough. Though iKlip Stage is easy to use with your touch screen, it can also be controlled in more advanced ways: Use IK’s iRig BlueTurn or iRig BlueBoard to scroll material and turn pages with your feet from the floor. No matter how you choose to use it, iKlip Stage lets you take your live performance to the next level. FEATURES - Quickly import music scores, lyrics, tabs and more - Fast and easy creation, organization and selection of setlists - Supports popular formats: PDF, TXT, PNG, JPG, TIFF, RTF and BMP - Import files via File Sharing, Copy/Paste, the Photo Album or via apps that support the Open In function - Intuitive interface with thumbnail previews of scores - Designed to work with all iKlip products range (iKlip 3, iKlip 2, iKlip Stand, iKlip Xpand) - Supports touchless control through iRig BlueBoard, iRig BlueTurn - Portrait/Landscape modes available - Free (30 files and 2 setlists included — register an iKlip, iRig BlueTurn or iRig Blueboard product serial number to increase capacity to 60 files and 4 setlists — unlimited scores and setlists available via in-app purchase) To learn more about iKlip Stage and compatible accessories, please visit: www.ikmultimedia.com/iklipstageipad Check out the greatest selection of music apps and mobile music creation accessories here: www.ikmultimedia.com

Screenshots

SongBook+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SongBook+ at 67% against iKlip Stage's 9%. SongBook+ also leads on rating (4.4 vs 1.7) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 16 months). iKlip Stage's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SongBook+ sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and iKlip Stage sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SongBook+ holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 1.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 163 and 36 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of SongBook+'s written reviews are positive against 9% of iKlip Stage's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SongBook+ ships an update every 6 weeks, iKlip Stage every 16 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SongBook+ versus iKlip Stage: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSongBook+iKlip Stage
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (163 ratings) — better1.7 (36 ratings)
Positive reviews67.1% of reviews — better9.1% of reviews
Number of ratings163 — better36
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 16 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPad
Requires iOS15.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBauM-Software Matthias BauerIK Multimedia US, LLC

Customer experience

SongBook+

All ratings163 ratings
Positive85.3%
Neutral4.3%
Negative10.4%
Written reviews155 reviews
Positive67.1%
Neutral5.8%
Negative27.1%

iKlip Stage

All ratings36 ratings
Positive11.1%
Neutral5.6%
Negative83.3%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive9.1%
Neutral15.2%
Negative75.8%

User reviews

SongBook+

From 163 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Versatile and feature-rich
  • 👍 Excellent for managing music repertoire
  • 👍 Reliable for live performances
  • 👍 Seamless MIDI integration with keyboards
  • 👍 Great for organizing lyrics and chords

Room to improve

  • 😞 Steep learning curve for some
  • 😞 Expensive for some users
  • 😞 Can be complex to set up
  • 😞 Some users find the UI difficult to navigate
  • 😞 Limited functionality in free version

iKlip Stage

From 36 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Turns pages reliably
  • 👍 Easy to connect to BlueBoard
  • 👍 Works great for page flipping
  • 👍 Does what it says
  • 👍 Great display of PDFs

Room to improve

  • 👎 Very basic and hard to use
  • 👎 Difficult to navigate
  • 👎 Bluetooth page turner not working
  • 👎 Does virtually nothing else
  • 👎 Expensive for limited functionality

Bugs and requests

SongBook+

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • App freezes when switching to other apps on iPad Pro
  • Dropbox import hangs after a few songs
  • Crashes during live performance (video playback)
  • Full version won't open after purchase
  • Last page of songs not accessible
Show 9 more
  • Update forces repurchase of the app
  • App resets to demo mode after update
  • Issues with purchase restoration
  • App crashes iPad 2 during songs
  • Cannot share all content with another device
  • MIDI issues with specific devices (e.g., PA4x, Genos2, Roland VAccordion)
  • App not showing in settings
  • Importing from iCloud not working for some
  • Cannot edit or change font size of songs

Requested features

14 requests
  • Fade out for MP3 files
  • Phone number for support
  • Option to change background color
  • Ability to copy playlists
  • Sort criteria option on the left side
Show 9 more
  • Song scrolling without song option (for metronome)
  • Improvement for iPad Pro stability when switching apps
  • Better explanation for MIDI configuration
  • ChordPro format import
  • Dark mode option
  • More intuitive UI for beginners
  • Option to not open blank PDF pages
  • Wireless/MIDI selection of songs on accordion
  • Annotation feature

iKlip Stage

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • Bluetooth page turner not working
  • Cannot get lyrics imported
  • Page turning stops after 30 seconds
  • File button not working
  • Lists become unreadable
Show 15 more
  • Imports don't show up
  • Switching between files and lists doesn't function properly
  • App error when submitting for help
  • Cannot upload multiple pages
  • iKlip Stage does not populate song list
  • App crashes when trying to pair with Blueboard on iOS 9
  • In-app purchase disappeared after iOS 9 upgrade
  • Unlimited songs purchase does not work or restore on iOS 9
  • Cannot connect Blueboard, says "searching"
  • Syncing BlueBoard crashes App since OS 9
  • App closes when trying to enter first character for account creation
  • Cannot get past opening screen
  • Cannot delete anything
  • Blueboard incompatible with iOS 9.1
  • iOS 11.4 crashes program

Requested features

19 requests
  • Add editing functions to PDFs
  • Add notes/markup within the app
  • Improve Files button navigation
  • Allow import of multiple files at once
  • Improve user interface
Show 14 more
  • Remove or improve list view bar
  • Allow editing of imported file names
  • Add zoom and automatic scroll
  • Add editing facility to change sheet names
  • Allow annotation of music
  • Add ability to delete PDFs
  • Support scrolling of PDFs
  • Display 2-up in landscape mode
  • Stop nagging to buy products already owned
  • Wireless import from cloud services
  • Basic editor capability
  • Ability to rename files (songs)
  • Make notes on the page possible
  • Support scrolling when zoomed in

In-app purchases

10 purchases

SongBook+

Subscriptions8
  • BRONZE sponsor (monthly)$0.991 Month
  • SILVER sponsor (monthly)$1.991 Month
  • Full version (monthly)$1.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • GOLD sponsor (monthly)$3.991 Month
  • BRONZE sponsor (yearly)$11.491 Year
  • Full version (yearly)$20.491 Year
  • SILVER sponsor (yearly)$22.991 Year
  • GOLD sponsor (yearly)$45.991 Year
One-time2
  • Full version$49.99
  • Updates +5 years$49.99
1 purchases

iKlip Stage

One-time1
  • Unlimited Set Lists$9.99

Questions

Is SongBook+ free?
SongBook+ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is iKlip Stage free?
iKlip Stage is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SongBook+ or iKlip Stage?
SongBook+ is rated higher. SongBook+ averages 4.4 out of 5 from 163 ratings, while iKlip Stage averages 1.7 from 36 ratings.
Do SongBook+ or iKlip Stage have ads?
Neither SongBook+ nor iKlip Stage shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SongBook+ or iKlip Stage?
SongBook+ ships an update every 6 weeks, and iKlip Stage every 16 months. Most recently, SongBook+ was updated on October 30, 2026 and iKlip Stage on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons