Comparison

SongBook+ vs Setlist Helper

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

Setlist Helper

Organize songs and lyrics into setlists for performances or practice. This app allows you to store all your lyrics digitally, import various file types, and even attach audio files. It's designed for musicians, speakers, and anyone needing structured song lists.

Highlights
  • ChordPro format support with transpose
  • Import PDF, Word, and image files
  • Attach and play audio files
  • Bluetooth pedal support
  • Set breaks with countdown timers
  • Sync songs and setlists online
  • Built-in metronome
Features
Read full description

Setlist Helper provides musicians and performers an easy way to organize songs and lyrics into setlists for performance or practice. Replace your songbook by putting all your lyrics into Setlist Helper. Great for musicians, worship teams, professional speakers, and anyone who needs organized setlists. Looking for band collaboration? Check out Band Central — the next generation of Setlist Helper. Band Central adds real-time sync, multiple bands, per-member lyrics, and full collaboration. Search for "Band Central" on the App Store or visit http://www.bandcentral.com to get started. Setlist Helper syncs with http://www.setlisthelper.com where you can create a free account and manage your songs and setlists online. Import songs from a spreadsheet to get up and running quickly. Features: - ChordPro format support with transpose and auto-scroll - Import PDF, Word, and image files as lyrics - Attach and play audio files (mp3) with songs - Dropbox integration for file import - Search for lyrics online and import directly - Bluetooth pedal support (AirTurn and compatible devices) - Drag and drop to reorder setlist songs - Insert set breaks with countdown timers - Sync songs and setlists with http://www.setlisthelper.com for backup and offline use - Share setlists via email and more - Search and filter your song catalog - Statistics showing total items and total time - Copy setlists from previous gigs - Swipe through lyrics during performance - Pinch to zoom lyrics with saved view scale per song - Keep screen on during performance - Built-in metronome Questions or feedback? Email us at support@setlisthelper.com. The app is in continuous development with regular updates and new features.

Screenshots

SongBook+4 screens
Setlist Helper4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SongBook+ at 4.4 against Setlist Helper's 4.0. SongBook+ also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 44%) and ratings volume (163 vs 9). Setlist Helper's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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 Setlist Helper 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 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SongBook+ has 163 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of SongBook+'s written reviews are positive against 44% of Setlist Helper's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SongBook+ ships an update every 6 weeks, Setlist Helper weekly. Both last shipped on November 13, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SongBook+ versus Setlist Helper: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSongBook+Setlist Helper
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (163 ratings) — better4.0 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews67.1% of reviews — better44.1% of reviews
Number of ratings163 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB40 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBauM-Software Matthias BauerSET LIST HELPER INC.

Customer experience

SongBook+

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

Setlist Helper

All ratings9 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative22.2%
Written reviews127 reviews
Positive44.1%
Neutral12.6%
Negative43.3%

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

Setlist Helper

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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

Setlist Helper

One-time1
  • Setlist Helper full version$14.99

Questions

Is SongBook+ free?
SongBook+ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Setlist Helper free?
Setlist Helper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SongBook+ or Setlist Helper?
SongBook+ is rated higher. SongBook+ averages 4.4 out of 5 from 163 ratings, while Setlist Helper averages 4.0 from 9 ratings.
Do SongBook+ or Setlist Helper have ads?
Neither SongBook+ nor Setlist Helper shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SongBook+ or Setlist Helper?
SongBook+ ships an update every 6 weeks, and Setlist Helper weekly. Most recently, SongBook+ was updated on November 13, 2026 and Setlist Helper on November 13, 2026.

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