BandHelper vs StagePlot Guru
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BandHelper
Streamline band operations with this comprehensive organizational suite. Effortlessly share music, manage setlists, and coordinate rehearsals. Enhance live performances with customizable settings and backing tracks, while also managing finances and contacts professionally.
- Automatic song and setlist distribution
- Gig invitations and confirmations
- Reference recording playback with speed/loop
- Chord transposition
- Customizable performance settings
- Backing track and video playback
- Income/expense tracking
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Much more than a "songbook" app, BandHelper can organize your band and power your live show. COMMUNICATE EFFORTLESSLY • Distribute songs and set lists automatically to your bandmates • Send standardized gig invitations and confirmations • Maintain one organized source for gig details • Give sub players all the charts and recordings they need for a gig REHEARSE EFFICIENTLY • Sync set list, lyric and chord updates as you work • Play reference recordings instantly, with speed and loop controls • Transpose chords for different singers, capo positions or horn keys • Review notes and voice memos from previous rehearsals PERFORM SEAMLESSLY • Configure keyboards, effects and lighting as you change songs • Play backing tracks, click tracks and video presentations • Customize the interface or use foot switches for hands-free control • Add custom fields for personal notes and reminders MANAGE YOUR BAND PROFESSIONALLY • Track income/expenses and let band members view their earnings • Organize your booking and industry contacts • Build stage plots to send to venues • Generate invoices to send to clients *** If you have a problem or a suggestion, please contact me before writing a review. I can't troubleshoot problems through the review system, but I respond promptly to all help tickets and posts in my support forum. ***
StagePlot Guru
Design, save, and share professional stage plots with an intuitive interface and a vast library of industry-standard props. Customize your layouts with text labels, logos, and equipment lists for clear communication.
- Create professional stage plots
- Save and share designs
- Over 250 industry-standard props
- Customizable text labels and lists
- Add company/band logos
- Print/share as PDF
- Unlimited cloud storage
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StagePlot Guru is the way audio engineers, musicians, bands, event planners, clubs, churches, houses of worship, venues, hotels, wedding planners, stage managers and more CREATE, SAVE & SHARE professional stage plots. We offer dedicated customer support to users of the app for life. ONLY 1 SINGLE IN-APP PURCHASE- which is, the Pro-Version Upgrade. Everything is included for life with this upgrade- no re-occurring subscriptions. To Test Demo StagePlot For Free: Download > Go To My StagePlots > Open the Demo StagePlot -Easy-to-Read Graphics -Editing Tool Bar -Intuitive User Interface -Collapsible Toolbars to Maximize Workspace -Free Unlimited Database Storage Other Features Include: -Over 250 Industry Standard props -Account Management & Customer Support -Backup storage into the SPG Cloud -One account- multiple devices -Share StagePlots with anyone Via AirDrop or email -Print/Share as PDF -Unlimited Storage and Backup -Change, rotate, resize props as needed -Make lists for each prop chosen. Lists appear on the final readout. -Dedicated readouts for Equipment, Input & Notes Lists. -Customize Names of any prop. -Add your own company/band logo -Add Contact/Stage Manager Info -Flexible Document Arrangement -Produces a clean/professional StagePlot -Quick Text to label the props and the stage -All Props and Features are Free (no in-app purchases, besides the upgrade to pro) Prop Categories Included Are: INSTRUMENTS AUDIO INFRASTRUCTURE STAGES PLATFORMS LIGHTS INSTRUMENTS -Accordion -Bongos -Cajon -Dobro -Harmonica -Leslie Cabinet -Mandolin -Electric Bass -Upright Bass -DrumKit (acoustic) -DrumKit (double-bass) -Conga (single) -Conga (double) -DrumKit (electric) -Drum Sample Pad -Acoustic Guitar -Electric Guitar -Hand Drums -Keytar (left and right views) -Single Keyboard (4 perspectives) -Double Keyboard (3 perspectives) -Grand Piano (right, left or vertical) -Upright Piano (right, left or vertical) -Violin -Turntables -Organ Front View -Organ Back View -Steel Pedal -Washboard -Tambourine Skinned -Tambourine -Claves -Guiro -Marimba -Steel Pan Drum -Timbales -Timbales w/cowbell -Banjo -Hammer Dulcimer -Industry Standard Mic Pack with over 21 commonly used Mics -Algaita -Autoharp -Bagpipes -Balafone -Balalaka -Banjosamba -Concertina -Didgeridoo -Djembe -Irish Bazouki -Kalimba -Kora -Mbira -Panderio -Recoreco -Repique -Shekere -Singing Bowl -Sitar -Surdao -Table -Talking Drum -Udu -Zither AUDIO -Amplifier -Large Audio Console -In-Ear Monitors -Bass Amp -Dual Amp -Di Box -Amp Stack -Amp Head -Small Amp -Cable (xlr M/f) -Cable (instrument) -Cable (1/4-xlr) -Computer Interface -Pedal (Guitar) -Pedal (Keys) -Pedalboard -Laptop w/ 4 Perspectives -FX Racks (large, small) -Vocal Mic -Vocal Mic w/Stand -Drum Mic (individual) -Drum Mic (pack) -Drum Subkick -Small Boom Stand -Large Boom Stand -Straight Boom Stand -Overheads (left, right) -P.A Mains (Hanging) -P.A.Mains (Standing) -P.A Mains (Concert) -P.A Sub -P.A. Mixer (left, right) -P.A. Stage Monitors -P.A. Stage Monitors (Back View) -Snake -Colored Wires -Complete Commonly used mic sets PLATFORMS -Large Riser -Small Standard Riser -Wide Standard Riser -Triangle Shaped Extensions -Geometric Extensions -Choral Riser (small) -Choral Riser (large) ACCESSORIES -Avatars -Shapes (circles, triangles, square, rectangle, line, arrow) -Bench -Bench (Side View) -Chair -Headphones -Power Outlet -Podium -Music Stand -Small Plexiglass -Large Plexiglass -GuardRails -Sitting Person -Standing Person -Stairs (side view) -Stairs (front view) -Tech Headset -Throne -Stool -Table -Colored Wires -Guitar Boat -Guitar Stand -Case LIGHTS -Individual Par -Par Truss -Vertical Lights -Follow Spot -Light Rack -Truss Base Stand -Truss Headlock -Truss Brace ......................and more! Follow & Like Us On: Facebook.com/StagePlotGuru Instagram.com/StagePlotGuru YouTube.com/StagePlotGuru TikTok.com/StagePlotGuru
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: BandHelper at 78% against StagePlot Guru's 25%. BandHelper also leads on rating (4.3 vs 2.5) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. BandHelper sells 18 one-off in-app purchases and StagePlot Guru sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
BandHelper holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 113 and 120 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of BandHelper's written reviews are positive against 25% of StagePlot Guru's.
BandHelper ships an update every 2 weeks, StagePlot Guru every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BandHelper | StagePlot Guru |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (113 ratings) — better | 2.5 (120 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 78.3% of reviews — better | 24.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 113 | 120 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 70 MB | 124 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Arlo Leach | Active Media Production Group, LLC |
Customer experience
BandHelper
StagePlot Guru
User reviews
BandHelper
From 113 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Powerful features
- 👍 Customizable and flexible
- 🤖 Seamless MIDI integration
- 💻 Convenient web interface
- 🔄 Effective sync across devices
Room to improve
- 🤯 Steep learning curve
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate at times
- 💲 Subscription model may be a turnoff
- 🙅♀️ Not very intuitive for beginners
StagePlot Guru
From 120 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Quick and easy to use
- 👍 Professional-looking stage plots
- 💡 Helpful for organizing and communicating stage setups
- 🚀 Intuitive and user-friendly
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Overly restrictive free version
- 💰 Expensive for full features
- 🤔 Clunky and unintuitive interface
- 🤔 Lacking key features and customization options
Bugs and requests
BandHelper
Reported bugs
3 issues- Sync issues between devices
- Compatibility problems with older hardware
- Crashes when switching between documents
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to add handwritten notes
- Improved scrolling and page turning
- More customization options for layouts
- Integrated metronome with visual cues
StagePlot Guru
Reported bugs
4 issues- Frequent crashes and data loss
- Saving and loading issues
- Exporting low-quality or incomplete stage plots
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
Requested features
5 requests- More instrument and equipment options
- Ability to rotate and resize items freely
- Improved text editing and formatting
- Better stage dimension and layout controls
- Seamless cloud sync and backup
In-app purchases
BandHelper
- Basic - Solo Artist (month)$3.00
- Plus - Solo Artist (month)$3.49
- Pro - Solo Artist (month)$4.00
Show 15 moreShow fewer
- Basic - 2-5 Users (month)$5.00
- Basic - 6-20 Users (month)$7.00
- Plus - 2-5 Users (month)$7.00
- Pro - 2-5 Users (month)$9.00
- Plus - 6-20 Users (month)$10.49
- Pro - 6-20 Users (month)$14.00
- Basic - Solo Artist (year)$18.00
- Plus - Solo Artist (year)$28.00
- Pro - Solo Artist (year)$38.00
- Basic - 2-5 Users (year)$46.00
- Plus - 2-5 Users (year)$70.00
- Basic - 6-20 Users (year)$70.00
- Pro - 2-5 Users (year)$94.00
- Plus - 6-20 Users (year)$104.99
- Pro - 6-20 Users (year)$139.99
StagePlot Guru
- Horn Section SetFree
- Alto SaxophoneFree
- Tenor SaxophoneFree
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- TromboneFree
- TrumpetFree
- Jazz KitFree
- Video Camera, Projector, and ScreenFree
- PA ItemsFree
- ShapesFree
- Pro Version$4.99
Questions
Is BandHelper free?
Is StagePlot Guru free?
Which has better reviews, BandHelper or StagePlot Guru?
Do BandHelper or StagePlot Guru have ads?
Which is updated more often, BandHelper or StagePlot Guru?
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