Comparison

Stage Plot Maker vs Nashville Numbers

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

Head to head
About

Stage Plot Maker

Create clear, readable stage plots to communicate your band's technical needs to sound engineers. Easily build and manage a collection of plots for various gigs, then print or email them directly from your device. The app uses symbols for instruments and their inputs for a streamlined, efficient display.

Highlights
  • Build clear stage plots
  • Communicate technical requirements
  • Print or email plots
  • Include diagrams and input lists
  • Add performer info and notes
  • Use symbols for instruments
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Stage Plot Maker helps you build clear, readable stage plots to communicate your band's technical requirements to a sound engineer. You can build a collection of stage plots for different kinds of gigs, then print or email them directly from your mobile device. Running the app on a tablet is recommended for building stage plots. Once you build a stage plot, you can copy it to the phone app for quick access on the go. Stage plots can include a diagram to show the placement of elements on stage; numbered input and output lists; a list of other required items like chairs and music stands; the name and photo of each performer; notes for the sound engineer; and your contact info. Note that this app doesn't use pictures for small instruments like guitars, trumpets, etc. Instead, it uses symbols for the inputs that those instruments go into, like mics or DI boxes. You can label those inputs to show what instrument they are used for. This provides a streamlined display that shows sound engineers just what they need to set up the stage for you. The app does include symbols for large instruments like piano and drums that are typically placed on stage first with the inputs positioned around them. Please see the screen shots and demo video for examples. *** If you have a problem or a suggestion, please contact me before writing a bad review. I respond promptly to all emails and posts in my support forum. ***

About

Nashville Numbers

This app simplifies music notation using the Nashville Number System, allowing musicians to create song charts digitally. It replaces traditional methods like pencil and paper for live performances, recording, and teaching.

Highlights
  • Digital song chart creation
  • Nashville Number System implementation
  • Streamlined notation format
  • Replaces pencil and paper
  • Suitable for live performance and recording
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Music notation is made simple with this shorthand system which puts chords into numbers 1 though 7 and streamlines the page into a simple and clean format. Forget about pencil, erasers and photocopy! This app combines technology with tried and tested methods; allowing users to create song charts with the ease and speed of pen and paper. For over 60 years, the Nashville Number System has been the standard for musicians in live performance, recording sessions, and teaching environments. The published book has become required reading in many of the most prestigious music schools, including Belmont, ETSU, Lee and Liberty University, while also being required reading for anyone when they get their first gig in music city. This innovative app brings the must-read instructional book by Chas Williams, with well over 50,000 copies sold, into our digital age by seamlessly allowing charts to be written on your digital device! Please give feedback of a 5 star review, or contact us directly. If you’re not happy with the app, we will issue a full refund of your purchase price (in exchange for not writing a bad review) and insure your issues are reviewed and fixed. You can keep your version and be notified when an update has been made. Thank you for your business. My name is Leland and I’m on the development team along with Chas. My personal email is nashvillenumbers1@gmail.com so you can contact me with issues or great musical stories! Chart Everything My Friends!!!

Screenshots

Stage Plot Maker4 screens
Nashville Numbers4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Nashville Numbers at 78% against Stage Plot Maker's 10%. Nashville Numbers also leads on rating (4.5 vs 2.0) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). Stage Plot Maker's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $9.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.4). On ads, in-app purchases, chart position 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

Stage Plot Maker costs $3.99 and Nashville Numbers $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Nashville Numbers holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nashville Numbers has 101 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 10% of Stage Plot Maker's written reviews are positive against 78% of Nashville Numbers's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Stage Plot Maker ships an update every 3 months, Nashville Numbers every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Stage Plot Maker versus Nashville Numbers: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStage Plot MakerNashville Numbers
Price$3.99 — better$9.99
Rating2.0 (8 ratings)4.5 (101 ratings) — better
Positive reviews9.9% of reviews78.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8101 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank#170#129 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArlo LeachMusic City Apps

Customer experience

Stage Plot Maker

All ratings8 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews71 reviews
Positive9.9%
Neutral2.8%
Negative87.3%

Nashville Numbers

All ratings101 ratings
Positive85.1%
Neutral7.9%
Negative6.9%
Written reviews73 reviews
Positive78.1%
Neutral9.6%
Negative12.3%

User reviews

Stage Plot Maker

From 8 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use (few users)
  • 👍 Good for basic setups (few users)
  • 👍 Helpful for communication (few users)

Room to improve

  • 👎 Missing essential instruments
  • 👎 Limited instrument options
  • 👎 Difficult to use
  • 👎 Poor user interface
  • 👎 Not intuitive

Nashville Numbers

From 101 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 🚀 Fast charting and creation
  • 💡 Great for Nashville Numbers System
  • 🔄 Easy transposition to chord letters
  • 📄 Exportable to PDF

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Data loss issues
  • 🤔 Lacks clear instructions/tutorials
  • 🗂️ Poor organization of charts
  • ✍️ Annotation can be messy/wonky
  • 🖱️ Cumbersome on desktop with mouse

Bugs and requests

Stage Plot Maker

Reported bugs

21 issues
  • App crashes frequently
  • App closes out on itself
  • Grey boxes stay on
  • Cannot open or edit plans on other devices
  • Cannot export or email plots
Show 16 more
  • Drafts erased when device goes to standby
  • Settings page gets stuck
  • Rotate function doesn't work
  • Input list and 'other items' list clutter plot
  • Cannot edit input list without adding to plot
  • Cannot zoom in
  • Cannot resize items
  • Cannot resize stage
  • Editing screen obscures view
  • Items too big, stage too small
  • No guitar amps or monitors, end up as drums
  • Cannot label properly
  • Text for input list too small
  • Colliding lists and plot
  • No DJ deck listed
  • No guitar pedalboard position option

Requested features

30 requests
  • Add guitars, basses, keyboards, amps
  • Add mic stands
  • Add horns, wind instruments
  • Add string instruments
  • Add DJ deck option
Show 25 more
  • Add guitar pedalboard option
  • Improve instrument selection
  • Allow resizing of items
  • Allow resizing of stage
  • Enable zooming
  • Add free-form label creation
  • Add power box indicators
  • Add graphic for band members
  • Add full drum kit graphic
  • Improve input/output list display
  • Allow editing of input list
  • Add more icons for PA, recording, lighting
  • Provide a grid for alignment
  • Fix crashing issues
  • Improve export/email functionality
  • Add tutorial
  • Add dark mode
  • Add adjustable stage size
  • Add editable instruments with custom names
  • Improve touchscreen controls
  • Allow importing custom icons
  • Add photo import without crashing
  • Fix standby mode erasing drafts
  • Add sort function for objects
  • Make it free or cheaper

Nashville Numbers

Reported bugs

15 issues
  • Loses data/charts
  • Website has a virus
  • No tempo changing available/meter changes
  • Issues retrieving saved charts from cloud storage
  • Stylus writing has latency/wonky rendering
Show 10 more
  • X's don't line up underneath numbers
  • Copy/paste section feature crashes app
  • Section edit pop up menu glitches
  • All songs gone after update
  • Inputs to charts not saved
  • Starter Kit option does nothing
  • Cannot save as you go
  • Measures shift and are out of sync
  • Keyboard doesn't fit on iPhone 8 screen
  • Freehand drawing annotations appear sloppy

Requested features

30 requests
  • Add landscape view
  • Split page into 2 columns
  • Copy sections or series of measures
  • Add text notes/annotations
  • Swipe left/right for next/previous song
Show 25 more
  • Create set lists
  • Pinch zoom
  • Folders for song organization
  • Add text annotations
  • Support for time signature changes
  • Ability to add text for repeats (e.g., 'x4')
  • Tap to enter tempo
  • Ability to add parenthesis in keyboard for chords
  • Double line underneath chords for passing chords
  • Ability to copy an existing chart to experiment
  • Arrows for anticipating or delaying
  • Time signatures available to add to chart
  • More options for insertable rests and headless note stems
  • Maj/min key notation (e.g., 2maj)
  • More traditional notation on second page
  • Rhythmic notation above Nashville numbers (quarters, eighths, triplets)
  • iCloud integration
  • MacOS companion app
  • More specific spacing adjustments for measure alignment
  • Line to put artist name
  • Bass line notation for chords (e.g., C/G)
  • Support for different beat counts per bar
  • Share charts between musicians within the app
  • Ability to add different bass numbers in a chord
  • More frequent updates

In-app purchases

None

Stage Plot Maker

No in-app purchases

None

Nashville Numbers

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Stage Plot Maker free?
Stage Plot Maker costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Nashville Numbers free?
Nashville Numbers costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Stage Plot Maker or Nashville Numbers?
Nashville Numbers is rated higher. Stage Plot Maker averages 2.0 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Nashville Numbers averages 4.5 from 101 ratings.
Do Stage Plot Maker or Nashville Numbers have ads?
Neither Stage Plot Maker nor Nashville Numbers shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Stage Plot Maker or Nashville Numbers?
Stage Plot Maker ships an update every 3 months, and Nashville Numbers every 3 weeks. Most recently, Stage Plot Maker was updated on September 17, 2026 and Nashville Numbers on September 21, 2026.
Which is more popular, Stage Plot Maker or Nashville Numbers?
Stage Plot Maker currently peaks at #170 in the App Store charts, and Nashville Numbers at #129. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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