BandHelper vs OnSong: Which Should You Use in 2026?
BandHelper vs OnSong, compared on pricing, platforms, stage features, and band tools — plus a third option if you need gigs, RSVPs, and pay handled too.
By SetBook Team
BandHelper and OnSong are the two apps most working musicians end up choosing between. Both put your songs and setlists on a screen on stage, and both can run MIDI and backing tracks. But they're built around different jobs.
- OnSong is a performance and chart-display app.
- BandHelper is a band-operations tool with performance features attached.
Here's how they compare, based on each company's own site.
The short answer
- Pick OnSong if the screen in front of you on stage is what matters most: chart display, annotation, timeline autoscroll, multitracks, and live video or broadcasting.
- Pick BandHelper if you're also running the band: schedule, contacts, finances, invoices, and stage plots, with plans priced for the whole group.
- Pick neither if your real problem is offstage — booking the gig, getting players to RSVP, and getting paid. That's a different kind of app (more on that below).
Pricing
OnSong (per person):
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | — |
| Essentials | $3.99 | $29.99 | Up to 2 |
| Premium | $5.99 | $59.99 | Up to 4 |
OnSong also offers group plans with Premium features and shared storage. Group pricing isn't published on the page. Premium includes a free trial: 30 days on yearly billing, 7 days on monthly.
BandHelper (priced by number of users):
| Users | Basic | Plus | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo (1) | $2.25/mo · $16/yr | $3/mo · $24/yr | $3.75/mo · $32/yr |
| 2–5 | $4/mo · $40/yr | $6/mo · $60/yr | $8/mo · $80/yr |
| 6–20 | $6/mo · $60/yr | $9/mo · $90/yr | $12/mo · $120/yr |
BandHelper's free trial doesn't ask for payment details. Prices may be higher when you pay inside its mobile apps.
Who's cheaper?
- Alone: comparable — BandHelper Pro is $3.75/month, and OnSong runs $3.99–$5.99.
- For a band: BandHelper usually wins, because one 2–5 user plan covers the group, while OnSong prices per person unless you're on a group plan.
Prices from OnSong and BandHelper, checked October 12, 2026.
Platforms
| OnSong | BandHelper | |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone / iPad | Yes | Yes |
| Mac | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Listed as "coming soon" | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
If your band is split between iPhone and Android, BandHelper (or a web-based app) is the safer choice today.
Features
| OnSong | BandHelper | |
|---|---|---|
| Song library, sets, transposition | Yes | Yes |
| Autoscroll | Yes (timeline autoscroll on Premium) | — |
| Footswitch / pedal control | Yes | Yes |
| Drawing and annotation on charts | Premium | — |
| Backing tracks, click tracks, multitracks | Premium | Yes |
| MIDI automation | Premium | Yes (MIDI and DMX) |
| Stage lighting | Premium | Yes |
| Live video and broadcasting | Premium | — |
| Schedule and contacts | — | Plus and up |
| Income, expenses, member earnings, invoices | — | Pro |
| Stage plots, checklists, practice log | — | Pro |
| Sharing with the band | Group plans with shared storage | Songs and setlists distributed to bandmates automatically |
"—" means the feature isn't listed on that company's site, not that it's impossible.
Which one fits you?
Choose OnSong if:
- You're a performer or worship leader who lives in charts on an iPad
- You want annotation, timeline autoscroll, multitracks, or live video
- Everyone on your team is on Apple devices or the web
Choose BandHelper if:
- You run the band, not just your own part, and want schedule, contacts, and finances in one place
- Your show uses MIDI or DMX and changes patches and lights per song
- Your band mixes iPhone and Android
- You want one low-priced plan for the whole group
The third option: when the problem is the gig, not the stage
Both apps are strongest from soundcheck to the last song. A lot of working musicians lose more time before and after the gig — confirming who's playing, sending details to subs, and chasing payment.
That's what SetBook is built for:
- Schedule the gig: call time, venue, dress code, and pay, with the setlist attached.
- Invite the band: bandmates RSVP from a link, even without an account, and SetBook flags who's already booked elsewhere.
- Get paid: a dashboard shows what you're owed, and overdue payments get automatic reminders.
- Play it: charts are big and readable in Gig View on stage, on web and mobile.
It doesn't do MIDI or stage automation. If you need that, BandHelper or OnSong is the right call. Some bands use one of them on stage and SetBook to run the gig.
Frequently asked questions
Is BandHelper better than OnSong? Neither is better across the board. OnSong is the stronger chart and performance display. BandHelper covers more of running a band (schedule, contacts, finances, stage plots) and is usually cheaper for a group.
Which is cheaper, BandHelper or OnSong? For one person they're close: BandHelper Solo runs $2.25–$3.75/month, and OnSong Essentials or Premium runs $3.99–$5.99/month. For a band, BandHelper's 2–5 user plans ($4–$8/month total) are usually cheaper.
Does OnSong work on Android? Not yet. As of October 2026, OnSong runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and the web, with Android listed as coming soon. BandHelper has a native Android app.
Can my whole band use the same app? BandHelper prices by group size and syncs songs and setlists to bandmates. OnSong offers group plans with shared storage. If you mostly need everyone to see the gig details and RSVP, SetBook lets bandmates do that from a link without an account.