The 5 Best Setlist Apps for Gigging Musicians in 2026

If you're a working musician, you need a system for managing your setlists. The days of scribbling song orders on napkins or scrolling through a notes app on stage are over. In 2026, there are several purpose-built apps that handle setlists — and some do a lot more than just that.

Here's a breakdown of the best options available right now.

1. SetBook

Best for: Full gig lifecycle management — scheduling, setlists, charts, collaboration, and pay tracking

Platforms: Web + iOS

Price: $9.99/month (free 2-week trial)

SetBook is the most complete option on this list. It's not just a setlist app — it's an all-in-one gig management platform. You can schedule gigs, build setlists with drag-and-drop, organize a searchable chart library, invite bandmates, and track earnings. If you play in multiple bands, SetBook lets you keep everything organized by project with shared libraries.

Strengths:

• Drag-and-drop setlist builder with key overrides and per-gig notes
• Full gig management with scheduling, invites, and RSVPs
• Chart library with links to Spotify, YouTube, Dropbox, Google Drive
• Band collaboration — shared charts, setlists, and schedules
• Pay tracking with earnings dashboard
• Organization plans for worship teams and music schools
• Works on web and mobile

Limitations:

• No MIDI automation
• No Android app (yet)

Try SetBook free

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2. BandHelper

Best for: Musicians who need MIDI automation and on-stage lyrics display

Platforms: iOS + Android

Price: $4.99/month or $39.99/year

BandHelper (formerly BandMinder) has been around since 2012 and is a favorite among musicians who use MIDI heavily. It handles setlists, lyrics/chord display with auto-scroll, and can trigger MIDI patches, backing tracks, and lighting cues per song. If your setup involves foot pedals and automation, BandHelper is purpose-built for that workflow.

Strengths:

• Deep MIDI integration and stage automation
• Auto-scrolling lyrics with foot pedal support
• Available on Android
• Affordable pricing

Limitations:

• No web access — mobile only
• No gig invite system
• No pay tracking
• Collaboration requires manual sync
• Steeper learning curve

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3. OnSong

Best for: Worship teams and musicians who want chord chart display with transposition

Platforms: iOS (iPad-optimized)

Price: $9.99/month

OnSong is popular with worship leaders and solo performers who want a powerful chord chart viewer. It supports ChordPro format, PDF import, on-the-fly transposition, and auto-scrolling. It's particularly strong on iPad where you can display full chord charts at a readable size.

Strengths:

• Powerful chord chart rendering with transposition
• ChordPro and PDF support
• Auto-scroll with configurable speed
• Large library of worship songs (SongSelect integration)

Limitations:

• iOS only (iPad-optimized, limited on iPhone)
• No gig scheduling or management
• No band-wide collaboration features
• No pay tracking
• Can feel complex for simple setlist needs

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4. Set List Maker

Best for: Simple, straightforward setlist management

Platforms: iOS + Android

Price: Free (with in-app purchases)

Set List Maker by Arlo Leach is a lightweight, no-frills setlist app. If all you need is a way to create setlists, add song details, and view them on stage, it gets the job done without a lot of complexity. It's free to start, which makes it a low-risk option.

Strengths:

• Simple and easy to use
• Free tier available
• Available on both iOS and Android
• Basic song database with setlist builder

Limitations:

• Very basic feature set
• No collaboration or sharing
• No gig management
• No chart storage
• Limited development activity

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5. Planning Center Services

Best for: Large church worship teams with full service planning needs

Platforms: Web + iOS + Android

Price: $14–200+/month (scales with team size)

Planning Center is the enterprise solution for church worship teams. It handles service planning, scheduling, team management, chord charts, and much more. If you're at a mid-to-large church with a dedicated worship ministry, it's the industry standard.

Strengths:

• Comprehensive service planning
• Full team scheduling with confirmations
• Chord chart and lyric display
• Integrates with the broader Planning Center ecosystem (People, Giving, Groups)
• Excellent for large teams

Limitations:

• Expensive — costs scale with congregation size
• Overkill for small worship teams or secular musicians
• Complex setup and administration
• Not designed for non-church gigging musicians

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Quick Comparison Table

| Feature | SetBook | BandHelper | OnSong | Set List Maker | Planning Center | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Setlist builder | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Chart library | Yes | Lyrics/chords | Chords/PDF | Basic | Yes | | Gig scheduling | Yes | Basic | No | No | Yes | | Band collaboration | Yes | Sync-based | No | No | Yes | | Gig invites | Yes | No | No | No | Yes (services) | | Pay tracking | Yes | No | No | No | No | | MIDI automation | No | Yes | Limited | No | No | | Web access | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | | Free tier | 2-week trial | No | No | Yes | No | | Pricing | $9.99/mo | $4.99/mo | $9.99/mo | Free+ | $14–200+/mo |

Which App Should You Choose?

• You want everything in one place (gigs, setlists, charts, pay, collaboration) → SetBook
• You need MIDI automation and stage cues → BandHelper
• You want a powerful chord chart viewer with transposition → OnSong
• You just need a simple, free setlist app → Set List Maker
• You're at a large church with a full worship ministry → Planning Center

For most gigging musicians who play in bands, the choice comes down to what you need beyond the setlist. If you just need song order on a screen, any of these will work. If you want to manage the whole gig — from booking to getting paid — SetBook is the most complete option.