SetBook vs OnSong: The OnSong Alternative for the Whole Gig
Looking for an OnSong alternative? Compare OnSong with SetBook, BandHelper, Setlist Helper, and Android-friendly chart apps — pricing, platforms, and what each covers.
By SetBook Team
OnSong is one of the best-known apps for musicians — a deep, refined tool for displaying charts and lyrics on stage. If you've searched for a setlist or chart app, you've seen it.
But OnSong is built for one part of gigging: the performance. If you're looking for an OnSong alternative, it's usually for one of these reasons:
- you're on Android
- your band needs everyone working from the same setlist
- you want the rest of the gig handled too — scheduling, RSVPs, and getting paid
Here's how OnSong and SetBook compare, plus the other alternatives worth a look.
Quick overview
OnSong is a performance powerhouse: chord charts and PDFs, transposition, autoscroll, foot pedals, and on Premium, multitracks, MIDI automation, stage lighting, and live video. It runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and the web.
SetBook is an all-in-one platform for the whole gig: a searchable chart library, setlists that adapt per gig, scheduling, band invites and RSVPs, calendar sync, and tracking what you're owed — on web and mobile.
OnSong pricing (2026)
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | — |
| Essentials | $3.99 | $29.99 | Up to 2 |
| Premium | $5.99 | $59.99 | Up to 4 |
Group plans, with Premium features and shared storage, are also available. Premium includes a free trial: 30 days on yearly billing, 7 days on monthly.
From OnSong's pricing page, checked October 12, 2026.
SetBook is $9.99/month or $99/year on the web, or $11.95/month through in-app purchase on iOS. Every new account gets 14 days of full access with no credit card.
Feature comparison
| SetBook | OnSong | |
|---|---|---|
| Chord chart library | Searchable: key, tempo, tags, links | Deep: song editor, custom charts, attachments, cloud import |
| Keys | Override the key for one gig; the master chart stays put | Transpose and capo, with chord diagrams |
| Setlist builder | Drag-and-drop, set breaks, shareable | Books and sets |
| On-stage display | Gig View: big, readable charts | Autoscroll, foot pedals, annotation (Premium) |
| MIDI / lighting / multitracks | — | Premium |
| Gig scheduling | Venue, call time, dress code, pay, notes | — |
| Band invites + RSVP | Email, SMS, or link — no account needed for guests | — |
| Getting paid | Earnings dashboard, overdue reminders, invoices, CSV export | — |
| Calendar sync | Google and Apple Calendar | — |
| Platforms | Web (any browser, including Android) and iOS | iPhone, iPad, Mac, web; Android coming soon |
"—" means the feature isn't offered or isn't listed on that company's site.
Where OnSong wins
On-stage depth. Timeline autoscroll, foot-pedal control, annotation, multitracks, MIDI automation, and stage lighting. If your show runs on automation, OnSong is hard to beat.
Years of refinement. It's a mature, polished performance tool with a large community behind it.
Price for one performer. At $3.99–$5.99/month, it costs less than SetBook if a chart display is all you need.
Where SetBook wins
The whole gig, not just the setlist. Schedule the gig, set the call time and pay, attach the setlist, and invite your band — all in one place.
Per-gig keys. Save a different key or notes for one gig without touching your master chart. Play "Wagon Wheel" in B-flat for one bride and G for the next.
Band coordination. Invite bandmates by email, SMS, or link. They RSVP without creating an account, and SetBook flags who's already booked elsewhere.
Getting paid. See what you're owed and what's overdue. Payments more than a week overdue get automatic reminders, and you can export everything to CSV at tax time.
Works on Android today. SetBook runs in any browser, so it works on Android phones, Chromebooks, and Windows laptops, plus there's a native iOS app.
Other OnSong alternatives
SetBook isn't the only option. If you're leaving OnSong, here's where else people land:
- BandHelper — The closest like-for-like if you use OnSong's MIDI and backing-track features. It has native iOS, Android, and Mac apps plus web access, and adds band tools like schedule, contacts, finances, and stage plots. From $2.25/month. See BandHelper vs OnSong.
- Setlist Helper — Simple and free to start, with a one-time upgrade and no subscription. Works on iPhone, iPad, Android, and the web.
- MobileSheets — A sheet music and PDF reader on Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS. A good fit if you mostly read PDFs on a tablet.
- SongbookPro — A chord and lyrics songbook on iOS, Android, and Windows.
Who should use what?
Choose OnSong if:
- Your show depends on MIDI, lighting, or multitrack automation
- You want foot-pedal autoscroll and annotation on your charts
- You're on Apple devices and mainly need a performance and chart tool
Choose SetBook if:
- You want to manage the whole gig — scheduling, invites, RSVPs, pay — not just the setlist
- You play with a rotating cast of bandmates and need to coordinate them
- You want per-gig key changes without rebuilding charts
- You're on Android, or your band is split across devices
- You want to track what you get paid
The bottom line
OnSong is a fantastic on-stage tool. If MIDI, lighting, and autoscroll are central to your show and you're on Apple devices, it's a strong pick.
SetBook is the better fit if gigging is more than the time on stage — if you're scheduling shows, herding bandmates, and chasing payments, and you want one place to run all of it on web and mobile.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best OnSong alternative? It depends on why you're leaving.
- Android chart viewer: MobileSheets and SongbookPro cover the on-stage basics.
- MIDI and backing tracks plus band tools: BandHelper is the closest match.
- Scheduling, band coordination, shared setlists, and pay tracking: SetBook is built for that — the whole gig in one place rather than a deeper chart viewer.
Is there an OnSong alternative for Android? Yes. As of October 2026, OnSong lists Android as coming soon. Today it runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and the web. SetBook works in any Android browser, and BandHelper, MobileSheets, and SongbookPro all have Android apps.
Is there an OnSong alternative for Windows? SetBook runs in any browser on a Windows laptop, and MobileSheets and SongbookPro have Windows apps.
Can my band use SetBook without everyone buying it? Yes. Bandmates you invite to a gig can view the details and RSVP without creating an account. Band plans share charts and setlists across the group, billed to one account.