Starter
Free
Starter โ participate
ChordPro editor, transpose, ChordPro/text + .sbbl import, 100-song local library
How Songbook Buddy compares
Start with Songbook Buddyโs editions, explore features by name, then compare with other apps where it helps.
Editions & pricing
Four editions that follow how musicians actually work โ from free Starter to Pro Cloud collaboration. Each upgrade includes everything from the previous edition.
Premium editions (Basic, Pro, and Pro Cloud) are purchased inside the app. Download Starter free, then upgrade when you need more โ higher tiers always keep lower-tier capabilities.
Basic
โฌ7.99 one-time
Basic โ personalize
Everything in Starter, plus unlimited library, create/edit setlists, all imports, Find chord, tags, 2-device sync, practice tools
Permanent unlock
Pro
โฌ29.99 one year
Pro โ perform & publish
Everything in Basic, plus theater mode, MIDI, footswitch, fonts, PDF songbooks, .sbbl export, custom chord diagrams, sharing, 5-device sync
Pro Cloud
โฌ79.99 one year
Pro Cloud โ collaborate
Everything in Pro, plus Band Mode (unlimited bands/members), live sessions, real-time sync, 100-device roster
Need a refund? You can request a full refund within 14 days of your purchaseโemail support@songbookbuddy.com. For technical issues that prevent you from using Songbook Buddy, please contact supportโweโll do our best to help or provide a refund where appropriate. Refunds are issued to the original payment method. A refund never deletes your songs or local library.
Explore by Feature
Spotlight pages with app screenshots for the workflows that matter on stage and in rehearsal.
Song Library
Local song library with search, filters, sorting, favourites, and archive.
ChordPro Editor
Write and edit songs in ChordPro with live preview, undo/redo, templates, and find/replace.
Theater Mode
Distraction-free performance view with auto-scroll, wakelock, and setlist navigation.
Chord Diagrams
Guitar, ukulele, and piano shapes with soundfont audio and jazz alteration parsing.
Custom Chord Diagrams
Build your own chord diagrams visually โ no ChordPro diagram syntax to learn.
Setlists
Organise songs for gigs and rehearsals with drag-and-drop, per-entry keys, and archive.
Band Mode
Share songs and setlists with end-to-end encryption per band; roles and invites built in.
Full feature list
Every documented Songbook Buddy feature with Starter, Basic, Pro, and Pro Cloud tiers.
| Feature | Starter | Basic | Pro | Pro Cloud | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song library, search, filters, sorting | โ | โ | โ | โ | Starter capped at 100 songs (archived count; trash does not). Basic+ unlimited. Arrival paths (shares, .sbbl import) are exempt from the cap |
| ChordPro editor with live preview | โ | โ | โ | โ | Custom block viewing is free; inserting custom blocks via the editor menu is Pro |
| Transpose, capo | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| Chord diagrams (guitar / ukulele / piano) | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| Instrument tuner | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| Song ratings (stars) | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| Import ChordPro, text, .gcp, .cpm | โ | โ | โ | โ | ChordPro export stays free at every tier |
| Import PDF / Word / ODT / image sheet songs | โ | โ | โ | โ | Starter imports ChordPro and text only |
| Import organizer setlists (.sbbl) | โ | โ | โ | โ | Free at every tier. Starter may view/delete imported setlists; create/modify stays Basic. Setlists tab appears after first import |
| Create and edit personal setlists | โ | โ | โ | โ | Drag-and-drop, per-entry key. Setlist filter is free once you have setlists (Starter after import) |
| Backup and restore | โ | โ | โ | โ | Full library at every tier |
| 23 interface languages + translated help + PDF manuals | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| In-app help + PDF manuals | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| Getting-started checklist & guided tours | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| Print and PDF export (single songs) | โ | โ | โ | โ | Basic+ |
| Tags with multi-tag filter | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| Metronome & tempo tap | โ | โ | โ | โ | Sample-accurate |
| Chord flashcards with difficulty levels | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| Autoscroll | โ | โ | โ | โ | Included in Starter alongside song viewing and performance basics |
| Chord Finder, Related Chords & substitutions | โ | โ | โ | โ | Find chord (Reverse Chord Finder), Related Chords, interactive finder, and substitutions โ Basic+ |
| Linked audio playback | โ | โ | โ | โ | Practice along with backing tracks |
| LAN/WLAN sync for audio & sheet files | โ | โ | โ | โ | Local Wi-Fi only โ no cloud for the file itself |
| Optional encrypted device sync | โ | โ | โ | โ | Needs signed-in account + Basic+. Device caps: Basic 2 / Pro 5 / Pro Cloud 100. Starter is local-only |
| Theater mode & external display | โ | โ | โ | โ | Stage and rehearsal workflows; autoscroll itself is Starter |
| Setlist PDF songbook export | โ | โ | โ | โ | Printable multi-song PDF โ distinct from .sbbl data bundles |
| Setlist export (.sbbl bundle) | โ | โ | โ | โ | Portable zip for email/USB hand-off; recipients import free at any tier (produce=Pro / consume=free) |
| MIDI control (learn, duplicate, panic; network MIDI on macOS) | โ | โ | โ | โ | Network MIDI on macOS |
| Footswitch (USB foot pedals) | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| Sticky notes | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| Workflow status | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| Advanced chord tools (custom shapes, tunings, progressions) | โ | โ | โ | โ | Custom Chord Editor, Custom Tunings, Chord Progressions |
| Themes, fonts & section colors | โ | โ | โ | โ | Light/dark mode itself is free; downloadable fonts and section colors are Pro |
| Stage lighting โ DMX (Art-Net) | โ | โ | โ | โ | Opt-in; Art-Net node required (no USB-DMX) |
| Open Sound Control (OSC) | โ | โ | โ | โ | Opt-in toggle |
| Band Mode โ shared library, roles, invites | โ | โ | โ | โ | Unlimited bands and members; per-band end-to-end encryption |
| Band Live Sessions โ leader/follower sync | โ | โ | โ | โ | Part of Band Mode |
| Direct song/setlist sharing | โ | โ | โ | โ | Send needs Pro+; receiving shared songs is signed-in Starter+ (exempt from library cap) |
| Real-time cross-device sync | โ | โ | โ | โ | Pro Cloud band/live infrastructure |
| Cloud sync of sheet/audio attachments | โ | โ | โ | โ | Pro Cloud โ rolling out; use WLAN sync until live |
| Device sync roster limits | โ | โ | โ | โ | Basic 2 / Pro 5 / Pro Cloud 100 โ enforced server-side |
Compare with other apps
Focused side-by-sides with migration tips โ honest about where a specialist may still fit better.
Market snapshot
Seven aspects that matter most when choosing a digital songbook. Open a competitor page for a focused side-by-side.
| Aspect | SBB | OnSong | SBP | MS | BH | fScore | UG | iReal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Complete ChordPro workflow โ import, edit, publish, perform, collaborate | iPad setlist and chord-sheet performance | ChordPro songbook โ editing and display (Android, iOS, Windows) | Sheet-music / ChordPro library and performance (Android, iOS, Windows, macOS) | Band calendar, setlists, and gig logistics | PDF sheet music library and performance on iPad | Online tab catalog and play-along | Chord charts + backing tracks, jazz/standards |
| Platforms (typical) | Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux (one codebase) | iOS/iPadOS (macOS Catalyst varies) | Android, iOS, Windows | Android, iOS, Windows, macOS | iOS/iPadOS + web companion | iPadOS (iPhone companion varies) | Strong mobile + web; desktop varies | iOS/Android; desktop more limited |
| Offline-first | Yes โ local database; sync optional | Strong offline on device | Yes, local library | Yes, local library | Offline with sync for band data | Yes โ PDFs stored on device | Offline often limited without downloads/premium | Offline possible; playback-centric |
| ChordPro editor depth | Custom ChordPro parser, many directives, custom blocks | Strong iPad performance layout | Established ChordPro editing across its platforms | Established library and chart editing across its platforms | Not a ChordPro authoring tool | Annotation on PDFs, not ChordPro source | No full editor for your song library | Not ChordPro-centric |
| Band sharing & end-to-end encryption | Band Mode + per-band key, roles, invites | Sharing/collaboration depends on ecosystem | Sharing varies by version/ecosystem | Sharing varies; not band-centric end-to-end encryption | Strong band/setlist sharing; different security model | Setlist sharing; not encrypted band libraries | Social/sharing around catalog | Set sharing possible; different emphasis |
| Live session leader/follower | Yes โ scroll, playback, setlist, metronome sync | Live/link features vary by version | Not comparable as a core feature | Not comparable as a core feature | Real-time setlist sync for bands | Not comparable โ PDF page turning differs | Not comparable | Different use case (playback) |
| Localization | 23 interface languages + translated help + PDF manuals | Broad on iOS | Multilingual varies by version | Multilingual varies by version | English-first; band markets global | Broad iPad market languages | Very broad | Multilingual |
Competing products change continuously. This table describes typical positioning โ choose another app when its focus matches your workflow; choose Songbook Buddy when you need the full ChordPro journey on your platforms.
Songbook Buddy vs OnSong
OnSong is a long-standing iPad setlist app. Songbook Buddy targets the same stage workflow with ChordPro depth, cross-platform desktop, and encrypted band sharing.
Songbook Buddy vs SongBook Pro
SongBook Pro established ChordPro on Android. Songbook Buddy matches that editing/display focus and adds Windows, macOS, Linux, end-to-end encrypted band libraries, and live sessions from one codebase.
Songbook Buddy vs MobileSheets
MobileSheets is another established ChordPro songbook on Android. Songbook Buddy offers the same local-library workflow plus iOS, desktop, band encryption, and live sessions.
Songbook Buddy vs BandHelper
BandHelper focuses on band calendars, gig logistics, and setlist sync. Songbook Buddy adds a full song library, ChordPro editor, theater mode, and end-to-end encrypted band libraries in one app.
Songbook Buddy vs forScore
forScore is the PDF sheet-music standard on iPad. Songbook Buddy is built for ChordPro โ editable charts, transpose, and band workflows rather than annotated PDFs.
Songbook Buddy vs Ultimate Guitar
Ultimate Guitar is built around an online tab catalog. Songbook Buddy is for musicians who own their charts โ your song library, ChordPro editor, stage tools, and optional sync.
Songbook Buddy vs iReal Pro
iReal Pro pairs chord charts with backing tracks. Songbook Buddy focuses on your own song archive, full ChordPro editor, theater mode, and band workflows.
Ready to try it?
Download Songbook Buddy Starter free โ no account required for the core editor and library.