Import the night’s setlist
Receive a .sbbl bundle from the organizer — Starter can view and delete imported setlists; Basic unlocks create/edit and an unlimited library.
Join the circle — bring your own key
Jam groups and playing circles rarely need a formal band setup — but everyone still needs the same charts on the night. Songbook Buddy lets a Pro leader export a .sbbl setlist for email or USB hand-off; you import it free on Starter, transpose for your voice or instrument, and keep those songs afterward.
Start on Starter without an account for the core editor and setlist import (100-song local library; create/edit setlists needs Basic); add sync and Pro sharing when your group outgrows a single shared folder.
Why Songbook Buddy fits Jam groups
Your key, shared chart
Transpose locally for your capo or vocal range without changing what others see when you later share or perform together.
Grow into sharing
When the circle becomes a regular group, Pro sharing and Cloud Band Mode add encrypted libraries without switching apps.
Features that matter for you
Starter, Basic, Pro, and Pro Cloud from our documented product matrix.
| Feature | Starter | Basic | Pro | Pro Cloud | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Import organizer setlists (.sbbl) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Free at every tier. Starter may view/delete imported setlists; create/modify stays Basic. Setlists tab appears after first import |
| Song library, search, filters, sorting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Starter capped at 100 songs (archived count; trash does not). Basic+ unlimited. Arrival paths (shares, .sbbl import) are exempt from the cap |
| Transpose, capo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Create and edit personal setlists | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Drag-and-drop, per-entry key. Setlist filter is free once you have setlists (Starter after import) |
| Direct song/setlist sharing | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | Send needs Pro+; receiving shared songs is signed-in Starter+ (exempt from library cap) |
| Backup and restore | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Full library at every tier |
| Import ChordPro, text, .gcp, .cpm | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ChordPro export stays free at every tier |
How Songbook Buddy compares
Conditional positioning against well-known apps. Choose another product when its focus matches your workflow; choose Songbook Buddy when you need the full ChordPro journey on your platforms.
| Aspect | SBB | OnSong | SBP | MS | BH | fScore | UG | iReal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Complete ChordPro workflow — import, edit, publish, perform, collaborate | iPad setlist and chord-sheet performance | ChordPro songbook — 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 |
| Offline-first | Yes — local database; sync optional | Strong offline on device | Yes, local library | Yes, local library | Offline with sync for band data | Yes — 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 |
| Cloud sync | Optional encrypted sync (Basic+); WLAN for audio/sheets | iCloud and similar depending on setup | Cloud varies by product | Cloud varies by product | Cloud sync central to band workflow | iCloud and similar for libraries | Account often required for catalog | Set sync/sharing |
Competing products change continuously. This table describes typical positioning — choose another app when its focus matches your workflow; choose Songbook Buddy when you need the full ChordPro journey on your platforms.
Where Songbook Buddy fits best
- Offline-first — jams still happen when the venue Wi‑Fi does not
- Same app on phone and desktop so one person can prep on a laptop and everyone follows on tablets
- ChordPro import from folders — bring charts from other songbook apps after the session
When another app fits better
- Ultimate Guitar fits learning a song from a public tab on the spot. Songbook Buddy fits a reusable chart everyone can take home.
- Formal bands with fixed rosters may prefer Band Mode from the start — jam groups can grow into that tier when ready.
Ready to try it?
Download Songbook Buddy Starter free — no account required for the core editor and library.