Season setlists & archive
Drag-and-drop programs with date, venue, and per-song key overrides — archive past concerts without deleting repertoire.
One repertoire for the whole club
Community music clubs need a single source of truth for the season — concert sets, rehearsal lists, and printable handouts — while members still personalize transpose and display. Songbook Buddy connects import, editing, setlists, and PDF songbook export in one workflow.
Club officers can share .sbbl setlist bundles (Pro export) or (with Pro Cloud) Band Mode libraries; members import free on Starter and build personal libraries without losing offline access.
Why Songbook Buddy fits Music clubs
Printable club songbooks
Export a whole setlist as a PDF songbook when the hall still wants paper or when sections need matching layouts.
Tagged repertoire
Organize by genre, difficulty, or concert cycle; filter the library when directors plan the next program.
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 |
| Create and edit personal setlists | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Drag-and-drop, per-entry key. Setlist filter is free once you have setlists (Starter after import) |
| Print and PDF export (single songs) | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Basic+ |
| Setlist PDF songbook export | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | Printable multi-song PDF — distinct from .sbbl data bundles |
| Setlist export (.sbbl bundle) | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | Portable zip for email/USB hand-off; recipients import free at any tier (produce=Pro / consume=free) |
| Tags with multi-tag filter | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| 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 |
| ChordPro editor with live preview | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Custom block viewing is free; inserting custom blocks via the editor menu is Pro |
| 23 interface languages + translated help + PDF manuals | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Print / PDF | Print pipeline, PDF-oriented options | Strong setlist export/layout | Print/export commonly available | Print/export commonly available | Setlist print/export for gigs | PDF-native performance on iPad | Export secondary | PDF/export workflow-dependent |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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
- Starter lets members participate in club setlists before anyone pays for sync or publishing
- Pro setlist PDF export and theater mode for performances and dress rehearsals
- 23 interface languages for international clubs and multilingual members
When another app fits better
- BandHelper fits gig logistics when charts are secondary. Songbook Buddy fits when the club's songbook and printed programs are central.
- Spreadsheets and PDF folders work for tiny groups — Songbook Buddy pays off when repertoire grows across seasons and devices.
Ready to try it?
Download Songbook Buddy Starter free — no account required for the core editor and library.