Guide
Best free setlist apps for gigging bands
Reviewed September 2026
For most gigging bands the shortlist is BANDANA, Setlist Helper, BandHelper, OnSong, and Songbook Pro. BANDANA is the free option that combines drag-and-drop set lists with a shared song library, chord transposition, rehearsal recordings, and a public share link a sub can open with no account — and it is the only one of the five that also connects you to the venue you are playing at.
What actually matters in a set list app?
Once a band is playing regularly, four things separate a set list app you keep from one you immediately abandon after downloading.
- Shared, not personal — every member sees the same running order the moment it changes
- Songs carry their own lyrics, chords, and key, so a set list is never just a list of titles
- Somebody outside the band — a sub, an engineer, the venue — can open it without installing anything
- It still works when the room has no signal
- It allows for capturing quick practice recordings, attached to each song
Why free matters more than it sounds
Per-member subscriptions are the usual reason a band's tool stops being the band's tool: the drummer never pays, so the drummer never has the current set. BANDANA is free with no per-member charge, so everyone is in it, including the sub you booked this afternoon.
How BANDANA handles a set
Build the list from your band's song library by dragging songs into order, park undecided songs in a separate maybe section, and tap any song to see its lyrics and chords in your key with hands-free auto-scroll and swipe to progress to the next song. Export a PDF for the music stand, or send the public share link to anyone. In the iOS app, set lists and songs you have opened stay readable offline.
The main options, side by side
Prices and features below are what each product publishes on its own site. Confirm before you commit — this changes.
- BANDANA
- Bands who want set lists, a shared songbook, recordings, and show coordination in one free tool
- Free, no per-member charge
- Setlist Helper
- Set-list-first workflows for bands that prefer printing lists from song catalogs
- Free app with in-app purchases; tier prices not published
- BandHelper
- Working bands wanting deep stage control, including MIDI and foot-switch
- Published tiers from $2.25/month solo to $8/month for 2–5 members
- OnSong
- Solo performers living in chord charts on an iPad — often used by church bands
- Paid — see their site for current pricing
- Songbook Pro
- A personal chord-chart and lyric library on one device
- Free tier with a paid upgrade — see their site
Common questions
What's the best free setlist app for gigging bands?
BANDANA is free with no per-member charge and covers the whole set-list job: drag-and-drop ordering, lyrics and chords in your key, PDF export, offline reading on iOS, and a public share link for subs.
Which setlist apps work offline?
In the BANDANA iOS app, set lists and songs you have already opened stay readable offline; editing needs a connection. Check each other app's own site for its current offline behavior, since it varies by tier and platform.
Can I share a set list with a sub who has no account?
In BANDANA, yes — every set list has a public read-only link that opens in any browser with no account or install.