Setlist Maker Apps for Live Performances

A setlist maker app organizes your songs, lyrics, chord charts, and show notes into a single interface you can reference on stage. The best ones handle set timing, key and tempo data, MIDI program changes, and sharing across band members. BandHelper and Set List Maker lead for working bands. OnSong leads for chart-heavy performers.

Scribbling a setlist on a piece of paper works until it doesn't. You forget how long each song runs and your set goes over time. You switch keys between songs in a way that makes the transition awkward. You play the same closer three shows in a row in the same city and regulars notice.

Setlist apps solve these problems by tracking metadata you would never bother writing on paper: song duration, key, tempo, energy level, date last played, and notes for specific arrangements. For artists playing live shows regularly, that data compounds into better performances.

For broader tool context, see What Is Music Management Software.

App Comparison

Prices may vary. Check app stores for current pricing.

What to Look for in a Setlist Maker

Song database with metadata

The core feature. Every song in your catalog gets an entry with key, tempo (BPM), duration, lyrics, chord charts, and custom notes. This turns your setlist from a list of titles into a performance reference. You can sort by key to plan smooth transitions, filter by energy level to build an energy arc, and check when you last played a song at a specific venue.

Set timing

If your slot is 45 minutes, you need to know your set runs 43 minutes before you walk on stage, not after you blow past your time and the sound engineer cuts you off. Good apps show running time as you build the setlist and flag when you are over or under.

Band sharing

For bands, everyone needs the same setlist at the same time. Apps that sync across devices let you build the setlist once and push it to every member. Changes update in real time. No more texting the setlist to four people and hoping everyone checks their phone before soundcheck.

MIDI and automation

If you use backing tracks, click tracks, patches, or lighting cues, MIDI integration is critical. BandHelper and Modular Setlist can send MIDI program changes when you advance to the next song, which means your keyboard patches, guitar pedal presets, and lighting scenes change automatically. This is standard for touring acts and increasingly common at the club level.

Chord chart display

OnSong dominates this category. It supports Nashville Number System, standard chord charts, and full lead sheets with transposition. If you are a session player, worship leader, or jazz performer who reads from charts on stage, OnSong is built for your workflow. The other apps support lyrics and chords, but not with the same depth of formatting and notation options.

How to Build a Better Setlist

The app is only useful if the setlist itself is good. A few principles:

Open with energy, not your best song. Your best song goes in the second or third slot, after you have the room's attention. The opener's job is to set the tone and get people locked in.

Plan key transitions. Moving from a song in E to a song in Bb with no transition sounds jarring. Setlist apps that display the key of each song let you spot these clashes before the show. Aim for transitions within a step or two, or use a clear break between distant keys.

Track what you play where. If you play the same venue monthly, repeating the same set gets stale for regulars. Apps that log performance history by venue help you rotate songs intentionally.

Build energy arcs. A setlist should have variation. Open strong, pull back for a midsection, build to the peak, then close with something memorable. Tagging songs by energy level (1-5 scale) makes this visible when you are building the set.

For planning the full show experience, including the booking and logistics side, see How to Plan and Book a Tour.

Which App Fits Your Situation

Solo acoustic artists: Set List Maker. Simple, one-time purchase, no subscription fatigue. Handles lyrics, chords, and timing without the complexity of MIDI automation you do not need.

Full bands with backing tracks: BandHelper or Modular Setlist. The MIDI integration and band sharing features justify the subscription. BandHelper also handles stage plots, contracts, and set scheduling for multi-act bills.

Session and worship players: OnSong. The chart formatting is unmatched. Transposition on the fly is when a bandleader calls an audible on key.

Fans tracking setlists: Setlist.fm is a community database, not a performance tool. It is useful for researching what songs an artist has been playing on tour, but it does not help you build or run a show.

For the broader tech stack around live performance, including tour management apps, the setlist maker is one piece of the stage-ready toolkit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a setlist app with an iPad on stage?

Yes. Most performing artists use iPads as their primary display. BandHelper, OnSong, and Set List Maker all support iPad with large-format display modes designed for stage visibility.

Do setlist maker apps work offline?

Most function fully offline once the data is downloaded. This matters for venues with poor WiFi, which is most venues.

Can I import lyrics and chords from other sources?

BandHelper and OnSong support importing from text files, ChordPro format, and PDF. Some support direct import from OnSong libraries or Ultimate Guitar exports.

Read Next:

• How to Make Money From Live Music

• Tour Management Apps

• What Is Music Management Software?

The Bigger Picture:

A setlist app handles the stage. Orphiq handles everything before and after it: release timelines, marketing plans, and the strategy that puts people in the room.