A Simpler Alternative to BandHelper
You don’t need a band management platform. You need your chord sheets organized and ready for the stage.
BandHelper does everything — setlists, scheduling, stage plots, finances, MIDI, documents. If you use all of that, great. But if you’re here, it probably feels like overkill.
Fretlist is for musicians who want their chord sheets and setlists in one place, with a proper stage mode, offline access, and bulk import — without the features they’ll never use.
At a Glance
| Fretlist | BandHelper | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Chord sheets & setlists | Full band management |
| Platform | Web (any device) | iOS, Android, Mac + Web |
| Starting price | Free (Early Access) | 30-day trial, then $25–50/year |
| Offline mode | Yes (installable PWA) | Yes (native app) |
| Play Mode | Yes — auto-scroll, wake lock, metronome, section nav | Basic song display |
| Bulk import | Yes — ChordPro, PDF, ZIP | Text/ChordPro paste |
| MIDI/automation | No | Yes |
| Scheduling/finances | No | Yes |
| Best for | Musicians who want organized chord sheets | Bands managing everything in one place |
Credit Where It's Due
If you use BandHelper’s full feature set, it’s genuinely impressive:
- Band scheduling — gig calendar, availability, reminders
- MIDI/DMX automation per song
- Stage plots and professional layouts
- Finance tracking and invoicing
- Multi-band support
- Backing tracks with setlist
- Document storage (PDFs, contracts)
Why Musicians Are Switching
You just want your chord sheets
BandHelper can store chord sheets. But if that’s the main thing you need, it’s like buying a tour bus when you need a bicycle.
Fretlist does one thing: chord sheets and setlists. No scheduling tabs, no finance modules, no stage plot builders. Just your songs, organized and ready.
Play Mode built for the stage
Full-screen chord sheets with auto-scroll, adjustable speed, built-in metronome, wake lock, section navigation, keyboard shortcuts, and swipe navigation through setlists. Install as an app for offline access. Dark mode included.
Up and running in minutes
BandHelper’s power comes with complexity. Fretlist is designed to be obvious: import your songs, make a setlist, play. Bulk import handles ChordPro, PDF, DOCX, and ZIP archives.
Simple pricing
BandHelper pricing varies by tier and number of bandmates. Fretlist: Free, Pro (€0,99/mo), or Band (€2,99/mo). That’s it.
Feature by Feature
Both Apps
- Store chord sheets and lyrics
- Organize setlists
- Transpose chords
- Cloud sync across devices
- Offline access
- Dark mode
- Bluetooth page turner support
BandHelper Only
- Gig scheduling and calendar
- MIDI/DMX automation
- Backing tracks
- Stage plots
- Finance tracking and invoicing
- Document storage
- Multi-band management
Fretlist Only
- Free during Early Access — all features included
- Play Mode with auto-scroll, metronome, wake lock, section nav
- Bulk import (ChordPro, PDF, DOCX, ZIP)
- Export to PDF, DOCX, ChordPro, JSON
- Share songs via link, WhatsApp, or email
- Install as app (PWA) for offline use
Pricing Breakdown
BandHelper
- 30-day free trial
- Basic: ~$25/year
- Plus: ~$37/year — adds scheduling, sharing
- Pro: ~$50/year — adds MIDI, stage plots, finances
- Price increases per band member
Fretlist
- Currently free — all Pro features included during Early Access
- Pro plan coming at launch — pricing TBD
- Band plan coming later — shared library, per-player settings
Fretlist is in Early Access — all features are free while we finalize pricing. Sign up now and get full access.
Is Fretlist Right for You?
Stick with BandHelper if you…
- Run a working band doing 100+ gigs a year
- Need MIDI/lighting automation
- Want scheduling, finances, and logistics in one place
- Use stage plots and backing tracks every gig
Switch to Fretlist if you…
- Mainly need organized chord sheets with a proper stage mode
- Are a solo artist, duo, or casual gigging band
- Want to get started immediately — import and play
- Want offline access without the complexity
- Prefer simplicity over features you’ll never touch
The Bottom Line
BandHelper is a serious tool for bands with serious logistics. If you use the scheduling, MIDI, and finances, it earns its complexity.
If you just want your chord sheets organized and ready for the stage — that’s exactly what Fretlist does. Import your library and try it free.