Stageplot Pro vs BandHelper for Building a Stage Plot

The short version

BandHelper is a full band management app covering set lists, chord charts, scheduling, finances, and a stage plot builder, running on iOS, Android, Mac, PC, and the web. Stageplot Pro is a single purpose stage plot editor, browser based, currently free during early access, with the input list and monitor mixes built in rather than bolted on.

What BandHelper covers

BandHelper's stage plot tool has a drag and drop interface, a numbered input list, a list of other required equipment, notes to the sound engineer, your contact info, and photos of band members so the engineer can put a face to a name. Plots email as a PDF or print for a hard copy at the gig. It is one part of a much bigger app that also runs your set lists, lyrics, chord charts, backing tracks, and band finances, which is a real advantage if you want one app for everything your band does, on stage and off.

Where the two tools differ

Because stage plots are a small piece of a large app, BandHelper's Stage Plots module is a Pro account feature, and BandHelper itself is a paid subscription after its free trial, so the stage plot builder means paying for the Pro tier of the whole suite. Stageplot Pro is built around the stage plot itself: 297 equipment icons, an input list that fills in automatically as you place gear rather than one you build by hand, and a dedicated monitor mix view so each musician's wedge needs travel with their spot on the plot. If a stage plot is the main thing you need and you do not want a subscription to a full band management suite to get it, that is the core difference.

Pricing

BandHelper's Pro tier, which unlocks Stage Plots, starts at $3.75 a month or $32 a year for a solo account, with higher tiers priced per user as you add bandmates. That price also gets you the rest of the app: set lists, scheduling, contacts, finance tracking, checklists, and a practice log. Stageplot Pro has not announced pricing. Every feature, including the input list, monitor mixes, and PDF export, is unlocked for free during early access.

Export and sharing

Both tools get a finished plot into a PDF you can send or print. BandHelper emails it directly from the app. Stageplot Pro adds a shareable link so your engineer opens the current version with no login, plus PDF export with your band logo and accent color added automatically.

Choosing what fits

If your band already wants one app for set lists, scheduling, and finances alongside a stage plot, BandHelper's all in one approach is worth the subscription. If a stage plot is the specific thing you need built well, with an input list and monitor mixes that write themselves, try the free editor and see how fast you get to a finished plot.

Start from a real layout instead of a blank stage. The five piece country band and funk band with horns templates are close starting points for larger lineups, and the band gear checklist helps you confirm nothing gets left off the plot before load in. See the rest of our tool comparisons for more options.