Looking for the OpenKJ alternative landing? $5 songbook if you stay — 60-day Full version trial if you switch.
I'm not the original OpenKJ developer — I'm a longtime OpenKJ user who hosted with it for years before building Auto-KJ. OpenKJ is solid, respected open-source software, and this guide isn't here to dunk on it.
If free-forever FOSS is what you want, OpenKJ remains a great choice. I still maintain a community OpenKJ fork with modern OS installers, and Auto-KJ will host your OpenKJ songbook requests for $5/month if you want to stay. Auto-KJ is the upgrade path — not a replacement that pretends OpenKJ disappeared.
Stay on OpenKJ if that's the fit
Two honest options that aren't a migration:
- Keep OpenKJ, we'll host the songbook. Point OpenKJ's request server at Auto-KJ, paste your API key, and singers search your songbook from a phone. $5/month standalone, or included with the Full version (~$10/mo) and Lifetime ($500). Song titles and artists only — your music files never leave your rig.
- Updated OpenKJ builds. Need a prebuilt installer for modern Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon & Intel), or Linux? The community fork releases include modern OS fixes and out-of-the-box Auto-KJ songbook compatibility.
Switch when you want a rotation engine, a built-in singer app, and LAN/cloud hybrid — not because anyone is taking OpenKJ away.
What carries over
Your library, untouched. Auto-KJ plays the same MP3+G/ZIP files OpenKJ does. Point it at your existing library folders — the ZIP watcher picks up new tracks automatically, the same way OpenKJ's database update does. Your naming scheme (artist - title - disc ID) parses the same way.
Your workflow. Dual-screen lyrics display, break music between singers, key changer, singer history — the OpenKJ muscle memory transfers. The queue panel will feel familiar within one show.
Your budget, if you want. Auto-KJ's Free version is genuinely free — desk-entered only, no singer phones, dual-screen display, plus a library volume normalizer. If you ran OpenKJ because free mattered, you can run Auto-KJ the same way indefinitely.
What you gain
Phone requests without the Songbook server dance. OpenKJ's request server is a separate PHP app you host and wire up yourself. Auto-KJ's singer app is built in: singers open a web app on their phone, find your show by GPS or a show code, browse your songbook, and request — the request lands in your rotation with fair placement applied. No server admin, no port forwarding.
The Fairness Engine, not a rotation list. OpenKJ keeps the order; you make the judgment calls. The Fairness Engine makes them consistently: late arrivals placed fairly, duets consuming both turns, pause/resume without lost spots, song changes that keep the singer's slot. See the Fairness Engine guide for the rules.
Offline that falls back automatically. Cloud requests when the venue has internet; LAN mode over your own router when it doesn't — switching mid-show without dropping the rotation.
A supported product. Real support, active development, and your feature requests landing in a roadmap instead of an issue backlog.
What's different (honestly)
- It's not open source. If FOSS is the point for you, OpenKJ remains OpenKJ — and the community fork isn't going anywhere.
- Cloud features are paid. Free version = desk, no phones. Full version (~$10/mo, 60-day no-card trial) includes cloud singer phones with our full Social Engine, Break-Wave, full library management, LAN failover, kiosk, remote, and OpenKJ songbook hosting. Extra simultaneous live shows are +$5/mo. Lifetime is $500.
- Windows, macOS, and Linux. Auto-KJ ships installers for all three. OpenKJ's multi-platform story still applies if you stay on the fork.
The 30-minute migration
- Download the Free version — no account needed
- Point the ZIP watcher at your OpenKJ library folders
- Let the normalizer scan (optional, but your levels will thank you)
- Run one low-stakes show in manual mode — everything works like OpenKJ
- When you're ready for phone requests, start the 60-day trial and hand singers the show code
Questions the guide didn't answer? The developer reads every message — direct feedback is a listed feature, and that's not marketing copy.
Upgrade when you're ready
Stay on OpenKJ with $5 songbook hosting, or try Auto-KJ Free version tonight. The Fairness Engine simulator shows the product before you install anything.