$5 Songbook first. Point OpenKJ at Auto-KJ, paste an API key, singers request from their phones. No new app. If that works and you later want the Fairness Engine, start the 60-day no-card Full version trial (~$10/mo after, or Lifetime $500). OpenKJ is not going anywhere.
I'm a longtime OpenKJ user who ran shows with it for years before writing Auto-KJ. OpenKJ is solid FOSS. If free-forever open source is the point, stay. This page is for KJs who want phone requests without standing up a PHP request server — and for KJs ready to upgrade the rotation itself.
Path 1 — Stay on OpenKJ ($5/mo songbook)
- Keep your OpenKJ rig exactly as it is.
- Point the request server at Auto-KJ and paste your API key.
- Singers search your songbook on a phone. Titles and artists only — your files never leave the laptop.
$5/month standalone. Included with the Full version (~$10/mo) and Lifetime ($500). Need a modern installer? The community OpenKJ fork ships Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon & Intel), and Linux builds with Auto-KJ songbook compatibility.
Path 2 — Upgrade to Auto-KJ (60-day trial)
Same MP3+G/ZIP library. Same dual-screen muscle memory. Free version is desk-entered only — no singer phones — and stays $0 forever. Full version (~$10/mo) is the Fairness Engine plus: cloud singer phones with our full Social Engine; Break-Wave (dual-deck DJ mixer with beat/key matching automixing); full library management (filename correction, duplicate detect/isolate, manufacturer preference for auto-queue); LAN failover; kiosk; remote; and OpenKJ songbook hosting.
| Need | Stay on OpenKJ | Auto-KJ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free app + optional $5/mo songbook | Free version $0 · Full version ~$10/mo · Lifetime $500 |
| Phone requests | DIY PHP server, or our $5 bridge | Built in (GPS / show code / LAN) |
| Rotation | You keep the list honest | Fairness Engine: duets, late arrivals, skips |
| Offline bar | Local files; requests are your problem | LAN failover included with Full version |
| License | FOSS + community fork | Supported product, not open source |
| Platforms | Win / macOS / Linux | Win / macOS / Linux |
When to stay, when to switch
Stay if FOSS is non-negotiable, your paper-or-OpenKJ rotation already works, and you only need cheaper songbook hosting. Switch when singers argue about the list, you want the Fairness Engine, or the venue Wi-Fi is a coin flip. The 30-minute library move is in the migration walkthrough.
$5 songbook tonight — or a 60-day Full version trial
Start with the OpenKJ bridge if you want zero retraining. Start the Full version trial when you're ready for the Fairness Engine. Try the Rotation Simulator first if you want proof without installing anything.