Rekwest vs Lime DJ: Which Song Request Platform Wins for DJs and Venues in 2026?
Rekwest and Lime DJ are two of the most feature dense song request platforms on the market, and both target professional DJs, live performers, and venues. Lime DJ’s strength is its breadth of audience engagement features (Music Bingo, photo albums, lyrics player, scoreboards). Rekwest’s strength is the depth of its DJ software and streaming integrations, paired with lower pricing. This guide explains how to pick.
TL;DR
| Criterion | Rekwest | Lime DJ |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, unlimited events, guests, requests | Yes, demo features only |
| Entry pricing | Pro at $6.99/month | Basic at $14/month ($13/mo yearly) |
| Mid tier | Same Pro at $6.99/month | Pro at $19/month ($17/mo yearly) |
| Top tier | Enterprise at $34.99/month | Pro+ at $35/month ($32/mo yearly) |
| Streaming integrations | Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, SoundCloud | Spotify only |
| DJ software integrations | Serato, Rekordbox, Virtual DJ, djay, Traktor | None native |
| Tipping | Yes, via Stripe | Yes, via Stripe |
| Repertoire / own catalog | Yes (Pro) | Yes, strong implementation |
| Photo wall / engagement | No | Yes, photo album, slideshow, Music Bingo |
| Lyrics & chord storage | No | Yes, dedicated lyrics player |
| Native macOS app | Yes | No (iOS notifications only app) |
| Multi language | Yes | Yes (100+ languages) |
| Kiosk mode | Yes (Enterprise) | No |
| White label / theming | Yes (Enterprise) | Custom logos & headers |
| Music Bingo | No | Yes (with paid add on tiers) |
| Best for | DJs and venues that need real DJ software hooks | Solo karaoke, piano bar, cover bands, open format |
Verdict: Lime DJ is excellent if your gigs revolve around audience engagement extras (lyrics, Music Bingo, photo slideshows) and you don’t need DJ software integration. Rekwest wins for any DJ or venue that wants accepted requests to land directly in Serato, Rekordbox, Virtual DJ, djay, or Traktor, and to have catalog search across more than just Spotify, all at a meaningfully lower entry price.
What Rekwest is
Rekwest is a song request platform for working music professionals. Guests scan a QR code, search the catalog of Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, or SoundCloud (or your own repertoire / crates), and submit a request. No app, no sign up. Performers can restrict requests to their own repertoire (Pro) and accepted requests sync into Serato, Rekordbox, Virtual DJ, djay, or Traktor, or export to streaming playlists. Rekwest covers DJs, venues, bands, and radio with free, Pro ($6.99 per month), and Enterprise ($34.99 per month) tiers.
What Lime DJ is
Lime DJ is a browser based song request and audience engagement platform. It supports DJs (wedding, party, karaoke, open format), live performers (solo, duos, cover bands, piano bar), karaoke operators, VJs, radio stations, and venues. The platform’s standout features include audience uploaded photo albums with live slideshows, Music Bingo games, a dedicated lyrics player with chord storage, BPM/key/Camelot data, song request scoreboards, and a built in client portal for event coordination. Tipping runs through Stripe with optional or mandatory tipping modes. Used by DJs in 148 countries.
Pricing has three main tiers: Basic at $14 per month ($13 per month billed yearly), Pro at $19 per month ($17 yearly), and Pro+ at $35 per month ($32 yearly). Music Bingo is a separate add on at $9 to $19 per month.
Head to head
Pricing and free access
Both Rekwest and Lime DJ offer a free tier and paid tiers. The pricing gap, however, is significant.
Rekwest’s free tier includes unlimited events, unlimited guests, and unlimited requests with Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud catalog integration. Pro at $6.99 per month adds repertoire restriction, advanced analytics, recurring events, and the universal QR. Enterprise at $34.99 per month adds white label theming, kiosk mode, locked events, and automatic marketing emails.
Lime DJ’s free tier offers demo features only. Basic at $14 per month is the real entry point. Pro at $19 per month is required for own song lists and live performer features. Pro+ at $35 per month is needed for the full all round set including karaoke and Music Bingo. Music Bingo Pro is an additional $19 per month on top.
So what: Rekwest Pro at $6.99 per month costs less than half of Lime DJ Pro at $19 per month, and the Rekwest free tier already includes core integrations that Lime DJ gates behind paid plans. For most pros, Rekwest is the much better value.
DJ software integration
This is where the two platforms diverge most clearly. Rekwest connects directly to Serato, Rekordbox, Virtual DJ, djay (Algoriddim), and Traktor. Accepted requests appear inside the DJ software queue, ready to drop into the deck.
Lime DJ does not integrate with DJ software. Requests live inside the Lime DJ web interface, and the DJ either references them in another window or types them into their software manually.
So what: For DJs running a live set in Serato or Rekordbox, this is a daily quality of life gap. Rekwest saves the retype step on every accepted track. Over a four hour set with 40 accepted requests, that is serious time.
Streaming and catalog search
Rekwest pulls catalog from Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, and SoundCloud. Guests can search using the streaming service they already have, which reduces typos and search friction.
Lime DJ supports Spotify search and playback opening, plus manual song entry. It does not natively support Apple Music, TIDAL, or SoundCloud catalog search for guests.
So what: If your audience is split across streaming services (especially for Apple Music heavy demographics), Rekwest’s broader integration matters. For Spotify only audiences, the gap is smaller.
Audience engagement extras
Lime DJ is significantly broader than Rekwest on engagement extras:
- Music Bingo. Playable game during the set (paid add on tier)
- Lyrics & chord storage with a dedicated player for performers
- BPM, key, and Camelot notation via GetSongbpm
- Photo album with audience uploads and live slideshow
- Song request scoreboard for displays
- Accolades for karaoke participants
If you are running a karaoke night, a piano bar, or a cover band gig where these extras drive the night, Lime DJ stacks features that Rekwest doesn’t try to replicate.
Rekwest focuses its engagement layer on requests, tipping, messages on requests, VIP guest features, and shoutouts. Engagement is integrated with the request flow rather than expanded into game and slideshow modes.
So what: If your show is built around the engagement extras themselves, Lime DJ is a better fit. If your show is built around the music and you want requests to integrate into your DJ workflow, Rekwest is better and cheaper.
Tipping
Both platforms support tipping and both run through Stripe. Lime DJ supports optional or mandatory tipping, customizable minimum amounts, and per song tip requirements. Rekwest supports tipping, donation flows, optional or required tipping, and VIP features.
So what: A close call. Lime DJ’s “per song tip required” mode is sharp for piano bar gigs. Rekwest’s tipping integrates with messages, VIP guest features, and the broader request workflow.
Kiosk mode and venue features
Rekwest Enterprise includes kiosk mode, locked event pages, recurring events, white label theming (colors, logos, layout), and automatic post event marketing emails. These are aimed squarely at clubs, bars, and event venues with rotating residencies.
Lime DJ supports custom logos and header images on public pages, multi user account access, a bookings calendar, and client portals for event coordination. It covers some of the same ground but doesn’t have a dedicated kiosk mode or locked event mode.
So what: Venues with shared devices, branded request pages, and recurring nights will lean Rekwest. Solo performers using engagement features for client coordination will be well served by Lime DJ.
Native apps
Rekwest has native iOS, Android, macOS, and web apps. The macOS app is useful for venue back of house staff or for DJs who run their controller off a Mac.
Lime DJ is browser based with an iOS app limited to push notifications. There is no native Android app and no native macOS app.
So what: For most browser based use, this doesn’t matter. For DJs who want a stable native window on a controller laptop, Rekwest’s macOS app is a meaningful operational advantage.
Multi language and global reach
Both platforms have strong multi language support. Lime DJ advertises 100+ languages and use in 148 countries. Rekwest offers multi language guest pages and is used by 115,000+ users worldwide.
So what: A tie on global reach. Either is suitable for international audiences.
Verdict
If your gigs depend on audience engagement extras, including Music Bingo, lyrics displays, photo slideshows, scoreboards, or chord and lyric performance tools, Lime DJ is the better stocked toolbox. It is a strong fit for karaoke operators, piano bar performers, and cover bands that lean on engagement gimmicks alongside the music.
If your gigs depend on the music itself flowing smoothly between guest and DJ, and you actually use Serato, Rekordbox, Virtual DJ, djay, or Traktor, Rekwest is the better pick. The DJ software integration alone removes a recurring source of friction during sets. Apple Music and TIDAL catalog support reach audiences Lime DJ’s Spotify only search misses. Kiosk mode, recurring events, and white label theming make Rekwest the right choice for venues. And Pro at $6.99 per month is significantly cheaper than Lime DJ Pro at $19 per month.
A blunt summary: pick Rekwest for a DJ software centric workflow at a lower price. Pick Lime DJ for an engagement feature centric show.
FAQs
Does Lime DJ integrate with Serato or Rekordbox?
No. Lime DJ does not have native integrations with Serato, Rekordbox, Virtual DJ, djay, or Traktor. Rekwest integrates with all five.
Does Lime DJ support Apple Music?
No, not for guest catalog search. Lime DJ uses Spotify for search and playback opening. Rekwest supports Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, and SoundCloud as catalog sources.
Which one supports karaoke best?
Lime DJ’s lyrics and chord player, song scoreboard, and karaoke accolades are stronger for traditional karaoke nights. Rekwest’s repertoire restriction and DJ software integrations work well for KJ style karaoke that uses external DJ software.
Is there a free tier for Lime DJ?
Yes, Lime DJ has a free tier with demo features only. Rekwest also has a free tier with unlimited events and requests.
Which is better for venues with multiple DJs?
Rekwest. Recurring events, locked event pages, white label theming, and kiosk mode are venue grade features. Lime DJ supports multi user access but lacks kiosk mode and a universal QR for current events.
Does Lime DJ have a Music Bingo feature?
Yes. Music Bingo is a built in Lime DJ feature, sold as a paid add on at $9 to $19 per month. Rekwest does not include a Music Bingo game.
How much does Rekwest cost?
Free for unlimited events and requests. Pro is $6.99 per month and Enterprise is $34.99 per month.
How much does Lime DJ cost?
Basic at $14 per month, Pro at $19 per month, Pro+ at $35 per month, with discounts on yearly billing. Music Bingo is a separate add on at $9 to $19 per month.
Related comparisons
Try Rekwest free at rekwest.app. Unlimited events, real DJ software integration, and no app install for guests.