Rekwest vs RequestBox: A Detailed Song Request App Comparison for 2026
Rekwest and RequestBox both let guests submit song requests at events, but they are built for very different users. Rekwest is a full stack platform for professional DJs, venues, and live performers. RequestBox is a lightweight mobile app for casual hosts who want a free way to gather song requests without managing playback. This guide walks through both so you know which one fits your setup.
TL;DR
| Criterion | Rekwest | RequestBox |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free, Pro $6.99/mo, Enterprise $34.99/mo | Free |
| Guest experience | Browser based, no app or sign up | Mobile app required (iOS/Android) |
| Streaming integrations | Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, SoundCloud | Spotify only |
| DJ software integrations | Serato, Rekordbox, Virtual DJ, djay, Traktor | None |
| Music playback / queue | Direct export to playlists and DJ software | Host plays manually on a separate platform |
| Tipping | Yes | No |
| Repertoire restriction | Yes (Pro) | No |
| Analytics | Advanced (Pro) | None |
| Voting | Yes | Yes |
| Kiosk mode | Yes (Enterprise) | No |
| Multi language | Yes | Limited |
| Best for | Pro DJs, venues, bands, radio | House parties and casual hosts |
Verdict: RequestBox is a free way to collect song ideas at a casual party. Rekwest is the platform you pick when you actually run events, perform live, or operate a venue. They are not really competing in the same league.
What Rekwest is
Rekwest is a song request and live engagement platform built for working DJs, venues, bands, and radio stations. Guests scan a QR code and request from Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, or SoundCloud catalogs (or your own repertoire / crates) without installing an app or signing up. Accepted requests sync directly with Serato, Rekordbox, Virtual DJ, djay, or Traktor, or export to a playlist on the streaming service of your choice. Rekwest has free, Pro ($6.99 per month), and Enterprise ($34.99 per month) plans, supports tipping, repertoire restriction, kiosk mode, and is used by 115,000+ users worldwide.
What RequestBox is
RequestBox is a free mobile app, available on iOS and Android, that lets a host create a “box” where guests can submit song requests for a window of 4 to 48 hours. Guests download the app, search the box by name or PIN code, and submit Spotify sourced song titles. Voting is built in. The host does not get any music playback or DJ software integration; RequestBox explicitly does not manage music. The host plays the songs manually on whatever platform they prefer.
Head to head
Pricing and scope
RequestBox is fully free and has no in app purchases. That is its main selling point. The trade off is that the feature set is intentionally narrow.
Rekwest’s free tier already includes unlimited events, unlimited requests, and integrations with Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud. Pro at $6.99 per month and Enterprise at $34.99 per month unlock business features (recurring events, repertoire restriction, kiosk mode, white label theming, marketing emails). Pricing scales with the use case rather than gating the basic experience.
So what: If you want zero cost casual song collection and don’t mind the app download for guests, RequestBox is the cheaper option. If you want guests to skip the app store and you want the requests to actually go somewhere (a playlist, your DJ software), Rekwest’s free tier already does that.
Guest experience
This is the single biggest difference between the two products. RequestBox requires every guest to download an iOS or Android app, find your box, and submit through the app. That is a meaningful drop off in conversion at any event larger than a small house party.
Rekwest uses a QR code that opens a request page in the browser. No download, no sign up, no friction. At a venue or wedding, this is the difference between 10% and 70% guest engagement.
So what: Browser based access is industry standard for a reason. Forcing app downloads at a 200 person event will leave most of your audience out.
Music playback and DJ workflow
RequestBox stops at the request collection step. The app does not play music, queue tracks, or integrate with DJ software. You see a list of requested songs and you go play them on Spotify, Serato, or whatever else you use. For a host throwing a casual party, that is fine.
Rekwest connects requests to the actual playing environment. Accepted tracks export to your Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, or SoundCloud playlist, or they queue inside Serato, Rekordbox, Virtual DJ, djay, or Traktor. There is also automation: requests can be auto accepted or auto declined based on rules.
So what: If you are a DJ, the time saved by not retyping every accepted track into your software adds up fast over a four hour set.
Catalog and search
RequestBox uses Spotify’s catalog only. Apple Music support has been requested by users but is not yet implemented at the time of writing.
Rekwest supports Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, and SoundCloud. Guests search the catalog they already use, which reduces typos and missing tracks.
So what: If your audience leans Apple Music heavy, RequestBox forces a Spotify search experience that will feel foreign to them. Rekwest matches the listener.
Pro features RequestBox doesn’t have
A short list of Rekwest features that have no RequestBox equivalent:
- Tipping and donations. Guests can tip alongside requests
- Repertoire restriction. Limit requests to tracks you can actually play
- Automation rules. Auto accept or auto decline based on conditions
- Recurring events. For venues with weekly or monthly residencies
- Universal QR code. One QR that always points to the current event
- Kiosk mode. A shared device guests can use without their own phone
- Marketing emails. Automatic post event follow up to attendees
- Advanced analytics. Request volume, peak times, top tracks, exports
- White label theming. Colors, logos, layout for venues with brand standards
- Native macOS app. For venue back of house workflows
So what: RequestBox is fine for a Saturday night at home. Once you start charging for events or running a venue, the gap becomes impossible to ignore.
Voting and engagement
Both platforms support guest voting on submitted requests, which is a strong engagement mechanic for parties and casual events. RequestBox makes this its central feature. Rekwest treats it as one of many engagement levers, alongside tipping, messages on requests, and shoutouts.
So what: Voting is the one place where the products genuinely overlap. It is a tie on this dimension.
Privacy and event control
RequestBox supports an optional PIN code so only invited guests can find your box. Hosts can block specific guests.
Rekwest provides attendee access control, locked events, VIP guest features, and full white label theming so the request page looks like part of the venue, not a third party tool.
So what: For a private house party, a PIN is plenty. For ticketed events or branded venue nights, Rekwest’s controls are more enterprise grade.
Verdict
If you are throwing a backyard birthday or running a small dinner party and you want a free tool just to collect song ideas, RequestBox is a perfectly reasonable choice. It is free, it has voting, and it does one thing.
If you are a DJ, performer, venue, or anyone running events as part of your work, Rekwest is the obvious pick. Browser based guest experience, real DJ software integration, repertoire control, tipping, analytics, and venue grade features are all things RequestBox does not attempt to offer. And Rekwest’s free tier already covers most of that without payment.
The real test: ask yourself whether your guests will download an app to request a song. If the answer is “maybe half of them,” you are going to leave engagement on the table with RequestBox.
FAQs
Do guests need to download an app to use RequestBox?
Yes. RequestBox is mobile only and requires guests to install the iOS or Android app. Rekwest does not require any download. Guests scan a QR code and submit in the browser.
Does RequestBox play the music for me?
No. RequestBox is explicit that it does not manage music playback. The host plays the songs manually using whatever platform they prefer. Rekwest exports accepted requests directly to streaming playlists or DJ software.
Is RequestBox really free?
Yes, RequestBox has no paid tier and no in app purchases at the time of writing. Rekwest also offers a free tier with unlimited events and requests.
Can I limit guests to my own song catalog?
Only with Rekwest. Pro plans include a repertoire only mode that restricts requests to tracks you have selected. RequestBox doesn’t offer this.
Which works better for a wedding or large event?
Rekwest. Browser based access scales to hundreds of guests, while requiring app downloads at a wedding is a non starter for most attendees.
Can I use RequestBox at a venue with multiple DJs?
Not really. RequestBox is built around a single host creating a single box. Rekwest supports recurring events and a universal QR code designed for venues with rotating talent.
How much does Rekwest cost?
Rekwest has a free tier with unlimited events and requests. Pro is $6.99 per month and Enterprise is $34.99 per month.
Related comparisons
Try Rekwest free at rekwest.app. No app install required for guests.