Rekwest vs RequestNow: A Full Comparison for DJs and Venues in 2026
Rekwest and RequestNow both target professional DJs and live performers, but they take very different paths to the same goal. RequestNow leans on SMS style request flows and pricing tiers from $7 to $30 per month. Rekwest is built around browser based requests and deep streaming and DJ software integrations at $6.99 per month for Pro. Here is how they actually compare.
TL;DR
| Criterion | Rekwest | RequestNow |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Unlimited events, guests, requests | Paid only |
| Entry pricing | Free, Pro at $6.99/month | Lite at $7/month, Unlimited Pro at $30/month |
| Pay per event option | No, but free tier covers it | $19 per event |
| Top tier | Enterprise at $34.99/month | Custom (venues, large events) |
| Request channels | QR code → web request page | QR code, SMS, web |
| Streaming integrations | Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, SoundCloud | None native |
| DJ software integrations | Serato, Rekordbox, Virtual DJ, djay, Traktor | None |
| Tipping | Yes | Yes |
| Repertoire / SetList | Yes (Pro) | Yes (SetList) |
| Pre event requests | Yes | Yes |
| Photo wall / engagement | No | Yes (Momento) |
| Marketing emails | Yes (Enterprise, automatic post event) | Yes (blast messages) |
| Native macOS app | Yes | No |
| Best for | Pros who need streaming + DJ software integration | DJs targeting older crowds or unreliable connectivity |
Verdict: RequestNow is a credible option for DJs whose audiences prefer SMS or who play in venues with unreliable internet connectivity. For everyone else, and especially anyone who wants accepted requests to flow directly into Serato, Rekordbox, or a Spotify playlist, Rekwest’s free tier is already more capable than RequestNow’s Lite plan, and Rekwest Pro at $6.99 per month undercuts RequestNow’s Unlimited Pro at $30 per month by a wide margin.
What Rekwest is
Rekwest is a song request platform for DJs, venues, live bands, and radio stations. Guests scan a QR code to open a browser based request page, search the Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, or SoundCloud catalog (or your own repertoire / crates), and submit a request. No app, no sign up. Accepted requests sync directly with Serato, Rekordbox, Virtual DJ, djay, or Traktor, and can also export to streaming playlists. Free, Pro ($6.99 per month), and Enterprise ($34.99 per month) plans cover everything from solo mobile DJs to multi room venues.
What RequestNow is
RequestNow is a song request platform that emphasizes accessibility through multiple channels: QR code, web, and SMS to a dedicated local area code phone number per event. The product targets mobile DJs, bar and venue owners, karaoke DJs, school event organizers, and large event coordinators. Pricing includes a Lite plan at $7 per month with limited functionality, a Pay Per Event plan at $19 per event for hobbyists, and an Unlimited Pro plan at $30 per month for solo operators. Custom pricing is available for venues and large events. Features include a Live View dashboard, tipping, a SetList for repertoire, pre event requests, a photo wall called Momento, and blast messages to a built up contact list.
Head to head
Pricing and free access
Rekwest has a free tier that includes unlimited events, unlimited guests, and unlimited requests, with Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud integrations included. There is no per event or per month request cap on free. Pro is $6.99 per month, Enterprise is $34.99 per month.
RequestNow has no free tier. Lite at $7 per month is the cheapest entry but functionality is limited. Pay Per Event at $19 makes sense only for true one offs. Unlimited Pro is $30 per month. That is over four times the cost of Rekwest Pro.
So what: For someone running their first event, Rekwest is risk free. RequestNow forces a payment commitment before the first show, and the unlimited tier is significantly more expensive than Rekwest Pro.
Request channels: QR vs SMS
This is where RequestNow has a genuine differentiator. SMS based requests work even when internet connectivity is weak, when guests are older or less tech savvy, and when QR codes feel like too much effort. Each event gets its own local area code phone number, which is a smart implementation detail.
Rekwest is QR and web only. The QR code opens a browser request page on the guest’s phone using whatever internet connection they have available, whether that is WiFi, mobile data, or anything else. For most modern crowds at most modern venues, this works flawlessly and gives a richer guest experience than typing into a text message.
So what: If your gigs are in rural venues with patchy connectivity or your crowd skews 50+, RequestNow’s SMS option is genuinely useful. If you play modern venues and your guests are comfortable with QR codes (most of 2026), Rekwest’s browser interface is faster, richer, and less error prone.
Streaming and DJ software integrations
Rekwest pulls catalog from Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, and SoundCloud. Accepted tracks export to a playlist on the same service or queue directly inside Serato, Rekordbox, Virtual DJ, djay, or Traktor.
RequestNow does not natively integrate with streaming services for catalog search, and does not integrate with DJ software for queueing. Guests submit free text song titles, which means typos and missing tracks land in your queue and need cleaning up before you can play them.
So what: This is the biggest functional gap in the comparison. Rekwest saves real time during a set by removing the retype and search step. RequestNow keeps that work on you.
Repertoire / SetList
Both platforms support some form of curated catalog. Rekwest Pro lets you restrict requests to your own repertoire and run automation rules to auto accept or auto decline based on conditions. RequestNow’s SetList feature lets musicians offer a curated list of available songs that guests can request from.
So what: Roughly equivalent on paper, but Rekwest’s automation rules are deeper. For a busy event with a strict song policy, automation does the triage that you would otherwise do manually.
Tipping
Both apps support tipping. RequestNow has a polished tipping flow tied into the SMS and web request process. Rekwest supports tipping, donations, optional minimum tips, and messages on requests, with VIP guest features on Pro.
So what: This is a tie. Both are credible options for DJs whose tipping is a meaningful revenue line.
Engagement and follow up
RequestNow includes Momento (a photo wall) and a blast message feature for sending announcements or thank yous to a contact list built from event interactions. That is a thoughtful set of post event tools.
Rekwest Enterprise includes automatic post event marketing emails to attendees, plus advanced analytics. The marketing flow is automated rather than manual blast messaging.
So what: RequestNow’s manual blast model is more hands on. Rekwest’s automated marketing email flow scales better when you are booking 30+ events a year.
Multi platform and device support
Rekwest has native iOS, Android, macOS, and web apps. The macOS app matters for venue back of house workflows where staff manage requests on a desktop machine.
RequestNow runs on web and mobile but does not have a native macOS app at the time of writing.
So what: A small detail, but for venues running a dedicated booth machine, the native macOS app keeps Rekwest in front and stable.
Use case fit
RequestNow’s strongest scenarios are gigs where SMS access matters: outdoor weddings with weak signal, older crowds, sports event entertainment, and any venue where QR scanning is awkward. The product leans into that.
Rekwest’s strongest scenarios are anywhere a modern crowd is using their phones anyway: clubs, bars, weddings, corporate events, school dances, radio call in shows, and live music venues.
Verdict
If your specific gig type genuinely benefits from SMS, like older audiences, venues with unreliable internet, or large outdoor events where guests don’t have your QR in front of them, RequestNow is a fair pick. The SMS workflow is well executed.
For the broad majority of working DJs, venues, and bands, Rekwest is the better choice. The free tier already includes unlimited events and unlimited requests, the streaming integrations mean guests search a catalog they know, and accepted requests actually flow into your DJ software. Rekwest Pro at $6.99 per month is also dramatically cheaper than RequestNow’s Unlimited Pro at $30 per month, while offering broader integrations.
The cleanest decision rule: if SMS only request submission is a hard requirement, pick RequestNow. Otherwise pick Rekwest.
FAQs
Does RequestNow integrate with Spotify or Apple Music?
Not natively for catalog search. Guests submit free text song titles via QR, web, or SMS. Rekwest pulls catalog directly from Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, and SoundCloud.
Does RequestNow integrate with Serato or Rekordbox?
No. RequestNow has no DJ software integration. Rekwest integrates with Serato, Rekordbox, Virtual DJ, djay, and Traktor.
Is RequestNow free?
No. Pricing starts at $7 per month for the limited Lite plan. Unlimited Pro is $30 per month. Rekwest has a free tier with unlimited events, guests, and requests, and Pro is $6.99 per month.
What’s the advantage of SMS based requests?
Reach. SMS works for guests with older phones, in venues with unreliable internet connectivity, and for crowds less comfortable with scanning QR codes. RequestNow is built around this. Rekwest does not offer SMS based submission, but works on any internet connection (WiFi, mobile data, etc.).
Which one is better for tipping?
Both support tipping well. Rekwest covers a wider range of optional features (tip required mode, VIP, donation flow). RequestNow has a tightly integrated tipping flow tied to SMS and web requests.
Can guests request before the event starts?
Yes on both platforms. Pre event requests are supported on Rekwest and on RequestNow.
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 RequestNow cost?
Lite is $7 per month with limited features, Pay Per Event is $19 per event, Unlimited Pro is $30 per month, and venue and large event pricing is custom.
Related comparisons
Try Rekwest free at rekwest.app. Unlimited events on the free plan, no credit card required.