Song Cage
Song Cage: A broad songwriting workspace with strong chord, lyric, recording, and DAW support. Ranked #1 of 30 in Songwriting Software by our editors (9.4/10); pricing: Free plan · 14-day trial; best for full songwriting across devices and DAWs.
At a glance
- Editor score9.4 / 10
- PricingFree plan · 14-day trial
- Best forFull songwriting across devices and DAWs
- Free planYes
- Paid from$79 one-time
- Melody toolsYes
- Facts checked7 Oct 2026
Where it wins
- Combines chords, melody, lyrics, arrangement, playback, and recording
- Supports web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Works with major DAWs through an AU/VST3 plugin
Where it doesn't
- The Free plan is limited to one song in the browser (unlimited on the phone apps)
- PDF and MIDI export require the Song Cage licence
- Collaboration is limited to five editors per song
Our verdict on Song Cage
Song Cage is a songwriting workspace for developing complete song ideas before recording. It brings chord palettes, guitar and piano voicings, melody input, lyric tools, arrangement, playback, audio recording, and song organization into one canvas. It is suited to songwriters who move between instruments, lyric drafts, mobile capture, and DAW production, with support for web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
Its strongest distinction is breadth. Chord tools cover diatonic, borrowed, and secondary-dominant chords, while melody notes can snap to chord tones. The lyric workspace adds rhymes, slant rhymes, synonyms, and semantic suggestions, and the DAW-style timeline organizes chord and lyric blocks. Playback, accompaniment, and in-app recording help turn sketches into demos. There is no subscription: the only paid product is the Song Cage licence, a one-time purchase that adds unlimited songs, PDF and MIDI export, and collaboration with up to five editors per song.
Platform fit is another clear strength. Song Cage connects with Logic Pro, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Cubase, Reaper, GarageBand, and Studio One through its AU/VST3 plugin, while the desktop option provides native macOS and Windows software for a one-time $79 licence covering the desktop app, the plugin and the full web app. The Free plan is free on iPhone and Android with no account needed, and free in the browser for one song; a 14-day trial is also available without a card. Choose Song Cage for an all-in-one songwriting workflow across devices and DAWs. Choose an alternative if you need a larger free song library or a narrower tool focused on only lyrics, chords, or recording.
Your product? Our editors can test Song Cage in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
From the maker
Written by Digital Candy LLC · approved by our editors 1 Oct 2026. It does not change our score or ranking.
Song Cage is a songwriting app for writing lyrics, chords and melody on one canvas, from the first idea to a finished song. Put a melody down and the chord palette ranks every chord against the notes you wrote and the chords on either side, with Roman numeral labels and a plain explanation of why each one fits. It shows every chord in your key, plus borrowed chords and secondary dominants, with guitar fingering diagrams and piano voicings, and a modulation panel for key changes. Lyrics sit on a DAW-style timeline where every syllable carries its own melody note, with rhymes, slant rhymes and synonyms one click away, and a sung melody can be turned into notes. Capture ideas in the free iPhone and Android apps, then write on the web, in the desktop app for Mac and Windows (fully offline), or inside your DAW as an AU/VST3 plugin. No generative AI. The web app is free for one song. The Song Cage licence is a one-time $79 purchase that unlocks the desktop app, the plugin and the full web app, with a 14-day free trial and no subscription. It is built for songwriters who play guitar or piano, or who write by singing.
What it does, in their words
- Chord suggestions ranked against your melody and the chords on either side
- Roman numeral labels on every chord, with an explanation of why each one fits
- Every chord in your key, plus borrowed chords and secondary dominants
- Modulation panel with pivot chords and a related-keys map
- Auto Chords: a whole progression suggested for your melody, previewed before you accept it
- DAW-style timeline where every syllable carries its own melody note
- Sing a melody and it becomes notes
- Rhymes, slant rhymes, synonyms and related words for any lyric word
- Guitar fingering diagrams (open, barre, capo) and piano voicings for every chord
- Sheet view and timeline view of the same song
- Verse, chorus and bridge sections, each with its own key and time signature if you want
- Voice recording inside the song
- PDF chord sheets and MIDI export
- Desktop app works fully offline
- AU/VST3 plugin streams chords and melody as MIDI to your own instruments
- Free iPhone and Android apps for capturing ideas offline, with no account
- Collaborator invites and view-only share links
- No generative AI
Plans as the maker lists them
| Song Cage licence | $79 once | Desktop app (Mac + Windows), AU/VST3 plugin and full web app; unlimited songs, PDF and MID |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 / month | Web app for one song, plus the free iPhone and Android idea-capture apps |
- Platforms
- Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
- Integrations
- Logic Pro, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Cubase, REAPER, Studio One, GarageBand
- Company
- Digital Candy LLC
- Team size
- 1–10
- Links
- Documentation ↗ · Support ↗ · Pricing page ↗
Song Cage pricing
All 2 Song Cage plans and prices →
Song Cage fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $79 one-time |
| Lyric tools | Yes |
| Chord tools | Yes |
| Melody tools | Yes |
| Demo recording | Yes |
| Collaboration | Yes |
| Platform support | Multi-platform |
| Song library limit | 1 songs |
| Free trial | 14 days |
| Deployment | Cloud, Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 7 integrations: Logic Pro, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Cubase, Reaper, GarageBand … |
| Pricing | Free plan · 14-day trial (source) |
| Website | songcage.com |
| Facts checked | 7 Oct 2026 |
Song Cage integrations
Song Cage lists 7 integrations on its own site.
- Logic Pro
- Ableton Live
- FL Studio
- Cubase
- Reaper
- GarageBand
- Studio One
Alternatives to Song Cage
- SongcraftA focused songwriting workspace with strong collaboration and a five-song free tier.9.2
- HookpadA complete web songwriting workspace with free basics and deeper paid tiers.9.1
- SongScribeA focused songwriting and performance app for chord sheets and multitrack demos.9.0
See all Song Cage alternatives →
Song Cage vs the competition
- Song Cage vs Songcraft
- Song Cage vs Hookpad
- Song Cage vs SongScribe
- Song Cage vs Odesi
- Song Cage vs RapidComposer
- Song Cage vs Nitesong
Compare Song Cage with any tool side by side →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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