SongUp vs. TouchTunes — Best Jukebox Option for Bars and Venues
TouchTunes has been the standard coin-and-credit-card jukebox in bars for years. SongUp takes a different approach — a free, browser-based queue guests join with their own phones. If you’re a venue owner deciding between the two, here’s the real difference.
What TouchTunes is
TouchTunes is a physical (or app-connected) jukebox hardware system. Guests pay per song via an in-app purchase or the machine itself, and the venue typically splits revenue with TouchTunes or pays for the hardware/service. It’s built around monetizing individual song plays.
What SongUp is
SongUp is a web app: the host opens a room on a screen or connects it to the venue’s sound system, guests scan a QR code from their table, and the queue fills up for free. There’s no hardware, no per-song purchase, and no dedicated kiosk needed.
Comparison
| SongUp | TouchTunes | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware required | No — any screen/speaker setup | Yes, dedicated jukebox unit |
| Guest cost per song | Free | Paid per song (credits) |
| Setup for venue | Open a room, share a QR code | Installation, contract, hardware |
| Song source | YouTube (huge, free catalog) | Licensed music catalog |
| Fair per-guest queue limit | Yes, configurable | No — priority is typically pay-to-skip |
| Best for | Bars wanting a low-cost, flexible request night | Bars wanting a monetized, always-on jukebox |
| Setup cost | Free / $5 one-time for Pro | Ongoing hardware & revenue share |
Which one fits your venue?
Choose TouchTunes if you want a permanent, revenue-generating jukebox that runs itself without staff involvement, and you’re fine with the hardware contract and per-song fees for guests.
Choose SongUp if you’re running a specific event — a themed night, a weekly request night, a private party — and want a zero-cost, zero-hardware way for the whole room to add and hear their own requests, without asking guests to pay per song or skip the line. Many bars use SongUp exactly for this: a special “song request Thursday” that doesn’t require a hardware install or an ongoing contract.
The verdict
TouchTunes suits venues wanting always-on, monetized jukebox hardware. SongUp suits venues and hosts who want a flexible, free, fair request queue for a specific night — set up in minutes, no equipment needed.