SetPrep vs the alternatives
Honest comparison: what each tool actually does, what it costs, what it doesn't do. No marketing fluff. Last updated 2 May 2026.
If you're a DJ who preps in Rekordbox and you're trying to decide between SetPrep, boots.list, AIDJSets, or just letting Rekordbox 7's built-in AI handle it — this page lays out the differences as bluntly as we can without either underselling our competitors or overselling ourselves.
The TL;DR
Feature comparison
| Feature | SetPrep | boots.list | AIDJSets | Mixed In Key | Rekordbox 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free 3/mo · £5.99/mo Pro · £59.99/yr | $99.99 one-time | Token-based, pay-as-you-go | $58 one-time · $99 Pro | ~£20/mo Core (or free with Pioneer hardware) |
| Reads Rekordbox library directly | ✓ Direct DB read (no XML) | ~ via XML import | ~ via XML import | ✗ No (different focus) | ✓ Native |
| AI plans full mix order | ✓ Reasoning AI | ✓ Custom algorithm | ✓ Spectral analysis | ✗ Not its purpose | ✓ Automix |
| Smart playlists with natural language | ✓ "high-energy tech house this month" → rule | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Explains every track + transition | ✓ "Why this set?" + "Why this transition?" | ✗ | ~ Energy chart only | ✗ | ✗ |
| Library tools — full-library scope | ✓ Dupes · missing files · gems · metadata fix | ~ Genre filter | ✗ | ~ Library tool | ~ Manual |
| Smart track swap with reasons | ✓ Library-scope, scored on flow + role | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Writes hot cues directly to Rekordbox | ✓ IN/OUT/LOOP/DROP | ✗ Playlist only | ✗ Playlist only | ✓ Up to 8 cues | ✓ Intelligent Cue |
| Writes memory cues (Intro End / Breakdown / Build / Outro) | ✓ All 4 | ✗ | ✗ | ~ Cue placement only | ✓ |
| Track colour coding by energy | ✓ Auto | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ~ Manual only |
| Star ratings written automatically | ✓ Auto | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ~ Manual only |
| 10 baked-in mixing styles (Power Block, Long Blend, etc.) | ✓ With real DJ pattern data | ✗ Genre filter instead | ~ Genre algorithms | ✗ | ✗ Generic Automix |
| 1001tracklists URL as reference | ✓ Unique | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Pin tracks (lock specific positions) | ✓ + Peak/Opener/Closer designation | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Set duration target as input | ✓ Soft constraint | ✓ Slider | ✓ Length field | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min/Max BPM bounds | ✓ Optional | ✓ Required | ✓ Optional | ✗ | ~ Filter playlists |
| Playlist history (reopen past mixes) | ✓ Local SQLite | ✓ Yes | ✗ | ✗ | ~ Sets list |
| BPM verification (multi-source) | ✓ Beatport + MusicBrainz consensus | ~ Audio scan | ✗ Self-detect | ✓ Internal algorithm | ~ Single-source |
| Beat-grid phase fix (corrects offset cues) | ✓ Surgical ANLZ patcher | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ~ Manual |
| Inline editable BPM and Key per track | ✓ Click-to-fix | ✗ Read-only | ✗ Read-only | ~ Set in MIK | ✓ Native |
| Stem isolation (vocals/instrumental) | ✗ Not our domain | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ Pro only | ✗ |
| Live performance / decks | ✗ Prep tool only | ✗ Prep tool only | ✗ Prep tool only | ✗ Library tool | ✓ Full DJ software |
| Windows support | ✗ Mac only (roadmap) | ✗ Mac only | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tracklist export (.txt / .md / .csv) | ✓ All 3 formats | ~ XML only | ~ XML only | ✗ | ✗ |
Detailed verdicts
SetPrep
Free 3 mixes/month · £5.99/month Pro · £59.99/year (~17% saving)
Best for: Rekordbox DJs who want the full set planned end-to-end — order, cue points, memory cues, energy colour coding, ratings, transition notes. Especially strong if you mix electronic music styles where Power Block / Long Blend / Narrative templates apply.
Strongest features: Hot cue auto-placement (no other tool besides Rekordbox itself does this), smart playlists with natural language (no DJ tool combines smart playlists with an LLM — unique to SetPrep), 1001tracklists URL injection, 10 mixing-style templates with real DJ pattern data, library tools at full-library scope (dupes, missing files, gems, metadata fixer), smart track swap scored on flow + role, multi-source BPM consensus voting, surgical beat-grid phase fixing, inline BPM/Key editing, "Why this set?" + "Why this transition?" reasoning surfaced inline.
Weaknesses: Mac only (Windows on roadmap). Prep tool only — no live performance. No stem isolation (intentionally — that's MIK's domain). DROP / Build / Breakdown memory cues parked behind v1.0 until detector accuracy catches up; Mix In + Mix Out + Loop + Intro End + Outro Start ship on by default.
boots.list
$99.99 one-time, Mac App Store
Best for: DJs who want a simple, focused playlist-prep tool without a subscription. Built by a single developer (Fraser Muir), kept narrow in scope. macOS-native (no Electron) so faster + lighter than SetPrep on the same hardware.
Strongest features: One-time purchase model. Strong genre-tag filtering. Built-in audio scanner for missing BPM/Key. Energy arc chart for visual review. Apple/Google sign-in.
Weaknesses: Generates playlist only — no hot cue writing, no memory cues, no colour coding, no ratings. XML-import workflow (less elegant than direct DB read). No reference set inspiration. No mixing-style templates beyond genre. macOS 14+ only.
AIDJSets
Token-based pay-as-you-go (exact rates not publicly disclosed)
Best for: DJs who want pay-as-you-go pricing instead of subscription, and a similar AI mix-planning experience to SetPrep with a different feature mix.
Strongest features: Direct Rekordbox library reading. Spectral audio analysis for energy scoring. Genre-specific algorithms. Cross-platform availability.
Weaknesses: No hot cue writing back to Rekordbox. Token-based pricing makes total cost unpredictable. Smaller community + shorter time on market. No 1001tracklists reference.
Mixed In Key
$58 one-time (standard) · $99 one-time (Pro)
Best for: DJs who want best-in-class key detection + automatic cue placement + (Pro tier) stem isolation and mashup recommendations. Different category — library tool, not a mix planner.
Strongest features: Industry-leading key detection accuracy. 8 cue points placed at phrase boundaries. Pro: stem isolation (acapella/instrumental), mashup-compatible track recommendations, key-shifted stem export. Mac + Windows + integrates with Rekordbox/Serato/Traktor.
Weaknesses: Doesn't plan mix order — that's not its job. Pro tier nearly doubles the price. Different category to SetPrep (often used together: MIK for cues + key, SetPrep for set planning + writing).
Rekordbox 7 (Pioneer DJ)
~£20/month Core subscription (or free with eligible Pioneer hardware)
Best for: DJs already paying for Core or owning Pioneer hardware. Free if you fit either — so the prep AI features cost nothing additional.
Strongest features: Native to your existing tool — no app switching. Intelligent Cue Creation learns YOUR existing cue placement style. Automix plays back automatically by phrase/beat/key/BPM. Full DJ performance suite included. Native streaming integration (Spotify, etc.).
Weaknesses: Intelligent Cue applies one cue style across your library — no per-style depth. Automix is generic — no Power Block / Long Blend / Narrative templates. No 1001tracklists reference. Costs £20/month if you don't have Pioneer hardware. Latest "SMART CUE" feature in 7.2.14 (April 2026) is just an alternative name for Hot Cue, not a new intelligence layer.
Common questions
Why not just use Rekordbox 7's Intelligent Cue + Automix?
If you're already paying for Core, you absolutely should — for many DJs it's enough. SetPrep wins on (a) full set planning beyond pair-by-pair, (b) 10 baked-in mixing styles with real DJ pattern data (Power Block from James Hype/Chris Lake/Fisher, Long Blend from Charlotte de Witte/Amelie Lens, etc.), (c) the 1001tracklists reference inspiration that nobody else has, (d) smart playlists in plain English, and (e) the AI's reasoning-quality advantage over Pioneer's algorithm — every track and transition explained, not just played. If you don't pay for Core, SetPrep at £5.99/month is less than half the cost.
Can I use SetPrep alongside Mixed In Key?
Yes — they do different jobs. Many SetPrep users run their library through MIK first for key detection + cue placement, then use SetPrep for set planning + the cues SetPrep adds (memory cues, transition notes, energy colour, ratings) layer on top. SetPrep doesn't overwrite MIK's hot cues unless you ask it to.
Why is SetPrep Mac-only?
The pyrekordbox library SetPrep depends on works on Windows but path-handling differs. Windows support is on the roadmap but currently lower priority than launch + early-user feedback + payment system. Email chris@setprep.app if Windows support would convert you from "interested" to "paying" — concrete demand moves it up the queue.
Are you going to add stem isolation?
Honestly, probably not. Mixed In Key Pro has spent 5+ years on stem isolation. Algoriddim built their entire identity around Neural Mix. SetPrep would be a distant 4th-place stem tool while DILUTING its sharp "AI plans your set" pitch. If stems are critical to your workflow, use MIK Pro alongside SetPrep.
What if I outgrow the free tier?
Free is 3 generated mixes per month, reset on the 1st. Pro is £5.99/month or £59.99/year (~17% saving) and unlocks the full toolkit — smart playlists, smart swap, library tools, "Why this transition?", direct write to Rekordbox, and more. 14-day refund, no questions asked.
Free tier requires no credit card. Pro upgrade available in-app once you hit the monthly limit.
Honesty disclosure: SetPrep is the product behind this comparison page, so naturally we're biased. We've tried to keep this accurate by showing where each competitor wins and where we lose. If you spot something incorrect — for example, a feature a competitor added that we missed — email chris@setprep.app and we'll update the page.