Karaoke 5

Overview

Karaoke 5 combines a karaoke player and lyrics synchronizer with tools for singers, DJs, and hosts. It is best suited to people running hosted sessions who want to manage playback and audience participation from one computer. Its breadth extends beyond simple playback, but the useful distinction is between a tightly limited free player and paid home or professional licenses.

Key features

Support for K5, MIDI, KAR, KFN, MP3, WMA, CD+G, MP4, FLV, and other video formats gives Karaoke 5 room to handle a varied song library. That flexibility matters to hosts bringing existing tracks, though format support alone does not replace lyric synchronization, which Freeware omits.

In dual-screen mode, lyrics go to a second monitor or TV while the operator controls the software on the computer. Smartphone guest tools add song booking and requests, on-screen messages, voting, and chat. Together, those features make Karaoke 5 more compelling for organized events than for someone who only needs a player; mobile management is not included in Freeware.

The voice assistant searches the user's database, a P2P network, and YouTube, and supports eight languages. Karaoke 5 can also search YouTube, preview videos, and download tracks into its database or a playlist. The real-time vocal remover creates a backing track from an original song, while the music quiz builds questions from the user's library and offers multiplayer and multiple game modes. These broaden its use beyond singing, but the free edition excludes YouTube downloads, mobile management, and the quiz.

The feature comparison says HOME includes mobile management and music quiz for up to five users; PRO includes both without that stated cap. Buyers who expect larger quiz or mobile-management groups should therefore look beyond HOME.

Pricing

Karaoke 5 Freeware costs nothing and includes the player and manager, but not synchronization, YouTube downloads, mobile management, or music quiz. It is a sensible way to play and manage songs, not a full free trial of the hosting workflow: there is no free trial, and several headline features are missing.

For home use on one PC, the Annual Subscription HOME for 1 PC costs €35 a year, with no automatic renewal. The HOME one-time license is €55, paid once, covers one PC, and includes one year of free software updates. Choose the subscription to lower the initial commitment; the one-time option suits buyers who prefer a purchase rather than an annual subscription.

The Annual Subscription PRO for 3 PC costs €75 a year and has no automatic renewal. The PRO one-time license costs €155, paid once, is for unlimited time, covers three PCs, and includes one year of free software updates. These are the options for professional use or a setup spanning multiple computers; PRO also removes HOME's stated five-user cap on mobile management and music quiz.

Upgrade services are separate from a new license: 1 Year HOME Upgrade Service costs €25 a year for existing full HOME license holders and users with version 45 or later; 1 Year PRO Upgrade Service costs €65 a year under the same eligibility conditions for PRO. Immediate Technical Assistance costs €30, paid once for existing full program purchasers, is in Italian only, and covers Karaoke5's technical functions. The HOME one-time license with immediate technical assistance costs €85, paid once; the PRO one-time license with immediate technical assistance costs €185, paid once. Paid assistance excludes issues with a user's PC, operating system, hardware, firewall, or third-party software, so it is not general computer support.

Platforms

Karaoke 5 is offered for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. The download page offers Windows and Mac OS X versions, with Windows 11, 10, and 8 and Mac OS versions 10.15 through 26 listed as requirements. Its EULA allows one personal, non-transferable license to install and use one copy on up to three computers belonging to the same person; the paid plans separately describe their own one-PC or three-PC coverage.

Who it's for

Karaoke 5 is a strong fit for DJs and hosts who need a computer-led event setup, guest requests, and a second-screen lyric display, especially if their library spans several file types. Singers who want to prepare synchronized tracks or use YouTube downloads will need a paid option. Someone seeking only free playback can use Freeware, but should not expect the mobile management, quiz, or synchronization tools.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Broad audio and video format support helps accommodate a mixed karaoke library.
• Pro: Dual-screen lyrics and smartphone requests, voting, messaging, and chat serve the practical needs of a hosted session.
• Pro: The vocal remover and music quiz add uses beyond playing prepared karaoke tracks.
• Con: Freeware excludes synchronization and several of the most useful host features, including mobile management and music quiz.
• Con: HOME's mobile management and quiz are capped at five users, while getting three-PC coverage requires PRO.
• Con: Technical assistance is limited to the program's functions, and the one-time assistance offer is in Italian only.

Alternatives

Browse karaoke software if you want to compare more options. Choose KaraFun instead if you want a freemium karaoke option across Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows; its free plan offers free songs, Premium song previews, all features to try, and one free quiz, while Premium is £7.99 a month.

OpenKJ is the alternative to consider for free, open-source karaoke hosting software, with Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows support and a free trial. Encore Karaoke is a free open-source player for Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows, but does not include a song library. Karaoke Mugen is a free MIT-licensed option for Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. Nightingale is a free, open-source karaoke app for Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows.

Kanto Karaoke Player&Recorder is worth considering for a Windows or Mac user who wants a free trial; its Windows free version caps playlists at five songs and recordings and MIDI-to-MP3 conversions at one minute, and excludes professional use. Performous is a free software alternative with Windows, macOS, and Linux downloads. Smule is a freemium option for Android, iOS, and web users; its free plan lets users join existing duets at no cost.

Verdict

Choose Karaoke 5 if you host karaoke sessions and want guest participation, second-screen lyrics, and tools for working with a varied library. Its main advantage is bringing playback and event controls together; its main drawback is that Freeware leaves out synchronization and several of the features that make it stand out. Home users can start at €35 a year, while buyers needing three-PC coverage or uncapped quiz and mobile-management use should consider PRO.