Showboard

Free plan Mac

What Showboard is

Showboard is a free native Mac music player for people who collect live recordings. It combines local files with recordings from nugs.net, TIDAL, Qobuz, Archive.org, and Phish.in in one library. Local files need no account, Archive.org and Phish.in are free to access, while the other streaming services require your own accounts or subscriptions. Live-show tools include automatic show detection, set breaks, source badges, taper notes, jam annotations, and Venue Explorer. My Shows provides a concert diary where recordings can be attached, with diary details syncing across Macs through iCloud. Favorites, playlists, ratings, diary entries, and play history also sync when iCloud Drive is enabled. Playback includes exclusive mode, automatic sample-rate switching, gapless playback, EQ, and headphone crossfeed. Formats include FLAC up to 384kHz/32-bit, DSD64 via DoP, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, WavPack, MP3, AAC, and OGG. Showboard supports macOS 14 or later on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.

Who it suits

Showboard is suited to Mac users who organize live concert recordings and want diary, discovery, and playback tools together. It also fits listeners using supported streaming accounts or local files.

What it does well

Combines local and online live recordings
Concert diary syncs across Macs with iCloud
Supports many lossless and compressed formats
Includes live-show annotations and Venue Explorer
No account or license required for the free app

What to know first

Requires macOS 14 or later
Several streaming sources require separate subscriptions
iCloud Drive is required for syncing
AirPlay and BluOS bypass exclusive mode

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Free	Every feature included · no account or license · no device limit · macOS 14+	Free

As showboard.app lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Verdict

Showboard focuses on live-show collections with library search, concert notes, broad format support, and Mac playback controls. Streaming account requirements and the macOS-only platform define its fit.

Facts from Showboard's own pages

Audio output: It supports USB DACs, Bluetooth, AirPlay, built-in audio, and BluOS devices; AirPlay and BluOS do not use the exclusive-mode path. · showboard.app, 11 Oct 2026
Audio sources: It integrates local files, nugs.net, TIDAL, Qobuz, Archive.org, and Phish.in. · showboard.app, 11 Oct 2026
Concert diary: My Shows lets users log concerts, attach recordings, and sync diary details across Macs with iCloud. · showboard.app, 11 Oct 2026
Credentials: Streaming service credentials are stored locally in the Mac system keychain, and Showboard says it does not see or transmit those login details. · showboard.app, 11 Oct 2026
Data sync: Favorites, playlists, diary entries, ratings, and play history sync through the user's iCloud account; iCloud Drive must be enabled. · showboard.app, 11 Oct 2026
Format support: FLAC,DSD,ALAC,WAV,AIFF,WavPack,MP3,AAC,OGG · showboard.app, 23 Sept 2026
Free plan: Yes · showboard.app, 23 Sept 2026
License model: free · showboard.app, 23 Sept 2026
Live show tools: Features include set breaks, source type badges, taper notes, jam annotations, automatic live show detection, and Venue Explorer. · showboard.app, 11 Oct 2026
Maker: The maker identifies Chris Kave as the builder and says he and Sabrina created the app after wanting an easier way to find recordings of shows they attended. · showboard.app, 11 Oct 2026
Network playback: Yes · showboard.app, 23 Sept 2026
Supported platforms: macOS · showboard.app, 23 Sept 2026
Playback: Showboard offers exclusive mode, automatic sample rate switching, gapless playback, EQ, and headphone crossfeed. · showboard.app, 11 Oct 2026
Privacy: The maker says the app does not collect analytics or telemetry and keeps the library, listening history, and concert diary on the Mac. · showboard.app, 11 Oct 2026
Purpose: Showboard is a native Mac music player for live show collectors that searches local files and online recordings in one library. · showboard.app, 11 Oct 2026
Requirements: The app requires macOS 14 or later, supports Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, and lists 4 GB RAM and 200 MB disk space as minimums. · showboard.app, 11 Oct 2026
Subscriptions: TIDAL, Qobuz, and nugs.net require the user's own accounts or subscriptions; Archive.org and Phish.in are free to access, and local files need no account. · showboard.app, 11 Oct 2026
Support: Users can contact builder Chris at [email protected] and the maker says replies come from the app's builder. · showboard.app, 11 Oct 2026
Supported formats: Supported formats include FLAC up to 384kHz/32-bit, DSD64 via DoP, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, WavPack, MP3, AAC, and OGG. · showboard.app, 11 Oct 2026

Where Showboard stands on Freedom251

Media Player Software#42 of 76