Karaoke 5

Karaoke 5 is a karaoke player, lyrics synchronizer, and tool for singers, DJs, and karaoke hosts. It plays K5, MIDI, KAR, KFN, MP3, WMA, CD+G, and video formats such as MP4 and FLV. For live hosting, dual-screen mode displays lyrics on a second monitor or TV while the operator runs the program on a computer. Guests can use smartphones to request songs, send on-screen messages, vote, and chat. Its voice assistant searches a user's database, a P2P network, and YouTube, and supports eight languages. YouTube tools include search, video previews, and downloading tracks into a database or playlist. A real-time vocal remover can remove vocals from an original song to make a backing track. The music quiz creates questions from a user's music library and has multiplayer and multiple game modes. Karaoke 5 is freemium, with a free player and manager and paid options from €35/yr. Freeware does not include synchronization, YouTube downloads, mobile management, or the music quiz. HOME and PRO subscriptions and one-time licenses are available; HOME is for one PC and home use, while PRO licenses cover three PCs. The product lists Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows platforms.

Karaoke 5 covers playback, live hosting, and track preparation, with a free player and paid license options. Review the Freeware exclusions and the PC limits of HOME and PRO licenses before choosing.

It suits singers and karaoke hosts who want playback, lyrics display, and guest requests. DJs and hosts can also use its music quiz and vocal-removal tools.

Karaoke 5 is a karaoke player and track-preparation tool for singers, DJs, and event hosts. It is best suited to hosts who want audience requests and live-session controls alongside playback; singers looking only for a free player should weigh the missing synchronization and YouTube downloads.

Overview

Karaoke 5 combines a library player with lyric synchronization, vocal controls, and live-hosting tools. Its format range accommodates varied karaoke and music collections, while dual-screen output and smartphone requests help an operator run a session without passing control of the computer to guests. The main trade-off is that Freeware stops at playback and management, leaving several preparation and event features to paid licenses.

Key features

The player handles K5, MIDI, KAR, KFN, MP3, WMA, CD+G, and video formats including MP4 and FLV. That breadth is useful when a host already has tracks in different formats. Vocal removal works in real time on an original song to create a backing track, making the program more than a playback option; however, Freeware has no synchronization, so it is not a no-cost solution for preparing synchronized lyrics.

In dual-screen mode, lyrics go to a second monitor or TV while the operator controls the program on the computer. Guests can use smartphones to book songs, make requests, send on-screen messages, vote, and chat. These are practical tools for managed events, but mobile management is excluded from Freeware.

The voice assistant searches a user's database, a P2P network, and YouTube, and supports eight languages. Separate YouTube tools search and preview videos and download tracks to a database or playlist; downloads are not part of Freeware. The music quiz builds questions from the user's music library and supports multiplayer and multiple game modes. HOME allows mobile management and quizzes for up to five users; PRO has no stated cap for those features.

Pricing

Karaoke 5 offers a free player and manager, but the Freeware edition has no synchronization, YouTube downloads, mobile management, or music quiz. It is suitable for basic playback, not for lyric preparation or the full hosting workflow.

The Annual Subscription HOME for 1 PC costs €35 a year, for home use on one PC, and has no automatic renewal. The HOME one-time license costs €55, paid once, covers one PC for home use, and includes one year of free software updates. These are the lower-cost choices for a single home computer; HOME's mobile management and quiz features are capped at five users.

For three PCs, the Annual Subscription PRO costs €75 a year and does not automatically renew. The PRO one-time license costs €155, paid once, is unlimited in duration, covers three PCs, and includes one year of free software updates. PRO is the better fit when the three-computer allowance or uncapped mobile management and quiz use matters; HOME costs less but is limited to one PC and home use.

Existing full HOME license holders and users with version 45 or later can buy a 1 Year HOME Upgrade Service for €25 a year; the corresponding PRO service costs €65 a year. These are upgrade services, not substitutes for a full license. Immediate technical assistance costs €30, paid once for existing full program purchasers, or €85, paid once with the HOME license and €185, paid once with the PRO license. Assistance is in Italian and covers Karaoke 5's technical functions, not PC, operating-system, hardware, firewall, or third-party software problems. No free trial is offered.

Platforms

Karaoke 5 supports 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 among its stated requirements. The EULA describes a personal, non-transferable license for one copy on up to three computers belonging to the same person, so the three-computer allowance is not a multi-user license.

Who it's for

Karaoke 5 is a strong fit for DJs and hosts who need mixed-format playback, a separate lyric display, smartphone-based participation, and tools such as vocal removal or music quizzes. Home users can choose HOME for a single computer, while PRO makes more sense for three computers or uncapped use of mobile management and quizzes. It is a weaker choice for a singer who only wants free playback but also needs lyric synchronization, or for a user who expects technical help with their computer rather than the program itself.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Broad audio, karaoke, and video format support helps accommodate an existing mixed library.
• Pros: Dual-screen lyrics and smartphone requests, voting, messages, and chat give hosts concrete ways to manage a live session.
• Pros: Vocal removal, YouTube search and preview, and library-based multiplayer quizzes add preparation and event options beyond playback.
• Cons: Freeware omits synchronization, YouTube downloads, mobile management, and quizzes, limiting its usefulness for track preparation and hosted events.
• Cons: HOME restricts mobile management and quizzes to five users and is limited to one home-use PC.
• Cons: PRO's one-time license costs €155, paid once, and paid technical assistance is Italian-language only and excludes system-level problems.

Alternatives

Karaoke Software is the broader category to consult when comparing options. Choose KaraFun if its free songs and Premium song previews, or its £7.99 a month Premium plan, better suit your listening needs. OpenKJ is a free, open-source karaoke hosting option; its separate Songbook plan starts at $9.99 a month.

Smule suits someone looking to join existing duets at no cost, with a $19.99 a month VIP All Access Pass also offered. Consider TKaraoke as another free-plan option. Encore Karaoke is a free, open-source player if playback is the priority and you do not need a bundled song library. Singa is an alternative with a $9.99 a month private-use Premium plan. StarMaker offers a free plan and Pro subscription options. WeSing is another free-plan option.

Verdict

Choose Karaoke 5 if you host karaoke sessions and value format flexibility, a separate lyric display, and guest participation tools in one program. Its decisive advantage is the combination of playback, preparation, and live controls; its main drawback is that the free edition leaves out synchronization and several of the features that make it most useful to hosts. Look elsewhere if you only need a simple free player or require system-level technical support.