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BibleShow vs Cantara

BibleShow logo
BibleShow

Free Windows software for displaying Bible verses, with NDI output and up to four screens.

  • Free
  • Unmaintained
Cantara logo
Cantara

Lightweight open-source song presentation tool for churches and small groups.

  • Open Source
  • Free

Summary

  • BibleShow is free, while Cantara is free.
  • Cantara is open source (GPL-3.0); BibleShow is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows.
  • Note: BibleShow is no longer actively maintained.
  • Both support: Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.

Only in BibleShow

  • Media: Images (partial in Cantara)

Only in Cantara

  • Runs on macOS
  • Runs on Linux
  • Songs & lyrics: Song library
  • Songs & lyrics: Paste or import plain-text lyrics

Based on confirmed data only. Unknown values are not counted.

Side by side

  • Supported Supported
  • Partial Partial
  • Paid add-on or tier Paid add-on / tier
  • Not supported Not supported
  • Unknown Unknown
  • * Hover or tap for note
Product BibleShow logo BibleShow Cantara logo Cantara
Overview
Price Free / Donation-supportedFree
Open source NoYes (GPL-3.0)
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status maintenanceactive
Platforms
Windows Supported Supported
macOS Not supported Supported
Linux Not supported Supported
Web browser Not supported Not supported
iOS / iPadOS Not supported Not supported
Android Not supported Not supported
ChromeOS Not supported Not supported
Content
Songs & lyrics Not supported: Bible-only presenter; songs and general presentations are not handled. Supported
Song library Not supported Supported: Songs are kept as files in a song repository folder, in Cantara's own .song format or CCLI SongSelect text format.
Import from other presentation software Not supported Unknown
Paste or import plain-text lyrics Not supported Supported: Plain .txt lyric files are recognised as songs.
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Not supported Partial: Can read song files in the CCLI SongSelect lyrics file format; there is no direct SongSelect account integration.
Chord charts for musicians Not supported Unknown
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Not supported Unknown
CCLI usage reporting Not supported Unknown
Bible Supported Unknown
Free translations included Supported: Ships with the King James Version; 180+ free Bible modules in over 60 languages can be downloaded from within the app. Unknown
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown Unknown
Slides & presentations Not supported Unknown
PowerPoint Not supported Unknown
Keynote Not supported Unknown
Google Slides Not supported Unknown
Canva Not supported Unknown
PDF Not supported Unknown
Plays slide animations & transitions Not supported Unknown
Media Supported Partial
Video playback Unknown Unknown
Audio playback Unknown Unknown
Images Supported: Background images with adjustable effects behind the scripture text. Partial: Images are used only as presentation backgrounds (with per-song overrides since 2.7); there is no separate media playback.
YouTube / online video Unknown Unknown
Inputs & other sources Partial Unknown
Live camera / capture card Partial: An NDI source can be used as the background; no direct capture-card input is described. Unknown
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Unknown Unknown
Countdown timers & clocks Unknown Unknown
On-screen messages & alerts Unknown Unknown
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown Unknown
Languages
Multilingual Supported Supported
Interface in multiple languages Supported: The menu language can be changed (the site itself is in English and Romanian). Supported: The interface has been translated into a few languages by the community.
Songs in other languages Unknown Unknown
Bibles in other languages Supported Unknown
Bilingual lyrics on screen Unknown Supported: Songs can be presented and exported in two languages at the same time.
Bible translations side by side Supported: Up to 4 versions in parallel on the main screen and up to 7 across all displays. Unknown
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Supported: Full support for right-to-left languages such as Hebrew and Arabic. Unknown
Integrations
Software integrations Unknown Unknown
Planning Center Unknown Unknown
ChurchSuite Unknown Unknown
WorshipTools Planning Unknown Unknown
Hardware control Unknown Unknown
MIDI Unknown Unknown
DMX lighting Unknown Unknown
Stream Deck / Companion Unknown Unknown
Automation & extensibility Unknown Unknown
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Unknown Unknown
Plugins / extensions Unknown Unknown
Built-in scripting / macros Unknown Unknown
Webhooks / triggers to other systems Unknown Unknown
MCP server for AI assistants Unknown Unknown
AI features (e.g. verse detection, lyric formatting) Unknown Unknown
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs Supported Supported
Multiple audience screens Supported: Up to four independently configured displays, each to a window, NDI or data (XML/PNG) output. Supported: Multi-screen presentation is supported out of the box.
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported: A stage monitor can mirror the main display or use its own theme. Unknown
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Supported: Display windows can cover part of the screen and NDI output carries an alpha channel. Unknown
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Unknown Unknown
Broadcast video Supported Unknown
NDI Supported: NewTek NDI output (one per instance, with alpha channel) and NDI input as background. Unknown
SDI Unknown Unknown
Built-in streaming & recording Unknown Unknown
Stream to any RTMP destination Unknown Unknown
YouTube Live Unknown Unknown
Facebook Live Unknown Unknown
Record the output to a file Unknown Unknown
TV output Unknown Unknown
Apple TV app Unknown Unknown
Android / Google TV app Unknown Unknown
Fire TV app Unknown Unknown
Roku app Unknown Unknown
Chromecast / AirPlay Unknown Unknown
Connectivity & collaboration Supported Supported
Cloud sync of library Unknown Unknown
Works fully offline Supported Supported
Remote control from phone or tablet Unknown Unknown
Multiple operators at once Unknown Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Unknown

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