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BibleShow vs SongBeamer

BibleShow logo
BibleShow

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

  • Free
  • Unmaintained
SongBeamer

German worship presentation software for songs, Bible texts and media, sold as a one-time licence.

  • One-time
  • Free Trial

Summary

  • BibleShow is free, while SongBeamer is paid (€124 one-time (single computer)).
  • Both run on Windows.
  • Note: BibleShow is no longer actively maintained.
  • Both support: Bible: Free translations included · Media: Images · Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages · Multilingual: Bibles in other languages · Multilingual: Bible translations side by side · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming · Broadcast video: NDI · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.

Only in BibleShow

  • Multilingual: Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts (partial in SongBeamer)

Only in SongBeamer

  • Runs on macOS
  • Songs & lyrics: Song library
  • Songs & lyrics: Import from other presentation software
  • Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources)
  • Songs & lyrics: Chord charts for musicians
  • Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics
  • Songs & lyrics: CCLI usage reporting
  • Slides & presentations: PowerPoint
  • Slides & presentations: PDF
  • Inputs & other sources: Live camera / capture card (partial in BibleShow)

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 SongBeamer
Overview
Price Free / Donation-supported€124 one-time (single computer)Free trial
Open source NoNo
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status maintenanceactive
Platforms
Windows Supported Supported
macOS Not supported Supported
Linux Not supported Not 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
Import from other presentation software Not supported Supported: Separate importers for PowerPraise, PraiseMaster and PraiseBox songs, plus lyrics import from PowerPoint and CSV.
Paste or import plain-text lyrics Not supported Unknown
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Not supported Supported: Songs (with chords) can be imported directly from CCLI SongSelect while the licence is entitled to updates.
Chord charts for musicians Not supported Supported: Songs can be projected and printed with chords, with transposition.
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Not supported Supported: Images and videos can be used as song backgrounds.
CCLI usage reporting Not supported Supported: Optional automatic reporting to CCLI, added in version 6.0, available while entitled to updates; VG Musikedition reports can be exported too.
Bible Supported Supported
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. Supported: Elberfelder 1905 is included, and free translations can be imported from Zefania XML.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown Paid add-on or tier: Modern German translations such as Luther 2017, Schlachter 2000 and BasisBibel are sold separately (€19-39 each).
Slides & presentations Not supported Supported
PowerPoint Not supported Supported: PowerPoint and LibreOffice files can be added to the schedule; requires PowerPoint, the PowerPoint Viewer or LibreOffice.
Keynote Not supported Unknown
Google Slides Not supported Unknown
Canva Not supported Unknown
PDF Not supported Supported
Plays slide animations & transitions Not supported Unknown
Media Supported Supported
Video playback Unknown Supported
Audio playback Unknown Supported
Images Supported: Background images with adjustable effects behind the scripture text. Supported
YouTube / online video Unknown Supported: YouTube videos can be shown, including URLs with a start time.
Inputs & other sources Partial Supported
Live camera / capture card Partial: An NDI source can be used as the background; no direct capture-card input is described. Supported: Live video from a camera or capture device can be shown behind text.
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Unknown Supported: Web pages can be added to the schedule and displayed.
Countdown timers & clocks Unknown Supported: Countdowns and stopwatches, also shown on the stage view.
On-screen messages & alerts Unknown Supported: Spontaneous messages to the congregation can be shown over the presentation.
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: Interface in German and English.
Songs in other languages Unknown Supported
Bibles in other languages Supported Supported
Bilingual lyrics on screen Unknown Supported: Songs can hold up to 4 languages, shown together on screen.
Bible translations side by side Supported: Up to 4 versions in parallel on the main screen and up to 7 across all displays. Supported: Up to two Bible translations can be shown at once.
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Supported: Full support for right-to-left languages such as Hebrew and Arabic. Partial: Unicode text such as Cyrillic is supported; the changelog notes right-to-left output (e.g. Arabic) is not yet fully correct.
Integrations
Software integrations Unknown Unknown
Planning Center Unknown Unknown
ChurchSuite Unknown Unknown
WorshipTools Planning Unknown Unknown
Hardware control Unknown Supported
MIDI Unknown Supported: Control via MIDI and OSC.
DMX lighting Unknown Unknown
Stream Deck / Companion Unknown Unknown
Automation & extensibility Unknown Supported
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Unknown Partial: Remote control over the network via OSC; no HTTP or WebSocket API is documented.
Plugins / extensions Unknown Unknown
Built-in scripting / macros Unknown Supported: SongBeamer Script macros can be run from menus or added to the schedule.
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: A presentation can also be shown on a third monitor (beta).
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported: A stage monitor can mirror the main display or use its own theme. Supported
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Supported: Display windows can cover part of the screen and NDI output carries an alpha channel. Supported: NDI output has its own formatting and an optional background colour for keying.
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Unknown Unknown
Broadcast video Supported Supported
NDI Supported: NewTek NDI output (one per instance, with alpha channel) and NDI input as background. Supported: Text output to OBS Studio and other software via NDI or a text file.
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 Supported: SongBeamer Remote app for iPhone and iPad.
Multiple operators at once Unknown Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Not supported

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