Big Screen vs Cantara
Big Screen
Browser-based church presentation software with themes, timers and unlimited outputs.
- Subscription
- Free Trial
Cantara
Lightweight open-source song presentation tool for churches and small groups.
- Open Source
- Free
Summary
- Big Screen is paid (AUD $15/month), while Cantara is free.
- Cantara is open source (GPL-3.0); Big Screen is proprietary.
- They share no platforms: Big Screen runs on Web browser and Cantara on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.
Only in Big Screen
- Runs on Web browser
- Media: Images (partial in Cantara)
Only in Cantara
- Runs on Windows
- Runs on macOS
- Runs on Linux
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 |
Big Screen
|
Cantara
|
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price | AUD $15/monthFree trial | Free |
| Open source | No | Yes (GPL-3.0) |
| Deployment | Cloud / hosted | Desktop app |
| Status | active | active |
| Platforms | ||
| Windows | Not supported | Supported |
| macOS | Not supported | Supported |
| Linux | Not supported | Supported |
| Web browser | Supported | Not supported |
| iOS / iPadOS | Not supported | Not supported |
| Android | Not supported | Not supported |
| ChromeOS | Not supported | Not supported |
| Content | ||
| Songs & lyrics | Supported | Supported |
| Song library | 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 | Supported: Songs can be imported from OpenSong and OpenLyrics files; an Elvanto/Tithe.ly integration also imports songs. | Unknown |
| Paste or import plain-text lyrics | Unknown | Supported: Plain .txt lyric files are recognised as songs. |
| Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) | Unknown | Partial: Can read song files in the CCLI SongSelect lyrics file format; there is no direct SongSelect account integration. |
| Chord charts for musicians | Unknown | Unknown |
| Motion backgrounds behind lyrics | Supported: Looping background videos, including transparent overlay videos, with adjustable variations. | Unknown |
| CCLI usage reporting | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bible | Supported | Unknown |
| Free translations included | Supported: Public-domain translations such as KJV, ASV, WEB and BSB are included. | Unknown |
| Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) | Paid add-on or tier: Translations such as ESV, NASB, NKJV and NLT require a one-time purchase of AUD $10 each. | Unknown |
| Slides & presentations | Supported | Unknown |
| PowerPoint | Unknown | Unknown |
| Keynote | Unknown | Unknown |
| Google Slides | Unknown | Unknown |
| Canva | Unknown | Unknown |
| Supported: Uploaded PDFs are converted to images. | Unknown | |
| Plays slide animations & transitions | Unknown | Unknown |
| Media | Supported | Partial |
| Video playback | Supported | Unknown |
| Audio playback | Unknown | Unknown |
| Images | Supported | Partial: Images are used only as presentation backgrounds (with per-song overrides since 2.7); there is no separate media playback. |
| YouTube / online video | Supported: YouTube videos can be added to the playlist and controlled like other videos, with optional English captions. | Unknown |
| Inputs & other sources | Supported | Unknown |
| Live camera / capture card | Supported: Phones, tablets, webcams or other network devices can be used as live video sources. | Unknown |
| Screen sharing | Unknown | Unknown |
| Web pages | Unknown | Unknown |
| Countdown timers & clocks | Supported: Countdown and count-up timers and a clock on the monitor display. | 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 interface language can be chosen per organisation and location. | Supported: The interface has been translated into a few languages by the community. |
| Songs in other languages | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bibles in other languages | Supported: Includes Spanish, Japanese, Thai, Khmer and Arabic translations. | 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 | Unknown | Unknown |
| Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts | Supported: Lyrics and scriptures support right-to-left languages. | 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: Unlimited Frontend and Monitor outputs plus custom outputs. | Supported: Multi-screen presentation is supported out of the box. |
| Stage display / confidence monitor | Supported | Unknown |
| Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming | Supported: Theme backgrounds can be transparent for use as an overlay in streaming software such as OBS. | Unknown |
| Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) | Supported: Remote Displays let other computers and devices show outputs in a browser, including as an OBS source. | Unknown |
| Broadcast video | Unknown | Unknown |
| NDI | Unknown | 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 | Supported: Lyrics, videos and images are stored online and can be shared between locations within one organisation. | Unknown |
| Works fully offline | Supported: Continues working with no internet connection; a Cache Client can serve local media. | Supported |
| Remote control from phone or tablet | Unknown | Unknown |
| Multiple operators at once | Partial: Several control surfaces can be open for a location, but only one controls the remote displays at a time. | Unknown |
| Web native (runs in a browser) | Supported | Unknown |
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- Cantara vs KerkBeamer
- Big Screen vs LyricDisplay
- Cantara vs LyricDisplay
- Big Screen vs MediaShout
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- Big Screen vs OpenLP
- Cantara vs OpenLP
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- Cantara vs OpenSong