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Big Screen vs ChurchPresenter

Big Screen logo
Big Screen

Browser-based church presentation software with themes, timers and unlimited outputs.

  • Subscription
  • Free Trial
ChurchPresenter logo
ChurchPresenter

Free, open-source desktop presenter for songs, scripture, slides, media and broadcast graphics.

  • Open Source
  • Free

Summary

  • Big Screen is paid (AUD $15/month), while ChurchPresenter is free.
  • ChurchPresenter is open source (GPL-3.0); Big Screen is proprietary.
  • They share no platforms: Big Screen runs on Web browser and ChurchPresenter on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Import from other presentation software · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Bible: Free translations included · Slides & presentations: PDF · Media: Video playback · Media: Images · Inputs & other sources: Live camera / capture card · Inputs & other sources: Countdown timers & clocks · Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages · Multilingual: Bibles in other languages · Multilingual: Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming · Screens & outputs: Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.

Only in Big Screen

  • Runs on Web browser

Only in ChurchPresenter

  • 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 logo Big Screen ChurchPresenter logo ChurchPresenter
Overview
Price AUD $15/monthFree trialFree
Open source NoYes (GPL-3.0)
Deployment Cloud / hostedDesktop app
Status activeactive
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
Import from other presentation software Supported: Songs can be imported from OpenSong and OpenLyrics files; an Elvanto/Tithe.ly integration also imports songs. Supported: The bundled converter reads SongBeamer, OpenLP, OpenSong, FreeShow, Free Worship, EasySlides, Quelea, VideoPsalm and SoftProjector libraries.
Paste or import plain-text lyrics Unknown Supported: Songs are entered in the built-in editor, and lyrics can be extracted from PDF, Word, PowerPoint and Keynote files.
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Unknown Unknown
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Supported: Songs hold chords that can be transposed, and stage tablets can transpose their own view.
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: Looping background videos, including transparent overlay videos, with adjustable variations. Supported: A song or section can have its own colour, gradient, picture, looping video or camera background.
CCLI usage reporting Unknown Partial: Exports date-filtered CSV/Excel song usage reports for CCLI reporting; it does not submit reports to CCLI automatically.
Bible Supported Supported
Free translations included Supported: Public-domain translations such as KJV, ASV, WEB and BSB are included. Supported: Over 1,500 free translations in more than 1,000 languages can be downloaded in-app from eBible.org and the Zefania archive.
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 Supported
PowerPoint Unknown Supported: Presents .pptx, .ppt, .key and PDF files without Microsoft or Apple software installed.
Keynote Unknown Supported
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Supported: Uploaded PDFs are converted to images. Supported
Plays slide animations & transitions Unknown Supported: PowerPoint and Keynote entrance, emphasis and exit effects, builds, motion paths and transitions play back in the app.
Media Supported Supported
Video playback Supported Supported: Audio and video playback uses VLC, including network streams.
Audio playback Unknown Supported
Images Supported Supported
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 Supported
Live camera / capture card Supported: Phones, tablets, webcams or other network devices can be used as live video sources. Supported: Webcams, capture cards, NDI and OMT sources can be placed on the canvas compositor.
Screen sharing Unknown Supported: Screen capture can be added as a layer on the canvas compositor.
Web pages Unknown Supported
Countdown timers & clocks Supported: Countdown and count-up timers and a clock on the monitor display. Supported
On-screen messages & alerts Unknown Supported: Announcements can be shown anywhere on screen with scroll and slide animations.
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown Supported: Audience Q&A lets people submit questions from their phones via a QR code, with moderation and voting.
Languages
Multilingual Supported Supported
Interface in multiple languages Supported: The interface language can be chosen per organisation and location. Supported: The interface is translated into 34 languages, laid out right-to-left for Arabic and Persian.
Songs in other languages Unknown Supported
Bibles in other languages Supported: Includes Spanish, Japanese, Thai, Khmer and Arabic translations. Supported
Bilingual lyrics on screen Unknown Supported: Two song languages can be shown at once, side by side or stacked.
Bible translations side by side Unknown Supported: Bible mode can show a primary and secondary translation or an ordered stack of any number of translations.
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Supported: Lyrics and scriptures support right-to-left languages. Supported
Integrations
Software integrations Unknown Supported
Planning Center Unknown Supported: Imports Planning Center Services plans (read-only); each church supplies its own free PCO developer credentials.
ChurchSuite Unknown Unknown
WorshipTools Planning Unknown Unknown
Hardware control Unknown Supported
MIDI Unknown Unknown
DMX lighting Unknown Unknown
Stream Deck / Companion Unknown Supported: Bitfocus Companion is supported through HTTP buttons or a native Companion Satellite connection; MIDI and OSC control are on the roadmap.
Automation & extensibility Unknown Supported
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Unknown Supported: Built-in Ktor REST and WebSocket server used by mobile remotes, with optional API-key protection.
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 Supported: Can listen to a speech-to-text feed and automatically stage spoken Bible references; live captions and translation need a separate speech-to-text server.
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs Supported Supported
Multiple audience screens Supported: Unlimited Frontend and Monitor outputs plus custom outputs. Supported: One window per connected display plus Blackmagic DeckLink/SDI, NDI, OMT and browser-source outputs.
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported Supported
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Supported: Theme backgrounds can be transparent for use as an overlay in streaming software such as OBS. Supported: Animated Lottie lower thirds and a lower-third mode per content type, with fill + key and alpha output.
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. Supported: A transparent browser-source output can be used in OBS or opened on tablets.
Broadcast video Unknown Supported
NDI Unknown Supported: NDI input and output require the free NDI Runtime, installed separately.
SDI Unknown Supported: SDI fill and key output through Blackmagic DeckLink cards.
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 Supported
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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