Big Screen vs SongShow Plus
Big Screen
Browser-based church presentation software with themes, timers and unlimited outputs.
- Subscription
- Free Trial
SongShow Plus
Windows worship presentation software with edition-based licences and optional subscriptions.
- Subscription
- One-time
- Free Trial
Summary
- Big Screen is paid (AUD $15/month), while SongShow Plus is paid ($249 one-time (Ultra edition, special price)).
- They share no platforms: Big Screen runs on Web browser and SongShow Plus on Windows.
- Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Bible: Free translations included · Media: Video playback · Media: Images · Media: YouTube / online video · Inputs & other sources: Live camera / capture card · Inputs & other sources: Countdown timers & clocks · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.
Only in Big Screen
- Runs on Web browser
- Connectivity & collaboration: Cloud sync of library (paid add-on in SongShow Plus)
- Connectivity & collaboration: Web native (runs in a browser)
Only in SongShow Plus
- Runs on Windows
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
|
SongShow Plus
|
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price | AUD $15/monthFree trial | $249 one-time (Ultra edition, special price)Free trial |
| Open source | No | No |
| Deployment | Cloud / hosted | Desktop app |
| Status | active | active |
| Platforms | ||
| Windows | Not supported | Supported |
| macOS | Not supported | Not supported |
| Linux | Not supported | Not 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. | Unknown |
| Paste or import plain-text lyrics | Unknown | Unknown |
| Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) | Unknown | Paid add-on or tier: Requires the Bronze (or higher) subscription plus a separate SongSelect subscription. |
| Chord charts for musicians | Unknown | Unknown |
| Motion backgrounds behind lyrics | Supported: Looping background videos, including transparent overlay videos, with adjustable variations. | Supported: Motion backgrounds with real-time effects and rendered visualizations; Shift Worship media can be imported with a separate subscription. |
| CCLI usage reporting | Unknown | Supported: CCLI auto-reporting added in version 9.3. |
| Bible | Supported | Supported |
| Free translations included | Supported: Public-domain translations such as KJV, ASV, WEB and BSB are included. | Supported: ASV, KJV and WEB are included. |
| 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. | Paid add-on or tier: Translations such as NIV, ESV, NKJV and NLT are $25 plug-ins per machine. |
| Slides & presentations | Supported | Supported |
| PowerPoint | Unknown | Supported: PowerPoint presentations can be imported step by step, as images or as video files. |
| Keynote | Unknown | Unknown |
| Google Slides | Unknown | Unknown |
| Canva | Unknown | Unknown |
| Supported: Uploaded PDFs are converted to images. | Unknown | |
| Plays slide animations & transitions | Unknown | Partial: Importing PowerPoint as video can keep animations; SongShow's own slides have transitions and animations. |
| Media | Supported | Supported |
| Video playback | Supported | Supported |
| 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. | Supported: Web pages, including YouTube videos, can be presented. |
| 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: Live video (IMAG) with text and graphic overlays. |
| Screen sharing | Unknown | Unknown |
| Web pages | Unknown | Supported |
| Countdown timers & clocks | Supported: Countdown and count-up timers and a clock on the monitor display. | Supported: Customizable countdown timers (Pro edition and above). |
| On-screen messages & alerts | Unknown | Supported: Instant Message shows nursery alerts and other messages (Pro edition and above). |
| Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) | Unknown | Unknown |
| Languages | ||
| Multilingual | Supported | Unknown |
| Interface in multiple languages | Supported: The interface language can be chosen per organisation and location. | Unknown |
| 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 | Unknown |
| 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 | Paid add-on or tier |
| Planning Center | Unknown | Paid add-on or tier: Requires the Bronze (or higher) subscription plus a Planning Center subscription. |
| 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 | Paid add-on or tier |
| 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 | Paid add-on or tier: Optional image indexing with Microsoft/Azure Computer Vision requires the Silver subscription. |
| Presenting & control | ||
| Screens & outputs | Supported | Supported |
| Multiple audience screens | Supported: Unlimited Frontend and Monitor outputs plus custom outputs. | Supported: Multi-display support (up to six display windows since 9.1) is part of the Ultra edition. |
| Stage display / confidence monitor | Supported | Supported: One or more customizable stage outputs are part of the Ultra edition. |
| Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming | Supported: Theme backgrounds can be transparent for use as an overlay in streaming software such as OBS. | Supported: Output windows can be configured as synchronized lower-third layouts. |
| 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 | Supported |
| NDI | Unknown | Supported: NDI streaming (added in 9.1) is part of the Ultra edition. |
| SDI | Unknown | Supported: Blackmagic DeckLink output can be assigned to any display window. |
| 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. | Paid add-on or tier: SongShow Sync requires the Silver subscription. |
| 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 | Paid add-on or tier: Mobile Control (a progressive web app) requires the Silver subscription. |
| Multiple operators at once | Partial: Several control surfaces can be open for a location, but only one controls the remote displays at a time. | Paid add-on or tier: SongShow Drive media sharing and the web-based SongShow Builder require the Silver subscription. |
| Web native (runs in a browser) | Supported | Not supported |
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