Big Screen vs TheOpenPresenter

Big Screen

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

Subscription
Free Trial

TheOpenPresenter

Open-source, browser-based presenter you can run and control from any device.

Open Source
Free

Summary

Big Screen is paid (AUD $15/month), while TheOpenPresenter is free.
TheOpenPresenter is open source (AGPL-3.0-only); Big Screen is proprietary.
Both run on Web browser.
Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Bible: Free translations included · Slides & presentations: PDF · Media: Video playback · Media: Images · Media: YouTube / online video · Inputs & other sources: Countdown timers & clocks · Multilingual: Bibles in other languages · 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: Cloud sync of library · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline · Connectivity & collaboration: Web native (runs in a browser).

Only in Big Screen

No confirmed features where TheOpenPresenter falls short.

Only in TheOpenPresenter

Runs on Windows
Runs on macOS
Runs on Linux
Connectivity & collaboration: Multiple operators at once (partial in Big Screen)

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	TheOpenPresenter
Overview
Price	AUD $15/monthFree trial	Free
Open source	No	Yes (AGPL-3.0-only)
Deployment	Cloud / hosted	Cloud / hosted, Desktop app, Self-hosted
Status	active	active
Platforms
Windows	Not supported	Supported
macOS	Not supported	Supported
Linux	Not supported	Supported
Web browser	Supported	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	Supported
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources)	Unknown	Supported: Songs can be pulled from MyWorshipList.
Chord charts for musicians	Unknown	Supported
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics	Supported: Looping background videos, including transparent overlay videos, with adjustable variations.	Supported
CCLI usage reporting	Unknown	Unknown
Bible	Supported	Supported
Free translations included	Supported: Public-domain translations such as KJV, ASV, WEB and BSB are included.	Supported: Over a thousand freely licensed translations are available through the Beblia and Free Use Bible API catalogues.
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.	Partial: Licensed translations can be used, but the church has to upload them.
Slides & presentations	Supported	Supported
PowerPoint	Unknown	Supported
Keynote	Unknown	Unknown
Google Slides	Unknown	Supported
Canva	Unknown	Supported
PDF	Supported: Uploaded PDFs are converted to images.	Supported
Plays slide animations & transitions	Unknown	Supported: PowerPoint imports keep their slideshow data so animations play click by click.
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
Inputs & other sources	Supported	Supported
Live camera / capture card	Supported: Phones, tablets, webcams or other network devices can be used as live video sources.	Unknown
Screen sharing	Unknown	Supported
Web pages	Unknown	Supported: Web pages can be shown, but interacting with them isn't supported yet; use screen share instead.
Countdown timers & clocks	Supported: Countdown and count-up timers and a clock on the monitor display.	Supported
On-screen messages & alerts	Unknown	Unknown
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along)	Unknown	Supported: Slido polls and Q&A can be shown through the Slido plugin.
Languages
Multilingual	Supported	Supported
Interface in multiple languages	Supported: The interface language can be chosen per organisation and location.	Unknown
Songs in other languages	Unknown	Partial: Songs in any language work, but the automatic import sources have few non-English songs so far.
Bibles in other languages	Supported: Includes Spanish, Japanese, Thai, Khmer and Arabic translations.	Supported
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	Supported
Planning Center	Unknown	Supported: Setlists can be imported from Planning Center.
ChurchSuite	Unknown	Supported: Setlists can be imported from ChurchSuite.
WorshipTools Planning	Unknown	Unknown
Hardware control	Unknown	Unknown
MIDI	Unknown	Unknown
DMX lighting	Unknown	Unknown
Stream Deck / Companion	Unknown	Unknown
Automation & extensibility	Unknown	Supported
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket)	Unknown	Unknown
Plugins / extensions	Unknown	Supported: Features are built as plugins on a modular architecture.
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: AI formats pasted lyrics into sections and slides.
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs	Supported	Supported
Multiple audience screens	Supported: Unlimited Frontend and Monitor outputs plus custom outputs.	Supported
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
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
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	Supported
Apple TV app	Unknown	Not supported
Android / Google TV app	Unknown	Supported: TheOpenPresenter TV app for Android TV; a Fire TV (Vega OS) version is also built.
Fire TV app	Unknown	Supported
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.	Supported
Works fully offline	Supported: Continues working with no internet connection; a Cache Client can serve local media.	Supported: Offline use is provided by the TheOpenPresenter Studio desktop app (stable on Windows, alpha on macOS).
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.	Supported
Web native (runs in a browser)	Supported	Supported

Big Screen vs TheOpenPresenter

Summary

Only in Big Screen

Only in TheOpenPresenter

Side by side

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