Cantara vs FreeShow
Cantara
Lightweight open-source song presentation tool for churches and small groups.
- Open Source
- Free
Summary
- Cantara is free, while FreeShow is free.
- Both are open source.
- Both run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Paste or import plain-text lyrics · Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages · Multilingual: Bilingual lyrics on screen · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.
Only in Cantara
No confirmed features where FreeShow falls short.
Only in FreeShow
- Media: Images (partial in Cantara)
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 |
Cantara
|
FreeShow
|
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price | Free | Free / Donation-supported |
| Open source | Yes (GPL-3.0) | Yes (GPL-3.0-only) |
| Deployment | Desktop app | Desktop app |
| Status | active | active |
| Platforms | ||
| Windows | Supported | Supported |
| macOS | Supported | Supported |
| Linux | Supported | 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 | Supported | Supported |
| Song library | Supported: Songs are kept as files in a song repository folder, in Cantara's own .song format or CCLI SongSelect text format. | Supported |
| Import from other presentation software | Unknown | Supported: Imports from ProPresenter, EasyWorship, VideoPsalm, OpenLP/OpenLyrics, OpenSong, MediaShout, Quelea, SoftProjector, SongBeamer, EasySlides and VerseVIEW, plus ChordPro, CSV and Word. |
| Paste or import plain-text lyrics | Supported: Plain .txt lyric files are recognised as songs. | Supported: Lyrics can be pasted into the Quick lyrics box when creating a show. |
| Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) | Partial: Can read song files in the CCLI SongSelect lyrics file format; there is no direct SongSelect account integration. | Partial: No SongSelect integration because CCLI discontinued its API; song lyrics can be pulled from Planning Center plans. |
| Chord charts for musicians | Unknown | Supported: Chords can be added to song text and shown on the stage display. |
| Motion backgrounds behind lyrics | Unknown | Supported |
| CCLI usage reporting | Unknown | Partial: Song usage can be logged to a file and exported; reports are not submitted to CCLI automatically. |
| Bible | Unknown | Supported |
| Free translations included | Unknown | Supported: Over 200 versions can be downloaded through API.Bible (online), or Zefania, OSIS, Beblia and OpenSong files imported. |
| Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) | Unknown | Partial: Some copyrighted versions are available through API.Bible; the docs do not list NIV or ESV. |
| Slides & presentations | Unknown | Supported |
| PowerPoint | Unknown | Supported: PowerPoint and PDF files are imported as slides; a deprecated controller mode drives an installed PowerPoint or Keynote. |
| Keynote | Unknown | Partial: Keynote is only supported through the deprecated controller mode, which needs Keynote installed on macOS. |
| Google Slides | Unknown | Unknown |
| Canva | Unknown | Supported: A Canva connection (OAuth) lets designs be browsed and used from FreeShow's content library. |
| Unknown | Supported | |
| Plays slide animations & transitions | Unknown | Partial: Original slide animations only play in the deprecated PowerPoint/Keynote controller mode; FreeShow has its own transitions and item animations. |
| Media | Partial | Supported |
| Video playback | Unknown | Supported |
| Audio playback | Unknown | Supported |
| Images | Partial: Images are used only as presentation backgrounds (with per-song overrides since 2.7); there is no separate media playback. | Supported |
| YouTube / online video | Unknown | Supported: YouTube and Vimeo videos can be played by pasting a link. |
| Inputs & other sources | Unknown | Supported |
| Live camera / capture card | Unknown | Supported: Cameras, screens and windows can be shown from the media drawer. |
| Screen sharing | Unknown | Supported |
| Web pages | Unknown | Supported |
| Countdown timers & clocks | Unknown | Supported |
| On-screen messages & alerts | Unknown | Supported: Any number of overlays can be layered over slides for announcements and messages. |
| Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) | Unknown | Supported: Interaction slides (join, question, chart, leaderboard) let the audience take part from their phones. |
| Languages | ||
| Multilingual | Supported | Supported |
| Interface in multiple languages | Supported: The interface has been translated into a few languages by the community. | Supported: The interface is translated into about 30 languages. |
| Songs in other languages | Unknown | Supported |
| Bibles in other languages | Unknown | Supported |
| Bilingual lyrics on screen | Supported: Songs can be presented and exported in two languages at the same time. | Supported: Songs can carry translations that are shown together with the original lyrics. |
| Bible translations side by side | Unknown | Supported: Scripture collections show several versions at the same time. |
| Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts | Unknown | Supported: Text items have a right-to-left option, and the interface has an Arabic translation. |
| Integrations | ||
| Software integrations | Unknown | Supported |
| Planning Center | Unknown | Supported: Downloads upcoming Planning Center service plans; ChurchApps (B1.church) and OnStage are also supported. |
| ChurchSuite | Unknown | Unknown |
| WorshipTools Planning | Unknown | Unknown |
| Hardware control | Unknown | Supported |
| MIDI | Unknown | Supported: Can receive MIDI to trigger actions and slides and send MIDI on slide changes. |
| DMX lighting | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stream Deck / Companion | Unknown | Supported: Bitfocus Companion is supported for Stream Deck control. |
| Automation & extensibility | Unknown | Supported |
| Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) | Unknown | Supported: WebSocket and REST API, enabled in Connections settings. |
| Plugins / extensions | Unknown | Unknown |
| Built-in scripting / macros | Unknown | Unknown |
| Webhooks / triggers to other systems | Unknown | Supported: Emitter templates send HTTP, OSC or MIDI messages from slides and actions. |
| MCP server for AI assistants | Unknown | Unknown |
| AI features (e.g. verse detection, lyric formatting) | Unknown | Supported: Optional AI features include speech-to-text transcription with automatic scripture detection and an LLM assistant (local or cloud models). |
| Presenting & control | ||
| Screens & outputs | Supported | Supported |
| Multiple audience screens | Supported: Multi-screen presentation is supported out of the box. | Supported |
| Stage display / confidence monitor | Unknown | Supported |
| Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming | Unknown | Supported: Outputs can have their own styles and an alpha key output for keying lyrics over video. |
| Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) | Unknown | Supported: OutputShow serves an output as a web page on the local network. |
| Broadcast video | Unknown | Supported |
| NDI | Unknown | Supported |
| SDI | Unknown | Supported: Blackmagic DeckLink and UltraStudio outputs are supported. |
| Built-in streaming & recording | Unknown | Supported |
| Stream to any RTMP destination | Unknown | Supported: Outputs can be streamed over RTMP (YouTube, Twitch, Facebook Live) or WebRTC/WHIP. |
| YouTube Live | Unknown | Supported |
| Facebook Live | Unknown | Supported |
| Record the output to a file | Unknown | Supported: Outputs and captured screens can be recorded to a file. |
| 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 | Supported: The library can be synced across computers through cloud sync (e.g. Google Drive or ChurchApps). |
| Works fully offline | Supported | Supported |
| Remote control from phone or tablet | Unknown | Supported |
| Multiple operators at once | Unknown | Unknown |
| Web native (runs in a browser) | Unknown | Unknown |
Other comparisons
- Cantara vs BibleShow
- FreeShow vs BibleShow
- Cantara vs Big Screen
- FreeShow vs Big Screen
- Cantara vs ChurchPresenter
- FreeShow vs ChurchPresenter
- Cantara vs Cloud of Worship
- FreeShow vs Cloud of Worship
- Cantara vs EasiSlides
- FreeShow vs EasiSlides
- Cantara vs EasyWorship
- FreeShow vs EasyWorship
- Cantara vs Holyrics
- FreeShow vs Holyrics
- Cantara vs KerkBeamer
- FreeShow vs KerkBeamer
- Cantara vs LyricDisplay
- FreeShow vs LyricDisplay
- Cantara vs MediaShout
- FreeShow vs MediaShout
- Cantara vs OpenLP
- FreeShow vs OpenLP
- Cantara vs OpenSong
- FreeShow vs OpenSong