Cantara vs Holyrics
Cantara
Lightweight open-source song presentation tool for churches and small groups.
- Open Source
- Free
Holyrics
Free Brazilian worship presentation software for lyrics and Bible verses, with optional online plans.
- Freemium
- Subscription
Summary
- Cantara is free, while Holyrics is paid (Free; optional plans from US$2/month).
- Cantara is open source (GPL-3.0); Holyrics is proprietary.
- 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 Holyrics falls short.
Only in Holyrics
- Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) (partial in Cantara)
- 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
|
Holyrics
|
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price | Free | Free; optional plans from US$2/month |
| Open source | Yes (GPL-3.0) | No |
| 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: Lyrics can be imported from other sources, including PowerPoint files. |
| Paste or import plain-text lyrics | Supported: Plain .txt lyric files are recognised as songs. | Supported |
| 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. | Supported: Built-in web search of the holyrics.com lyrics database, with many songs pre-formatted for projection. |
| Chord charts for musicians | Unknown | Supported: Chords and comments can be shown on the return (stage) monitor. |
| Motion backgrounds behind lyrics | Unknown | Supported: Themes can use videos as backgrounds, with optional BPM-synced playback speed. |
| CCLI usage reporting | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bible | Unknown | Supported |
| Free translations included | Unknown | Supported |
| Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) | Unknown | Supported: Translations are offered through partnerships with Bible publishers as well as public-domain versions. |
| Slides & presentations | Unknown | Partial |
| PowerPoint | Unknown | Partial: .ppt/.pptx files can be run from the program on Windows only, with Microsoft PowerPoint installed. |
| Keynote | Unknown | Unknown |
| Google Slides | Unknown | Unknown |
| Canva | Unknown | Unknown |
| Unknown | Unknown | |
| Plays slide animations & transitions | Unknown | Unknown |
| Media | Partial | Supported |
| Video playback | Unknown | Supported: Audio and video play through the integrated VLC player. |
| 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 | Not supported: The FAQ states YouTube videos cannot be played in the program because of YouTube policy. |
| Inputs & other sources | Unknown | Supported |
| Live camera / capture card | Unknown | Partial: Webcams and IP cameras can be played through the VLC player, though the FAQ warns of noticeable delay. |
| Screen sharing | Unknown | Unknown |
| Web pages | Unknown | Partial: A website can be opened full screen on the projection screen (Windows only, requires Chrome or Edge). |
| Countdown timers & clocks | Unknown | Supported |
| On-screen messages & alerts | Unknown | Supported: Alerts at the top or bottom of the screen, custom messages and a communication panel for the stage screen. |
| Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) | Unknown | Paid add-on or tier: Q&A, polls and raffles via a Telegram chatbot are part of the paid online plans; a built-in multiple-choice quiz is also available. |
| Languages | ||
| Multilingual | Supported | Supported |
| Interface in multiple languages | Supported: The interface has been translated into a few languages by the community. | Supported |
| 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: Song slides can carry translations, shown on separate screens or together on one screen. |
| Bible translations side by side | Unknown | Supported: Up to 3 Bible versions can be shown simultaneously, with verse mapping across languages. |
| Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts | Unknown | Supported: Settings for non-Latin scripts including Arabic, Hebrew, Cyrillic, Devanagari, Han and Hangul. |
| Integrations | ||
| Software integrations | Unknown | Unknown |
| Planning Center | Unknown | Unknown |
| ChurchSuite | Unknown | Unknown |
| WorshipTools Planning | Unknown | Unknown |
| Hardware control | Unknown | Supported |
| MIDI | Unknown | Supported: MIDI input can trigger program actions, e.g. advancing slides from a multitrack playback. |
| DMX lighting | Unknown | Partial: No direct DMX output; API items and triggers can send commands to the Lumikit lighting software. |
| Stream Deck / Companion | Unknown | Unknown |
| Automation & extensibility | Unknown | Supported |
| Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) | Unknown | Supported: Local HTTP API server with token authentication; access from the internet requires the Advanced plan. |
| Plugins / extensions | Unknown | Unknown |
| Built-in scripting / macros | Unknown | Supported: JavaScript (ECMAScript 5.1) scripts, startup code, system variables and custom API routes. |
| Webhooks / triggers to other systems | Unknown | Supported: Triggers run actions on program events, sending HTTP, WebSocket, TCP/UDP, OSC or MIDI messages and controlling OBS, vMix and PTZ cameras. |
| 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: Multi-screen presentation is supported out of the box. | Supported |
| Stage display / confidence monitor | Unknown | Supported: Return monitors with their own settings and monitor-only messages and alerts. |
| Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming | Unknown | Supported: NDI outputs can use a transparent background for keying over video. |
| Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) | Unknown | Supported: The Holyrics plugin runs an HTTP server so the projection can be viewed in browsers or added as a source in streaming software. |
| Broadcast video | Unknown | Supported |
| NDI | Unknown | Supported: Multiple NDI outputs with configurable resolution, frame rate and theme. |
| SDI | Unknown | Unknown |
| Built-in streaming & recording | Unknown | Not supported |
| Stream to any RTMP destination | Unknown | Not supported: The FAQ states the program does not stream itself but works alongside streaming software such as OBS. |
| YouTube Live | Unknown | Not supported |
| Facebook Live | Unknown | Not supported |
| 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 | Unknown | Supported: All data and media can be synchronised between computers through Google Drive (settings are not synced). |
| Works fully offline | Supported | Supported |
| Remote control from phone or tablet | Unknown | Supported: Holyrics mobile app for Android and iOS (iOS app is a one-time US$0.99 purchase). |
| Multiple operators at once | Unknown | Unknown |
| Web native (runs in a browser) | Unknown | Not supported |
Other comparisons
- Cantara vs BibleShow
- Holyrics vs BibleShow
- Cantara vs Big Screen
- Holyrics vs Big Screen
- Cantara vs ChurchPresenter
- Holyrics vs ChurchPresenter
- Cantara vs Cloud of Worship
- Holyrics vs Cloud of Worship
- Cantara vs EasiSlides
- Holyrics vs EasiSlides
- Cantara vs EasyWorship
- Holyrics vs EasyWorship
- Cantara vs FreeShow
- Holyrics vs FreeShow
- Cantara vs KerkBeamer
- Holyrics vs KerkBeamer
- Cantara vs LyricDisplay
- Holyrics vs LyricDisplay
- Cantara vs MediaShout
- Holyrics vs MediaShout
- Cantara vs OpenLP
- Holyrics vs OpenLP
- Cantara vs OpenSong
- Holyrics vs OpenSong