Cantara vs MediaShout
Cantara
Lightweight open-source song presentation tool for churches and small groups.
- Open Source
- Free
MediaShout
Church presentation software sold mainly as a one-time site licence.
- Subscription
- One-time
- Free Trial
Summary
- Cantara is free, while MediaShout is paid ($599 one-time (Windows site licence)).
- Cantara is open source (GPL-3.0); MediaShout is proprietary.
- Both run on Windows and macOS.
- Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens.
Only in Cantara
- Runs on Linux
Only in MediaShout
- 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
|
MediaShout
|
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price | Free | $599 one-time (Windows site licence)Free trial |
| Open source | Yes (GPL-3.0) | No |
| Deployment | Desktop app | Desktop app |
| Status | active | active |
| Platforms | ||
| Windows | Supported | Supported |
| macOS | Supported | Supported |
| Linux | Supported | Not 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 | Unknown |
| Paste or import plain-text lyrics | Supported: Plain .txt lyric files are recognised as songs. | Unknown |
| 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: Lyrics can be imported through the CCLI SongSelect integration. |
| Chord charts for musicians | Unknown | Unknown |
| Motion backgrounds behind lyrics | Unknown | Supported: Motion backgrounds are available, with Shift Worship Media included in the Complete bundle. |
| CCLI usage reporting | Unknown | Supported: Songs used are reported to CCLI automatically; listed for the Windows version. |
| Bible | Unknown | Supported |
| Free translations included | Unknown | Supported: About 70 translations, including public-domain and copyrighted versions, are included with the licence. |
| Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) | Unknown | Supported: Copyrighted translations are among the 70 included at no additional cost. |
| Slides & presentations | Unknown | Supported |
| PowerPoint | Unknown | Supported: PowerPoint slides can be imported as images or as editable MediaShout cues. |
| Keynote | Unknown | Unknown |
| Google Slides | Unknown | Unknown |
| Canva | Unknown | Unknown |
| Unknown | Unknown | |
| Plays slide animations & transitions | Unknown | Partial: MediaShout's own slides support text animations and transitions; it is not stated that imported PowerPoint animations are kept. |
| 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: Unsplash and Pixabay images and videos can be searched and inserted from within the software. |
| YouTube / online video | Unknown | Unknown |
| Inputs & other sources | Unknown | Supported |
| Live camera / capture card | Unknown | Supported: Live video feeds (cameras, phones, other apps) via NDI. |
| Screen sharing | Unknown | Unknown |
| Web pages | Unknown | Unknown |
| Countdown timers & clocks | Unknown | Unknown |
| On-screen messages & alerts | Unknown | Unknown |
| Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) | Unknown | Unknown |
| Languages | ||
| Multilingual | Supported | Supported |
| Interface in multiple languages | Supported: The interface has been translated into a few languages by the community. | Unknown |
| Songs in other languages | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bibles in other languages | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bilingual lyrics on screen | Supported: Songs can be presented and exported in two languages at the same time. | Unknown |
| Bible translations side by side | Unknown | Supported: Dual Bible display can show two translations or languages on screen. |
| Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts | Unknown | Unknown |
| Integrations | ||
| Software integrations | Unknown | Unknown |
| Planning Center | Unknown | Unknown |
| 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 | Unknown |
| 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 | Unknown |
| Presenting & control | ||
| Screens & outputs | Supported | Supported |
| Multiple audience screens | Supported: Multi-screen presentation is supported out of the box. | Supported: Control screen, main display and an optional third output for stage/confidence or livestream. |
| Stage display / confidence monitor | Unknown | Supported: Not included in the LE edition. |
| Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming | Unknown | Supported: Lower-third templates are included. |
| Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) | Unknown | Unknown |
| Broadcast video | Unknown | Supported |
| NDI | Unknown | Supported: Since version 7.4, NDI feeds can be shown in presentations and outputs can be sent over NDI. |
| 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 | 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 | Unknown |
| Works fully offline | Supported | Unknown |
| Remote control from phone or tablet | Unknown | Supported: MediaShout Remote app for iOS (added in 7.3); standard USB presentation remotes also work. |
| Multiple operators at once | Unknown | Unknown |
| Web native (runs in a browser) | Unknown | Not supported |
Other comparisons
- Cantara vs BibleShow
- MediaShout vs BibleShow
- Cantara vs Big Screen
- MediaShout vs Big Screen
- Cantara vs ChurchPresenter
- MediaShout vs ChurchPresenter
- Cantara vs Cloud of Worship
- MediaShout vs Cloud of Worship
- Cantara vs EasiSlides
- MediaShout vs EasiSlides
- Cantara vs EasyWorship
- MediaShout vs EasyWorship
- Cantara vs FreeShow
- MediaShout vs FreeShow
- Cantara vs Holyrics
- MediaShout vs Holyrics
- Cantara vs KerkBeamer
- MediaShout vs KerkBeamer
- Cantara vs LyricDisplay
- MediaShout vs LyricDisplay
- Cantara vs OpenLP
- MediaShout vs OpenLP
- Cantara vs OpenSong
- MediaShout vs OpenSong