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Cantara vs PraiseBase Presenter

Cantara logo
Cantara

Lightweight open-source song presentation tool for churches and small groups.

  • Open Source
  • Free
PraiseBase Presenter logo
PraiseBase Presenter

Open-source Windows worship presenter for song lyrics, images and Bible verses.

  • Open Source
  • Free
  • Unmaintained

Summary

  • Cantara is free, while PraiseBase Presenter is free.
  • Both are open source.
  • Both run on Windows.
  • Note: PraiseBase Presenter is no longer actively maintained.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Paste or import plain-text lyrics · Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages · Multilingual: Bilingual lyrics on screen · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.

Only in Cantara

  • Runs on macOS
  • Runs on Linux

Only in PraiseBase Presenter

  • 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 logo Cantara PraiseBase Presenter logo PraiseBase Presenter
Overview
Price FreeFree
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0)Yes (GPL-3.0)
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status activemaintenance
Platforms
Windows Supported Supported
macOS Supported Not 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 Supported: Importers for PowerPraise, PraiseBox, SongBeamer and WorshipSystem songs plus OpenLyrics files.
Paste or import plain-text lyrics Supported: Plain .txt lyric files are recognised as songs. Supported: Lyrics can be pasted directly into a song file (added in 1.3.0).
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: Reads CCLI SongSelect (.usr) files and pasted SongSelect text; there is no online connection.
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Unknown
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Unknown Unknown
CCLI usage reporting Unknown Partial: Song statistics based on setlists show how often each song was used, to help with manual CCLI reporting (1.4.0).
Bible Unknown Supported
Free translations included Unknown Supported: Uses Zefania XML Bibles; KJV, Luther 1912, Luther 1545 and Elberfelder 1905 are bundled.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown Unknown
Slides & presentations Unknown Unknown
PowerPoint Unknown Unknown
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Unknown Unknown
Plays slide animations & transitions Unknown Unknown
Media Partial Supported
Video playback Unknown Unknown
Audio playback Unknown Unknown
Images Partial: Images are used only as presentation backgrounds (with per-song overrides since 2.7); there is no separate media playback. Supported: Each slide can have its own background image and image slideshows can be built.
YouTube / online video Unknown Partial: Experimental YouTube playback by video ID was added in 1.3.0.
Inputs & other sources Unknown Supported
Live camera / capture card Unknown Unknown
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Unknown Unknown
Countdown timers & clocks Unknown Unknown
On-screen messages & alerts Unknown Supported: Live text messages can be shown alongside lyrics and Bible texts.
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. Supported: Interface in German and English.
Songs in other languages Unknown Unknown
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: A translation can be added to each song and is shown on the slide in a separate font.
Bible translations side by side Unknown Unknown
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. Unknown
Stage display / confidence monitor Unknown Unknown
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Unknown Supported: A chroma-key mode replaces backgrounds with green or blue for keying in a video mixer.
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Unknown Unknown
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 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 Supported
Remote control from phone or tablet Unknown Unknown
Multiple operators at once Unknown Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Unknown

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