Cantara vs Praisenter

Cantara

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

Open Source
Free

Praisenter

Free, open-source desktop app for showing Bible verses, song lyrics and slides.

Open Source
Free

Summary

Cantara is free, while Praisenter 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: Bilingual lyrics on screen · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.

Only in Cantara

Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages (partial in Praisenter)

Only in Praisenter

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	Praisenter
Overview
Price	Free	Free
Open source	Yes (GPL-3.0)	Yes (BSD-3-Clause)
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 OpenLyrics, ChordPro, SongSelect and ChurchView song files plus older Praisenter formats.
Paste or import plain-text lyrics	Supported: Plain .txt lyric files are recognised as songs.	Supported: Lyrics can be pasted into the bulk editor, and text can be extracted from a PDF into it.
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: Imports SongSelect files downloaded by the user (since 3.1.7); there is no online SongSelect connection.
Chord charts for musicians	Unknown	Unknown
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics	Unknown	Supported: Slides and slide templates can use a video as their background.
CCLI usage reporting	Unknown	Unknown
Bible	Unknown	Partial
Free translations included	Unknown	Partial: Only a sample Bible is included; free Bibles are downloaded separately (Unbound, Zefania or OpenSong formats) and imported.
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	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	Unknown
Inputs & other sources	Unknown	Supported
Live camera / capture card	Unknown	Unknown
Screen sharing	Unknown	Unknown
Web pages	Unknown	Unknown
Countdown timers & clocks	Unknown	Supported: Slides can include the current date/time and countdowns.
On-screen messages & alerts	Unknown	Supported: Notifications overlay a message on top of whatever is currently displayed.
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.	Partial: The interface ships in English only; users can add their own translation of the messages file.
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: A primary and secondary set of song lyrics can be shown side by side with a suitable template.
Bible translations side by side	Unknown	Supported: A primary and secondary Bible can be shown on the same slide.
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: Each connected display can receive content independently.
Stage display / confidence monitor	Unknown	Unknown
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming	Unknown	Unknown
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source)	Unknown	Unknown
Broadcast video	Unknown	Supported
NDI	Unknown	Supported: Outputs can be sent as NDI displays.
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

Cantara vs Praisenter

Summary

Only in Cantara

Only in Praisenter

Side by side

Other comparisons