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Cantara vs Presentation Manager

Cantara logo
Cantara

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
Presentation Manager logo
Presentation Manager

Long-running Windows worship projection software with a built-in song database and Bibles.

  • One-time
  • Free Trial

Summary

  • Cantara is free, while Presentation Manager is paid (US$200 one-time (Standard)).
  • Cantara is open source (GPL-3.0); Presentation Manager is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.

Only in Cantara

  • Runs on macOS
  • Runs on Linux
  • Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages (partial in Presentation Manager)

Only in Presentation Manager

  • 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 Presentation Manager logo Presentation Manager
Overview
Price FreeUS$200 one-time (Standard)Free trial
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0)No
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status activeactive
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: The Professional package includes over 500 songs, and songs can be added without limit; a built-in editor handles formatting.
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. Unknown
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Unknown
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Unknown Supported: The Professional package includes over 100 video backgrounds, and text can be shown over movies.
CCLI usage reporting Unknown Unknown
Bible Unknown Supported
Free translations included Unknown Supported: Public-domain Bibles are included and more are available from pmBible.com.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown Supported: The Professional package includes KJV, NIV, NKJV, NRSV, NASB, ESV and Amplified; the Standard package has less data.
Slides & presentations Unknown Partial
PowerPoint Unknown Partial: PowerPoint files can be played on the Windows version only with PowerPoint installed; the pricing page says PM7 itself does not play PowerPoint and runs alongside it.
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: Movies and DVDs play on one or both screens, with movie-in-movie and picture-in-picture; some formats need codecs.
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
YouTube / online video Unknown Not supported: The FAQ advises downloading and converting online videos, so they are not played directly.
Inputs & other sources Unknown Supported
Live camera / capture card Unknown Supported: Text can be overlaid on live video from webcams or capture cards.
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Unknown Unknown
Countdown timers & clocks Unknown Supported: Countdown timer added in release 7.319.
On-screen messages & alerts Unknown Supported: A Nursery Alert box displays numbers or messages during worship.
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 changelog mentions multi-language selection with not all translations complete.
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. Unknown
Bible translations side by side Unknown Supported: Two Bible translations, including different languages, can be shown at once and switched on the fly.
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: Different presentations can be shown on two projectors at once (triple monitor support).
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 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: An internet connection is only needed for optional RSS feeds and remote data or playlist access.
Remote control from phone or tablet Unknown Unknown
Multiple operators at once Unknown Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Not supported

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