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Cantara vs Proclaim

Cantara logo
Cantara

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
Proclaim logo
Proclaim

Cloud-synced church presentation software from Logos (formerly Faithlife).

  • Subscription
  • Free Trial

Summary

  • Cantara is free, while Proclaim is paid ($269.99/year).
  • Cantara is open source (GPL-3.0); Proclaim is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows and macOS.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.

Only in Cantara

  • Runs on Linux
  • Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages

Only in Proclaim

  • Runs on Web browser
  • Runs on iOS / iPadOS
  • Runs on Android
  • 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 logo Cantara Proclaim logo Proclaim
Overview
Price Free$269.99/yearFree trial
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0)No
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app, Cloud / hosted
Status activeactive
Platforms
Windows Supported Supported
macOS Supported Supported
Linux Supported Not supported
Web browser Not supported Supported
iOS / iPadOS Not supported Supported
Android Not supported 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: Song databases from EasyWorship 6/7 can be imported directly; other programs can export lyrics for import.
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 from SongSelect, Hymnbase or MultiTracks.com.
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Supported: Chord progressions come in from MultiTracks.com and can be shown on the confidence monitor.
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Unknown Supported: 1,000+ free motions and stills on every plan; Pro and Partner tiers add larger media libraries.
CCLI usage reporting Unknown Supported
Bible Unknown Supported
Free translations included Unknown Supported: 60+ Bible versions are included on every plan.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown Unknown
Slides & presentations Unknown Supported
PowerPoint Unknown Supported: PowerPoint files can be imported; on Windows control can also be handed over to PowerPoint.
Keynote Unknown Partial: On a Mac with Keynote installed, Keynote files are imported as static image slideshows.
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
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. Not supported: The interface is English only, though slide text can be in other languages.
Songs in other languages Unknown Supported
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 Unknown
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown Unknown
Integrations
Software integrations Unknown Supported
Planning Center Unknown Supported: Service plans can be imported from Planning Center Services (requires edit permissions).
ChurchSuite Unknown Unknown
WorshipTools Planning Unknown Unknown
Hardware control Unknown Supported
MIDI Unknown Supported: MIDI in/out, including MIDI over Wi-Fi with tools like Ableton Live.
DMX lighting Unknown Unknown
Stream Deck / Companion Unknown Supported: Elgato Stream Deck is supported in Proclaim 3.2 and later.
Automation & extensibility Unknown Not supported
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Unknown Not supported: The vendor's ProPresenter comparison names scripting/API control as something ProPresenter has and Proclaim does not focus on.
Plugins / extensions Unknown Unknown
Built-in scripting / macros Unknown Not supported: The vendor's ProPresenter comparison names scripting/API control as something ProPresenter has and Proclaim does not focus on.
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: Up to 8 virtual screens can send different content to lobby, overflow, nursery and livestream.
Stage display / confidence monitor Unknown Supported: Configurable confidence monitor outputs with stage messages; multiple confidence monitors are supported.
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Unknown Supported: Alpha keying is supported, and picture-in-picture shows slides over a transparent background.
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Unknown Unknown
Broadcast video Unknown Supported
NDI Unknown Supported
SDI Unknown Supported
Built-in streaming & recording Unknown Partial
Stream to any RTMP destination Unknown Not supported: For YouTube or Facebook Live the vendor recommends sending NDI or SDI output to a tool such as OBS.
YouTube Live Unknown Not supported
Facebook Live Unknown Not supported
Record the output to a file Unknown Partial: Built-in recording is aimed at producing and publishing sermon podcasts.
TV output Unknown Supported
Apple TV app Unknown Supported: A free Digital Signage app runs on Apple TV, Fire TV Stick or any web browser for lobby screens.
Android / Google TV app Unknown Unknown
Fire TV app Unknown Supported: A free Digital Signage app runs on Apple TV, Fire TV Stick or any web browser for lobby screens.
Roku app Unknown Unknown
Chromecast / AirPlay Unknown Unknown
Connectivity & collaboration Supported Supported
Cloud sync of library Unknown Supported
Works fully offline Supported Supported: Schedules are stored locally so going live does not require internet; some features (signals, importing third-party content, embedded content) need a connection.
Remote control from phone or tablet Unknown Supported: Remote control apps for iOS and Android are included in every plan.
Multiple operators at once Unknown Supported: Team members edit presentations together with real-time cloud sync; web and mobile editing requires Proclaim Pro.
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Partial: Presentations can be created and edited in a browser with Proclaim Pro, but presenting requires the desktop app.

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