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Cantara vs SongShow Plus

Cantara logo
Cantara

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
SongShow Plus logo
SongShow Plus

Windows worship presentation software with edition-based licences and optional subscriptions.

  • Subscription
  • One-time
  • Free Trial

Summary

  • Cantara is free, while SongShow Plus is paid ($249 one-time (Ultra edition, special price)).
  • Cantara is open source (GPL-3.0); SongShow Plus 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

Only in SongShow Plus

  • 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 SongShow Plus logo SongShow Plus
Overview
Price Free$249 one-time (Ultra edition, special price)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
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. Paid add-on or tier: Requires the Bronze (or higher) subscription plus a separate SongSelect subscription.
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Unknown
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Unknown Supported: Motion backgrounds with real-time effects and rendered visualizations; Shift Worship media can be imported with a separate subscription.
CCLI usage reporting Unknown Supported: CCLI auto-reporting added in version 9.3.
Bible Unknown Supported
Free translations included Unknown Supported: ASV, KJV and WEB are included.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown Paid add-on or tier: Translations such as NIV, ESV, NKJV and NLT are $25 plug-ins per machine.
Slides & presentations Unknown Supported
PowerPoint Unknown Supported: PowerPoint presentations can be imported step by step, as images or as video files.
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Unknown Unknown
Plays slide animations & transitions Unknown Partial: Importing PowerPoint as video can keep animations; SongShow's own slides have transitions and animations.
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 Supported: Web pages, including YouTube videos, can be presented.
Inputs & other sources Unknown Supported
Live camera / capture card Unknown Supported: Live video (IMAG) with text and graphic overlays.
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Unknown Supported
Countdown timers & clocks Unknown Supported: Customizable countdown timers (Pro edition and above).
On-screen messages & alerts Unknown Supported: Instant Message shows nursery alerts and other messages (Pro edition and above).
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown Unknown
Languages
Multilingual Supported Unknown
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 Unknown
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown Unknown
Integrations
Software integrations Unknown Paid add-on or tier
Planning Center Unknown Paid add-on or tier: Requires the Bronze (or higher) subscription plus a Planning Center subscription.
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 Paid add-on or tier
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 Paid add-on or tier: Optional image indexing with Microsoft/Azure Computer Vision requires the Silver subscription.
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs Supported Supported
Multiple audience screens Supported: Multi-screen presentation is supported out of the box. Supported: Multi-display support (up to six display windows since 9.1) is part of the Ultra edition.
Stage display / confidence monitor Unknown Supported: One or more customizable stage outputs are part of the Ultra edition.
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Unknown Supported: Output windows can be configured as synchronized lower-third layouts.
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Unknown Unknown
Broadcast video Unknown Supported
NDI Unknown Supported: NDI streaming (added in 9.1) is part of the Ultra edition.
SDI Unknown Supported: Blackmagic DeckLink output can be assigned to any display window.
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 Paid add-on or tier: SongShow Sync requires the Silver subscription.
Works fully offline Supported Supported
Remote control from phone or tablet Unknown Paid add-on or tier: Mobile Control (a progressive web app) requires the Silver subscription.
Multiple operators at once Unknown Paid add-on or tier: SongShow Drive media sharing and the web-based SongShow Builder require the Silver subscription.
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Not supported

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