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Cantara vs TheOpenPresenter

Cantara logo
Cantara

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
TheOpenPresenter logo
TheOpenPresenter

Open-source, browser-based presenter you can run and control from any device.

  • Open Source
  • Free

Summary

  • Cantara is free, while TheOpenPresenter 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 · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.

Only in Cantara

No confirmed features where TheOpenPresenter falls short.

Only in TheOpenPresenter

  • Runs on Web browser
  • 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 TheOpenPresenter logo TheOpenPresenter
Overview
Price FreeFree
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0)Yes (AGPL-3.0-only)
Deployment Desktop appCloud / hosted, Desktop app, Self-hosted
Status activeactive
Platforms
Windows Supported Supported
macOS Supported Supported
Linux Supported Supported
Web browser Not supported 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. Supported
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: Songs can be pulled from MyWorshipList.
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Supported
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Unknown Supported
CCLI usage reporting Unknown Unknown
Bible Unknown Supported
Free translations included Unknown Supported: Over a thousand freely licensed translations are available through the Beblia and Free Use Bible API catalogues.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown Partial: Licensed translations can be used, but the church has to upload them.
Slides & presentations Unknown Supported
PowerPoint Unknown Supported
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Supported
Canva Unknown Supported
PDF Unknown Supported
Plays slide animations & transitions Unknown Supported: PowerPoint imports keep their slideshow data so animations play click by click.
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
Inputs & other sources Unknown Supported
Live camera / capture card Unknown Unknown
Screen sharing Unknown Supported
Web pages Unknown Supported: Web pages can be shown, but interacting with them isn't supported yet; use screen share instead.
Countdown timers & clocks Unknown Supported
On-screen messages & alerts Unknown Unknown
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown Supported: Slido polls and Q&A can be shown through the Slido plugin.
Languages
Multilingual Supported Supported
Interface in multiple languages Supported: The interface has been translated into a few languages by the community. Unknown
Songs in other languages Unknown Partial: Songs in any language work, but the automatic import sources have few non-English songs so far.
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 Unknown
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown Unknown
Integrations
Software integrations Unknown Supported
Planning Center Unknown Supported: Setlists can be imported from Planning Center.
ChurchSuite Unknown Supported: Setlists can be imported from ChurchSuite.
WorshipTools Planning Unknown Unknown
Hardware control Unknown Unknown
MIDI Unknown Unknown
DMX lighting Unknown Unknown
Stream Deck / Companion Unknown Unknown
Automation & extensibility Unknown Supported
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Unknown Unknown
Plugins / extensions Unknown Supported: Features are built as plugins on a modular architecture.
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 Supported: AI formats pasted lyrics into sections and slides.
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs Supported Supported
Multiple audience screens Supported: Multi-screen presentation is supported out of the box. Supported
Stage display / confidence monitor Unknown Supported
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Unknown Supported
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Unknown Supported
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 Supported
Apple TV app Unknown Not supported
Android / Google TV app Unknown Supported: TheOpenPresenter TV app for Android TV; a Fire TV (Vega OS) version is also built.
Fire TV app Unknown Supported
Roku app Unknown Unknown
Chromecast / AirPlay Unknown Unknown
Connectivity & collaboration Supported Supported
Cloud sync of library Unknown Supported
Works fully offline Supported Supported: Offline use is provided by the TheOpenPresenter Studio desktop app (stable on Windows, alpha on macOS).
Remote control from phone or tablet Unknown Supported
Multiple operators at once Unknown Supported
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Supported

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