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Cantara vs ZionWorx

Cantara logo
Cantara

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
ZionWorx logo
ZionWorx

Subscription-based Windows worship presentation software with NDI outputs and a remote app.

  • Subscription
  • Free Trial

Summary

  • Cantara is free, while ZionWorx is paid (From £9.50/month).
  • Cantara is open source (GPL-3.0); ZionWorx is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens.

Only in Cantara

  • Runs on macOS
  • Runs on Linux

Only in ZionWorx

  • 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 ZionWorx logo ZionWorx
Overview
Price FreeFrom £9.50/monthFree 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. Partial: One-click SongSelect lyrics import is new in v5, which is in beta until its release from December 2026.
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Unknown
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Unknown Supported: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics are supported.
CCLI usage reporting Unknown Partial: CCLI song reporting is new in v5, which is in beta until its release from December 2026.
Bible Unknown Supported
Free translations included Unknown Supported: 230+ Bibles in over 70 languages are accessed through a BibleGateway.com connection.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown Supported: Translations available on BibleGateway.com can be used through the integration.
Slides & presentations Unknown Supported
PowerPoint Unknown Supported: Native PowerPoint integration; v5 reworks it for reliability. No Keynote or Google Slides support is mentioned.
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 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 Unknown
Inputs & other sources Unknown Supported
Live camera / capture card Unknown Supported: Camera input is supported (a Windows camera app is offered); improved in v5.
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Unknown Unknown
Countdown timers & clocks Unknown Unknown
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. Unknown
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 Unknown
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: Multiple outputs with dynamic text pagination; v5 adds synchronised outputs run by one operator.
Stage display / confidence monitor Unknown Partial: A stage display is new in v5, which is in beta until its release from December 2026.
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: Multiple independent live NDI outputs.
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 Unknown
Remote control from phone or tablet Unknown Supported: ZionWorx Remote app for Android and iOS; v5 adds a web remote reached via QR code.
Multiple operators at once Unknown Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Not supported

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