ChurchPresenter vs FreeShow
ChurchPresenter
Free, open-source desktop presenter for songs, scripture, slides, media and broadcast graphics.
- Open Source
- Free
Summary
- ChurchPresenter is free, while FreeShow is free.
- Both are open source.
- Both run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Import from other presentation software · Songs & lyrics: Paste or import plain-text lyrics · Songs & lyrics: Chord charts for musicians · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Bible: Free translations included · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · Slides & presentations: PDF · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Inputs & other sources: Live camera / capture card · Inputs & other sources: Screen sharing · Inputs & other sources: Web pages · Inputs & other sources: Countdown timers & clocks · Inputs & other sources: On-screen messages & alerts · Inputs & other sources: Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) · Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages · Multilingual: Songs in other languages · Multilingual: Bibles in other languages · Multilingual: Bilingual lyrics on screen · Multilingual: Bible translations side by side · Multilingual: Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts · Software integrations: Planning Center · Hardware control: Stream Deck / Companion · Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) · Automation & extensibility: AI features (e.g. verse detection, lyric formatting) · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming · Screens & outputs: Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) · Broadcast video: NDI · Broadcast video: SDI · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.
Only in ChurchPresenter
- Slides & presentations: Keynote (partial in FreeShow)
- Slides & presentations: Plays slide animations & transitions (partial in FreeShow)
Only in FreeShow
No confirmed features where ChurchPresenter falls short.
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 |
ChurchPresenter
|
FreeShow
|
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price | Free | Free / Donation-supported |
| Open source | Yes (GPL-3.0) | Yes (GPL-3.0-only) |
| Deployment | Desktop app | Desktop app |
| Status | active | active |
| Platforms | ||
| Windows | Supported | Supported |
| macOS | Supported | Supported |
| Linux | Supported | 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 | Supported |
| Import from other presentation software | Supported: The bundled converter reads SongBeamer, OpenLP, OpenSong, FreeShow, Free Worship, EasySlides, Quelea, VideoPsalm and SoftProjector libraries. | Supported: Imports from ProPresenter, EasyWorship, VideoPsalm, OpenLP/OpenLyrics, OpenSong, MediaShout, Quelea, SoftProjector, SongBeamer, EasySlides and VerseVIEW, plus ChordPro, CSV and Word. |
| Paste or import plain-text lyrics | Supported: Songs are entered in the built-in editor, and lyrics can be extracted from PDF, Word, PowerPoint and Keynote files. | Supported: Lyrics can be pasted into the Quick lyrics box when creating a show. |
| Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) | Unknown | Partial: No SongSelect integration because CCLI discontinued its API; song lyrics can be pulled from Planning Center plans. |
| Chord charts for musicians | Supported: Songs hold chords that can be transposed, and stage tablets can transpose their own view. | Supported: Chords can be added to song text and shown on the stage display. |
| Motion backgrounds behind lyrics | Supported: A song or section can have its own colour, gradient, picture, looping video or camera background. | Supported |
| CCLI usage reporting | Partial: Exports date-filtered CSV/Excel song usage reports for CCLI reporting; it does not submit reports to CCLI automatically. | Partial: Song usage can be logged to a file and exported; reports are not submitted to CCLI automatically. |
| Bible | Supported | Supported |
| Free translations included | Supported: Over 1,500 free translations in more than 1,000 languages can be downloaded in-app from eBible.org and the Zefania archive. | Supported: Over 200 versions can be downloaded through API.Bible (online), or Zefania, OSIS, Beblia and OpenSong files imported. |
| Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) | Unknown | Partial: Some copyrighted versions are available through API.Bible; the docs do not list NIV or ESV. |
| Slides & presentations | Supported | Supported |
| PowerPoint | Supported: Presents .pptx, .ppt, .key and PDF files without Microsoft or Apple software installed. | Supported: PowerPoint and PDF files are imported as slides; a deprecated controller mode drives an installed PowerPoint or Keynote. |
| Keynote | Supported | Partial: Keynote is only supported through the deprecated controller mode, which needs Keynote installed on macOS. |
| Google Slides | Unknown | Unknown |
| Canva | Unknown | Supported: A Canva connection (OAuth) lets designs be browsed and used from FreeShow's content library. |
| Supported | Supported | |
| Plays slide animations & transitions | Supported: PowerPoint and Keynote entrance, emphasis and exit effects, builds, motion paths and transitions play back in the app. | Partial: Original slide animations only play in the deprecated PowerPoint/Keynote controller mode; FreeShow has its own transitions and item animations. |
| Media | Supported | Supported |
| Video playback | Supported: Audio and video playback uses VLC, including network streams. | Supported |
| Audio playback | Supported | Supported |
| Images | Supported | Supported |
| YouTube / online video | Unknown | Supported: YouTube and Vimeo videos can be played by pasting a link. |
| Inputs & other sources | Supported | Supported |
| Live camera / capture card | Supported: Webcams, capture cards, NDI and OMT sources can be placed on the canvas compositor. | Supported: Cameras, screens and windows can be shown from the media drawer. |
| Screen sharing | Supported: Screen capture can be added as a layer on the canvas compositor. | Supported |
| Web pages | Supported | Supported |
| Countdown timers & clocks | Supported | Supported |
| On-screen messages & alerts | Supported: Announcements can be shown anywhere on screen with scroll and slide animations. | Supported: Any number of overlays can be layered over slides for announcements and messages. |
| Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) | Supported: Audience Q&A lets people submit questions from their phones via a QR code, with moderation and voting. | Supported: Interaction slides (join, question, chart, leaderboard) let the audience take part from their phones. |
| Languages | ||
| Multilingual | Supported | Supported |
| Interface in multiple languages | Supported: The interface is translated into 34 languages, laid out right-to-left for Arabic and Persian. | Supported: The interface is translated into about 30 languages. |
| Songs in other languages | Supported | Supported |
| Bibles in other languages | Supported | Supported |
| Bilingual lyrics on screen | Supported: Two song languages can be shown at once, side by side or stacked. | Supported: Songs can carry translations that are shown together with the original lyrics. |
| Bible translations side by side | Supported: Bible mode can show a primary and secondary translation or an ordered stack of any number of translations. | Supported: Scripture collections show several versions at the same time. |
| Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts | Supported | Supported: Text items have a right-to-left option, and the interface has an Arabic translation. |
| Integrations | ||
| Software integrations | Supported | Supported |
| Planning Center | Supported: Imports Planning Center Services plans (read-only); each church supplies its own free PCO developer credentials. | Supported: Downloads upcoming Planning Center service plans; ChurchApps (B1.church) and OnStage are also supported. |
| ChurchSuite | Unknown | Unknown |
| WorshipTools Planning | Unknown | Unknown |
| Hardware control | Supported | Supported |
| MIDI | Unknown | Supported: Can receive MIDI to trigger actions and slides and send MIDI on slide changes. |
| DMX lighting | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stream Deck / Companion | Supported: Bitfocus Companion is supported through HTTP buttons or a native Companion Satellite connection; MIDI and OSC control are on the roadmap. | Supported: Bitfocus Companion is supported for Stream Deck control. |
| Automation & extensibility | Supported | Supported |
| Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) | Supported: Built-in Ktor REST and WebSocket server used by mobile remotes, with optional API-key protection. | Supported: WebSocket and REST API, enabled in Connections settings. |
| Plugins / extensions | Unknown | Unknown |
| Built-in scripting / macros | Unknown | Unknown |
| Webhooks / triggers to other systems | Unknown | Supported: Emitter templates send HTTP, OSC or MIDI messages from slides and actions. |
| MCP server for AI assistants | Unknown | Unknown |
| AI features (e.g. verse detection, lyric formatting) | Supported: Can listen to a speech-to-text feed and automatically stage spoken Bible references; live captions and translation need a separate speech-to-text server. | Supported: Optional AI features include speech-to-text transcription with automatic scripture detection and an LLM assistant (local or cloud models). |
| Presenting & control | ||
| Screens & outputs | Supported | Supported |
| Multiple audience screens | Supported: One window per connected display plus Blackmagic DeckLink/SDI, NDI, OMT and browser-source outputs. | Supported |
| Stage display / confidence monitor | Supported | Supported |
| Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming | Supported: Animated Lottie lower thirds and a lower-third mode per content type, with fill + key and alpha output. | Supported: Outputs can have their own styles and an alpha key output for keying lyrics over video. |
| Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) | Supported: A transparent browser-source output can be used in OBS or opened on tablets. | Supported: OutputShow serves an output as a web page on the local network. |
| Broadcast video | Supported | Supported |
| NDI | Supported: NDI input and output require the free NDI Runtime, installed separately. | Supported |
| SDI | Supported: SDI fill and key output through Blackmagic DeckLink cards. | Supported: Blackmagic DeckLink and UltraStudio outputs are supported. |
| Built-in streaming & recording | Unknown | Supported |
| Stream to any RTMP destination | Unknown | Supported: Outputs can be streamed over RTMP (YouTube, Twitch, Facebook Live) or WebRTC/WHIP. |
| YouTube Live | Unknown | Supported |
| Facebook Live | Unknown | Supported |
| Record the output to a file | Unknown | Supported: Outputs and captured screens can be recorded to a file. |
| 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 | Supported: The library can be synced across computers through cloud sync (e.g. Google Drive or ChurchApps). |
| Works fully offline | Supported | Supported |
| Remote control from phone or tablet | Supported | Supported |
| Multiple operators at once | Unknown | Unknown |
| Web native (runs in a browser) | Unknown | Unknown |
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