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ChurchPresenter vs Proclaim

ChurchPresenter logo
ChurchPresenter

Free, open-source desktop presenter for songs, scripture, slides, media and broadcast graphics.

  • Open Source
  • Free
Proclaim logo
Proclaim

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

  • Subscription
  • Free Trial

Summary

  • ChurchPresenter is free, while Proclaim is paid ($269.99/year).
  • ChurchPresenter is open source (GPL-3.0); Proclaim is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows and macOS.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Import from other presentation software · Songs & lyrics: Chord charts for musicians · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Bible: Free translations included · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Inputs & other sources: Countdown timers & clocks · Multilingual: Songs in other languages · Software integrations: Planning Center · Hardware control: Stream Deck / Companion · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming · Broadcast video: NDI · Broadcast video: SDI · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.

Only in ChurchPresenter

  • Runs on Linux
  • Slides & presentations: Keynote (partial in Proclaim)
  • Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages
  • Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket)

Only in Proclaim

  • Runs on Web browser
  • Runs on iOS / iPadOS
  • Runs on Android
  • Songs & lyrics: CCLI usage reporting (partial in ChurchPresenter)

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 logo ChurchPresenter 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 Supported
Import from other presentation software Supported: The bundled converter reads SongBeamer, OpenLP, OpenSong, FreeShow, Free Worship, EasySlides, Quelea, VideoPsalm and SoftProjector libraries. 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: Songs are entered in the built-in editor, and lyrics can be extracted from PDF, Word, PowerPoint and Keynote files. Unknown
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Unknown Supported: Lyrics can be imported from SongSelect, Hymnbase or MultiTracks.com.
Chord charts for musicians Supported: Songs hold chords that can be transposed, and stage tablets can transpose their own view. Supported: Chord progressions come in from MultiTracks.com and can be shown on the confidence monitor.
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: A song or section can have its own colour, gradient, picture, looping video or camera background. Supported: 1,000+ free motions and stills on every plan; Pro and Partner tiers add larger media libraries.
CCLI usage reporting Partial: Exports date-filtered CSV/Excel song usage reports for CCLI reporting; it does not submit reports to CCLI automatically. Supported
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: 60+ Bible versions are included on every plan.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown Unknown
Slides & presentations Supported Supported
PowerPoint Supported: Presents .pptx, .ppt, .key and PDF files without Microsoft or Apple software installed. Supported: PowerPoint files can be imported; on Windows control can also be handed over to PowerPoint.
Keynote Supported Partial: On a Mac with Keynote installed, Keynote files are imported as static image slideshows.
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Supported Unknown
Plays slide animations & transitions Supported: PowerPoint and Keynote entrance, emphasis and exit effects, builds, motion paths and transitions play back in the app. Unknown
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 Unknown
Inputs & other sources Supported Supported
Live camera / capture card Supported: Webcams, capture cards, NDI and OMT sources can be placed on the canvas compositor. Unknown
Screen sharing Supported: Screen capture can be added as a layer on the canvas compositor. Unknown
Web pages Supported Unknown
Countdown timers & clocks Supported Supported
On-screen messages & alerts Supported: Announcements can be shown anywhere on screen with scroll and slide animations. Unknown
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. Unknown
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. Not supported: The interface is English only, though slide text can be in other languages.
Songs in other languages Supported Supported
Bibles in other languages Supported Unknown
Bilingual lyrics on screen Supported: Two song languages can be shown at once, side by side or stacked. Unknown
Bible translations side by side Supported: Bible mode can show a primary and secondary translation or an ordered stack of any number of translations. Unknown
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Supported Unknown
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: Service plans can be imported from Planning Center Services (requires edit permissions).
ChurchSuite Unknown Unknown
WorshipTools Planning Unknown Unknown
Hardware control Supported Supported
MIDI Unknown Supported: MIDI in/out, including MIDI over Wi-Fi with tools like Ableton Live.
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: Elgato Stream Deck is supported in Proclaim 3.2 and later.
Automation & extensibility Supported Not supported
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Supported: Built-in Ktor REST and WebSocket server used by mobile remotes, with optional API-key protection. 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) 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. Unknown
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: Up to 8 virtual screens can send different content to lobby, overflow, nursery and livestream.
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported Supported: Configurable confidence monitor outputs with stage messages; multiple confidence monitors are 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: Alpha keying is supported, and picture-in-picture shows slides over a transparent background.
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. Unknown
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
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 Supported 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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