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ChurchPresenter vs Quelea

ChurchPresenter logo
ChurchPresenter

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
Quelea logo
Quelea

Free, open-source Java-based projection software for churches.

  • Open Source
  • Free
  • Unmaintained

Summary

  • ChurchPresenter is free, while Quelea is free.
  • Both are open source.
  • Both run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Note: Quelea is no longer actively maintained.
  • 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: Web pages · Inputs & other sources: Countdown timers & clocks · Inputs & other sources: On-screen messages & alerts · Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages · Multilingual: Songs in other languages · Multilingual: Bilingual lyrics on screen · Software integrations: Planning Center · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.

Only in ChurchPresenter

  • Slides & presentations: Plays slide animations & transitions (partial in Quelea)
  • Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) (partial in Quelea)
  • Screens & outputs: Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) (partial in Quelea)

Only in Quelea

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 logo ChurchPresenter Quelea logo Quelea
Overview
Price FreeFree
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0)Yes (GPL-3.0-or-later)
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status activemaintenance
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 EasyWorship, ProPresenter, MediaShout, OpenLP, OpenSong, SongBeamer, VideoPsalm, ZionWorx, SongPro, Sunday Plus, EasySlides and more, plus Elvanto plans.
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: Plain-text song files (with optional ChordPro chords) can be imported, and lyrics can be typed or pasted into the song editor.
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Unknown Partial: Imports downloaded SongSelect USR files; no direct online SongSelect connection.
Chord charts for musicians Supported: Songs hold chords that can be transposed, and stage tablets can transpose their own view. Supported: Songs can hold chord lines, which can be transposed, printed and shown on the stage view.
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: A song or section can have its own colour, gradient, picture, looping video or camera background. Supported: Themes can use a video as the background.
CCLI usage reporting Partial: Exports date-filtered CSV/Excel song usage reports for CCLI reporting; it does not submit reports to CCLI automatically. Unknown
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: KJV, ASV, RSV and NET Bibles ship with Quelea; further Bibles use the Zefania XML format.
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: Displays PowerPoint and PDF files, optionally driving an installed PowerPoint on Windows.
Keynote Supported Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF 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: Animations only play when Quelea is set to use an installed PowerPoint (Windows).
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
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 Supported: Websites can be displayed, with documented limitations.
Countdown timers & clocks Supported Supported
On-screen messages & alerts Supported: Announcements can be shown anywhere on screen with scroll and slide animations. Supported: Notices scroll across the projected display a set number of times.
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. Supported: The interface is translated into over 20 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. Supported: A song translation can be shown together with the default 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. 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: Imports schedules from Planning Center Online.
ChurchSuite Unknown Unknown
WorshipTools Planning Unknown Unknown
Hardware control Supported Unknown
MIDI Unknown Unknown
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. Unknown
Automation & extensibility Supported Partial
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Supported: Built-in Ktor REST and WebSocket server used by mobile remotes, with optional API-key protection. Partial: The Mobile Remote HTTP server exposes endpoints (next, previous, lyrics, schedule, search) but is not documented as a public API.
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) 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. Unknown
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. Unknown
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. Partial: Mobile Lyrics shows the current lyrics as a web page on the local network.
Broadcast video Supported Unknown
NDI Supported: NDI input and output require the free NDI Runtime, installed separately. Unknown
SDI Supported: SDI fill and key output through Blackmagic DeckLink cards. 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 Supported
Remote control from phone or tablet Supported Supported: Web-based Mobile Remote and a Quelea Mobile Remote app.
Multiple operators at once Unknown Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Unknown

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