ChurchPresenter vs SongBeamer
ChurchPresenter
Free, open-source desktop presenter for songs, scripture, slides, media and broadcast graphics.
- Open Source
- Free
SongBeamer
German worship presentation software for songs, Bible texts and media, sold as a one-time licence.
- One-time
- Free Trial
Summary
- ChurchPresenter is free, while SongBeamer is paid (€124 one-time (single computer)).
- ChurchPresenter is open source (GPL-3.0); SongBeamer 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 · Slides & presentations: PDF · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Inputs & other sources: Live camera / capture card · 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: Bibles in other languages · Multilingual: Bilingual lyrics on screen · Multilingual: Bible translations side by side · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming · Broadcast video: NDI · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.
Only in ChurchPresenter
- Runs on Linux
- Multilingual: Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts (partial in SongBeamer)
- Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) (partial in SongBeamer)
Only in SongBeamer
- 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
| SongBeamer |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price | Free | €124 one-time (single computer)Free trial |
| Open source | Yes (GPL-3.0) | No |
| Deployment | Desktop app | Desktop app |
| Status | active | active |
| Platforms | ||
| Windows | Supported | Supported |
| macOS | Supported | 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 | Supported |
| Import from other presentation software | Supported: The bundled converter reads SongBeamer, OpenLP, OpenSong, FreeShow, Free Worship, EasySlides, Quelea, VideoPsalm and SoftProjector libraries. | Supported: Separate importers for PowerPraise, PraiseMaster and PraiseBox songs, plus lyrics import from PowerPoint and CSV. |
| 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: Songs (with chords) can be imported directly from CCLI SongSelect while the licence is entitled to updates. |
| Chord charts for musicians | Supported: Songs hold chords that can be transposed, and stage tablets can transpose their own view. | Supported: Songs can be projected and printed with chords, with transposition. |
| Motion backgrounds behind lyrics | Supported: A song or section can have its own colour, gradient, picture, looping video or camera background. | Supported: Images and videos can be used as song backgrounds. |
| CCLI usage reporting | Partial: Exports date-filtered CSV/Excel song usage reports for CCLI reporting; it does not submit reports to CCLI automatically. | Supported: Optional automatic reporting to CCLI, added in version 6.0, available while entitled to updates; VG Musikedition reports can be exported too. |
| 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: Elberfelder 1905 is included, and free translations can be imported from Zefania XML. |
| Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) | Unknown | Paid add-on or tier: Modern German translations such as Luther 2017, Schlachter 2000 and BasisBibel are sold separately (€19-39 each). |
| Slides & presentations | Supported | Supported |
| PowerPoint | Supported: Presents .pptx, .ppt, .key and PDF files without Microsoft or Apple software installed. | Supported: PowerPoint and LibreOffice files can be added to the schedule; requires PowerPoint, the PowerPoint Viewer or LibreOffice. |
| Keynote | Supported | Unknown |
| Google Slides | Unknown | Unknown |
| Canva | Unknown | Unknown |
| 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. | 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 | Supported: YouTube videos can be shown, including URLs with a start time. |
| 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: Live video from a camera or capture device can be shown behind text. |
| Screen sharing | Supported: Screen capture can be added as a layer on the canvas compositor. | Unknown |
| Web pages | Supported | Supported: Web pages can be added to the schedule and displayed. |
| Countdown timers & clocks | Supported | Supported: Countdowns and stopwatches, also shown on the stage view. |
| On-screen messages & alerts | Supported: Announcements can be shown anywhere on screen with scroll and slide animations. | Supported: Spontaneous messages to the congregation can be shown over the presentation. |
| 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: Interface in German and English. |
| 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 hold up to 4 languages, shown together on screen. |
| 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: Up to two Bible translations can be shown at once. |
| Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts | Supported | Partial: Unicode text such as Cyrillic is supported; the changelog notes right-to-left output (e.g. Arabic) is not yet fully correct. |
| Integrations | ||
| Software integrations | Supported | Unknown |
| Planning Center | Supported: Imports Planning Center Services plans (read-only); each church supplies its own free PCO developer credentials. | Unknown |
| ChurchSuite | Unknown | Unknown |
| WorshipTools Planning | Unknown | Unknown |
| Hardware control | Supported | Supported |
| MIDI | Unknown | Supported: Control via MIDI and OSC. |
| 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 | Supported |
| Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) | Supported: Built-in Ktor REST and WebSocket server used by mobile remotes, with optional API-key protection. | Partial: Remote control over the network via OSC; no HTTP or WebSocket API is documented. |
| Plugins / extensions | Unknown | Unknown |
| Built-in scripting / macros | Unknown | Supported: SongBeamer Script macros can be run from menus or added to the schedule. |
| 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: A presentation can also be shown on a third monitor (beta). |
| 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: NDI output has its own formatting and an optional background colour for keying. |
| 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: Text output to OBS Studio and other software via NDI or a text file. |
| 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: SongBeamer Remote app for iPhone and iPad. |
| Multiple operators at once | Unknown | Unknown |
| Web native (runs in a browser) | Unknown | Not supported |
Other comparisons
- ChurchPresenter vs BibleShow
- SongBeamer vs BibleShow
- ChurchPresenter vs Big Screen
- SongBeamer vs Big Screen
- ChurchPresenter vs Cantara
- SongBeamer vs Cantara
- ChurchPresenter vs Cloud of Worship
- SongBeamer vs Cloud of Worship
- ChurchPresenter vs EasiSlides
- SongBeamer vs EasiSlides
- ChurchPresenter vs EasyWorship
- SongBeamer vs EasyWorship
- ChurchPresenter vs FreeShow
- SongBeamer vs FreeShow
- ChurchPresenter vs Holyrics
- SongBeamer vs Holyrics
- ChurchPresenter vs KerkBeamer
- SongBeamer vs KerkBeamer
- ChurchPresenter vs LyricDisplay
- SongBeamer vs LyricDisplay
- ChurchPresenter vs MediaShout
- SongBeamer vs MediaShout
- ChurchPresenter vs OpenLP
- SongBeamer vs OpenLP