FreeShow vs KerkBeamer

FreeShow

Free, open-source presentation software for lyrics, scripture and media.

Open Source
Free

KerkBeamer

Dutch online service for building church beamer presentations from a song and Bible database.

Subscription
Free Trial

Summary

FreeShow is free, while KerkBeamer is paid (From €17.50/month (excl. VAT)).
FreeShow is open source (GPL-3.0-only); KerkBeamer is proprietary.
Both run on Windows and macOS.
Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Bible: Free translations included · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Multilingual: Bibles in other languages · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Connectivity & collaboration: Cloud sync of library.

Only in FreeShow

Runs on Linux
Media: YouTube / online video
Inputs & other sources: Live camera / capture card (paid add-on in KerkBeamer)
Inputs & other sources: Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) (paid add-on in KerkBeamer)
Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages
Automation & extensibility: AI features (e.g. verse detection, lyric formatting) (partial in KerkBeamer)
Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming (paid add-on in KerkBeamer)
Screens & outputs: Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) (paid add-on in KerkBeamer)
Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline (partial in KerkBeamer)

Only in KerkBeamer

Runs on Web browser
Bible: Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) (partial in FreeShow)

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	FreeShow	KerkBeamer
Overview
Price	Free / Donation-supported	From €17.50/month (excl. VAT)Free trial
Open source	Yes (GPL-3.0-only)	No
Deployment	Desktop app	Cloud / hosted, Desktop app
Status	active	active
Platforms
Windows	Supported	Supported
macOS	Supported	Supported
Linux	Supported	Not supported
Web browser	Not supported	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: Song database of 10,000+ songs from Dutch songbooks, shown as text or sheet music; billed €1 per songbook used each month.
Import from other presentation software	Supported: Imports from ProPresenter, EasyWorship, VideoPsalm, OpenLP/OpenLyrics, OpenSong, MediaShout, Quelea, SoftProjector, SongBeamer, EasySlides and VerseVIEW, plus ChordPro, CSV and Word.	Unknown
Paste or import plain-text lyrics	Supported: Lyrics can be pasted into the Quick lyrics box when creating a show.	Unknown
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources)	Partial: No SongSelect integration because CCLI discontinued its API; song lyrics can be pulled from Planning Center plans.	Unknown
Chord charts for musicians	Supported: Chords can be added to song text and shown on the stage display.	Unknown
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics	Supported	Unknown
CCLI usage reporting	Partial: Song usage can be logged to a file and exported; reports are not submitted to CCLI automatically.	Not supported: CCLI Auto Reporting is not available, so songs must be reported to CCLI manually.
Bible	Supported	Supported
Free translations included	Supported: Over 200 versions can be downloaded through API.Bible (online), or Zefania, OSIS, Beblia and OpenSong files imported.	Supported: 11 Dutch and regional-language translations, including the public-domain Statenvertaling; each translation used costs €1 per month.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.)	Partial: Some copyrighted versions are available through API.Bible; the docs do not list NIV or ESV.	Supported: Copyrighted translations such as NBV21, Herziene Statenvertaling and Bijbel in Gewone Taal are included, with no separate licence needed.
Slides & presentations	Supported	Supported
PowerPoint	Supported: PowerPoint and PDF files are imported as slides; a deprecated controller mode drives an installed PowerPoint or Keynote.	Supported: .ppt/.pptx files are uploaded and converted; they cannot be edited in KerkBeamer and can loop with a set time per slide.
Keynote	Partial: Keynote is only supported through the deprecated controller mode, which needs Keynote installed on macOS.	Unknown
Google Slides	Unknown	Unknown
Canva	Supported: A Canva connection (OAuth) lets designs be browsed and used from FreeShow's content library.	Unknown
PDF	Supported	Unknown
Plays slide animations & transitions	Partial: Original slide animations only play in the deprecated PowerPoint/Keynote controller mode; FreeShow has its own transitions and item animations.	Unknown
Media	Supported	Supported
Video playback	Supported	Supported: Uploaded videos are converted to MP4 and can be trimmed.
Audio playback	Supported	Supported
Images	Supported	Supported
YouTube / online video	Supported: YouTube and Vimeo videos can be played by pasting a link.	Not supported: The documentation states YouTube videos or URLs cannot be added.
Inputs & other sources	Supported	Paid add-on or tier
Live camera / capture card	Supported: Cameras, screens and windows can be shown from the media drawer.	Paid add-on or tier: The paid TV broadcasts add-on (or the separate CameraRegie product) controls PTZ cameras and a Blackmagic ATEM switcher, so camera images can be put on the projector.
Screen sharing	Supported	Unknown
Web pages	Supported	Unknown
Countdown timers & clocks	Supported	Unknown
On-screen messages & alerts	Supported: Any number of overlays can be layered over slides for announcements and messages.	Unknown
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along)	Supported: Interaction slides (join, question, chart, leaderboard) let the audience take part from their phones.	Paid add-on or tier: The paid LiveBeamer add-on lets people follow the presentation on their own phone, tablet or laptop via a URL.
Languages
Multilingual	Supported	Supported
Interface in multiple languages	Supported: The interface is translated into about 30 languages.	Not supported: The interface and documentation are Dutch only.
Songs in other languages	Supported	Unknown
Bibles in other languages	Supported	Supported: Translations include Frisian, Twents and Gronings as well as standard Dutch.
Bilingual lyrics on screen	Supported: Songs can carry translations that are shown together with the original lyrics.	Unknown
Bible translations side by side	Supported: Scripture collections show several versions at the same time.	Unknown
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts	Supported: Text items have a right-to-left option, and the interface has an Arabic translation.	Unknown
Integrations
Software integrations	Supported	Unknown
Planning Center	Supported: Downloads upcoming Planning Center service plans; ChurchApps (B1.church) and OnStage are also supported.	Unknown
ChurchSuite	Unknown	Unknown
WorshipTools Planning	Unknown	Unknown
Hardware control	Supported	Unknown
MIDI	Supported: Can receive MIDI to trigger actions and slides and send MIDI on slide changes.	Unknown
DMX lighting	Unknown	Unknown
Stream Deck / Companion	Supported: Bitfocus Companion is supported for Stream Deck control.	Unknown
Automation & extensibility	Supported	Partial
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket)	Supported: WebSocket and REST API, enabled in Connections settings.	Unknown
Plugins / extensions	Unknown	Unknown
Built-in scripting / macros	Unknown	Unknown
Webhooks / triggers to other systems	Supported: Emitter templates send HTTP, OSC or MIDI messages from slides and actions.	Unknown
MCP server for AI assistants	Unknown	Unknown
AI features (e.g. verse detection, lyric formatting)	Supported: Optional AI features include speech-to-text transcription with automatic scripture detection and an LLM assistant (local or cloud models).	Partial: Live sermon captions from speech recognition can be shown through an integration with Preekondertiteling.nl, which needs its own subscription.
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs	Supported	Supported
Multiple audience screens	Supported	Supported: Extra outputs for a church TV broadcast can be driven alongside the projector output.
Stage display / confidence monitor	Supported	Unknown
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming	Supported: Outputs can have their own styles and an alpha key output for keying lyrics over video.	Paid add-on or tier: The paid TV broadcasts add-on provides subtitles and text-over-video using a separate alpha (key) output or chroma key.
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source)	Supported: OutputShow serves an output as a web page on the local network.	Paid add-on or tier: The paid LiveBeamer add-on shows the live presentation as a web page on any device.
Broadcast video	Supported	Unknown
NDI	Supported	Unknown
SDI	Supported: Blackmagic DeckLink and UltraStudio outputs are supported.	Unknown
Built-in streaming & recording	Supported	Unknown
Stream to any RTMP destination	Supported: Outputs can be streamed over RTMP (YouTube, Twitch, Facebook Live) or WebRTC/WHIP.	Unknown
YouTube Live	Supported	Unknown
Facebook Live	Supported	Unknown
Record the output to a file	Supported: Outputs and captured screens can be recorded to a file.	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	Supported: The library can be synced across computers through cloud sync (e.g. Google Drive or ChurchApps).	Supported
Works fully offline	Supported	Partial: Presentations are stored online and must be loaded over the internet; once loaded they play without a connection.
Remote control from phone or tablet	Supported	Unknown
Multiple operators at once	Unknown	Supported: Team members can work on presentations and templates at the same time.
Web native (runs in a browser)	Unknown	Partial: Presentations are prepared in the browser, but playback in church uses the KerkBeamer software for Windows or macOS.

FreeShow vs KerkBeamer

Summary

Only in FreeShow

Only in KerkBeamer

Side by side

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