FreeShow vs Pewbeam

FreeShow

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

Open Source
Free

Pewbeam

AI presentation app that listens to the sermon and puts detected Bible verses on screen.

Freemium
Subscription

Summary

FreeShow is free, while Pewbeam is paid (From $12/month billed annually ($14 monthly)).
FreeShow is open source (GPL-3.0-only); Pewbeam is proprietary.
Both run on Windows and macOS.
Both support: Bible: Free translations included · Inputs & other sources: On-screen messages & alerts · Automation & extensibility: AI features (e.g. verse detection, lyric formatting) · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming · Broadcast video: NDI.

Only in FreeShow

Runs on Linux
Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics (paid add-on in Pewbeam)
Slides & presentations: PowerPoint (partial in Pewbeam)
Multilingual: Bibles in other languages (paid add-on in Pewbeam)
Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) (partial in Pewbeam)
Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline (partial in Pewbeam)

Only in Pewbeam

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	Pewbeam
Overview
Price	Free / Donation-supported	From $12/month billed annually ($14 monthly)
Open source	Yes (GPL-3.0-only)	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	Paid add-on or tier
Song library	Supported	Unknown
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	Paid add-on or tier: Video and GIF motion backgrounds for themes and slides need the Plus or Core plan.
CCLI usage reporting	Partial: Song usage can be logged to a file and exported; reports are not submitted to CCLI automatically.	Unknown
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: Verses are detected automatically from live speech; 4 Bible translations on the free tier, 20 on paid plans.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.)	Partial: Some copyrighted versions are available through API.Bible; the docs do not list NIV or ESV.	Supported: KJV, NKJV, NIV, NLT, ESV and NASB are bundled.
Slides & presentations	Supported	Partial
PowerPoint	Supported: PowerPoint and PDF files are imported as slides; a deprecated controller mode drives an installed PowerPoint or Keynote.	Partial: Text from PowerPoint and Word files can be imported into the built-in slide editor, and decks can be exported as PPTX or PDF.
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	Unknown
Video playback	Supported	Unknown
Audio playback	Supported	Unknown
Images	Supported	Unknown
YouTube / online video	Supported: YouTube and Vimeo videos can be played by pasting a link.	Unknown
Inputs & other sources	Supported	Supported
Live camera / capture card	Supported: Cameras, screens and windows can be shown from the media drawer.	Unknown
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.	Supported: Alert banners, including scrolling and looping alerts, can be sent to every screen.
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along)	Supported: Interaction slides (join, question, chart, leaderboard) let the audience take part from their phones.	Unknown
Languages
Multilingual	Supported	Paid add-on or tier
Interface in multiple languages	Supported: The interface is translated into about 30 languages.	Unknown
Songs in other languages	Supported	Unknown
Bibles in other languages	Supported	Paid add-on or tier: Paid plans can install downloadable translations such as Spanish, French, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, plus language packs for non-English sermon detection.
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	Supported
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket)	Supported: WebSocket and REST API, enabled in Connections settings.	Partial: Local OSC and HTTP endpoints for broadcast integration; the docs say slide navigation commands are still being wired through.
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).	Supported: Listens to the sermon and detects Bible references, including paraphrases; also generates slides, sermon excerpts and sermon notes.
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs	Supported	Supported
Multiple audience screens	Supported	Supported: Up to 2, 4 or 6 display outputs depending on plan, each with its own theme.
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.	Supported: Lower-third themes and NDI output with alpha transparency; creating new transparent themes needs the Core plan.
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source)	Supported: OutputShow serves an output as a web page on the local network.	Unknown
Broadcast video	Supported	Supported
NDI	Supported	Supported: NDI output at 720p, 1080p or 4K with alpha transparency.
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	Partial
Cloud sync of library	Supported: The library can be synced across computers through cloud sync (e.g. Google Drive or ChurchApps).	Unknown
Works fully offline	Supported	Partial: Bible search and display work offline; offline transcription is available on Apple Silicon Macs on paid plans, otherwise transcription needs a connection.
Remote control from phone or tablet	Supported	Unknown
Multiple operators at once	Unknown	Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser)	Unknown	Unknown

FreeShow vs Pewbeam

Summary

Only in FreeShow

Only in Pewbeam

Side by side

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