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FreeShow vs Proclaim

FreeShow logo
FreeShow

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
Proclaim logo
Proclaim

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

  • Subscription
  • Free Trial

Summary

  • FreeShow is free, while Proclaim is paid ($269.99/year).
  • FreeShow is open source (GPL-3.0-only); 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: MIDI · 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: Cloud sync of library · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.

Only in FreeShow

  • Runs on Linux
  • Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages
  • Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket)
  • Built-in streaming & recording: Stream to any RTMP destination
  • Built-in streaming & recording: YouTube Live
  • Built-in streaming & recording: Facebook Live
  • Built-in streaming & recording: Record the output to a file (partial in Proclaim)

Only in Proclaim

  • Runs on Web browser
  • Runs on iOS / iPadOS
  • Runs on Android
  • Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) (partial in FreeShow)
  • Songs & lyrics: CCLI usage reporting (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 logo FreeShow Proclaim logo Proclaim
Overview
Price Free / Donation-supported$269.99/yearFree trial
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0-only)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: Imports from ProPresenter, EasyWorship, VideoPsalm, OpenLP/OpenLyrics, OpenSong, MediaShout, Quelea, SoftProjector, SongBeamer, EasySlides and VerseVIEW, plus ChordPro, CSV and Word. 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: 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. Supported: Lyrics can be imported from SongSelect, Hymnbase or MultiTracks.com.
Chord charts for musicians Supported: Chords can be added to song text and shown on the stage display. Supported: Chord progressions come in from MultiTracks.com and can be shown on the confidence monitor.
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported Supported: 1,000+ free motions and stills on every plan; Pro and Partner tiers add larger media libraries.
CCLI usage reporting Partial: Song usage can be logged to a file and exported; reports are not submitted to CCLI automatically. Supported
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: 60+ Bible versions are included on every plan.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Partial: Some copyrighted versions are available through API.Bible; the docs do not list NIV or ESV. Unknown
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: PowerPoint files can be imported; on Windows control can also be handed over to PowerPoint.
Keynote Partial: Keynote is only supported through the deprecated controller mode, which needs Keynote installed on macOS. Partial: On a Mac with Keynote installed, Keynote files are imported as static image slideshows.
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
Audio playback Supported Supported
Images Supported Supported
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 Supported
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. Unknown
Languages
Multilingual Supported Supported
Interface in multiple languages Supported: The interface is translated into about 30 languages. 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: 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 Supported
Planning Center Supported: Downloads upcoming Planning Center service plans; ChurchApps (B1.church) and OnStage are also supported. 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 Supported: Can receive MIDI to trigger actions and slides and send MIDI on slide changes. 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 for Stream Deck control. Supported: Elgato Stream Deck is supported in Proclaim 3.2 and later.
Automation & extensibility Supported Not supported
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Supported: WebSocket and REST API, enabled in Connections settings. 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 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). Unknown
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs Supported Supported
Multiple audience screens Supported 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: Outputs can have their own styles and an alpha key output for keying lyrics over video. 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: OutputShow serves an output as a web page on the local network. Unknown
Broadcast video Supported Supported
NDI Supported Supported
SDI Supported: Blackmagic DeckLink and UltraStudio outputs are supported. Supported
Built-in streaming & recording Supported Partial
Stream to any RTMP destination Supported: Outputs can be streamed over RTMP (YouTube, Twitch, Facebook Live) or WebRTC/WHIP. Not supported: For YouTube or Facebook Live the vendor recommends sending NDI or SDI output to a tool such as OBS.
YouTube Live Supported Not supported
Facebook Live Supported Not supported
Record the output to a file Supported: Outputs and captured screens can be recorded to a file. 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 Supported: The library can be synced across computers through cloud sync (e.g. Google Drive or ChurchApps). 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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