FreeShow vs SongBeamer
SongBeamer
German worship presentation software for songs, Bible texts and media, sold as a one-time licence.
- One-time
- Free Trial
Summary
- FreeShow is free, while SongBeamer is paid (€124 one-time (single computer)).
- FreeShow is open source (GPL-3.0-only); 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 · Media: YouTube / online video · 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 · Hardware control: MIDI · 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 FreeShow
- 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: 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
| SongBeamer |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price | Free / Donation-supported | €124 one-time (single computer)Free trial |
| 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 | 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: Separate importers for PowerPraise, PraiseMaster and PraiseBox songs, plus lyrics import from PowerPoint and CSV. |
| 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: Songs (with chords) can be imported directly from CCLI SongSelect while the licence is entitled to updates. |
| Chord charts for musicians | Supported: Chords can be added to song text and shown on the stage display. | Supported: Songs can be projected and printed with chords, with transposition. |
| Motion backgrounds behind lyrics | Supported | Supported: Images and videos can be used as song backgrounds. |
| CCLI usage reporting | Partial: Song usage can be logged to a file and exported; reports are not submitted 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 200 versions can be downloaded through API.Bible (online), or Zefania, OSIS, Beblia and OpenSong files imported. | Supported: Elberfelder 1905 is included, and free translations can be imported from Zefania XML. |
| Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) | Partial: Some copyrighted versions are available through API.Bible; the docs do not list NIV or ESV. | 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: PowerPoint and PDF files are imported as slides; a deprecated controller mode drives an installed PowerPoint or Keynote. | Supported: PowerPoint and LibreOffice files can be added to the schedule; requires PowerPoint, the PowerPoint Viewer or LibreOffice. |
| 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 |
| Supported | Supported | |
| 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. | Supported: YouTube videos can be shown, including URLs with a start time. |
| Inputs & other sources | Supported | Supported |
| Live camera / capture card | Supported: Cameras, screens and windows can be shown from the media drawer. | Supported: Live video from a camera or capture device can be shown behind text. |
| Screen sharing | Supported | 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: Any number of overlays can be layered over slides for announcements and messages. | Supported: Spontaneous messages to the congregation can be shown over the presentation. |
| 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. | Supported: Interface in German and English. |
| Songs in other languages | Supported | Supported |
| Bibles in other languages | Supported | Supported |
| Bilingual lyrics on screen | Supported: Songs can carry translations that are shown together with the original lyrics. | Supported: Songs can hold up to 4 languages, shown together on screen. |
| Bible translations side by side | Supported: Scripture collections show several versions at the same time. | Supported: Up to two Bible translations can be shown at once. |
| Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts | Supported: Text items have a right-to-left option, and the interface has an Arabic translation. | 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: 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 | Supported |
| MIDI | Supported: Can receive MIDI to trigger actions and slides and send MIDI on slide changes. | Supported: Control via MIDI and OSC. |
| 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: 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 | 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: A presentation can also be shown on a third monitor (beta). |
| Stage display / confidence monitor | Supported | 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: NDI output has its own formatting and an optional background colour for keying. |
| 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: Text output to OBS Studio and other software via NDI or a text file. |
| 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). | 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 |
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