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FreeShow vs SongShow Plus

FreeShow logo
FreeShow

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
SongShow Plus logo
SongShow Plus

Windows worship presentation software with edition-based licences and optional subscriptions.

  • Subscription
  • One-time
  • Free Trial

Summary

  • FreeShow is free, while SongShow Plus is paid ($249 one-time (Ultra edition, special price)).
  • FreeShow is open source (GPL-3.0-only); SongShow Plus is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Bible: Free translations included · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · 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 · 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: Works fully offline.

Only in FreeShow

  • Runs on macOS
  • Runs on Linux
  • Software integrations: Planning Center (paid add-on in SongShow Plus)
  • Automation & extensibility: AI features (e.g. verse detection, lyric formatting) (paid add-on in SongShow Plus)
  • Connectivity & collaboration: Cloud sync of library (paid add-on in SongShow Plus)
  • Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet (paid add-on in SongShow Plus)

Only in SongShow Plus

  • 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 SongShow Plus logo SongShow Plus
Overview
Price Free / Donation-supported$249 one-time (Ultra edition, special price)Free trial
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0-only)No
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status activeactive
Platforms
Windows Supported Supported
macOS Supported Not 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. 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. Paid add-on or tier: Requires the Bronze (or higher) subscription plus a separate SongSelect subscription.
Chord charts for musicians Supported: Chords can be added to song text and shown on the stage display. Unknown
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported Supported: Motion backgrounds with real-time effects and rendered visualizations; Shift Worship media can be imported with a separate subscription.
CCLI usage reporting Partial: Song usage can be logged to a file and exported; reports are not submitted to CCLI automatically. Supported: CCLI auto-reporting added in version 9.3.
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: ASV, KJV and WEB are included.
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: Translations such as NIV, ESV, NKJV and NLT are $25 plug-ins per machine.
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 presentations can be imported step by step, as images or as video files.
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. Partial: Importing PowerPoint as video can keep animations; SongShow's own slides have transitions and animations.
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: Web pages, including YouTube videos, can be presented.
Inputs & other sources Supported Supported
Live camera / capture card Supported: Cameras, screens and windows can be shown from the media drawer. Supported: Live video (IMAG) with text and graphic overlays.
Screen sharing Supported Unknown
Web pages Supported Supported
Countdown timers & clocks Supported Supported: Customizable countdown timers (Pro edition and above).
On-screen messages & alerts Supported: Any number of overlays can be layered over slides for announcements and messages. Supported: Instant Message shows nursery alerts and other messages (Pro edition and above).
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 Unknown
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 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 Paid add-on or tier
Planning Center Supported: Downloads upcoming Planning Center service plans; ChurchApps (B1.church) and OnStage are also supported. Paid add-on or tier: Requires the Bronze (or higher) subscription plus a Planning Center subscription.
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 Paid add-on or tier
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). Paid add-on or tier: Optional image indexing with Microsoft/Azure Computer Vision requires the Silver subscription.
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs Supported Supported
Multiple audience screens Supported Supported: Multi-display support (up to six display windows since 9.1) is part of the Ultra edition.
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported Supported: One or more customizable stage outputs are part of the Ultra edition.
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Supported: Outputs can have their own styles and an alpha key output for keying lyrics over video. Supported: Output windows can be configured as synchronized lower-third layouts.
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 streaming (added in 9.1) is part of the Ultra edition.
SDI Supported: Blackmagic DeckLink and UltraStudio outputs are supported. Supported: Blackmagic DeckLink output can be assigned to any display window.
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). Paid add-on or tier: SongShow Sync requires the Silver subscription.
Works fully offline Supported Supported
Remote control from phone or tablet Supported Paid add-on or tier: Mobile Control (a progressive web app) requires the Silver subscription.
Multiple operators at once Unknown Paid add-on or tier: SongShow Drive media sharing and the web-based SongShow Builder require the Silver subscription.
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Not supported

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