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FreeShow vs TheOpenPresenter

FreeShow logo
FreeShow

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
TheOpenPresenter logo
TheOpenPresenter

Open-source, browser-based presenter you can run and control from any device.

  • Open Source
  • Free

Summary

  • FreeShow is free, while TheOpenPresenter is free.
  • Both are open source.
  • Both run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Paste or import plain-text lyrics · Songs & lyrics: Chord charts for musicians · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Bible: Free translations included · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · Slides & presentations: Canva · Slides & presentations: PDF · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Media: YouTube / online video · Inputs & other sources: Screen sharing · Inputs & other sources: Web pages · Inputs & other sources: Countdown timers & clocks · Inputs & other sources: Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) · Multilingual: Bibles in other languages · Software integrations: Planning Center · Automation & extensibility: AI features (e.g. verse detection, lyric formatting) · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming · Screens & outputs: Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) · Connectivity & collaboration: Cloud sync of library · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.

Only in FreeShow

  • Multilingual: Songs in other languages (partial in TheOpenPresenter)

Only in TheOpenPresenter

  • Runs on Web browser
  • Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) (partial in FreeShow)
  • Slides & presentations: Plays slide animations & transitions (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 TheOpenPresenter logo TheOpenPresenter
Overview
Price Free / Donation-supportedFree
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0-only)Yes (AGPL-3.0-only)
Deployment Desktop appCloud / hosted, Desktop app, Self-hosted
Status activeactive
Platforms
Windows Supported Supported
macOS Supported Supported
Linux Supported 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
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. Supported
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 can be pulled from MyWorshipList.
Chord charts for musicians Supported: Chords can be added to song text and shown on the stage display. Supported
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported Supported
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: Over a thousand freely licensed translations are available through the Beblia and Free Use Bible API catalogues.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Partial: Some copyrighted versions are available through API.Bible; the docs do not list NIV or ESV. Partial: Licensed translations can be used, but the church has to upload them.
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
Keynote Partial: Keynote is only supported through the deprecated controller mode, which needs Keynote installed on macOS. Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Supported
Canva Supported: A Canva connection (OAuth) lets designs be browsed and used from FreeShow's content library. Supported
PDF 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. Supported: PowerPoint imports keep their slideshow data so animations play click by click.
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
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 Supported
Web pages Supported Supported: Web pages can be shown, but interacting with them isn't supported yet; use screen share instead.
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. Supported: Slido polls and Q&A can be shown through the Slido plugin.
Languages
Multilingual Supported Supported
Interface in multiple languages Supported: The interface is translated into about 30 languages. Unknown
Songs in other languages Supported Partial: Songs in any language work, but the automatic import sources have few non-English songs so far.
Bibles in other languages Supported Supported
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: Setlists can be imported from Planning Center.
ChurchSuite Unknown Supported: Setlists can be imported from ChurchSuite.
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. Unknown
Plugins / extensions Unknown Supported: Features are built as plugins on a modular architecture.
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: AI formats pasted lyrics into sections and slides.
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs Supported Supported
Multiple audience screens Supported Supported
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
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Supported: OutputShow serves an output as a web page on the local network. Supported
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 Supported
Apple TV app Unknown Not supported
Android / Google TV app Unknown Supported: TheOpenPresenter TV app for Android TV; a Fire TV (Vega OS) version is also built.
Fire TV app Unknown Supported
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: Offline use is provided by the TheOpenPresenter Studio desktop app (stable on Windows, alpha on macOS).
Remote control from phone or tablet Supported Supported
Multiple operators at once Unknown Supported
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Supported

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