Holyrics vs MediaShout
Holyrics
Free Brazilian worship presentation software for lyrics and Bible verses, with optional online plans.
- Freemium
- Subscription
MediaShout
Church presentation software sold mainly as a one-time site licence.
- Subscription
- One-time
- Free Trial
Summary
- Holyrics is paid (Free; optional plans from US$2/month), while MediaShout is paid ($599 one-time (Windows site licence)).
- Both run on Windows and macOS.
- Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Bible: Free translations included · Bible: Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Multilingual: Bible translations side by side · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming · Broadcast video: NDI · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.
Only in Holyrics
- Runs on Linux
Only in MediaShout
- Slides & presentations: PowerPoint (partial in Holyrics)
- Inputs & other sources: Live camera / capture card (partial in Holyrics)
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 |
Holyrics
|
MediaShout
|
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price | Free; optional plans from US$2/month | $599 one-time (Windows site licence)Free trial |
| Open source | No | 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: Lyrics can be imported from other sources, including PowerPoint files. | Unknown |
| Paste or import plain-text lyrics | Supported | Unknown |
| Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) | Supported: Built-in web search of the holyrics.com lyrics database, with many songs pre-formatted for projection. | Supported: Lyrics can be imported through the CCLI SongSelect integration. |
| Chord charts for musicians | Supported: Chords and comments can be shown on the return (stage) monitor. | Unknown |
| Motion backgrounds behind lyrics | Supported: Themes can use videos as backgrounds, with optional BPM-synced playback speed. | Supported: Motion backgrounds are available, with Shift Worship Media included in the Complete bundle. |
| CCLI usage reporting | Unknown | Supported: Songs used are reported to CCLI automatically; listed for the Windows version. |
| Bible | Supported | Supported |
| Free translations included | Supported | Supported: About 70 translations, including public-domain and copyrighted versions, are included with the licence. |
| Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) | Supported: Translations are offered through partnerships with Bible publishers as well as public-domain versions. | Supported: Copyrighted translations are among the 70 included at no additional cost. |
| Slides & presentations | Partial | Supported |
| PowerPoint | Partial: .ppt/.pptx files can be run from the program on Windows only, with Microsoft PowerPoint installed. | Supported: PowerPoint slides can be imported as images or as editable MediaShout cues. |
| Keynote | Unknown | Unknown |
| Google Slides | Unknown | Unknown |
| Canva | Unknown | Unknown |
| Unknown | Unknown | |
| Plays slide animations & transitions | Unknown | Partial: MediaShout's own slides support text animations and transitions; it is not stated that imported PowerPoint animations are kept. |
| Media | Supported | Supported |
| Video playback | Supported: Audio and video play through the integrated VLC player. | Supported |
| Audio playback | Supported | Supported |
| Images | Supported | Supported: Unsplash and Pixabay images and videos can be searched and inserted from within the software. |
| YouTube / online video | Not supported: The FAQ states YouTube videos cannot be played in the program because of YouTube policy. | Unknown |
| Inputs & other sources | Supported | Supported |
| Live camera / capture card | Partial: Webcams and IP cameras can be played through the VLC player, though the FAQ warns of noticeable delay. | Supported: Live video feeds (cameras, phones, other apps) via NDI. |
| Screen sharing | Unknown | Unknown |
| Web pages | Partial: A website can be opened full screen on the projection screen (Windows only, requires Chrome or Edge). | Unknown |
| Countdown timers & clocks | Supported | Unknown |
| On-screen messages & alerts | Supported: Alerts at the top or bottom of the screen, custom messages and a communication panel for the stage screen. | Unknown |
| Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) | Paid add-on or tier: Q&A, polls and raffles via a Telegram chatbot are part of the paid online plans; a built-in multiple-choice quiz is also available. | Unknown |
| Languages | ||
| Multilingual | Supported | Supported |
| Interface in multiple languages | Supported | Unknown |
| Songs in other languages | Supported | Unknown |
| Bibles in other languages | Supported | Unknown |
| Bilingual lyrics on screen | Supported: Song slides can carry translations, shown on separate screens or together on one screen. | Unknown |
| Bible translations side by side | Supported: Up to 3 Bible versions can be shown simultaneously, with verse mapping across languages. | Supported: Dual Bible display can show two translations or languages on screen. |
| Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts | Supported: Settings for non-Latin scripts including Arabic, Hebrew, Cyrillic, Devanagari, Han and Hangul. | Unknown |
| Integrations | ||
| Software integrations | Unknown | Unknown |
| Planning Center | Unknown | Unknown |
| ChurchSuite | Unknown | Unknown |
| WorshipTools Planning | Unknown | Unknown |
| Hardware control | Supported | Unknown |
| MIDI | Supported: MIDI input can trigger program actions, e.g. advancing slides from a multitrack playback. | Unknown |
| DMX lighting | Partial: No direct DMX output; API items and triggers can send commands to the Lumikit lighting software. | Unknown |
| Stream Deck / Companion | Unknown | Unknown |
| Automation & extensibility | Supported | Unknown |
| Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) | Supported: Local HTTP API server with token authentication; access from the internet requires the Advanced plan. | Unknown |
| Plugins / extensions | Unknown | Unknown |
| Built-in scripting / macros | Supported: JavaScript (ECMAScript 5.1) scripts, startup code, system variables and custom API routes. | Unknown |
| Webhooks / triggers to other systems | Supported: Triggers run actions on program events, sending HTTP, WebSocket, TCP/UDP, OSC or MIDI messages and controlling OBS, vMix and PTZ cameras. | Unknown |
| MCP server for AI assistants | Unknown | Unknown |
| AI features (e.g. verse detection, lyric formatting) | Unknown | Unknown |
| Presenting & control | ||
| Screens & outputs | Supported | Supported |
| Multiple audience screens | Supported | Supported: Control screen, main display and an optional third output for stage/confidence or livestream. |
| Stage display / confidence monitor | Supported: Return monitors with their own settings and monitor-only messages and alerts. | Supported: Not included in the LE edition. |
| Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming | Supported: NDI outputs can use a transparent background for keying over video. | Supported: Lower-third templates are included. |
| Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) | Supported: The Holyrics plugin runs an HTTP server so the projection can be viewed in browsers or added as a source in streaming software. | Unknown |
| Broadcast video | Supported | Supported |
| NDI | Supported: Multiple NDI outputs with configurable resolution, frame rate and theme. | Supported: Since version 7.4, NDI feeds can be shown in presentations and outputs can be sent over NDI. |
| SDI | Unknown | Unknown |
| Built-in streaming & recording | Not supported | Unknown |
| Stream to any RTMP destination | Not supported: The FAQ states the program does not stream itself but works alongside streaming software such as OBS. | Unknown |
| YouTube Live | Not supported | Unknown |
| Facebook Live | Not supported | Unknown |
| Record the output to a file | Unknown | 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: All data and media can be synchronised between computers through Google Drive (settings are not synced). | Unknown |
| Works fully offline | Supported | Unknown |
| Remote control from phone or tablet | Supported: Holyrics mobile app for Android and iOS (iOS app is a one-time US$0.99 purchase). | Supported: MediaShout Remote app for iOS (added in 7.3); standard USB presentation remotes also work. |
| Multiple operators at once | Unknown | Unknown |
| Web native (runs in a browser) | Not supported | Not supported |
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