Holyrics vs OpenLP
Holyrics
Free Brazilian worship presentation software for lyrics and Bible verses, with optional online plans.
- Freemium
- Subscription
OpenLP
Free, open-source worship presentation software for songs, Bibles, media and slides.
- Open Source
- Free
Summary
- Holyrics is paid (Free; optional plans from US$2/month), while OpenLP is free.
- OpenLP is open source (GPL-3.0-or-later); Holyrics is proprietary.
- Both run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Import from other presentation software · Songs & lyrics: Paste or import plain-text lyrics · Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) · Songs & lyrics: Chord charts for musicians · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Inputs & other sources: On-screen messages & alerts · Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages · Multilingual: Bible translations side by side · Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.
Only in Holyrics
- Bible: Free translations included (partial in OpenLP)
- Bible: Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) (partial in OpenLP)
- Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens
- Screens & outputs: Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) (partial in OpenLP)
Only in OpenLP
- 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
|
OpenLP
|
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price | Free; optional plans from US$2/month | Free / Donation-supported |
| Open source | No | Yes (GPL-3.0-or-later) |
| Deployment | Desktop app | Desktop app |
| Status | active | active |
| Platforms | ||
| Windows | Supported | Supported |
| macOS | Supported | Supported |
| Linux | Supported | 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. | Supported: Imports songs from over 25 formats including EasyWorship, ProPresenter, MediaShout, SongShow Plus, SongBeamer, OpenSong, ZionWorx and VideoPsalm. |
| Paste or import plain-text lyrics | Supported | Supported |
| 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: Songs can be imported from CCLI SongSelect from within OpenLP; this importer has occasionally broken when CCLI changed its website. |
| Chord charts for musicians | Supported: Chords and comments can be shown on the return (stage) monitor. | Supported: Songs can store chords (ChordPro-style), shown in the browser Chord View with transposition and printable via export. |
| Motion backgrounds behind lyrics | Supported: Themes can use videos as backgrounds, with optional BPM-synced playback speed. | Supported: Themes can use a looping video or a live stream as the background. |
| CCLI usage reporting | Unknown | Partial: The Song Usage Tracking plugin records song usage and produces reports; submission to CCLI is manual. |
| Bible | Supported | Partial |
| Free translations included | Supported | Partial: No Bibles are bundled; free translations are imported from OSIS, Zefania, OpenSong, CSV, SWORD or WordProject files. |
| Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) | Supported: Translations are offered through partnerships with Bible publishers as well as public-domain versions. | Partial: Copyrighted versions can be downloaded on demand from BibleGateway, Bibleserver or Crosswalk; there is no licensed in-app catalogue. |
| Slides & presentations | Partial | Supported |
| PowerPoint | Partial: .ppt/.pptx files can be run from the program on Windows only, with Microsoft PowerPoint installed. | Supported: Drives an installed PowerPoint or LibreOffice Impress to show the presentation. |
| Keynote | Unknown | Supported: Keynote presentations are controlled through AppleScript on macOS with Keynote installed. |
| Google Slides | Unknown | Unknown |
| Canva | Unknown | Unknown |
| Unknown | Supported | |
| Plays slide animations & transitions | Unknown | Partial: Animations play because OpenLP drives PowerPoint, Impress or Keynote itself; PDFs are shown as static images. |
| Media | Supported | Supported |
| Video playback | Supported: Audio and video play through the integrated VLC player. | Supported: In the 3.x series audio and video playback uses VLC; OpenLP 4.0 alphas switch to Qt Multimedia. |
| Audio playback | Supported | Supported |
| Images | Supported | Supported |
| 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: Capture devices can be shown as a Device Stream media item, and network streams are also supported. |
| 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. | Supported: The Alerts plugin overlays a scrolling message on the live display. |
| 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 | Supported: The interface is translated into about 30 languages. |
| 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: A second Bible version can be selected to show the same passage alongside the first. |
| 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 | Supported |
| Planning Center | Unknown | Supported: The PlanningCenter plugin imports service plans from the Planning Center Online v2 API. |
| ChurchSuite | Unknown | Unknown |
| WorshipTools Planning | Unknown | Unknown |
| Hardware control | Supported | Supported |
| 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 | Supported: Bitfocus Companion has an OpenLP module that uses the OpenLP HTTP API. |
| Automation & extensibility | Supported | Supported |
| Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) | Supported: Local HTTP API server with token authentication; access from the internet requires the Advanced plan. | Supported: HTTP REST (v2) and WebSocket API, used by the web remote and mobile apps. |
| Plugins / extensions | Unknown | Partial: Features are organised as built-in plugins that can be switched on or off; there is no third-party plugin store. |
| 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 | Not supported: OpenLP projects to a single display screen; the source notes multi-monitor output is not yet supported (a custom geometry can span screens). |
| Stage display / confidence monitor | Supported: Return monitors with their own settings and monitor-only messages and alerts. | Supported |
| Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming | Supported: NDI outputs can use a transparent background for keying over video. | Unknown |
| 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. | Partial: The browser Main View mirrors the projector using screenshots, without audio or video. |
| Broadcast video | Supported | Unknown |
| NDI | Supported: Multiple NDI outputs with configurable resolution, frame rate and theme. | Unknown |
| 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 | Supported |
| 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: Built-in web remote plus Android and iOS remote apps. |
| Multiple operators at once | Unknown | Unknown |
| Web native (runs in a browser) | Not supported | Unknown |
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- Holyrics vs EasiSlides
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- Holyrics vs EasyWorship
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- Holyrics vs FreeShow
- OpenLP vs FreeShow
- Holyrics vs KerkBeamer
- OpenLP vs KerkBeamer
- Holyrics vs LyricDisplay
- OpenLP vs LyricDisplay
- Holyrics vs MediaShout
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- Holyrics vs OpenSong
- OpenLP vs OpenSong