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Holyrics vs Quelea

Holyrics logo
Holyrics

Free Brazilian worship presentation software for lyrics and Bible verses, with optional online plans.

  • Freemium
  • Subscription
Quelea logo
Quelea

Free, open-source Java-based projection software for churches.

  • Open Source
  • Free
  • Unmaintained

Summary

  • Holyrics is paid (Free; optional plans from US$2/month), while Quelea is free.
  • Quelea is open source (GPL-3.0-or-later); Holyrics is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Note: Quelea is no longer actively maintained.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Import from other presentation software · Songs & lyrics: Paste or import plain-text lyrics · Songs & lyrics: Chord charts for musicians · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Bible: Free translations included · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Inputs & other sources: Countdown timers & clocks · Inputs & other sources: On-screen messages & alerts · Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages · Multilingual: Songs in other languages · Multilingual: Bilingual lyrics on screen · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.

Only in Holyrics

  • Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) (partial in Quelea)
  • Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) (partial in Quelea)
  • Screens & outputs: Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) (partial in Quelea)

Only in Quelea

  • Slides & presentations: PowerPoint (partial in Holyrics)
  • Media: YouTube / online video
  • Inputs & other sources: Web pages (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 logo Holyrics Quelea logo Quelea
Overview
Price Free; optional plans from US$2/monthFree
Open source NoYes (GPL-3.0-or-later)
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status activemaintenance
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 from EasyWorship, ProPresenter, MediaShout, OpenLP, OpenSong, SongBeamer, VideoPsalm, ZionWorx, SongPro, Sunday Plus, EasySlides and more, plus Elvanto plans.
Paste or import plain-text lyrics Supported Supported: Plain-text song files (with optional ChordPro chords) can be imported, and lyrics can be typed or pasted into the song editor.
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. Partial: Imports downloaded SongSelect USR files; no direct online SongSelect connection.
Chord charts for musicians Supported: Chords and comments can be shown on the return (stage) monitor. Supported: Songs can hold chord lines, which can be transposed, printed and shown on the stage view.
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: Themes can use videos as backgrounds, with optional BPM-synced playback speed. Supported: Themes can use a video as the background.
CCLI usage reporting Unknown Unknown
Bible Supported Supported
Free translations included Supported Supported: KJV, ASV, RSV and NET Bibles ship with Quelea; further Bibles use the Zefania XML format.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Supported: Translations are offered through partnerships with Bible publishers as well as public-domain versions. Unknown
Slides & presentations Partial Supported
PowerPoint Partial: .ppt/.pptx files can be run from the program on Windows only, with Microsoft PowerPoint installed. Supported: Displays PowerPoint and PDF files, optionally driving an installed PowerPoint on Windows.
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Unknown Supported
Plays slide animations & transitions Unknown Partial: Animations only play when Quelea is set to use an installed PowerPoint (Windows).
Media Supported Supported
Video playback Supported: Audio and video play through the integrated VLC player. Supported
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. Supported
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. Unknown
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Partial: A website can be opened full screen on the projection screen (Windows only, requires Chrome or Edge). Supported: Websites can be displayed, with documented limitations.
Countdown timers & clocks Supported Supported
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: Notices scroll across the projected display a set number of times.
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 over 20 languages.
Songs in other languages Supported Supported
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. Supported: A song translation can be shown together with the default lyrics.
Bible translations side by side Supported: Up to 3 Bible versions can be shown simultaneously, with verse mapping across languages. Unknown
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: Imports schedules from Planning Center Online.
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 Partial
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Supported: Local HTTP API server with token authentication; access from the internet requires the Advanced plan. Partial: The Mobile Remote HTTP server exposes endpoints (next, previous, lyrics, schedule, search) but is not documented as a public API.
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 Unknown
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: Mobile Lyrics shows the current lyrics as a web page on the local network.
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: Web-based Mobile Remote and a Quelea Mobile Remote app.
Multiple operators at once Unknown Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Not supported Unknown

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