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KerkBeamer vs SongBeamer

KerkBeamer logo
KerkBeamer

Dutch online service for building church beamer presentations from a song and Bible database.

  • Subscription
  • Free Trial
SongBeamer

German worship presentation software for songs, Bible texts and media, sold as a one-time licence.

  • One-time
  • Free Trial

Summary

  • KerkBeamer is paid (From €17.50/month (excl. VAT)), while SongBeamer is paid (€124 one-time (single computer)).
  • Both run on Windows and macOS.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Bible: Free translations included · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Multilingual: Bibles in other languages · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens.

Only in KerkBeamer

  • Runs on Web browser
  • Bible: Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) (paid add-on in SongBeamer)

Only in SongBeamer

  • Songs & lyrics: CCLI usage reporting
  • Media: YouTube / online video
  • Inputs & other sources: Live camera / capture card (paid add-on in KerkBeamer)
  • Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages
  • Automation & extensibility (partial in KerkBeamer)
  • Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming (paid add-on in KerkBeamer)
  • Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline (partial in KerkBeamer)

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 KerkBeamer logo KerkBeamer SongBeamer
Overview
Price From €17.50/month (excl. VAT)Free trial€124 one-time (single computer)Free trial
Open source NoNo
Deployment Cloud / hosted, Desktop appDesktop app
Status activeactive
Platforms
Windows Supported Supported
macOS Supported Supported
Linux Not supported Not supported
Web browser 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: Song database of 10,000+ songs from Dutch songbooks, shown as text or sheet music; billed €1 per songbook used each month. Supported
Import from other presentation software Unknown Supported: Separate importers for PowerPraise, PraiseMaster and PraiseBox songs, plus lyrics import from PowerPoint and CSV.
Paste or import plain-text lyrics Unknown Unknown
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Unknown Supported: Songs (with chords) can be imported directly from CCLI SongSelect while the licence is entitled to updates.
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Supported: Songs can be projected and printed with chords, with transposition.
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Unknown Supported: Images and videos can be used as song backgrounds.
CCLI usage reporting Not supported: CCLI Auto Reporting is not available, so songs must be reported to CCLI manually. Supported: Optional automatic reporting to CCLI, added in version 6.0, available while entitled to updates; VG Musikedition reports can be exported too.
Bible Supported Supported
Free translations included Supported: 11 Dutch and regional-language translations, including the public-domain Statenvertaling; each translation used costs €1 per month. Supported: Elberfelder 1905 is included, and free translations can be imported from Zefania XML.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Supported: Copyrighted translations such as NBV21, Herziene Statenvertaling and Bijbel in Gewone Taal are included, with no separate licence needed. Paid add-on or tier: Modern German translations such as Luther 2017, Schlachter 2000 and BasisBibel are sold separately (€19-39 each).
Slides & presentations Supported Supported
PowerPoint Supported: .ppt/.pptx files are uploaded and converted; they cannot be edited in KerkBeamer and can loop with a set time per slide. Supported: PowerPoint and LibreOffice files can be added to the schedule; requires PowerPoint, the PowerPoint Viewer or LibreOffice.
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Unknown Supported
Plays slide animations & transitions Unknown Unknown
Media Supported Supported
Video playback Supported: Uploaded videos are converted to MP4 and can be trimmed. Supported
Audio playback Supported Supported
Images Supported Supported
YouTube / online video Not supported: The documentation states YouTube videos or URLs cannot be added. Supported: YouTube videos can be shown, including URLs with a start time.
Inputs & other sources Paid add-on or tier Supported
Live camera / capture card Paid add-on or tier: The paid TV broadcasts add-on (or the separate CameraRegie product) controls PTZ cameras and a Blackmagic ATEM switcher, so camera images can be put on the projector. Supported: Live video from a camera or capture device can be shown behind text.
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Unknown Supported: Web pages can be added to the schedule and displayed.
Countdown timers & clocks Unknown Supported: Countdowns and stopwatches, also shown on the stage view.
On-screen messages & alerts Unknown Supported: Spontaneous messages to the congregation can be shown over the presentation.
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Paid add-on or tier: The paid LiveBeamer add-on lets people follow the presentation on their own phone, tablet or laptop via a URL. Unknown
Languages
Multilingual Supported Supported
Interface in multiple languages Not supported: The interface and documentation are Dutch only. Supported: Interface in German and English.
Songs in other languages Unknown Supported
Bibles in other languages Supported: Translations include Frisian, Twents and Gronings as well as standard Dutch. Supported
Bilingual lyrics on screen Unknown Supported: Songs can hold up to 4 languages, shown together on screen.
Bible translations side by side Unknown Supported: Up to two Bible translations can be shown at once.
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown Partial: Unicode text such as Cyrillic is supported; the changelog notes right-to-left output (e.g. Arabic) is not yet fully correct.
Integrations
Software integrations Unknown Unknown
Planning Center Unknown Unknown
ChurchSuite Unknown Unknown
WorshipTools Planning Unknown Unknown
Hardware control Unknown Supported
MIDI Unknown Supported: Control via MIDI and OSC.
DMX lighting Unknown Unknown
Stream Deck / Companion Unknown Unknown
Automation & extensibility Partial Supported
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Unknown Partial: Remote control over the network via OSC; no HTTP or WebSocket API is documented.
Plugins / extensions Unknown Unknown
Built-in scripting / macros Unknown Supported: SongBeamer Script macros can be run from menus or added to the schedule.
Webhooks / triggers to other systems Unknown Unknown
MCP server for AI assistants Unknown Unknown
AI features (e.g. verse detection, lyric formatting) Partial: Live sermon captions from speech recognition can be shown through an integration with Preekondertiteling.nl, which needs its own subscription. Unknown
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs Supported Supported
Multiple audience screens Supported: Extra outputs for a church TV broadcast can be driven alongside the projector output. Supported: A presentation can also be shown on a third monitor (beta).
Stage display / confidence monitor Unknown Supported
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Paid add-on or tier: The paid TV broadcasts add-on provides subtitles and text-over-video using a separate alpha (key) output or chroma key. Supported: NDI output has its own formatting and an optional background colour for keying.
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Paid add-on or tier: The paid LiveBeamer add-on shows the live presentation as a web page on any device. Unknown
Broadcast video Unknown Supported
NDI Unknown Supported: Text output to OBS Studio and other software via NDI or a text file.
SDI Unknown Unknown
Built-in streaming & recording Unknown Unknown
Stream to any RTMP destination Unknown Unknown
YouTube Live Unknown Unknown
Facebook Live Unknown 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 Unknown
Works fully offline Partial: Presentations are stored online and must be loaded over the internet; once loaded they play without a connection. Supported
Remote control from phone or tablet Unknown Supported: SongBeamer Remote app for iPhone and iPad.
Multiple operators at once Supported: Team members can work on presentations and templates at the same time. Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Partial: Presentations are prepared in the browser, but playback in church uses the KerkBeamer software for Windows or macOS. Not supported

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