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LyricDisplay vs MediaShout

LyricDisplay logo
LyricDisplay

Open-source lyric control app with outputs for projectors, stage displays, OBS and vMix.

  • Open Source
  • Free
MediaShout logo
MediaShout

Church presentation software sold mainly as a one-time site licence.

  • Subscription
  • One-time
  • Free Trial

Summary

  • LyricDisplay is free, while MediaShout is paid ($599 one-time (Windows site licence)).
  • LyricDisplay is open source (GPL-3.0-or-later); MediaShout is proprietary.
  • 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 · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.

Only in LyricDisplay

  • Runs on Linux

Only in MediaShout

  • Slides & presentations: PowerPoint (partial in LyricDisplay)
  • Broadcast video: NDI (paid add-on in LyricDisplay)

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 LyricDisplay logo LyricDisplay MediaShout logo MediaShout
Overview
Price Free / Donation-supported$599 one-time (Windows site licence)Free trial
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0-or-later)No
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status activeactive
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: EasyWorship song databases can be imported, keeping title, writers, copyright and CCLI number. Unknown
Paste or import plain-text lyrics Supported: Imports text, LRC, Markdown, RTF and DOCX files, and lyrics can be pasted from websites. Unknown
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Supported: Built-in online lyric search via LRCLIB, Lyrics.ovh and OpenHymnal. Supported: Lyrics can be imported through the CCLI SongSelect integration.
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Unknown
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: Each output can have its own image or video background. 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 Unknown Supported
Free translations included Unknown Supported: About 70 translations, including public-domain and copyrighted versions, are included with the licence.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown Supported: Copyrighted translations are among the 70 included at no additional cost.
Slides & presentations Partial Supported
PowerPoint Partial: PowerPoint files are imported as lyric slides (one text slide per PowerPoint slide); it is not a general slide player. Supported: PowerPoint slides can be imported as images or as editable MediaShout cues.
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF 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 Unknown Supported
Video playback Unknown Supported
Audio playback Unknown Supported
Images Unknown Supported: Unsplash and Pixabay images and videos can be searched and inserted from within the software.
YouTube / online video Unknown Unknown
Inputs & other sources Supported Supported
Live camera / capture card Unknown Supported: Live video feeds (cameras, phones, other apps) via NDI.
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Unknown Unknown
Countdown timers & clocks Supported: A separate timer display driven by a schedule/agenda. Unknown
On-screen messages & alerts Unknown Unknown
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown Unknown
Languages
Multilingual Supported Supported
Interface in multiple languages Unknown Unknown
Songs in other languages Unknown Unknown
Bibles in other languages Unknown Unknown
Bilingual lyrics on screen Supported: Translation lines can be grouped with each lyric line and shown together. Unknown
Bible translations side by side Unknown Supported: Dual Bible display can show two translations or languages on screen.
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown Unknown
Integrations
Software integrations Unknown Unknown
Planning Center Unknown Unknown
ChurchSuite Unknown Unknown
WorshipTools Planning Unknown Unknown
Hardware control Supported Unknown
MIDI Supported: MIDI and OSC control. Unknown
DMX lighting Unknown Unknown
Stream Deck / Companion Unknown Unknown
Automation & extensibility Supported Unknown
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Supported: Documented HTTP (OpenAPI) and Socket.IO realtime APIs. Unknown
Plugins / extensions Unknown Unknown
Built-in scripting / macros Unknown Unknown
Webhooks / triggers to other systems Unknown 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: Two default lyric outputs plus up to four custom outputs, a stage display and a timer display. Supported: Control screen, main display and an optional third output for stage/confidence or livestream.
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported Supported: Not included in the LE edition.
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Supported: Outputs can be added as transparent browser sources in OBS, vMix and Wirecast. Supported: Lower-third templates are included.
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Supported: Every output is a browser URL that can be opened on other devices on the LAN or in streaming software. Unknown
Broadcast video Paid add-on or tier Supported
NDI Paid add-on or tier: NDI output requires the separately downloaded (free) LyricDisplay NDI companion. 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 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 Unknown Unknown
Works fully offline Supported Unknown
Remote control from phone or tablet Supported: Join-code-protected mobile/web controllers. 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) Unknown Not supported

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