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LyricDisplay vs OpenSong

LyricDisplay logo
LyricDisplay

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
OpenSong logo
OpenSong

Free, open-source tool for managing lyrics, chords and lead sheets and projecting them.

  • Open Source
  • Free
  • Unmaintained

Summary

  • LyricDisplay is free, while OpenSong is free.
  • Both are open source.
  • Both run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Note: OpenSong is no longer actively maintained.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Paste or import plain-text lyrics · Multilingual: Bilingual lyrics on screen · Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.

Only in LyricDisplay

  • Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources)
  • Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics (partial in OpenSong)

Only in OpenSong

  • 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 OpenSong logo OpenSong
Overview
Price Free / Donation-supportedFree
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0-or-later)Yes (GPL-2.0-only)
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: 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. Supported: Lyrics found online can be pasted into a song using OpenSong's chord/lyric text format.
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Supported: Built-in online lyric search via LRCLIB, Lyrics.ovh and OpenHymnal. Not supported: The built-in CCLI SongSelect import has been disabled because it broke; CCLI exports can be converted with the separate OpenSong Import Utility.
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Supported: Chords transpose automatically, and lead sheets can print regular and capo chords together.
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: Each output can have its own image or video background. Partial: Backgrounds are colours or images; a video background is only possible through a VideoLAN overlay preset (Windows).
CCLI usage reporting Unknown Partial: Presented songs are logged with their CCLI numbers in an activity log; there is no direct CCLI submission.
Bible Unknown Supported
Free translations included Unknown Supported: The KJV is included; other Bibles must be converted to OpenSong's own format (several are offered on the downloads page).
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown Unknown
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: Drives an installed PowerPoint or LibreOffice Impress with live preview, or imports slides as image snapshots.
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Unknown Unknown
Plays slide animations & transitions Unknown Partial: Animations only play when OpenSong drives PowerPoint or Impress directly; imported snapshots are static.
Media Unknown Supported
Video playback Unknown Partial: Video is played via an external VideoLAN (VLC) player launched from a slide.
Audio playback Unknown Partial: Audio clips are played through the external VideoLAN (VLC) player.
Images Unknown Supported
YouTube / online video Unknown Unknown
Inputs & other sources Supported Supported
Live camera / capture card Unknown Unknown
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 Supported: Alerts can be shown over the presentation, including via the API.
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown Unknown
Languages
Multilingual Supported Supported
Interface in multiple languages Unknown Supported: The interface is available in about 20 languages.
Songs in other languages Unknown Supported
Bibles in other languages Unknown Unknown
Bilingual lyrics on screen Supported: Translation lines can be grouped with each lyric line and shown together. Supported: Bilingual songs can render the second language in a different style.
Bible translations side by side Unknown Unknown
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 Supported
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Supported: Documented HTTP (OpenAPI) and Socket.IO realtime APIs. Supported: REST and WebSocket API for remote control and integrations.
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 Unknown
Multiple audience screens Supported: Two default lyric outputs plus up to four custom outputs, a stage display and a timer display. Unknown
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported Unknown
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Supported: Outputs can be added as transparent browser sources in OBS, vMix and Wirecast. Unknown
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: NDI output is supported (disabled by default in recent builds).
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 Supported
Remote control from phone or tablet Supported: Join-code-protected mobile/web controllers. Unknown
Multiple operators at once Unknown Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Unknown

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