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LyricDisplay vs Quelea

LyricDisplay logo
LyricDisplay

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
Quelea logo
Quelea

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
  • Unmaintained

Summary

  • LyricDisplay is free, while Quelea is free.
  • Both are open source.
  • 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  • Note: Quelea is no longer actively maintained.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: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Inputs & other sources: Countdown timers & clocks · 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 LyricDisplay

  • 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 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 Quelea logo Quelea
Overview
Price Free / Donation-supportedFree
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0-or-later)Yes (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: EasyWorship song databases can be imported, keeping title, writers, copyright and CCLI number. 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: Imports text, LRC, Markdown, RTF and DOCX files, and lyrics can be pasted from websites. 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 online lyric search via LRCLIB, Lyrics.ovh and OpenHymnal. Partial: Imports downloaded SongSelect USR files; no direct online SongSelect connection.
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Supported: Songs can hold chord lines, which can be transposed, printed and shown on the stage view.
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: Each output can have its own image or video background. Supported: Themes can use a video as the background.
CCLI usage reporting Unknown Unknown
Bible Unknown Supported
Free translations included Unknown Supported: KJV, ASV, RSV and NET Bibles ship with Quelea; further Bibles use the Zefania XML format.
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: 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 Unknown Supported
Video playback Unknown Supported
Audio playback Unknown Supported
Images Unknown Supported
YouTube / online video Unknown Supported
Inputs & other sources Supported Supported
Live camera / capture card Unknown Unknown
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Unknown Supported: Websites can be displayed, with documented limitations.
Countdown timers & clocks Supported: A separate timer display driven by a schedule/agenda. Supported
On-screen messages & alerts Unknown Supported: Notices scroll across the projected display a set number of times.
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown Unknown
Languages
Multilingual Supported Supported
Interface in multiple languages Unknown Supported: The interface is translated into over 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: A song translation can be shown together with the default lyrics.
Bible translations side by side Unknown Unknown
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown 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 and OSC control. Unknown
DMX lighting Unknown Unknown
Stream Deck / Companion Unknown Unknown
Automation & extensibility Supported Partial
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Supported: Documented HTTP (OpenAPI) and Socket.IO realtime APIs. 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 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. Unknown
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported Supported
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. Partial: Mobile Lyrics shows the current lyrics as a web page on the local network.
Broadcast video Paid add-on or tier Unknown
NDI Paid add-on or tier: NDI output requires the separately downloaded (free) LyricDisplay NDI companion. Unknown
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. Supported: Web-based Mobile Remote and a Quelea Mobile Remote app.
Multiple operators at once Unknown Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Unknown

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