LyricDisplay vs SongBeamer
LyricDisplay
Open-source lyric control app with outputs for projectors, stage displays, OBS and vMix.
- Open Source
- Free
SongBeamer
German worship presentation software for songs, Bible texts and media, sold as a one-time licence.
- One-time
- Free Trial
Summary
- LyricDisplay is free, while SongBeamer is paid (€124 one-time (single computer)).
- LyricDisplay is open source (GPL-3.0-or-later); SongBeamer is proprietary.
- Both run on Windows and macOS.
- Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Import from other presentation software · Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Inputs & other sources: Countdown timers & clocks · Multilingual: Bilingual lyrics on screen · Hardware control: MIDI · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.
Only in LyricDisplay
- Runs on Linux
- Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) (partial in SongBeamer)
Only in SongBeamer
- 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
| SongBeamer |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price | Free / Donation-supported | €124 one-time (single computer)Free trial |
| Open source | Yes (GPL-3.0-or-later) | No |
| Deployment | Desktop app | Desktop app |
| Status | active | active |
| 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. | Supported: Separate importers for PowerPraise, PraiseMaster and PraiseBox songs, plus lyrics import from PowerPoint and CSV. |
| 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: 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 | Supported: Each output can have its own image or video background. | Supported: Images and videos can be used as song backgrounds. |
| CCLI usage reporting | Unknown | Supported: Optional automatic reporting to CCLI, added in version 6.0, available while entitled to updates; VG Musikedition reports can be exported too. |
| Bible | Unknown | Supported |
| Free translations included | Unknown | Supported: Elberfelder 1905 is included, and free translations can be imported from Zefania XML. |
| Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) | Unknown | Paid add-on or tier: Modern German translations such as Luther 2017, Schlachter 2000 and BasisBibel are sold separately (€19-39 each). |
| 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 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 |
| Unknown | Supported | |
| Plays slide animations & transitions | Unknown | Unknown |
| Media | Unknown | Supported |
| Video playback | Unknown | Supported |
| Audio playback | Unknown | Supported |
| Images | Unknown | Supported |
| YouTube / online video | Unknown | Supported: YouTube videos can be shown, including URLs with a start time. |
| Inputs & other sources | Supported | Supported |
| Live camera / capture card | Unknown | 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 | Supported: A separate timer display driven by a schedule/agenda. | 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) | Unknown | Unknown |
| Languages | ||
| Multilingual | Supported | Supported |
| Interface in multiple languages | Unknown | Supported: Interface in German and English. |
| Songs in other languages | Unknown | Supported |
| Bibles in other languages | Unknown | Supported |
| Bilingual lyrics on screen | Supported: Translation lines can be grouped with each lyric line and shown together. | 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 | Supported | Supported |
| MIDI | Supported: MIDI and OSC control. | Supported: Control via MIDI and OSC. |
| 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. | 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) | 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: A presentation can also be shown on a third monitor (beta). |
| 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. | Supported: NDI output has its own formatting and an optional background colour for keying. |
| 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: 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 | Unknown | Unknown |
| Works fully offline | Supported | Supported |
| Remote control from phone or tablet | Supported: Join-code-protected mobile/web controllers. | Supported: SongBeamer Remote app for iPhone and iPad. |
| Multiple operators at once | Unknown | Unknown |
| Web native (runs in a browser) | Unknown | Not supported |
Other comparisons
- LyricDisplay vs BibleShow
- SongBeamer vs BibleShow
- LyricDisplay vs Big Screen
- SongBeamer vs Big Screen
- LyricDisplay vs Cantara
- SongBeamer vs Cantara
- LyricDisplay vs ChurchPresenter
- SongBeamer vs ChurchPresenter
- LyricDisplay vs Cloud of Worship
- SongBeamer vs Cloud of Worship
- LyricDisplay vs EasiSlides
- SongBeamer vs EasiSlides
- LyricDisplay vs EasyWorship
- SongBeamer vs EasyWorship
- LyricDisplay vs FreeShow
- SongBeamer vs FreeShow
- LyricDisplay vs Holyrics
- SongBeamer vs Holyrics
- LyricDisplay vs KerkBeamer
- SongBeamer vs KerkBeamer
- LyricDisplay vs MediaShout
- SongBeamer vs MediaShout
- LyricDisplay vs OpenLP
- SongBeamer vs OpenLP