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LyricDisplay vs SongShow Plus

LyricDisplay logo
LyricDisplay

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
SongShow Plus logo
SongShow Plus

Windows worship presentation software with edition-based licences and optional subscriptions.

  • Subscription
  • One-time
  • Free Trial

Summary

  • LyricDisplay is free, while SongShow Plus is paid ($249 one-time (Ultra edition, special price)).
  • LyricDisplay is open source (GPL-3.0-or-later); SongShow Plus is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Inputs & other sources: Countdown timers & clocks · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.

Only in LyricDisplay

  • Runs on macOS
  • Runs on Linux
  • Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) (paid add-on in SongShow Plus)
  • Automation & extensibility (paid add-on in SongShow Plus)
  • Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet (paid add-on in SongShow Plus)

Only in SongShow Plus

  • 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 SongShow Plus logo SongShow Plus
Overview
Price Free / Donation-supported$249 one-time (Ultra edition, special price)Free trial
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0-or-later)No
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status activeactive
Platforms
Windows Supported Supported
macOS Supported Not 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. Paid add-on or tier: Requires the Bronze (or higher) subscription plus a separate SongSelect subscription.
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Unknown
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: Each output can have its own image or video background. Supported: Motion backgrounds with real-time effects and rendered visualizations; Shift Worship media can be imported with a separate subscription.
CCLI usage reporting Unknown Supported: CCLI auto-reporting added in version 9.3.
Bible Unknown Supported
Free translations included Unknown Supported: ASV, KJV and WEB are included.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown Paid add-on or tier: Translations such as NIV, ESV, NKJV and NLT are $25 plug-ins per machine.
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 presentations can be imported step by step, as images or as video files.
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Unknown Unknown
Plays slide animations & transitions Unknown Partial: Importing PowerPoint as video can keep animations; SongShow's own slides have transitions and animations.
Media Unknown Supported
Video playback Unknown Supported
Audio playback Unknown Supported
Images Unknown Supported
YouTube / online video Unknown Supported: Web pages, including YouTube videos, can be presented.
Inputs & other sources Supported Supported
Live camera / capture card Unknown Supported: Live video (IMAG) with text and graphic overlays.
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Unknown Supported
Countdown timers & clocks Supported: A separate timer display driven by a schedule/agenda. Supported: Customizable countdown timers (Pro edition and above).
On-screen messages & alerts Unknown Supported: Instant Message shows nursery alerts and other messages (Pro edition and above).
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown Unknown
Languages
Multilingual Supported Unknown
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 Unknown
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown Unknown
Integrations
Software integrations Unknown Paid add-on or tier
Planning Center Unknown Paid add-on or tier: Requires the Bronze (or higher) subscription plus a Planning Center subscription.
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 Paid add-on or tier
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 Paid add-on or tier: Optional image indexing with Microsoft/Azure Computer Vision requires the Silver subscription.
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: Multi-display support (up to six display windows since 9.1) is part of the Ultra edition.
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported Supported: One or more customizable stage outputs are part of the Ultra edition.
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Supported: Outputs can be added as transparent browser sources in OBS, vMix and Wirecast. Supported: Output windows can be configured as synchronized lower-third layouts.
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 streaming (added in 9.1) is part of the Ultra edition.
SDI Unknown Supported: Blackmagic DeckLink output can be assigned to any display window.
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 Paid add-on or tier: SongShow Sync requires the Silver subscription.
Works fully offline Supported Supported
Remote control from phone or tablet Supported: Join-code-protected mobile/web controllers. Paid add-on or tier: Mobile Control (a progressive web app) requires the Silver subscription.
Multiple operators at once Unknown Paid add-on or tier: SongShow Drive media sharing and the web-based SongShow Builder require the Silver subscription.
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Not supported

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