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MediaShout vs Quelea

MediaShout logo
MediaShout

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

  • Subscription
  • One-time
  • Free Trial
Quelea logo
Quelea

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
  • Unmaintained

Summary

  • MediaShout is paid ($599 one-time (Windows site licence)), while Quelea is free.
  • Quelea is open source (GPL-3.0-or-later); MediaShout is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows and macOS.
  • Note: Quelea is no longer actively maintained.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Bible: Free translations included · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.

Only in MediaShout

  • Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) (partial in Quelea)

Only in Quelea

  • Runs on Linux

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 MediaShout logo MediaShout Quelea logo Quelea
Overview
Price $599 one-time (Windows site licence)Free trialFree
Open source NoYes (GPL-3.0-or-later)
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status activemaintenance
Platforms
Windows Supported Supported
macOS Supported Supported
Linux Not 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 Unknown 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 Unknown 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: Lyrics can be imported through the CCLI SongSelect integration. 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: Motion backgrounds are available, with Shift Worship Media included in the Complete bundle. Supported: Themes can use a video as the background.
CCLI usage reporting Supported: Songs used are reported to CCLI automatically; listed for the Windows version. Unknown
Bible Supported Supported
Free translations included Supported: About 70 translations, including public-domain and copyrighted versions, are included with the licence. Supported: KJV, ASV, RSV and NET Bibles ship with Quelea; further Bibles use the Zefania XML format.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Supported: Copyrighted translations are among the 70 included at no additional cost. Unknown
Slides & presentations Supported Supported
PowerPoint Supported: PowerPoint slides can be imported as images or as editable MediaShout cues. 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 Partial: MediaShout's own slides support text animations and transitions; it is not stated that imported PowerPoint animations are kept. Partial: Animations only play when Quelea is set to use an installed PowerPoint (Windows).
Media Supported Supported
Video playback Supported Supported
Audio playback Supported Supported
Images Supported: Unsplash and Pixabay images and videos can be searched and inserted from within the software. Supported
YouTube / online video Unknown Supported
Inputs & other sources Supported Supported
Live camera / capture card Supported: Live video feeds (cameras, phones, other apps) via NDI. Unknown
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Unknown Supported: Websites can be displayed, with documented limitations.
Countdown timers & clocks Unknown 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 Unknown Supported: A song translation can be shown together with the default lyrics.
Bible translations side by side Supported: Dual Bible display can show two translations or languages on screen. 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 Unknown Unknown
MIDI Unknown Unknown
DMX lighting Unknown Unknown
Stream Deck / Companion Unknown Unknown
Automation & extensibility Unknown Partial
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Unknown 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: Control screen, main display and an optional third output for stage/confidence or livestream. Unknown
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported: Not included in the LE edition. Supported
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Supported: Lower-third templates are included. Unknown
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Unknown Partial: Mobile Lyrics shows the current lyrics as a web page on the local network.
Broadcast video Supported Unknown
NDI Supported: Since version 7.4, NDI feeds can be shown in presentations and outputs can be sent over NDI. 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 Unknown Supported
Remote control from phone or tablet Supported: MediaShout Remote app for iOS (added in 7.3); standard USB presentation remotes also work. Supported: Web-based Mobile Remote and a Quelea Mobile Remote app.
Multiple operators at once Unknown Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Not supported Unknown

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