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MediaShout vs TheOpenPresenter

MediaShout logo
MediaShout

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

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

Open-source, browser-based presenter you can run and control from any device.

  • Open Source
  • Free

Summary

  • MediaShout is paid ($599 one-time (Windows site licence)), while TheOpenPresenter is free.
  • TheOpenPresenter is open source (AGPL-3.0-only); MediaShout is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows and macOS.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Bible: Free translations included · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.

Only in MediaShout

  • Bible: Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) (partial in TheOpenPresenter)

Only in TheOpenPresenter

  • Runs on Web browser
  • Runs on Linux
  • Slides & presentations: Plays slide animations & transitions (partial in MediaShout)
  • Connectivity & collaboration: Web native (runs in a browser)

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 TheOpenPresenter logo TheOpenPresenter
Overview
Price $599 one-time (Windows site licence)Free trialFree
Open source NoYes (AGPL-3.0-only)
Deployment Desktop appCloud / hosted, Desktop app, Self-hosted
Status activeactive
Platforms
Windows Supported Supported
macOS Supported Supported
Linux Not supported Supported
Web browser Not supported 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 Unknown
Paste or import plain-text lyrics Unknown Supported
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Supported: Lyrics can be imported through the CCLI SongSelect integration. Supported: Songs can be pulled from MyWorshipList.
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Supported
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: Motion backgrounds are available, with Shift Worship Media included in the Complete bundle. Supported
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: Over a thousand freely licensed translations are available through the Beblia and Free Use Bible API catalogues.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Supported: Copyrighted translations are among the 70 included at no additional cost. Partial: Licensed translations can be used, but the church has to upload them.
Slides & presentations Supported Supported
PowerPoint Supported: PowerPoint slides can be imported as images or as editable MediaShout cues. Supported
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Supported
Canva Unknown Supported
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. Supported: PowerPoint imports keep their slideshow data so animations play click by click.
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 Supported
Web pages Unknown Supported: Web pages can be shown, but interacting with them isn't supported yet; use screen share instead.
Countdown timers & clocks Unknown Supported
On-screen messages & alerts Unknown Unknown
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown Supported: Slido polls and Q&A can be shown through the Slido plugin.
Languages
Multilingual Supported Supported
Interface in multiple languages Unknown Unknown
Songs in other languages Unknown Partial: Songs in any language work, but the automatic import sources have few non-English songs so far.
Bibles in other languages Unknown Supported
Bilingual lyrics on screen Unknown Unknown
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: Setlists can be imported from Planning Center.
ChurchSuite Unknown Supported: Setlists can be imported from ChurchSuite.
WorshipTools Planning Unknown Unknown
Hardware control Unknown Unknown
MIDI Unknown Unknown
DMX lighting Unknown Unknown
Stream Deck / Companion Unknown Unknown
Automation & extensibility Unknown Supported
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Unknown Unknown
Plugins / extensions Unknown Supported: Features are built as plugins on a modular architecture.
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 Supported: AI formats pasted lyrics into sections and slides.
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs Supported Supported
Multiple audience screens Supported: Control screen, main display and an optional third output for stage/confidence or livestream. Supported
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported: Not included in the LE edition. Supported
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Supported: Lower-third templates are included. Supported
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Unknown Supported
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 Supported
Apple TV app Unknown Not supported
Android / Google TV app Unknown Supported: TheOpenPresenter TV app for Android TV; a Fire TV (Vega OS) version is also built.
Fire TV app Unknown Supported
Roku app Unknown Unknown
Chromecast / AirPlay Unknown Unknown
Connectivity & collaboration Supported Supported
Cloud sync of library Unknown Supported
Works fully offline Unknown Supported: Offline use is provided by the TheOpenPresenter Studio desktop app (stable on Windows, alpha on macOS).
Remote control from phone or tablet Supported: MediaShout Remote app for iOS (added in 7.3); standard USB presentation remotes also work. Supported
Multiple operators at once Unknown Supported
Web native (runs in a browser) Not supported Supported

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