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OpenLP vs OpenSong

OpenLP logo
OpenLP

Free, open-source worship presentation software for songs, Bibles, media and slides.

  • Open Source
  • Free
OpenSong logo
OpenSong

Free, open-source tool for managing lyrics, chords and lead sheets and projecting them.

  • Open Source
  • Free
  • Unmaintained

Summary

  • OpenLP is free, while OpenSong is free.
  • Both are open source.
  • Both run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Note: OpenSong is no longer actively maintained.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Paste or import plain-text lyrics · Songs & lyrics: Chord charts for musicians · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · Media: Images · Inputs & other sources: On-screen messages & alerts · Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages · Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.

Only in OpenLP

  • Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources)
  • Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics (partial in OpenSong)
  • Media: Video playback (partial in OpenSong)
  • Media: Audio playback (partial in OpenSong)

Only in OpenSong

  • Bible: Free translations included (partial in OpenLP)

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 OpenLP logo OpenLP OpenSong logo OpenSong
Overview
Price Free / Donation-supportedFree
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0-or-later)Yes (GPL-2.0-only)
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: Imports songs from over 25 formats including EasyWorship, ProPresenter, MediaShout, SongShow Plus, SongBeamer, OpenSong, ZionWorx and VideoPsalm. Unknown
Paste or import plain-text lyrics Supported Supported: Lyrics found online can be pasted into a song using OpenSong's chord/lyric text format.
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Supported: Songs can be imported from CCLI SongSelect from within OpenLP; this importer has occasionally broken when CCLI changed its website. Not supported: The built-in CCLI SongSelect import has been disabled because it broke; CCLI exports can be converted with the separate OpenSong Import Utility.
Chord charts for musicians Supported: Songs can store chords (ChordPro-style), shown in the browser Chord View with transposition and printable via export. Supported: Chords transpose automatically, and lead sheets can print regular and capo chords together.
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: Themes can use a looping video or a live stream as the background. Partial: Backgrounds are colours or images; a video background is only possible through a VideoLAN overlay preset (Windows).
CCLI usage reporting Partial: The Song Usage Tracking plugin records song usage and produces reports; submission to CCLI is manual. Partial: Presented songs are logged with their CCLI numbers in an activity log; there is no direct CCLI submission.
Bible Partial Supported
Free translations included Partial: No Bibles are bundled; free translations are imported from OSIS, Zefania, OpenSong, CSV, SWORD or WordProject files. Supported: The KJV is included; other Bibles must be converted to OpenSong's own format (several are offered on the downloads page).
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Partial: Copyrighted versions can be downloaded on demand from BibleGateway, Bibleserver or Crosswalk; there is no licensed in-app catalogue. Unknown
Slides & presentations Supported Supported
PowerPoint Supported: Drives an installed PowerPoint or LibreOffice Impress to show the presentation. Supported: Drives an installed PowerPoint or LibreOffice Impress with live preview, or imports slides as image snapshots.
Keynote Supported: Keynote presentations are controlled through AppleScript on macOS with Keynote installed. Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Supported Unknown
Plays slide animations & transitions Partial: Animations play because OpenLP drives PowerPoint, Impress or Keynote itself; PDFs are shown as static images. Partial: Animations only play when OpenSong drives PowerPoint or Impress directly; imported snapshots are static.
Media Supported Supported
Video playback Supported: In the 3.x series audio and video playback uses VLC; OpenLP 4.0 alphas switch to Qt Multimedia. Partial: Video is played via an external VideoLAN (VLC) player launched from a slide.
Audio playback Supported Partial: Audio clips are played through the external VideoLAN (VLC) player.
Images Supported Supported
YouTube / online video Unknown Unknown
Inputs & other sources Supported Supported
Live camera / capture card Supported: Capture devices can be shown as a Device Stream media item, and network streams are also supported. Unknown
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Unknown Unknown
Countdown timers & clocks Unknown Unknown
On-screen messages & alerts Supported: The Alerts plugin overlays a scrolling message on the live display. Supported: Alerts can be shown over the presentation, including via the API.
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown Unknown
Languages
Multilingual Supported Supported
Interface in multiple languages Supported: The interface is translated into about 30 languages. Supported: The interface is available in about 20 languages.
Songs in other languages Unknown Supported
Bibles in other languages Unknown Unknown
Bilingual lyrics on screen Unknown Supported: Bilingual songs can render the second language in a different style.
Bible translations side by side Supported: A second Bible version can be selected to show the same passage alongside the first. Unknown
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown Unknown
Integrations
Software integrations Supported Unknown
Planning Center Supported: The PlanningCenter plugin imports service plans from the Planning Center Online v2 API. Unknown
ChurchSuite Unknown Unknown
WorshipTools Planning Unknown Unknown
Hardware control Supported Unknown
MIDI Unknown Unknown
DMX lighting Unknown Unknown
Stream Deck / Companion Supported: Bitfocus Companion has an OpenLP module that uses the OpenLP HTTP API. Unknown
Automation & extensibility Supported Supported
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Supported: HTTP REST (v2) and WebSocket API, used by the web remote and mobile apps. Supported: REST and WebSocket API for remote control and integrations.
Plugins / extensions Partial: Features are organised as built-in plugins that can be switched on or off; there is no third-party plugin store. 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 Unknown
Multiple audience screens Not supported: OpenLP projects to a single display screen; the source notes multi-monitor output is not yet supported (a custom geometry can span screens). Unknown
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported Unknown
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Unknown Unknown
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Partial: The browser Main View mirrors the projector using screenshots, without audio or video. Unknown
Broadcast video Unknown Supported
NDI Unknown Supported: NDI output is supported (disabled by default in recent builds).
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: Built-in web remote plus Android and iOS remote apps. Unknown
Multiple operators at once Unknown Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Unknown

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