Skip to content
PresenterList
Submit product

OpenLP vs SongBeamer

OpenLP logo
OpenLP

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

  • 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

  • OpenLP is free, while SongBeamer is paid (€124 one-time (single computer)).
  • OpenLP 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: Chord charts for musicians · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · Slides & presentations: PDF · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Inputs & other sources: Live camera / capture card · Inputs & other sources: On-screen messages & alerts · Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages · Multilingual: Bible translations side by side · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.

Only in OpenLP

  • Runs on Linux
  • Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) (partial in SongBeamer)

Only in SongBeamer

  • Songs & lyrics: CCLI usage reporting (partial in OpenLP)
  • Bible: Free translations included (partial in OpenLP)
  • Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens

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 SongBeamer
Overview
Price Free / Donation-supported€124 one-time (single computer)Free trial
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0-or-later)No
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status activeactive
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: Imports songs from over 25 formats including EasyWorship, ProPresenter, MediaShout, SongShow Plus, SongBeamer, OpenSong, ZionWorx and VideoPsalm. Supported: Separate importers for PowerPraise, PraiseMaster and PraiseBox songs, plus lyrics import from PowerPoint and CSV.
Paste or import plain-text lyrics Supported Unknown
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. Supported: Songs (with chords) can be imported directly from CCLI SongSelect while the licence is entitled to updates.
Chord charts for musicians Supported: Songs can store chords (ChordPro-style), shown in the browser Chord View with transposition and printable via export. Supported: Songs can be projected and printed with chords, with transposition.
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: Themes can use a looping video or a live stream as the background. Supported: Images and videos can be used as song backgrounds.
CCLI usage reporting Partial: The Song Usage Tracking plugin records song usage and produces reports; submission to CCLI is manual. Supported: Optional automatic reporting to CCLI, added in version 6.0, available while entitled to updates; VG Musikedition reports can be exported too.
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: Elberfelder 1905 is included, and free translations can be imported from Zefania XML.
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. Paid add-on or tier: Modern German translations such as Luther 2017, Schlachter 2000 and BasisBibel are sold separately (€19-39 each).
Slides & presentations Supported Supported
PowerPoint Supported: Drives an installed PowerPoint or LibreOffice Impress to show the presentation. Supported: PowerPoint and LibreOffice files can be added to the schedule; requires PowerPoint, the PowerPoint Viewer or LibreOffice.
Keynote Supported: Keynote presentations are controlled through AppleScript on macOS with Keynote installed. Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Supported Supported
Plays slide animations & transitions Partial: Animations play because OpenLP drives PowerPoint, Impress or Keynote itself; PDFs are shown as static images. Unknown
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. Supported
Audio playback Supported Supported
Images Supported 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 Supported: Capture devices can be shown as a Device Stream media item, and network streams are also supported. 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 Unknown Supported: Countdowns and stopwatches, also shown on the stage view.
On-screen messages & alerts Supported: The Alerts plugin overlays a scrolling message on the live display. 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 Supported: The interface is translated into about 30 languages. Supported: Interface in German and English.
Songs in other languages Unknown Supported
Bibles in other languages Unknown Supported
Bilingual lyrics on screen Unknown Supported: Songs can hold up to 4 languages, shown together on screen.
Bible translations side by side Supported: A second Bible version can be selected to show the same passage alongside the first. 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 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 Supported
MIDI Unknown Supported: Control via MIDI and OSC.
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. Partial: Remote control over the network via OSC; no HTTP or WebSocket API is documented.
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 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 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). Supported: A presentation can also be shown on a third monitor (beta).
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported Supported
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Unknown Supported: NDI output has its own formatting and an optional background colour for keying.
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: 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: Built-in web remote plus Android and iOS remote apps. 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

Add more products to this comparison →