OpenLP vs WordsLive
OpenLP
Free, open-source worship presentation software for songs, Bibles, media and slides.
- Open Source
- Free
WordsLive
Free, open-source Windows projection software for lyrics, videos and presentations.
- Open Source
- Free
Summary
- OpenLP is free, while WordsLive is free.
- Both are open source.
- Both run on Windows.
- Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Import from other presentation software · Songs & lyrics: Chord charts for musicians · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.
Only in OpenLP
- Runs on macOS
- Runs on Linux
- Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) (partial in WordsLive)
- Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics (partial in WordsLive)
- Slides & presentations: PDF (partial in WordsLive)
- Inputs & other sources: On-screen messages & alerts (partial in WordsLive)
Only in WordsLive
No confirmed features where OpenLP falls short.
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
|
WordsLive
|
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price | Free / Donation-supported | Free |
| Open source | Yes (GPL-3.0-or-later) | Yes (GPL-3.0) |
| Deployment | Desktop app | Desktop app |
| Status | active | active |
| 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: Imports songs from over 25 formats including EasyWorship, ProPresenter, MediaShout, SongShow Plus, SongBeamer, OpenSong, ZionWorx and VideoPsalm. | Supported: Native Powerpraise songs and portfolios; songs can also be imported from SongBeamer, OpenSong, OpenLyrics and ChordPro files. |
| 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. | Partial: Songs can be imported from SongSelect files or text copied to the clipboard; there is no direct online search. |
| 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 can be shown with the lyrics and transposed automatically. |
| Motion backgrounds behind lyrics | Supported: Themes can use a looping video or a live stream as the background. | Partial: Background images for slides, songs or the whole service; background videos are experimental. |
| CCLI usage reporting | Partial: The Song Usage Tracking plugin records song usage and produces reports; submission to CCLI is manual. | Partial: Songs can be stored with CCLI numbers, and a command opens CCLI Online Reporting in the browser for the selected songs. |
| Bible | Partial | Unknown |
| Free translations included | Partial: No Bibles are bundled; free translations are imported from OSIS, Zefania, OpenSong, CSV, SWORD or WordProject files. | Unknown |
| 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: PowerPoint (ppt, pptx) and OpenDocument (odp) presentations require Microsoft PowerPoint, the PowerPoint Viewer 2007 or LibreOffice/OpenOffice Impress to be installed. |
| Keynote | Supported: Keynote presentations are controlled through AppleScript on macOS with Keynote installed. | Unknown |
| Google Slides | Unknown | Unknown |
| Canva | Unknown | Unknown |
| Supported | Partial: PDF and XPS documents are supported (experimental). | |
| 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: Additional formats are supported if VLC is installed and enabled. |
| Audio playback | Supported | Supported |
| Images | Supported | Supported: Photos can be compiled into an optionally timer-controlled slide show. |
| YouTube / online video | Unknown | Unknown |
| Inputs & other sources | Supported | Partial |
| 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. | Partial: An additional notification for the audience can be shown during a presentation (experimental). |
| 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 English and German. |
| Songs in other languages | Unknown | Supported |
| Bibles in other languages | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bilingual lyrics on screen | Unknown | Supported: Songs can carry a translation, shown alongside the main language or on its own. |
| 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 | Unknown |
| Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) | Supported: HTTP REST (v2) and WebSocket API, used by the web remote and mobile apps. | Unknown |
| 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 | Unknown |
| NDI | Unknown | 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 | 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 | Not supported |
Other comparisons
- OpenLP vs BibleShow
- WordsLive vs BibleShow
- OpenLP vs Big Screen
- WordsLive vs Big Screen
- OpenLP vs Cantara
- WordsLive vs Cantara
- OpenLP vs ChurchPresenter
- WordsLive vs ChurchPresenter
- OpenLP vs Cloud of Worship
- WordsLive vs Cloud of Worship
- OpenLP vs EasiSlides
- WordsLive vs EasiSlides
- OpenLP vs EasyWorship
- WordsLive vs EasyWorship
- OpenLP vs FreeShow
- WordsLive vs FreeShow
- OpenLP vs Holyrics
- WordsLive vs Holyrics
- OpenLP vs KerkBeamer
- WordsLive vs KerkBeamer
- OpenLP vs LyricDisplay
- WordsLive vs LyricDisplay
- OpenLP vs MediaShout
- WordsLive vs MediaShout