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OpenSong vs Pewbeam

OpenSong logo
OpenSong

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
  • Unmaintained
Pewbeam logo
Pewbeam

AI presentation app that listens to the sermon and puts detected Bible verses on screen.

  • Freemium
  • Subscription

Summary

  • OpenSong is free, while Pewbeam is paid (From $12/month billed annually ($14 monthly)).
  • OpenSong is open source (GPL-2.0-only); Pewbeam is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows and macOS.
  • Note: OpenSong is no longer actively maintained.
  • Both support: Bible: Free translations included · Inputs & other sources: On-screen messages & alerts · Broadcast video: NDI.

Only in OpenSong

  • Runs on Linux
  • Songs & lyrics (paid add-on in Pewbeam)
  • Slides & presentations: PowerPoint (partial in Pewbeam)
  • Multilingual (paid add-on in Pewbeam)
  • Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) (partial in Pewbeam)
  • Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline (partial in Pewbeam)

Only in Pewbeam

No confirmed features where OpenSong 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 OpenSong logo OpenSong Pewbeam logo Pewbeam
Overview
Price FreeFrom $12/month billed annually ($14 monthly)
Open source Yes (GPL-2.0-only)No
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status maintenanceactive
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 Paid add-on or tier
Song library Supported Unknown
Import from other presentation software Unknown Unknown
Paste or import plain-text lyrics Supported: Lyrics found online can be pasted into a song using OpenSong's chord/lyric text format. Unknown
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) 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. Unknown
Chord charts for musicians Supported: Chords transpose automatically, and lead sheets can print regular and capo chords together. Unknown
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Partial: Backgrounds are colours or images; a video background is only possible through a VideoLAN overlay preset (Windows). Paid add-on or tier: Video and GIF motion backgrounds for themes and slides need the Plus or Core plan.
CCLI usage reporting Partial: Presented songs are logged with their CCLI numbers in an activity log; there is no direct CCLI submission. Unknown
Bible Supported Supported
Free translations included Supported: The KJV is included; other Bibles must be converted to OpenSong's own format (several are offered on the downloads page). Supported: Verses are detected automatically from live speech; 4 Bible translations on the free tier, 20 on paid plans.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown Supported: KJV, NKJV, NIV, NLT, ESV and NASB are bundled.
Slides & presentations Supported Partial
PowerPoint Supported: Drives an installed PowerPoint or LibreOffice Impress with live preview, or imports slides as image snapshots. Partial: Text from PowerPoint and Word files can be imported into the built-in slide editor, and decks can be exported as PPTX or PDF.
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Unknown Unknown
Plays slide animations & transitions Partial: Animations only play when OpenSong drives PowerPoint or Impress directly; imported snapshots are static. Unknown
Media Supported Unknown
Video playback Partial: Video is played via an external VideoLAN (VLC) player launched from a slide. Unknown
Audio playback Partial: Audio clips are played through the external VideoLAN (VLC) player. Unknown
Images Supported Unknown
YouTube / online video Unknown Unknown
Inputs & other sources Supported Supported
Live camera / capture card Unknown Unknown
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Unknown Unknown
Countdown timers & clocks Unknown Unknown
On-screen messages & alerts Supported: Alerts can be shown over the presentation, including via the API. Supported: Alert banners, including scrolling and looping alerts, can be sent to every screen.
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown Unknown
Languages
Multilingual Supported Paid add-on or tier
Interface in multiple languages Supported: The interface is available in about 20 languages. Unknown
Songs in other languages Supported Unknown
Bibles in other languages Unknown Paid add-on or tier: Paid plans can install downloadable translations such as Spanish, French, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, plus language packs for non-English sermon detection.
Bilingual lyrics on screen Supported: Bilingual songs can render the second language in a different style. Unknown
Bible translations side by side Unknown Unknown
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown Unknown
Integrations
Software integrations Unknown Unknown
Planning Center Unknown Unknown
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 Supported Supported
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Supported: REST and WebSocket API for remote control and integrations. Partial: Local OSC and HTTP endpoints for broadcast integration; the docs say slide navigation commands are still being wired through.
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 Supported: Listens to the sermon and detects Bible references, including paraphrases; also generates slides, sermon excerpts and sermon notes.
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs Unknown Supported
Multiple audience screens Unknown Supported: Up to 2, 4 or 6 display outputs depending on plan, each with its own theme.
Stage display / confidence monitor Unknown Unknown
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Unknown Supported: Lower-third themes and NDI output with alpha transparency; creating new transparent themes needs the Core plan.
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Unknown Unknown
Broadcast video Supported Supported
NDI Supported: NDI output is supported (disabled by default in recent builds). Supported: NDI output at 720p, 1080p or 4K with alpha transparency.
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 Partial
Cloud sync of library Unknown Unknown
Works fully offline Supported Partial: Bible search and display work offline; offline transcription is available on Apple Silicon Macs on paid plans, otherwise transcription needs a connection.
Remote control from phone or tablet Unknown Unknown
Multiple operators at once Unknown Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Unknown

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