OpenSong vs ProPresenter
OpenSong
Free, open-source tool for managing lyrics, chords and lead sheets and projecting them.
- Open Source
- Free
- Unmaintained
ProPresenter
Live presentation and production software for worship services, events and broadcast.
- Subscription
- Free Trial
Summary
- OpenSong is free, while ProPresenter is paid ($289/year (one seat)).
- OpenSong is open source (GPL-2.0-only); ProPresenter is proprietary.
- Both run on Windows and macOS.
- Note: OpenSong is no longer actively maintained.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 · Bible: Free translations included · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · Media: Images · Inputs & other sources: On-screen messages & alerts · Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) · Broadcast video: NDI · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.
Only in OpenSong
- Runs on Linux
Only in ProPresenter
- Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources)
- Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics (partial in OpenSong)
- Songs & lyrics: CCLI usage reporting (partial in OpenSong)
- Media: Video playback (partial in OpenSong)
- Media: Audio playback (partial in OpenSong)
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
|
ProPresenter
|
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price | Free | $289/year (one seat)Free trial |
| Open source | Yes (GPL-2.0-only) | No |
| Deployment | Desktop app | Desktop app |
| Status | maintenance | active |
| 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 | 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. | Supported |
| 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. | Supported: Requires a SongSelect subscription and CCLI licence. |
| Chord charts for musicians | Supported: Chords transpose automatically, and lead sheets can print regular and capo chords together. | Supported: Chord charts can be shown on stage screens (e.g. from Planning Center or MultiTracks). |
| Motion backgrounds behind lyrics | Partial: Backgrounds are colours or images; a video background is only possible through a VideoLAN overlay preset (Windows). | Supported |
| CCLI usage reporting | Partial: Presented songs are logged with their CCLI numbers in an activity log; there is no direct CCLI submission. | Supported: Songs triggered from presentations with a CCLI number can be auto-reported once SongSelect is signed in. |
| 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: 130+ translations in 25+ languages are available in the Bible module. |
| Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) | Unknown | Paid add-on or tier: Some translations are sold separately. |
| Slides & presentations | Supported | Supported |
| PowerPoint | Supported: Drives an installed PowerPoint or LibreOffice Impress with live preview, or imports slides as image snapshots. | Supported: Since 21.2, .pptx files can be imported natively as editable presentations without PowerPoint installed. |
| Keynote | Unknown | Partial: Keynote files are not converted; on Mac they are triggered from a playlist and Keynote takes over the output. |
| Google Slides | Unknown | Unknown |
| Canva | Unknown | Unknown |
| Unknown | Unknown | |
| Plays slide animations & transitions | Partial: Animations only play when OpenSong drives PowerPoint or Impress directly; imported snapshots are static. | Partial: The native PowerPoint importer keeps simple builds and transitions; emphasis and some other animations are not supported. |
| Media | Supported | Supported |
| Video playback | Partial: Video is played via an external VideoLAN (VLC) player launched from a slide. | Supported |
| Audio playback | Partial: Audio clips are played through the external VideoLAN (VLC) player. | Supported |
| Images | Supported | Supported |
| YouTube / online video | Unknown | Unknown |
| Inputs & other sources | Supported | Supported |
| Live camera / capture card | Unknown | Supported |
| Screen sharing | Unknown | Supported: AirCast (added in 18) receives AirPlay screens and audio as inputs. |
| Web pages | Unknown | Supported: Web pages can be shown as a web fill on slides. |
| Countdown timers & clocks | Unknown | Supported |
| On-screen messages & alerts | Supported: Alerts can be shown over the presentation, including via the API. | Supported |
| Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) | Unknown | Unknown |
| Languages | ||
| Multilingual | Supported | Supported |
| 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 | Supported |
| Bilingual lyrics on screen | Supported: Bilingual songs can render the second language in a different style. | Unknown |
| Bible translations side by side | Unknown | Supported: Multiple translations can be shown on one slide using a theme with one text box per translation. |
| Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts | Unknown | Supported |
| Integrations | ||
| Software integrations | Unknown | Supported |
| Planning Center | Unknown | Supported: Planning Center Services plans can be added as playlists; requires a separate Planning Center subscription. |
| ChurchSuite | Unknown | Unknown |
| WorshipTools Planning | Unknown | Unknown |
| Hardware control | Unknown | Supported |
| MIDI | Unknown | Supported |
| DMX lighting | Unknown | Supported |
| Stream Deck / Companion | Unknown | Supported: Official Elgato Stream Deck plugin since 7.9; Bitfocus Companion also has a ProPresenter module. |
| Automation & extensibility | Supported | Supported |
| Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) | Supported: REST and WebSocket API for remote control and integrations. | Supported: Public network API (OpenAPI spec) introduced in ProPresenter 7.9; older TCP/IP control also exists. |
| Plugins / extensions | Unknown | Unknown |
| Built-in scripting / macros | Unknown | Supported: Macros run multi-step action sequences from a slide, a device or on demand. |
| 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 | Unknown | Supported |
| Multiple audience screens | Unknown | Supported: Up to 8 unique outputs; multiple computers can be linked with Network Link. |
| Stage display / confidence monitor | Unknown | Supported |
| Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming | Unknown | Supported: Separate key/fill outputs are available for broadcast graphics. |
| 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 |
| SDI | Unknown | Supported |
| Built-in streaming & recording | Unknown | Supported |
| Stream to any RTMP destination | Unknown | Supported: The Capture feature streams any output over RTMP, records it to disk, or both; Resi streaming is also supported. |
| YouTube Live | Unknown | Supported |
| Facebook Live | Unknown | Supported |
| Record the output to a file | Unknown | Supported |
| TV output | Unknown | Paid add-on or tier |
| Apple TV app | Unknown | Paid add-on or tier: Via ProDisplay (separate per-screen subscription), which runs on Apple TV and select Google TV devices. |
| Android / Google TV app | Unknown | Paid add-on or tier: Via ProDisplay on select Google TV devices (separate per-screen subscription). |
| Fire TV app | Unknown | Unknown |
| Roku app | Unknown | Unknown |
| Chromecast / AirPlay | Unknown | Unknown |
| Connectivity & collaboration | Supported | Supported |
| Cloud sync of library | Unknown | Supported: ProPresenter Cloud syncs playlists, media and settings between machines. |
| Works fully offline | Supported | Supported |
| Remote control from phone or tablet | Unknown | Supported: ProPresenter Remote app is included with an active subscription. |
| Multiple operators at once | Unknown | Partial: ProPresenter Cloud (beta in 22) lets others prepare playlists and make mid-service changes while an operator presents. |
| Web native (runs in a browser) | Unknown | Not supported |
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