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OpenSong vs TheOpenPresenter

OpenSong logo
OpenSong

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
  • Unmaintained
TheOpenPresenter logo
TheOpenPresenter

Open-source, browser-based presenter you can run and control from any device.

  • Open Source
  • Free

Summary

  • OpenSong is free, while TheOpenPresenter 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  • Note: OpenSong is no longer actively maintained.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 · Bible: Free translations included · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · Media: Images · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.

Only in OpenSong

  • Multilingual: Songs in other languages (partial in TheOpenPresenter)

Only in TheOpenPresenter

  • Runs on Web browser
  • Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources)
  • Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics (partial in OpenSong)
  • Slides & presentations: Plays slide animations & transitions (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 logo OpenSong TheOpenPresenter logo TheOpenPresenter
Overview
Price FreeFree
Open source Yes (GPL-2.0-only)Yes (AGPL-3.0-only)
Deployment Desktop appCloud / hosted, Desktop app, Self-hosted
Status maintenanceactive
Platforms
Windows Supported Supported
macOS Supported Supported
Linux Supported Supported
Web browser Not supported 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: Songs can be pulled from MyWorshipList.
Chord charts for musicians Supported: Chords transpose automatically, and lead sheets can print regular and capo chords together. Supported
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. 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: Over a thousand freely licensed translations are available through the Beblia and Free Use Bible API catalogues.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown Partial: Licensed translations can be used, but the church has to upload them.
Slides & presentations Supported Supported
PowerPoint Supported: Drives an installed PowerPoint or LibreOffice Impress with live preview, or imports slides as image snapshots. Supported
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Supported
Canva Unknown Supported
PDF Unknown Supported
Plays slide animations & transitions Partial: Animations only play when OpenSong drives PowerPoint or Impress directly; imported snapshots are static. Supported: PowerPoint imports keep their slideshow data so animations play click by click.
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 Supported
Inputs & other sources Supported Supported
Live camera / capture card Unknown Unknown
Screen sharing Unknown Supported
Web pages Unknown Supported: Web pages can be shown, but interacting with them isn't supported yet; use screen share instead.
Countdown timers & clocks Unknown Supported
On-screen messages & alerts Supported: Alerts can be shown over the presentation, including via the API. Unknown
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown Supported: Slido polls and Q&A can be shown through the Slido plugin.
Languages
Multilingual Supported Supported
Interface in multiple languages Supported: The interface is available in about 20 languages. Unknown
Songs in other languages Supported Partial: Songs in any language work, but the automatic import sources have few non-English songs so far.
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 Unknown
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown Unknown
Integrations
Software integrations Unknown Supported
Planning Center Unknown Supported: Setlists can be imported from Planning Center.
ChurchSuite Unknown Supported: Setlists can be imported from ChurchSuite.
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. Unknown
Plugins / extensions Unknown Supported: Features are built as plugins on a modular architecture.
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: AI formats pasted lyrics into sections and slides.
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs Unknown Supported
Multiple audience screens Unknown Supported
Stage display / confidence monitor Unknown Supported
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Unknown Supported
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Unknown Supported
Broadcast video Supported Unknown
NDI Supported: NDI output is supported (disabled by default in recent builds). 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 Supported
Apple TV app Unknown Not supported
Android / Google TV app Unknown Supported: TheOpenPresenter TV app for Android TV; a Fire TV (Vega OS) version is also built.
Fire TV app Unknown Supported
Roku app Unknown Unknown
Chromecast / AirPlay Unknown Unknown
Connectivity & collaboration Supported Supported
Cloud sync of library Unknown Supported
Works fully offline Supported Supported: Offline use is provided by the TheOpenPresenter Studio desktop app (stable on Windows, alpha on macOS).
Remote control from phone or tablet Unknown Supported
Multiple operators at once Unknown Supported
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Supported

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