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Pewbeam vs Quelea

Pewbeam logo
Pewbeam

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

  • Freemium
  • Subscription
Quelea logo
Quelea

Free, open-source Java-based projection software for churches.

  • Open Source
  • Free
  • Unmaintained

Summary

  • Pewbeam is paid (From $12/month billed annually ($14 monthly)), while Quelea is free.
  • Quelea is open source (GPL-3.0-or-later); Pewbeam is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows and macOS.
  • Note: Quelea is no longer actively maintained.
  • Both support: Bible: Free translations included · Inputs & other sources: On-screen messages & alerts.

Only in Pewbeam

  • Automation & extensibility (partial in Quelea)

Only in Quelea

  • Runs on Linux
  • Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics (paid add-on in Pewbeam)
  • Slides & presentations: PowerPoint (partial in Pewbeam)
  • Multilingual (paid add-on in Pewbeam)
  • Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline (partial in Pewbeam)

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 Pewbeam logo Pewbeam Quelea logo Quelea
Overview
Price From $12/month billed annually ($14 monthly)Free
Open source NoYes (GPL-3.0-or-later)
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status activemaintenance
Platforms
Windows Supported Supported
macOS Supported Supported
Linux Not supported 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 Paid add-on or tier Supported
Song library Unknown Supported
Import from other presentation software Unknown Supported: Imports from EasyWorship, ProPresenter, MediaShout, OpenLP, OpenSong, SongBeamer, VideoPsalm, ZionWorx, SongPro, Sunday Plus, EasySlides and more, plus Elvanto plans.
Paste or import plain-text lyrics Unknown Supported: Plain-text song files (with optional ChordPro chords) can be imported, and lyrics can be typed or pasted into the song editor.
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Unknown Partial: Imports downloaded SongSelect USR files; no direct online SongSelect connection.
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Supported: Songs can hold chord lines, which can be transposed, printed and shown on the stage view.
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Paid add-on or tier: Video and GIF motion backgrounds for themes and slides need the Plus or Core plan. Supported: Themes can use a video as the background.
CCLI usage reporting Unknown Unknown
Bible Supported Supported
Free translations included Supported: Verses are detected automatically from live speech; 4 Bible translations on the free tier, 20 on paid plans. Supported: KJV, ASV, RSV and NET Bibles ship with Quelea; further Bibles use the Zefania XML format.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Supported: KJV, NKJV, NIV, NLT, ESV and NASB are bundled. Unknown
Slides & presentations Partial Supported
PowerPoint 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. Supported: Displays PowerPoint and PDF files, optionally driving an installed PowerPoint on Windows.
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Unknown Supported
Plays slide animations & transitions Unknown Partial: Animations only play when Quelea is set to use an installed PowerPoint (Windows).
Media Unknown Supported
Video playback Unknown Supported
Audio playback Unknown Supported
Images Unknown Supported
YouTube / online video Unknown Supported
Inputs & other sources Supported Supported
Live camera / capture card Unknown Unknown
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Unknown Supported: Websites can be displayed, with documented limitations.
Countdown timers & clocks Unknown Supported
On-screen messages & alerts Supported: Alert banners, including scrolling and looping alerts, can be sent to every screen. Supported: Notices scroll across the projected display a set number of times.
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown Unknown
Languages
Multilingual Paid add-on or tier Supported
Interface in multiple languages Unknown Supported: The interface is translated into over 20 languages.
Songs in other languages Unknown Supported
Bibles in other languages 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. Unknown
Bilingual lyrics on screen Unknown Supported: A song translation can be shown together with the default lyrics.
Bible translations side by side Unknown Unknown
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown Unknown
Integrations
Software integrations Unknown Supported
Planning Center Unknown Supported: Imports schedules from Planning Center Online.
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 Partial
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Partial: Local OSC and HTTP endpoints for broadcast integration; the docs say slide navigation commands are still being wired through. Partial: The Mobile Remote HTTP server exposes endpoints (next, previous, lyrics, schedule, search) but is not documented as a public API.
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) Supported: Listens to the sermon and detects Bible references, including paraphrases; also generates slides, sermon excerpts and sermon notes. Unknown
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs Supported Supported
Multiple audience screens Supported: Up to 2, 4 or 6 display outputs depending on plan, each with its own theme. Unknown
Stage display / confidence monitor Unknown Supported
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Supported: Lower-third themes and NDI output with alpha transparency; creating new transparent themes needs the Core plan. Unknown
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Unknown Partial: Mobile Lyrics shows the current lyrics as a web page on the local network.
Broadcast video Supported Unknown
NDI Supported: NDI output at 720p, 1080p or 4K with alpha transparency. 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 Partial Supported
Cloud sync of library Unknown Unknown
Works fully offline Partial: Bible search and display work offline; offline transcription is available on Apple Silicon Macs on paid plans, otherwise transcription needs a connection. Supported
Remote control from phone or tablet Unknown Supported: Web-based Mobile Remote and a Quelea Mobile Remote app.
Multiple operators at once Unknown Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Unknown

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