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Pewbeam vs SoftProjector

Pewbeam logo
Pewbeam

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

  • Freemium
  • Subscription
SoftProjector logo
SoftProjector

Free, open-source projection software for songs, Bible verses, announcements and media.

  • Open Source
  • Free
  • Unmaintained

Summary

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  • Note: SoftProjector is no longer actively maintained.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

Only in Pewbeam

No confirmed features where SoftProjector falls short.

Only in SoftProjector

  • Runs on Linux
  • Songs & lyrics (paid add-on in Pewbeam)
  • Multilingual: Bibles in other languages (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 SoftProjector logo SoftProjector
Overview
Price From $12/month billed annually ($14 monthly)Free
Open source NoYes (GPL-3.0-only)
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 Unknown
Paste or import plain-text lyrics Unknown Supported: Songs are typed or pasted into the song editor; songbooks import only from SoftProjector's own .sps format.
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Unknown Partial: Ready-made songbooks (and Bibles and themes) can be downloaded from a list hosted on softprojector.org; there is no SongSelect import.
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Unknown
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Paid add-on or tier: Video and GIF motion backgrounds for themes and slides need the Plus or Core plan. Unknown
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, Russian Synodal and Ukrainian Bibles were bundled, and more can be downloaded from softprojector.org or imported from Unbound Bible files.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Supported: KJV, NKJV, NIV, NLT, ESV and NASB are bundled. Unknown
Slides & presentations Partial Unknown
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. Unknown
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Unknown Unknown
Plays slide animations & transitions Unknown Unknown
Media Unknown Supported
Video playback Unknown Supported
Audio playback Unknown Supported
Images Unknown Supported: Picture slideshows can be created and shown.
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: Alert banners, including scrolling and looping alerts, can be sent to every screen. Supported: Custom announcements can be shown on screen.
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 available in English, Russian, Ukrainian, German, Czech and Armenian.
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. Supported
Bilingual lyrics on screen Unknown Unknown
Bible translations side by side Unknown Supported: Up to three Bible versions can be shown on one screen (six across two screens).
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown Supported: Cyrillic and Armenian text are supported; right-to-left scripts are not documented.
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 Unknown
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Partial: Local OSC and HTTP endpoints for broadcast integration; the docs say slide navigation commands are still being wired through. Unknown
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. Supported: A second display screen can be configured alongside the main projector screen.
Stage display / confidence monitor Unknown Unknown
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 Unknown
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 Unknown
Multiple operators at once Unknown Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Unknown

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