Praisenter vs ProPresenter
Praisenter
Free, open-source desktop app for showing Bible verses, song lyrics and slides.
- Open Source
- Free
ProPresenter
Live presentation and production software for worship services, events and broadcast.
- Subscription
- Free Trial
Summary
- Praisenter is free, while ProPresenter is paid ($289/year (one seat)).
- Praisenter is open source (BSD-3-Clause); ProPresenter is proprietary.
- Both run on Windows and macOS.
- Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Paste or import plain-text lyrics · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Inputs & other sources: Countdown timers & clocks · Inputs & other sources: On-screen messages & alerts · Multilingual: Bibles in other languages · Multilingual: Bible translations side by side · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Broadcast video: NDI · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.
Only in Praisenter
- Runs on Linux
Only in ProPresenter
- Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) (partial in Praisenter)
- Bible: Free translations included (partial in Praisenter)
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 |
Praisenter
|
ProPresenter
|
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price | Free | $289/year (one seat)Free trial |
| Open source | Yes (BSD-3-Clause) | No |
| Deployment | Desktop app | Desktop app |
| Status | active | 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 | Supported: Imports OpenLyrics, ChordPro, SongSelect and ChurchView song files plus older Praisenter formats. | Unknown |
| Paste or import plain-text lyrics | Supported: Lyrics can be pasted into the bulk editor, and text can be extracted from a PDF into it. | Supported |
| Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) | Partial: Imports SongSelect files downloaded by the user (since 3.1.7); there is no online SongSelect connection. | Supported: Requires a SongSelect subscription and CCLI licence. |
| Chord charts for musicians | Unknown | Supported: Chord charts can be shown on stage screens (e.g. from Planning Center or MultiTracks). |
| Motion backgrounds behind lyrics | Supported: Slides and slide templates can use a video as their background. | Supported |
| CCLI usage reporting | Unknown | Supported: Songs triggered from presentations with a CCLI number can be auto-reported once SongSelect is signed in. |
| Bible | Partial | Supported |
| Free translations included | Partial: Only a sample Bible is included; free Bibles are downloaded separately (Unbound, Zefania or OpenSong formats) and imported. | 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 | Unknown | Supported |
| PowerPoint | Unknown | 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 | Unknown | Partial: The native PowerPoint importer keeps simple builds and transitions; emphasis and some other animations are not supported. |
| Media | Supported | Supported |
| Video playback | Supported | Supported |
| Audio playback | Supported | 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 | Supported: Slides can include the current date/time and countdowns. | Supported |
| On-screen messages & alerts | Supported: Notifications overlay a message on top of whatever is currently displayed. | Supported |
| Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) | Unknown | Unknown |
| Languages | ||
| Multilingual | Supported | Supported |
| Interface in multiple languages | Partial: The interface ships in English only; users can add their own translation of the messages file. | Unknown |
| Songs in other languages | Supported | Unknown |
| Bibles in other languages | Supported | Supported |
| Bilingual lyrics on screen | Supported: A primary and secondary set of song lyrics can be shown side by side with a suitable template. | Unknown |
| Bible translations side by side | Supported: A primary and secondary Bible can be shown on the same slide. | 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 | Unknown | Supported |
| Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) | Unknown | 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 | Supported | Supported |
| Multiple audience screens | Supported: Each connected display can receive content independently. | 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: Outputs can be sent as NDI displays. | 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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