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Praisenter vs SongShow Plus

Praisenter logo
Praisenter

Free, open-source desktop app for showing Bible verses, song lyrics and slides.

  • Open Source
  • Free
SongShow Plus logo
SongShow Plus

Windows worship presentation software with edition-based licences and optional subscriptions.

  • Subscription
  • One-time
  • Free Trial

Summary

  • Praisenter is free, while SongShow Plus is paid ($249 one-time (Ultra edition, special price)).
  • Praisenter is open source (BSD-3-Clause); SongShow Plus is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · 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 · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Broadcast video: NDI · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.

Only in Praisenter

  • Runs on macOS
  • Runs on Linux

Only in SongShow Plus

  • 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 logo Praisenter SongShow Plus logo SongShow Plus
Overview
Price Free$249 one-time (Ultra edition, special price)Free trial
Open source Yes (BSD-3-Clause)No
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status activeactive
Platforms
Windows Supported Supported
macOS Supported Not 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. Unknown
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. Paid add-on or tier: Requires the Bronze (or higher) subscription plus a separate SongSelect subscription.
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Unknown
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: Slides and slide templates can use a video as their background. Supported: Motion backgrounds with real-time effects and rendered visualizations; Shift Worship media can be imported with a separate subscription.
CCLI usage reporting Unknown Supported: CCLI auto-reporting added in version 9.3.
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: ASV, KJV and WEB are included.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown Paid add-on or tier: Translations such as NIV, ESV, NKJV and NLT are $25 plug-ins per machine.
Slides & presentations Unknown Supported
PowerPoint Unknown Supported: PowerPoint presentations can be imported step by step, as images or as video files.
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Unknown Unknown
Plays slide animations & transitions Unknown Partial: Importing PowerPoint as video can keep animations; SongShow's own slides have transitions and animations.
Media Supported Supported
Video playback Supported Supported
Audio playback Supported Supported
Images Supported Supported
YouTube / online video Unknown Supported: Web pages, including YouTube videos, can be presented.
Inputs & other sources Supported Supported
Live camera / capture card Unknown Supported: Live video (IMAG) with text and graphic overlays.
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Unknown Supported
Countdown timers & clocks Supported: Slides can include the current date/time and countdowns. Supported: Customizable countdown timers (Pro edition and above).
On-screen messages & alerts Supported: Notifications overlay a message on top of whatever is currently displayed. Supported: Instant Message shows nursery alerts and other messages (Pro edition and above).
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown Unknown
Languages
Multilingual Supported Unknown
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 Unknown
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. Unknown
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown Unknown
Integrations
Software integrations Unknown Paid add-on or tier
Planning Center Unknown Paid add-on or tier: Requires the Bronze (or higher) subscription plus a Planning Center subscription.
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 Unknown Paid add-on or tier
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Unknown 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) Unknown Paid add-on or tier: Optional image indexing with Microsoft/Azure Computer Vision requires the Silver subscription.
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs Supported Supported
Multiple audience screens Supported: Each connected display can receive content independently. Supported: Multi-display support (up to six display windows since 9.1) is part of the Ultra edition.
Stage display / confidence monitor Unknown Supported: One or more customizable stage outputs are part of the Ultra edition.
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Unknown Supported: Output windows can be configured as synchronized lower-third layouts.
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: NDI streaming (added in 9.1) is part of the Ultra edition.
SDI Unknown Supported: Blackmagic DeckLink output can be assigned to any display window.
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 Supported Supported
Cloud sync of library Unknown Paid add-on or tier: SongShow Sync requires the Silver subscription.
Works fully offline Supported Supported
Remote control from phone or tablet Unknown Paid add-on or tier: Mobile Control (a progressive web app) requires the Silver subscription.
Multiple operators at once Unknown Paid add-on or tier: SongShow Drive media sharing and the web-based SongShow Builder require the Silver subscription.
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Not supported

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