Praisenter vs TheOpenPresenter

Praisenter

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

Open Source
Free

TheOpenPresenter

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

Open Source
Free

Summary

Praisenter is free, while TheOpenPresenter is free.
Both are open source.
Both run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
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 · Multilingual: Bibles in other languages · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.

Only in Praisenter

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) (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	TheOpenPresenter
Overview
Price	Free	Free
Open source	Yes (BSD-3-Clause)	Yes (AGPL-3.0-only)
Deployment	Desktop app	Cloud / hosted, Desktop app, Self-hosted
Status	active	active
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	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: Songs can be pulled from MyWorshipList.
Chord charts for musicians	Unknown	Supported
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics	Supported: Slides and slide templates can use a video as their background.	Supported
CCLI usage reporting	Unknown	Unknown
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: 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	Unknown	Supported
PowerPoint	Unknown	Supported
Keynote	Unknown	Unknown
Google Slides	Unknown	Supported
Canva	Unknown	Supported
PDF	Unknown	Supported
Plays slide animations & transitions	Unknown	Supported: PowerPoint imports keep their slideshow data so animations play click by click.
Media	Supported	Supported
Video playback	Supported	Supported
Audio playback	Supported	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	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.	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	Partial: The interface ships in English only; users can add their own translation of the messages file.	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	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.	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	Unknown	Supported
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket)	Unknown	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	Supported	Supported
Multiple audience screens	Supported: Each connected display can receive content independently.	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: Outputs can be sent as NDI displays.	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

Praisenter vs TheOpenPresenter

Summary

Only in Praisenter

Only in TheOpenPresenter

Side by side

Other comparisons