ProPresenter vs SongBeamer
ProPresenter
Live presentation and production software for worship services, events and broadcast.
- Subscription
- Free Trial
SongBeamer
German worship presentation software for songs, Bible texts and media, sold as a one-time licence.
- One-time
- Free Trial
Summary
- ProPresenter is paid ($289/year (one seat)), while SongBeamer is paid (€124 one-time (single computer)).
- Both run on Windows and macOS.
- Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) · Songs & lyrics: Chord charts for musicians · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Songs & lyrics: CCLI usage reporting · Bible: Free translations included · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Inputs & other sources: Live camera / capture card · Inputs & other sources: Web pages · Inputs & other sources: Countdown timers & clocks · Inputs & other sources: On-screen messages & alerts · Multilingual: Bibles in other languages · Multilingual: Bible translations side by side · Hardware control: MIDI · Automation & extensibility: Built-in scripting / macros · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming · Broadcast video: NDI · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.
Only in ProPresenter
- Multilingual: Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts (partial in SongBeamer)
- Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) (partial in SongBeamer)
Only in SongBeamer
No confirmed features where ProPresenter falls short.
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 |
ProPresenter
| SongBeamer |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price | $289/year (one seat)Free trial | €124 one-time (single computer)Free trial |
| Open source | No | No |
| Deployment | Desktop app | Desktop app |
| Status | active | active |
| Platforms | ||
| Windows | Supported | Supported |
| macOS | Supported | Supported |
| Linux | Not 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 | Unknown | Supported: Separate importers for PowerPraise, PraiseMaster and PraiseBox songs, plus lyrics import from PowerPoint and CSV. |
| Paste or import plain-text lyrics | Supported | Unknown |
| Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) | Supported: Requires a SongSelect subscription and CCLI licence. | Supported: Songs (with chords) can be imported directly from CCLI SongSelect while the licence is entitled to updates. |
| Chord charts for musicians | Supported: Chord charts can be shown on stage screens (e.g. from Planning Center or MultiTracks). | Supported: Songs can be projected and printed with chords, with transposition. |
| Motion backgrounds behind lyrics | Supported | Supported: Images and videos can be used as song backgrounds. |
| CCLI usage reporting | Supported: Songs triggered from presentations with a CCLI number can be auto-reported once SongSelect is signed in. | Supported: Optional automatic reporting to CCLI, added in version 6.0, available while entitled to updates; VG Musikedition reports can be exported too. |
| Bible | Supported | Supported |
| Free translations included | Supported: 130+ translations in 25+ languages are available in the Bible module. | Supported: Elberfelder 1905 is included, and free translations can be imported from Zefania XML. |
| Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) | Paid add-on or tier: Some translations are sold separately. | Paid add-on or tier: Modern German translations such as Luther 2017, Schlachter 2000 and BasisBibel are sold separately (€19-39 each). |
| Slides & presentations | Supported | Supported |
| PowerPoint | Supported: Since 21.2, .pptx files can be imported natively as editable presentations without PowerPoint installed. | Supported: PowerPoint and LibreOffice files can be added to the schedule; requires PowerPoint, the PowerPoint Viewer or LibreOffice. |
| Keynote | Partial: Keynote files are not converted; on Mac they are triggered from a playlist and Keynote takes over the output. | Unknown |
| Google Slides | Unknown | Unknown |
| Canva | Unknown | Unknown |
| Unknown | Supported | |
| Plays slide animations & transitions | Partial: The native PowerPoint importer keeps simple builds and transitions; emphasis and some other animations are not supported. | Unknown |
| Media | Supported | Supported |
| Video playback | Supported | Supported |
| Audio playback | Supported | Supported |
| Images | Supported | Supported |
| YouTube / online video | Unknown | Supported: YouTube videos can be shown, including URLs with a start time. |
| Inputs & other sources | Supported | Supported |
| Live camera / capture card | Supported | Supported: Live video from a camera or capture device can be shown behind text. |
| Screen sharing | Supported: AirCast (added in 18) receives AirPlay screens and audio as inputs. | Unknown |
| Web pages | Supported: Web pages can be shown as a web fill on slides. | Supported: Web pages can be added to the schedule and displayed. |
| Countdown timers & clocks | Supported | Supported: Countdowns and stopwatches, also shown on the stage view. |
| On-screen messages & alerts | Supported | Supported: Spontaneous messages to the congregation can be shown over the presentation. |
| Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) | Unknown | Unknown |
| Languages | ||
| Multilingual | Supported | Supported |
| Interface in multiple languages | Unknown | Supported: Interface in German and English. |
| Songs in other languages | Unknown | Supported |
| Bibles in other languages | Supported | Supported |
| Bilingual lyrics on screen | Unknown | Supported: Songs can hold up to 4 languages, shown together on screen. |
| Bible translations side by side | Supported: Multiple translations can be shown on one slide using a theme with one text box per translation. | Supported: Up to two Bible translations can be shown at once. |
| Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts | Supported | Partial: Unicode text such as Cyrillic is supported; the changelog notes right-to-left output (e.g. Arabic) is not yet fully correct. |
| Integrations | ||
| Software integrations | Supported | Unknown |
| Planning Center | Supported: Planning Center Services plans can be added as playlists; requires a separate Planning Center subscription. | Unknown |
| ChurchSuite | Unknown | Unknown |
| WorshipTools Planning | Unknown | Unknown |
| Hardware control | Supported | Supported |
| MIDI | Supported | Supported: Control via MIDI and OSC. |
| DMX lighting | Supported | Unknown |
| Stream Deck / Companion | Supported: Official Elgato Stream Deck plugin since 7.9; Bitfocus Companion also has a ProPresenter module. | Unknown |
| Automation & extensibility | Supported | Supported |
| Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) | Supported: Public network API (OpenAPI spec) introduced in ProPresenter 7.9; older TCP/IP control also exists. | Partial: Remote control over the network via OSC; no HTTP or WebSocket API is documented. |
| Plugins / extensions | Unknown | Unknown |
| Built-in scripting / macros | Supported: Macros run multi-step action sequences from a slide, a device or on demand. | Supported: SongBeamer Script macros can be run from menus or added to the schedule. |
| 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: Up to 8 unique outputs; multiple computers can be linked with Network Link. | Supported: A presentation can also be shown on a third monitor (beta). |
| Stage display / confidence monitor | Supported | Supported |
| Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming | Supported: Separate key/fill outputs are available for broadcast graphics. | Supported: NDI output has its own formatting and an optional background colour for keying. |
| Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) | Unknown | Unknown |
| Broadcast video | Supported | Supported |
| NDI | Supported | Supported: Text output to OBS Studio and other software via NDI or a text file. |
| SDI | Supported | Unknown |
| Built-in streaming & recording | Supported | Unknown |
| Stream to any RTMP destination | Supported: The Capture feature streams any output over RTMP, records it to disk, or both; Resi streaming is also supported. | Unknown |
| YouTube Live | Supported | Unknown |
| Facebook Live | Supported | Unknown |
| Record the output to a file | Supported | Unknown |
| TV output | Paid add-on or tier | Unknown |
| Apple TV app | Paid add-on or tier: Via ProDisplay (separate per-screen subscription), which runs on Apple TV and select Google TV devices. | Unknown |
| Android / Google TV app | Paid add-on or tier: Via ProDisplay on select Google TV devices (separate per-screen subscription). | Unknown |
| Fire TV app | Unknown | Unknown |
| Roku app | Unknown | Unknown |
| Chromecast / AirPlay | Unknown | Unknown |
| Connectivity & collaboration | Supported | Supported |
| Cloud sync of library | Supported: ProPresenter Cloud syncs playlists, media and settings between machines. | Unknown |
| Works fully offline | Supported | Supported |
| Remote control from phone or tablet | Supported: ProPresenter Remote app is included with an active subscription. | Supported: SongBeamer Remote app for iPhone and iPad. |
| Multiple operators at once | Partial: ProPresenter Cloud (beta in 22) lets others prepare playlists and make mid-service changes while an operator presents. | Unknown |
| Web native (runs in a browser) | Not supported | Not supported |
Other comparisons
- ProPresenter vs BibleShow
- SongBeamer vs BibleShow
- ProPresenter vs Big Screen
- SongBeamer vs Big Screen
- ProPresenter vs Cantara
- SongBeamer vs Cantara
- ProPresenter vs ChurchPresenter
- SongBeamer vs ChurchPresenter
- ProPresenter vs Cloud of Worship
- SongBeamer vs Cloud of Worship
- ProPresenter vs EasiSlides
- SongBeamer vs EasiSlides
- ProPresenter vs EasyWorship
- SongBeamer vs EasyWorship
- ProPresenter vs FreeShow
- SongBeamer vs FreeShow
- ProPresenter vs Holyrics
- SongBeamer vs Holyrics
- ProPresenter vs KerkBeamer
- SongBeamer vs KerkBeamer
- ProPresenter vs LyricDisplay
- SongBeamer vs LyricDisplay
- ProPresenter vs MediaShout
- SongBeamer vs MediaShout