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Quelea vs SongBeamer

Quelea logo
Quelea

Free, open-source Java-based projection software for churches.

  • Open Source
  • Free
  • Unmaintained
SongBeamer

German worship presentation software for songs, Bible texts and media, sold as a one-time licence.

  • One-time
  • Free Trial

Summary

  • Quelea is free, while SongBeamer is paid (€124 one-time (single computer)).
  • Quelea is open source (GPL-3.0-or-later); SongBeamer is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows and macOS.
  • Note: Quelea is no longer actively maintained.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Import from other presentation software · Songs & lyrics: Chord charts for musicians · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Bible: Free translations included · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · Slides & presentations: PDF · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Media: YouTube / online video · Inputs & other sources: Web pages · Inputs & other sources: Countdown timers & clocks · Inputs & other sources: On-screen messages & alerts · Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages · Multilingual: Songs in other languages · Multilingual: Bilingual lyrics on screen · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.

Only in Quelea

  • Runs on Linux

Only in SongBeamer

  • Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) (partial in Quelea)
  • Automation & extensibility (partial in Quelea)

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 Quelea logo Quelea SongBeamer
Overview
Price Free€124 one-time (single computer)Free trial
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0-or-later)No
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status maintenanceactive
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 from EasyWorship, ProPresenter, MediaShout, OpenLP, OpenSong, SongBeamer, VideoPsalm, ZionWorx, SongPro, Sunday Plus, EasySlides and more, plus Elvanto plans. Supported: Separate importers for PowerPraise, PraiseMaster and PraiseBox songs, plus lyrics import from PowerPoint and CSV.
Paste or import plain-text lyrics Supported: Plain-text song files (with optional ChordPro chords) can be imported, and lyrics can be typed or pasted into the song editor. Unknown
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Partial: Imports downloaded SongSelect USR files; no direct online SongSelect connection. Supported: Songs (with chords) can be imported directly from CCLI SongSelect while the licence is entitled to updates.
Chord charts for musicians Supported: Songs can hold chord lines, which can be transposed, printed and shown on the stage view. Supported: Songs can be projected and printed with chords, with transposition.
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: Themes can use a video as the background. Supported: Images and videos can be used as song backgrounds.
CCLI usage reporting Unknown 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: KJV, ASV, RSV and NET Bibles ship with Quelea; further Bibles use the Zefania XML format. Supported: Elberfelder 1905 is included, and free translations can be imported from Zefania XML.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown 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: Displays PowerPoint and PDF files, optionally driving an installed PowerPoint on Windows. Supported: PowerPoint and LibreOffice files can be added to the schedule; requires PowerPoint, the PowerPoint Viewer or LibreOffice.
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Supported Supported
Plays slide animations & transitions Partial: Animations only play when Quelea is set to use an installed PowerPoint (Windows). Unknown
Media Supported Supported
Video playback Supported Supported
Audio playback Supported Supported
Images Supported Supported
YouTube / online video Supported Supported: YouTube videos can be shown, including URLs with a start time.
Inputs & other sources Supported Supported
Live camera / capture card Unknown Supported: Live video from a camera or capture device can be shown behind text.
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Supported: Websites can be displayed, with documented limitations. 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: Notices scroll across the projected display a set number of times. 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 Supported: The interface is translated into over 20 languages. Supported: Interface in German and English.
Songs in other languages Supported Supported
Bibles in other languages Unknown Supported
Bilingual lyrics on screen Supported: A song translation can be shown together with the default lyrics. Supported: Songs can hold up to 4 languages, shown together on screen.
Bible translations side by side Unknown Supported: Up to two Bible translations can be shown at once.
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown 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: Imports schedules from Planning Center Online. Unknown
ChurchSuite Unknown Unknown
WorshipTools Planning Unknown Unknown
Hardware control Unknown Supported
MIDI Unknown Supported: Control via MIDI and OSC.
DMX lighting Unknown Unknown
Stream Deck / Companion Unknown Unknown
Automation & extensibility Partial Supported
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Partial: The Mobile Remote HTTP server exposes endpoints (next, previous, lyrics, schedule, search) but is not documented as a public API. Partial: Remote control over the network via OSC; no HTTP or WebSocket API is documented.
Plugins / extensions Unknown Unknown
Built-in scripting / macros Unknown 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 Unknown Supported: A presentation can also be shown on a third monitor (beta).
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported Supported
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Unknown Supported: NDI output has its own formatting and an optional background colour for keying.
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Partial: Mobile Lyrics shows the current lyrics as a web page on the local network. Unknown
Broadcast video Unknown Supported
NDI Unknown Supported: Text output to OBS Studio and other software via NDI or a text file.
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 Supported Supported
Cloud sync of library Unknown Unknown
Works fully offline Supported Supported
Remote control from phone or tablet Supported: Web-based Mobile Remote and a Quelea Mobile Remote app. Supported: SongBeamer Remote app for iPhone and iPad.
Multiple operators at once Unknown Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Not supported

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