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Quelea vs SongShow Plus

Quelea logo
Quelea

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
  • Unmaintained
SongShow Plus logo
SongShow Plus

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

  • Subscription
  • One-time
  • Free Trial

Summary

  • Quelea is free, while SongShow Plus is paid ($249 one-time (Ultra edition, special price)).
  • Quelea is open source (GPL-3.0-or-later); SongShow Plus is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows.
  • Note: Quelea is no longer actively maintained.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Bible: Free translations included · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · 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 · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.

Only in Quelea

  • Runs on macOS
  • Runs on Linux
  • Software integrations: Planning Center (paid add-on in SongShow Plus)
  • Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet (paid add-on in SongShow Plus)

Only in SongShow Plus

No confirmed features where Quelea 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 Quelea logo Quelea SongShow Plus logo SongShow Plus
Overview
Price Free$249 one-time (Ultra edition, special price)Free trial
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0-or-later)No
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status maintenanceactive
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 from EasyWorship, ProPresenter, MediaShout, OpenLP, OpenSong, SongBeamer, VideoPsalm, ZionWorx, SongPro, Sunday Plus, EasySlides and more, plus Elvanto plans. Unknown
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. Paid add-on or tier: Requires the Bronze (or higher) subscription plus a separate SongSelect subscription.
Chord charts for musicians Supported: Songs can hold chord lines, which can be transposed, printed and shown on the stage view. Unknown
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: Themes can use a video as the 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 Supported Supported
Free translations included Supported: KJV, ASV, RSV and NET Bibles ship with Quelea; further Bibles use the Zefania XML format. 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 Supported Supported
PowerPoint Supported: Displays PowerPoint and PDF files, optionally driving an installed PowerPoint on Windows. 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 Supported Unknown
Plays slide animations & transitions Partial: Animations only play when Quelea is set to use an installed PowerPoint (Windows). 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 Supported 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 Supported: Websites can be displayed, with documented limitations. Supported
Countdown timers & clocks Supported Supported: Customizable countdown timers (Pro edition and above).
On-screen messages & alerts Supported: Notices scroll across the projected display a set number of times. 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 Supported: The interface is translated into over 20 languages. Unknown
Songs in other languages Supported Unknown
Bibles in other languages Unknown Unknown
Bilingual lyrics on screen Supported: A song translation can be shown together with the default lyrics. Unknown
Bible translations side by side Unknown Unknown
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown Unknown
Integrations
Software integrations Supported Paid add-on or tier
Planning Center Supported: Imports schedules from Planning Center Online. 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 Partial Paid add-on or tier
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. 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 Unknown Supported: Multi-display support (up to six display windows since 9.1) is part of the Ultra edition.
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported 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) Partial: Mobile Lyrics shows the current lyrics as a web page on the local network. Unknown
Broadcast video Unknown Supported
NDI Unknown 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 Supported: Web-based Mobile Remote and a Quelea Mobile Remote app. 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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