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Quelea vs TheOpenPresenter

Quelea logo
Quelea

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

  • Open Source
  • Free
  • Unmaintained
TheOpenPresenter logo
TheOpenPresenter

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

  • Open Source
  • Free

Summary

  • Quelea is free, while TheOpenPresenter is free.
  • Both are open source.
  • Both run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Note: Quelea is no longer actively maintained.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Paste or import plain-text lyrics · 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 · Software integrations: Planning Center · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.

Only in Quelea

  • 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 Quelea)
  • Slides & presentations: Plays slide animations & transitions (partial in Quelea)
  • Automation & extensibility (partial in Quelea)
  • Screens & outputs: Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) (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 TheOpenPresenter logo TheOpenPresenter
Overview
Price FreeFree
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0-or-later)Yes (AGPL-3.0-only)
Deployment Desktop appCloud / hosted, Desktop app, Self-hosted
Status maintenanceactive
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 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. Supported
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Partial: Imports downloaded SongSelect USR files; no direct online SongSelect connection. Supported: Songs can be pulled from MyWorshipList.
Chord charts for musicians Supported: Songs can hold chord lines, which can be transposed, printed and shown on the stage view. Supported
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: Themes can use a video as the background. Supported
CCLI usage reporting Unknown Unknown
Bible Supported Supported
Free translations included Supported: KJV, ASV, RSV and NET Bibles ship with Quelea; further Bibles use the Zefania XML format. 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 Supported Supported
PowerPoint Supported: Displays PowerPoint and PDF files, optionally driving an installed PowerPoint on Windows. Supported
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Supported
Canva Unknown Supported
PDF Supported Supported
Plays slide animations & transitions Partial: Animations only play when Quelea is set to use an installed PowerPoint (Windows). 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 Supported Supported
Inputs & other sources Supported Supported
Live camera / capture card Unknown Unknown
Screen sharing Unknown Supported
Web pages Supported: Websites can be displayed, with documented limitations. Supported: Web pages can be shown, but interacting with them isn't supported yet; use screen share instead.
Countdown timers & clocks Supported Supported
On-screen messages & alerts Supported: Notices scroll across the projected display a set number of times. 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 Supported: The interface is translated into over 20 languages. 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 Unknown Supported
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 Supported
Planning Center Supported: Imports schedules from Planning Center Online. 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 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. 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 Unknown Supported
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported Supported
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Unknown Supported
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. Supported
Broadcast video Unknown Unknown
NDI Unknown 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 Supported: Web-based Mobile Remote and a Quelea Mobile Remote app. Supported
Multiple operators at once Unknown Supported
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Supported

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