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SongShow Plus vs WordsLive

SongShow Plus logo
SongShow Plus

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

  • Subscription
  • One-time
  • Free Trial
WordsLive logo
WordsLive

Free, open-source Windows projection software for lyrics, videos and presentations.

  • Open Source
  • Free

Summary

  • SongShow Plus is paid ($249 one-time (Ultra edition, special price)), while WordsLive is free.
  • WordsLive is open source (GPL-3.0); SongShow Plus is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Slides & presentations: PowerPoint · Media: Video playback · Media: Audio playback · Media: Images · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.

Only in SongShow Plus

  • Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics (partial in WordsLive)
  • Songs & lyrics: CCLI usage reporting (partial in WordsLive)
  • Inputs & other sources: On-screen messages & alerts (partial in WordsLive)

Only in WordsLive

No confirmed features where SongShow Plus 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 SongShow Plus logo SongShow Plus WordsLive logo WordsLive
Overview
Price $249 one-time (Ultra edition, special price)Free trialFree
Open source NoYes (GPL-3.0)
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status activeactive
Platforms
Windows Supported Supported
macOS Not supported Not 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: Native Powerpraise songs and portfolios; songs can also be imported from SongBeamer, OpenSong, OpenLyrics and ChordPro files.
Paste or import plain-text lyrics Unknown Unknown
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Paid add-on or tier: Requires the Bronze (or higher) subscription plus a separate SongSelect subscription. Partial: Songs can be imported from SongSelect files or text copied to the clipboard; there is no direct online search.
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Supported: Chords can be shown with the lyrics and transposed automatically.
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: Motion backgrounds with real-time effects and rendered visualizations; Shift Worship media can be imported with a separate subscription. Partial: Background images for slides, songs or the whole service; background videos are experimental.
CCLI usage reporting Supported: CCLI auto-reporting added in version 9.3. Partial: Songs can be stored with CCLI numbers, and a command opens CCLI Online Reporting in the browser for the selected songs.
Bible Supported Unknown
Free translations included Supported: ASV, KJV and WEB are included. Unknown
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Paid add-on or tier: Translations such as NIV, ESV, NKJV and NLT are $25 plug-ins per machine. Unknown
Slides & presentations Supported Supported
PowerPoint Supported: PowerPoint presentations can be imported step by step, as images or as video files. Supported: PowerPoint (ppt, pptx) and OpenDocument (odp) presentations require Microsoft PowerPoint, the PowerPoint Viewer 2007 or LibreOffice/OpenOffice Impress to be installed.
Keynote Unknown Unknown
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Unknown Partial: PDF and XPS documents are supported (experimental).
Plays slide animations & transitions Partial: Importing PowerPoint as video can keep animations; SongShow's own slides have transitions and animations. Unknown
Media Supported Supported
Video playback Supported Supported: Additional formats are supported if VLC is installed and enabled.
Audio playback Supported Supported
Images Supported Supported: Photos can be compiled into an optionally timer-controlled slide show.
YouTube / online video Supported: Web pages, including YouTube videos, can be presented. Unknown
Inputs & other sources Supported Partial
Live camera / capture card Supported: Live video (IMAG) with text and graphic overlays. Unknown
Screen sharing Unknown Unknown
Web pages Supported Unknown
Countdown timers & clocks Supported: Customizable countdown timers (Pro edition and above). Unknown
On-screen messages & alerts Supported: Instant Message shows nursery alerts and other messages (Pro edition and above). Partial: An additional notification for the audience can be shown during a presentation (experimental).
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown Unknown
Languages
Multilingual Unknown Supported
Interface in multiple languages Unknown Supported: Interface in English and German.
Songs in other languages Unknown Supported
Bibles in other languages Unknown Unknown
Bilingual lyrics on screen Unknown Supported: Songs can carry a translation, shown alongside the main language or on its own.
Bible translations side by side Unknown Unknown
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown Unknown
Integrations
Software integrations Paid add-on or tier Unknown
Planning Center Paid add-on or tier: Requires the Bronze (or higher) subscription plus a Planning Center subscription. Unknown
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 Paid add-on or tier Unknown
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Unknown 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) Paid add-on or tier: Optional image indexing with Microsoft/Azure Computer Vision requires the Silver subscription. Unknown
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs Supported Unknown
Multiple audience screens Supported: Multi-display support (up to six display windows since 9.1) is part of the Ultra edition. Unknown
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported: One or more customizable stage outputs are part of the Ultra edition. Unknown
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Supported: Output windows can be configured as synchronized lower-third layouts. Unknown
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Unknown Unknown
Broadcast video Supported Unknown
NDI Supported: NDI streaming (added in 9.1) is part of the Ultra edition. Unknown
SDI Supported: Blackmagic DeckLink output can be assigned to any display window. 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 Paid add-on or tier: SongShow Sync requires the Silver subscription. Unknown
Works fully offline Supported Supported
Remote control from phone or tablet Paid add-on or tier: Mobile Control (a progressive web app) requires the Silver subscription. Unknown
Multiple operators at once Paid add-on or tier: SongShow Drive media sharing and the web-based SongShow Builder require the Silver subscription. Unknown
Web native (runs in a browser) Not supported Not supported

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