Quelea

Name: Quelea
Author: Quelea project (volunteer community)

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

Open Source
Free
Unmaintained

Not actively maintained. Last stable release 2024.0 on 2 February 2024; occasional commits were still made in 2026.

Overview

Quelea is a free, open-source church projection program written in Java (JavaFX). It displays songs, Bible passages, images, videos, PDFs, websites and PowerPoint presentations from an order of service, and includes a stage view with chords, notices, countdown timers and audio recording. Lyrics can be pushed to phones over the local network, and a mobile remote lets another device control the projection. The latest stable release is 2024.0 (February 2024); development activity in the repository has continued since.

Supported platforms

Mobile Lyrics can be viewed in any web browser on the local network.

Features

Supported Supported
Partial Partial
Paid add-on or tier Paid add-on / tier
Not supported Not supported
Unknown Unknown
* Hover or tap for note

Content

Songs & lyrics Supported
- Song library 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.
- 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.
- Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Partial: Imports downloaded SongSelect USR files; no direct online SongSelect connection.
- Chord charts for musicians Supported: Songs can hold chord lines, which can be transposed, printed and shown on the stage view.
- Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: Themes can use a video as the background.
- CCLI usage reporting Unknown
Bible Supported
- Free translations included Supported: KJV, ASV, RSV and NET Bibles ship with Quelea; further Bibles use the Zefania XML format.
- Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown
Slides & presentations Supported
- PowerPoint Supported: Displays PowerPoint and PDF files, optionally driving an installed PowerPoint on Windows.
- Keynote Unknown
- Google Slides Unknown
- Canva Unknown
- PDF Supported
- Plays slide animations & transitions Partial: Animations only play when Quelea is set to use an installed PowerPoint (Windows).
Media Supported
- Video playback Supported
- Audio playback Supported
- Images Supported
- YouTube / online video Supported
Inputs & other sources Supported
- Live camera / capture card Unknown
- Screen sharing Unknown
- Web pages Supported: Websites can be displayed, with documented limitations.
- Countdown timers & clocks Supported
- On-screen messages & alerts Supported: Notices scroll across the projected display a set number of times.
- Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown

Languages

Multilingual Supported
- Interface in multiple languages Supported: The interface is translated into over 20 languages.
- Songs in other languages Supported
- Bibles in other languages Unknown
- Bilingual lyrics on screen Supported: A song translation can be shown together with the default lyrics.
- Bible translations side by side Unknown
- Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown

Integrations

Software integrations Supported
- Planning Center Supported: Imports schedules from Planning Center Online.
- ChurchSuite Unknown
- WorshipTools Planning Unknown
Hardware control Unknown
- MIDI Unknown
- DMX lighting Unknown
- Stream Deck / Companion Unknown
Automation & extensibility Partial
- 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.
- Plugins / extensions Unknown
- Built-in scripting / macros Unknown
- Webhooks / triggers to other systems Unknown
- MCP server for AI assistants Unknown
- AI features (e.g. verse detection, lyric formatting) Unknown

Presenting & control

Screens & outputs Supported
- Multiple audience screens Unknown
- Stage display / confidence monitor Supported
- Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Unknown
- 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.
Broadcast video Unknown
- NDI Unknown
- SDI Unknown
Built-in streaming & recording Unknown
- Stream to any RTMP destination Unknown
- YouTube Live Unknown
- Facebook Live Unknown
- Record the output to a file Unknown
TV output Unknown
- Apple TV app Unknown
- Android / Google TV app Unknown
- Fire TV app Unknown
- Roku app Unknown
- Chromecast / AirPlay Unknown
Connectivity & collaboration Supported
- Cloud sync of library Unknown
- Works fully offline Supported
- Remote control from phone or tablet Supported: Web-based Mobile Remote and a Quelea Mobile Remote app.
- Multiple operators at once Unknown
- Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown

Notes

Songs & lyrics: Import from other presentation software:: Imports from EasyWorship, ProPresenter, MediaShout, OpenLP, OpenSong, SongBeamer, VideoPsalm, ZionWorx, SongPro, Sunday Plus, EasySlides and more, plus Elvanto plans.
Songs & lyrics: Paste or import plain-text lyrics:: Plain-text song files (with optional ChordPro chords) can be imported, and lyrics can be typed or pasted into the song editor.
Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources):: Imports downloaded SongSelect USR files; no direct online SongSelect connection.
Songs & lyrics: Chord charts for musicians:: Songs can hold chord lines, which can be transposed, printed and shown on the stage view.
Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics:: Themes can use a video as the background.
Bible: Free translations included:: KJV, ASV, RSV and NET Bibles ship with Quelea; further Bibles use the Zefania XML format.
Slides & presentations: PowerPoint:: Displays PowerPoint and PDF files, optionally driving an installed PowerPoint on Windows.
Slides & presentations: Plays slide animations & transitions:: Animations only play when Quelea is set to use an installed PowerPoint (Windows).
Inputs & other sources: Web pages:: Websites can be displayed, with documented limitations.
Inputs & other sources: On-screen messages & alerts:: Notices scroll across the projected display a set number of times.
Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages:: The interface is translated into over 20 languages.
Multilingual: Bilingual lyrics on screen:: A song translation can be shown together with the default lyrics.
Software integrations: Planning Center:: Imports schedules from Planning Center Online.
Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket):: The Mobile Remote HTTP server exposes endpoints (next, previous, lyrics, schedule, search) but is not documented as a public API.
Screens & outputs: Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source):: Mobile Lyrics shows the current lyrics as a web page on the local network.
Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet:: Web-based Mobile Remote and a Quelea Mobile Remote app.

Frequently asked questions

What is Quelea?

Quelea is church presentation software by Quelea project (volunteer community). Free, open-source Java-based projection software for churches.

How much does Quelea cost?

Quelea is free to use.

What platforms does Quelea run on?

Quelea runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Mobile Lyrics can be viewed in any web browser on the local network.

Is Quelea open source?

Yes. Quelea is open source under the GPL-3.0-or-later license.

Does Quelea include a Bible?

Yes, Quelea has built-in Bible support.

Which slide formats can Quelea show?

Quelea supports PowerPoint and PDF.

Does Quelea integrate with Planning Center?

Yes. Imports schedules from Planning Center Online.

What are the best alternatives to Quelea?

Similar tools include FreeShow, ChurchPresenter, OpenLP, TheOpenPresenter, and Holyrics.

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