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Software · head to head

OpenLP vs PowerChurch Plus

OpenLP logo

OpenLP

Software

Free, open-source presentation software for churches

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
P

PowerChurch Plus

Software

Church management software with integrated giving and accounting

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenLP has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: OpenLP there is no standalone mobile app; the Android and iOS apps are remote controls for a desktop running OpenLP; PowerChurch Plus desktop PowerChurch Plus is a one time license at $445 rather than a subscription, with paid upgrades priced separately at $175
  • They diverge on capability: OpenLP covers Presentation, PowerChurch Plus covers Member Management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenLP and PowerChurch Plus actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenLP and PowerChurch Plus differ
AttributeOpenLPPowerChurch Plus
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Mac, LinuxWindows, Web
Founded20041989

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in OpenLP

  • Presentation
  • Lyric Display
  • Media Playback
  • Bible Display
  • Theme Support
  • Plugin System
  • Custom Layouts
  • Scripture Integration

Only in PowerChurch Plus

  • Member Management
  • Attendance Tracking
  • Giving Management
  • Financial Reporting
  • Accounting Software
  • Payment Processing
  • Email Integration
  • Data Management

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

OpenLP

  • Member managementnot PowerChurch Plus
  • Donation trackingnot PowerChurch Plus
  • Event planningnot PowerChurch Plus
  • Volunteer schedulingnot PowerChurch Plus
  • Communicationnot PowerChurch Plus

PowerChurch Plus

  • Desktop church management software for congregations that prefer a one time license over a subscriptionnot OpenLP

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

OpenLP

  • There is no standalone mobile app; the Android and iOS apps are remote controls for a desktop running OpenLP
  • Only the most recent Fedora release and Debian unstable are supported on those distributions
  • The Flatpak build is experimental and the OpenLP team states it does not support its use
  • Requires macOS 10.15 or higher and Windows 10 or higher

PowerChurch Plus

  • Desktop PowerChurch Plus is a one time license at $445 rather than a subscription, with paid upgrades priced separately at $175
  • PowerChurch Online's standard license covers only two concurrent users; each additional user costs $29 per month or $299 per year on top of the base subscription

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenLP

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Full features
    • No restrictions
    • Community support

PowerChurch Plus

On request
  • Basic$79/month
    • Core features
    • Up to 250 members
  • Complete$249/month
    • All features
    • Unlimited members
    • Advanced reports

Which should you pick?

Choose OpenLP if

  • You need presentation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux.
  • You also want lyric display.
OpenLP review

Choose PowerChurch Plus if

  • You need member management.
  • You work on Windows, Web.
  • You also want attendance tracking.
PowerChurch Plus review

Questions people ask

Is OpenLP or PowerChurch Plus better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenLP starts at Free and PowerChurch Plus at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenLP or PowerChurch Plus?
OpenLP has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OpenLP and On request for PowerChurch Plus.
Does OpenLP or PowerChurch Plus run on more platforms?
OpenLP runs on Windows, Mac, Linux. PowerChurch Plus runs on Windows, Web.
Can I use OpenLP for free?
Yes. OpenLP has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PowerChurch Plus starts at On request.
What is OpenLP best used for?
OpenLP is most often used for member management, donation tracking, event planning, volunteer scheduling. Of those, member management and donation tracking are not what PowerChurch Plus is typically brought in for.
What can OpenLP do that PowerChurch Plus cannot?
OpenLP covers Presentation, Lyric Display, Media Playback, Bible Display. PowerChurch Plus covers Member Management, Attendance Tracking, Giving Management, Financial Reporting. Both handle Windows support.
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