Softwr

Software · head to head

OpenLP vs ProPresenter

OpenLP logo

OpenLP

Software

Free, open-source presentation software for churches

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ProPresenter logo

ProPresenter

Software

Professional presentation system for worship and events

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; ProPresenter standard plan is licensed per seat at $29 per month or $289 per year; the 20 seat Campus plan at $59 per month is restricted to worship customers only
  • They diverge on capability: OpenLP covers Presentation, ProPresenter covers Advanced Presentation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenLP and ProPresenter actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenLP and ProPresenter differ
AttributeOpenLPProPresenter
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourceone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Mac, LinuxMac, Windows
Founded20041997

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 ProPresenter

  • Advanced Presentation
  • Video Playback
  • Multi-screen
  • Live Control
  • Media Libraries
  • Lyrics Database
  • Streaming
  • Networking

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • Mac support

What people use each for

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

OpenLP

  • Member managementnot ProPresenter
  • Donation trackingnot ProPresenter
  • Event planningnot ProPresenter
  • Volunteer schedulingnot ProPresenter
  • Communicationnot ProPresenter

ProPresenter

  • Live worship service presentation with lyrics, media and scripture displaynot 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

ProPresenter

  • Standard plan is licensed per seat at $29 per month or $289 per year; the 20 seat Campus plan at $59 per month is restricted to worship customers only

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenLP

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

ProPresenter

On request
  • ProPresenter$2500/month
    • Core software
    • 1 year support
  • Enterprise$5000/month
    • Full suite
    • Priority support
    • Training

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 ProPresenter if

  • You need advanced presentation.
  • You work on Mac, Windows.
  • You also want video playback.
ProPresenter review

Questions people ask

Is OpenLP or ProPresenter better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenLP starts at Free and ProPresenter at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenLP or ProPresenter?
OpenLP has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OpenLP and On request for ProPresenter.
Does OpenLP or ProPresenter run on more platforms?
OpenLP runs on Windows, Mac, Linux. ProPresenter runs on Mac, Windows.
Can I use OpenLP for free?
Yes. OpenLP has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ProPresenter 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 ProPresenter is typically brought in for.
What can OpenLP do that ProPresenter cannot?
OpenLP covers Presentation, Lyric Display, Media Playback, Bible Display. ProPresenter covers Advanced Presentation, Video Playback, Multi-screen, Live Control. Both handle Windows support, Mac support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on OpenLP

More on ProPresenter

Keep looking

Other head to heads