Software · head to head
OpenLP vs Rock RMS
Rock RMS
Software
Comprehensive relationship and resource management system for churches
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
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; Rock RMS pricing not published on website; requires contacting sales for quote, preventing transparent cost comparison
- They diverge on capability: OpenLP covers Presentation, Rock RMS covers Member Management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which OpenLP and Rock RMS actually diverge.
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 Rock RMS
- Member Management
- Giving & Finances
- Group Management
- Event Planning
- Payment Processing
- Email Marketing
- Accounting Software
- Custom APIs
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
OpenLP
- Member managementnot Rock RMS
- Donation trackingnot Rock RMS
- Event planningnot Rock RMS
- Volunteer schedulingnot Rock RMS
- Communicationnot Rock RMS
Rock RMS
- Churches managing 10M+ people records with integrated giving and event systemsnot OpenLP
- Organisations needing offline-first workflows with eventual replicationnot OpenLP
- Tech-enabled churches seeking customisable digital engagement and mobile appsnot 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
Rock RMS
- Pricing not published on website; requires contacting sales for quote, preventing transparent cost comparison
- Self-hosted deployment requires 'technical experience'; non-technical churches limited to managed hosting options
- Managed hosting through third-party providers (Rock Cloud, Cloud 9); switching providers involves vendor lock-in complexity
Pricing, plan by plan
OpenLP
Free- Community EditionFree
- Full features
- No restrictions
- Community support
Rock RMS
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Rock RMS review.
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.
Choose Rock RMS if
- You need member management.
- You work on Web, Mobile apps, TV apps.
- You also want giving & finances.
Questions people ask
- Is OpenLP or Rock RMS better?
- Neither clearly leads. OpenLP starts at Free and Rock RMS at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, OpenLP or Rock RMS?
- OpenLP has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OpenLP and On request for Rock RMS.
- Does OpenLP or Rock RMS run on more platforms?
- OpenLP runs on Windows, Mac, Linux. Rock RMS runs on Web, Mobile apps, TV apps.
- Can I use OpenLP for free?
- Yes. OpenLP has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Rock RMS 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 Rock RMS is typically brought in for.
- What can OpenLP do that Rock RMS cannot?
- OpenLP covers Presentation, Lyric Display, Media Playback, Bible Display. Rock RMS covers Member Management, Giving & Finances, Group Management, Event Planning.