Softwr

Religion · head to head

OpenLP vs Rock RMS

OpenLP logo

OpenLP

Religion

Free, open-source presentation software for churches

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Rock RMS logo

Rock RMS

Religion

Comprehensive relationship and resource management system for churches

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; Rock RMS non-traditional pricing model based on donations rather than standard software licenses
  • They diverge on capability: OpenLP covers Presentation, Rock RMS covers Member Management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenLP and Rock RMS actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenLP and Rock RMS differ
AttributeOpenLPRock RMS
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Mac, LinuxWeb, Mobile apps, TV apps
Founded20042008

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

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

  • Non-traditional pricing model based on donations rather than standard software licenses
  • Pricing based on self-reported average weekend attendance with honor system
  • Grant applications required for churches unable to afford donations
  • Cloud hosting fees may apply separately to donation amount

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenLP

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

Rock RMS

On request

No 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.
OpenLP review

Choose Rock RMS if

  • You need member management.
  • You work on Web, Mobile apps, TV apps.
  • You also want giving & finances.
Rock RMS review

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.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OpenLP: How much does OpenLP cost?

OpenLP is completely free to download, install, and use. Being open source means OpenLP is free forever with no licensing or subscription fees.

Source
Rock RMS: How much does Rock RMS cost?

Rock operates on a donation model of $4.45 per average weekend attendee per year. Example: 100-person congregation = $445 annual commitment. No contracts, license fees, or hidden costs.

Source
OpenLP: Can I install OpenLP on multiple computers for free?

Yes, OpenLP can be downloaded, installed on multiple computers, and distributed to others at no cost.

Source
Rock RMS: What if a church cannot afford the donation?

Grant applications are available for churches unable to donate. Rock also offers alternative donation models for non-church nonprofits.

Source
OpenLP: What platforms does OpenLP support?

OpenLP is free for Windows, Mac, Linux, and FreeBSD platforms with no platform-specific licensing costs.

Source
Rock RMS: Does Rock charge for cloud hosting?

Cloud-hosted churches combine the donation with hosting fees into a single monthly payment. Rock Cloud and Cloud 9 partner-hosted options are available with integrated billing.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on OpenLP

More on Rock RMS

Keep looking

Other head to heads