Church & Religious · head to head
OpenLP vs SermonAudio
OpenLP
Church & Religious
Free, open-source presentation software for churches
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
SermonAudio
Church & Religious
Free sermon hosting and distribution platform for churches
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- 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; SermonAudio app requires reconfiguration after restart and resets items to default ordering
- They diverge on capability: OpenLP covers Presentation, SermonAudio covers Sermon Hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which OpenLP and SermonAudio actually diverge.
| Attribute | OpenLP | SermonAudio |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | Unknown |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Linux | iOS, Android, Web |
| Founded | 2004 | 2005 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Church & Religious).
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 SermonAudio
- Sermon Hosting
- Podcast Distribution
- Audio Transcription
- Analytics
- Podcast Platforms
- Website Integration
- Email Distribution
- Social Media Sharing
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
OpenLP
- Member management
- Donation tracking
- Event planning
- Volunteer scheduling
- Communication
SermonAudio
- Member management
- Donation tracking
- Event planning
- Volunteer scheduling
- Communication
Both are used for member management, donation tracking, event planning, volunteer scheduling, communication, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
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
SermonAudio
- App requires reconfiguration after restart and resets items to default ordering
- Bookmark search functionality sometimes returns no results due to app bugs
- Mobile app limited to iOS and Android without web-based access for church administrators
Pricing, plan by plan
OpenLP
Free- Community EditionFree
- Full features
- No restrictions
- Community support
SermonAudio
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the SermonAudio 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 SermonAudio if
- You need sermon hosting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want podcast distribution.
Questions people ask
- Is OpenLP or SermonAudio better?
- Neither clearly leads. OpenLP starts at Free and SermonAudio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, OpenLP or SermonAudio?
- OpenLP starts at Free and SermonAudio at Free.
- Does OpenLP or SermonAudio run on more platforms?
- OpenLP runs on Windows, Mac, Linux. SermonAudio runs on iOS, Android, Web.
- Can I use OpenLP for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is OpenLP best used for?
- OpenLP is most often used for member management, donation tracking, event planning, volunteer scheduling.
- What can OpenLP do that SermonAudio cannot?
- OpenLP covers Presentation, Lyric Display, Media Playback, Bible Display. SermonAudio covers Sermon Hosting, Podcast Distribution, Audio Transcription, Analytics.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
SermonAudio: Is SermonAudio free for listening to sermons?
Yes, the sermon library of nearly 3 million audio and video sermons from conservative Christian churches is free to access. However, churches and ministries that want to broadcast their own sermons must pay a subscription fee.
SourceSermonAudio: What is the cost for churches to broadcast sermons on SermonAudio?
SermonAudio offers a flat-fee subscription model at $29.95/month, with smaller ministries potentially eligible for financial aid through a third-party scholarship program.
SourceSermonAudio: What platforms does SermonAudio support for accessing sermons?
SermonAudio supports native apps across a wide range of devices, including iOS, Android, and web browsers, allowing access to sermons anytime, anywhere.
SourceSermonAudio: Does SermonAudio provide offline access to downloaded sermons?
Yes, the app supports offline download capabilities, allowing you to download sermon audio or video and access them even without an internet connection.
SourceSermonAudio: What integrations does SermonAudio offer?
SermonAudio integrates with Logos Bible Software, Blue Letter Bible, Biblearc, and Church Plant Media, enabling seamless distribution and organization of sermon content across platforms.
Source