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Software · head to head

OpenLP vs Servant Keeper

OpenLP logo

OpenLP

Software

Free, open-source presentation software for churches

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Servant Keeper logo

Servant Keeper

Software

Church scheduling and volunteer management software

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; Servant Keeper the Core plan at $79.99 per month is limited to 4 estimated users and the Complete plan at $159.99 to 8
  • They diverge on capability: OpenLP covers Presentation, Servant Keeper covers Volunteer Scheduling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenLP and Servant Keeper actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenLP and Servant Keeper differ
AttributeOpenLPServant Keeper
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Mac, LinuxWeb, Mobile
Founded20042002

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 Servant Keeper

  • Volunteer Scheduling
  • Position Management
  • Automated Reminders
  • Skill Tracking
  • Email Notifications
  • Calendar Systems
  • Text Messaging
  • Mobile App

What people use each for

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

OpenLP

  • Member managementnot Servant Keeper
  • Donation trackingnot Servant Keeper
  • Event planningnot Servant Keeper
  • Volunteer schedulingnot Servant Keeper
  • Communicationnot Servant Keeper

Servant Keeper

  • Church membership and family record managementnot OpenLP
  • Recording contributions and issuing giving statementsnot OpenLP
  • Child check-in and attendance tracking for congregationsnot 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

Servant Keeper

  • The Core plan at $79.99 per month is limited to 4 estimated users and the Complete plan at $159.99 to 8
  • Check-in is a $199 optional add-on on the Core plan rather than an included feature
  • Core gets only the standard payment processing rate; the preferred rate requires the Complete plan
  • Onboarding on Core is self-guided, and white glove data transfer is priced on request on both plans
  • SMS text messaging on Complete is capped at 1,000 messages per month
  • Live streaming on Complete is capped at 25 hours per month of 720p HD, with 50 GB of storage
  • Email, texting, website and app features are all withheld from the Core plan
  • The 8% saving requires paying annually, at $879.89 or $1,759.89 up front

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenLP

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

Servant Keeper

On request
  • Basic$29.95/month
    • Basic scheduling
    • Up to 200 volunteers
  • Pro$99.95/month
    • Advanced features
    • Unlimited volunteers
    • Mobile app

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 Servant Keeper if

  • You need volunteer scheduling.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want position management.
Servant Keeper review

Questions people ask

Is OpenLP or Servant Keeper better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenLP starts at Free and Servant Keeper at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenLP or Servant Keeper?
OpenLP has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OpenLP and On request for Servant Keeper.
Does OpenLP or Servant Keeper run on more platforms?
OpenLP runs on Windows, Mac, Linux. Servant Keeper runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use OpenLP for free?
Yes. OpenLP has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Servant Keeper 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 Servant Keeper is typically brought in for.
What can OpenLP do that Servant Keeper cannot?
OpenLP covers Presentation, Lyric Display, Media Playback, Bible Display. Servant Keeper covers Volunteer Scheduling, Position Management, Automated Reminders, Skill Tracking.
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