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Religion · head to head

OpenLP vs SimpleChurch CRM

OpenLP logo

OpenLP

Religion

Free, open-source presentation software for churches

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

SimpleChurch CRM

Religion

Customer relationship management for churches

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenLP has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: OpenLP covers Presentation, SimpleChurch CRM covers Contact Management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenLP and SimpleChurch CRM actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenLP and SimpleChurch CRM differ
AttributeOpenLPSimpleChurch CRM
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Mac, LinuxWeb, Mobile
Founded20042011

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 SimpleChurch CRM

  • Contact Management
  • Interaction Tracking
  • Pipeline Management
  • Reporting
  • Email Integration
  • Calendar Systems
  • Church Management
  • Communication Tools

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

SimpleChurch CRM

  • 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

SimpleChurch CRM

Nothing recorded yet. See the SimpleChurch CRM review.

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenLP

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

SimpleChurch CRM

On request
  • Basic$59/month
    • Basic CRM
    • Up to 300 contacts
  • Professional$179/month
    • Advanced features
    • Unlimited contacts
    • Analytics

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 SimpleChurch CRM if

  • You need contact management.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want interaction tracking.
SimpleChurch CRM review

Questions people ask

Is OpenLP or SimpleChurch CRM better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenLP starts at Free and SimpleChurch CRM at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenLP or SimpleChurch CRM?
OpenLP has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OpenLP and On request for SimpleChurch CRM.
Does OpenLP or SimpleChurch CRM run on more platforms?
OpenLP runs on Windows, Mac, Linux. SimpleChurch CRM runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use OpenLP for free?
Yes. OpenLP has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SimpleChurch CRM starts at On request.
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 SimpleChurch CRM cannot?
OpenLP covers Presentation, Lyric Display, Media Playback, Bible Display. SimpleChurch CRM covers Contact Management, Interaction Tracking, Pipeline Management, Reporting.

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
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
OpenLP: What platforms does OpenLP support?

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

Source
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