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Religion · head to head

OpenLP vs The Church App

OpenLP logo

OpenLP

Religion

Free, open-source presentation software for churches

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
The Church App logo

The Church App

Religion

Branded church app and digital engagement platform

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; The Church App specific pricing is not published on the public website
  • They diverge on capability: OpenLP covers Presentation, The Church App covers Custom Branding.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenLP and The Church App actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenLP and The Church App differ
AttributeOpenLPThe Church App
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Mac, LinuxIOS, Android
Founded20042012

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 The Church App

  • Custom Branding
  • Sermon Streaming
  • Giving Integration
  • Event Management
  • Giving Platforms
  • Sermon Storage
  • Analytics
  • Push Notifications

What people use each for

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

OpenLP

  • Member managementnot The Church App
  • Donation trackingnot The Church App
  • Event planningnot The Church App
  • Volunteer schedulingnot The Church App
  • Communicationnot The Church App

The Church App

  • Church and faith community management and engagementnot OpenLP
  • Giving and donation management (mentioned 10% or more increase in giving)not OpenLP
  • Member and volunteer coordinationnot 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

The Church App

  • Specific pricing is not published on the public website
  • Requires contacting sales team or booking a demo to obtain pricing information

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenLP

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

The Church App

On request
  • Starter$99/month
    • Basic app
    • Core features
  • Premium$299/month
    • Custom branding
    • Advanced features
    • 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 The Church App if

  • You need custom branding.
  • You work on IOS, Android.
  • You also want sermon streaming.
The Church App review

Questions people ask

Is OpenLP or The Church App better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenLP starts at Free and The Church App at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenLP or The Church App?
OpenLP has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OpenLP and On request for The Church App.
Does OpenLP or The Church App run on more platforms?
OpenLP runs on Windows, Mac, Linux. The Church App runs on IOS, Android.
Can I use OpenLP for free?
Yes. OpenLP has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. The Church App 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 The Church App is typically brought in for.
What can OpenLP do that The Church App cannot?
OpenLP covers Presentation, Lyric Display, Media Playback, Bible Display. The Church App covers Custom Branding, Sermon Streaming, Giving Integration, Event Management.

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
The Church App: How much does The Church App cost?

Specific pricing is not published on The Church App website. Contact sales at 469-564-3922, [email protected], or use the contact form to request pricing information.

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
The Church App: Is there a free trial or demo available?

The Church App offers the ability to book a demo to learn about their platform and pricing. Visit their website and click the 'Book a Demo' link to connect with a sales representative.

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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