Best Church Presentation Software in 2025: Q&A for Church Administrators

What is church presentation software?

Church presentation software is a specialized tool that helps churches create and display visual content during worship services. It enables pastors, worship leaders, or volunteers to project song lyrics, Bible verses, sermon slides, announcements, and other media onto screens for the congregation. Unlike generic slide programs, church-focused software often comes with built-in libraries of hymns and scripture, pre-designed worship templates, and integrations for importing content from song databases or Bible tools. These features streamline the process of building presentations tailored to church needs. Importantly, most church presentation tools also support multilingual worship – allowing you to easily switch languages or display bilingual lyrics/scriptures – which helps serve congregations that speak different languages. In short, this software is designed to make worship presentations easy to create and engaging to watch, so you can focus on your message rather than the technology.

Key takeaway: Dedicated church presentation software simplifies the task of creating polished, worship-focused visuals. It provides churches of any size with an efficient way to present lyrics, scriptures, and media, often including features like scripture databases and song libraries that PowerPoint can’t offer. Many options exist in 2025 – from premium all-in-one solutions to free open-source programs – each aiming to enhance your worship service through easy-to-use, church-centric tools. Below, we’ll explore five of the best church presentation software options in 2025 and how they stack up in terms of ease of use, scalability, price, and multilingual support.

What makes ProPresenter a top choice for churches?

ProPresenter is widely regarded as one of the best church presentation software in 2025 for its robust feature set and professional capabilities. Originally built for churches, ProPresenter has become the “premier” presentation platform not just in worship services but also in concerts and conferences. It runs on both Windows and Mac, and it seamlessly handles lyrics, slides, and even complex media (including live video feeds) with high quality. Despite its power, the latest ProPresenter 7 emphasizes a more intuitive, volunteer-friendly interface – even tech novices can get comfortable with it after some practice. This balance of advanced features with relative ease-of-use makes ProPresenter suitable for any church size, from small congregations to megachurches. In fact, the software’s flexibility allows it to scale from “small, intimate settings” to the largest events while still maintaining usability. ProPresenter also supports multiple languages, making it ideal for multilingual congregations or ministries.

Why it stands out: ProPresenter leads in offering an all-in-one solution. It includes a scripture database and quick scripture lookup, integrates with SongSelect for instant lyrics, provides stage display outputs for worship teams, and even has built-in live streaming (with an add-on). It also boasts an extensive media library (through the ProContent add-on) so you have plenty of backgrounds and graphics at your fingertips. Churches appreciate that ProPresenter is a one-time purchase rather than a subscription – once you buy a license, it’s yours to use indefinitely (optional yearly renewals provide updates). This can save money long-term.

Pros:

• Extremely feature-rich and versatile: Supports multi-screen output, video overlays, live video input, audio playback, stage displays, timers, and more. You can tailor complex presentations without performance hiccups.
• Professional quality: Used not only by churches but also sporting events and concerts, so it’s built for high-quality, glitch-free productions. It can handle anything from simple hymn lyrics to dynamic video-intensive shows.
• One-time license model: Although expensive upfront, you pay roughly $399 once for a single-seat license (including one year of updates/support) and can then use it forever. This avoids ongoing fees. (Multi-seat licenses for several computers are available around $999).
• Multilingual and global use: The interface and content support multiple languages, and it’s used by organizations worldwide. This is great for churches that display bilingual worship slides or serve diverse communities.
• Offline capability: ProPresenter is installed on your PC/Mac and does not require internet during services. You can prepare and run presentations entirely offline, which ensures reliability even with poor internet. (Cloud syncing of media is optional if you purchase ProPresenter’s cloud service.)

Cons:

• Higher cost: With a premium price tag, ProPresenter is one of the more expensive options. Its starting price ~$399 is higher than many alternatives, so it may strain a small church’s budget. (And if you want major upgrades after the first year, you’d need to pay for a renewal plan.)
• Steeper learning curve: There are so many features that it takes time to learn them all. It’s not overly complicated for basic use, but mastering advanced workflows will “take some time to explore all the features”. New volunteers might need training to fully leverage everything.
• Hardware requirements: ProPresenter can be a bit of a “memory hog”, meaning you’ll want a fairly modern, powerful computer to run it smoothly. Older or low-spec machines might struggle with media-heavy presentations.
• Windows vs. Mac parity: Some users note that ProPresenter’s development favors the Mac version – historically, the Windows version occasionally lagged in optimizations. While Renewed Vision has improved cross-platform support, this is something to be aware of if you’re on Windows.

Pricing: ProPresenter operates on a one-time license model. A single computer license is roughly $399 (with one year of free updates included). You can continue using the software beyond that without paying again, but to get updates after the first year, you’d purchase a ProPresenter+ renewal (optional). They also offer a $999 license for up to five machines, useful if your church runs ProPresenter in multiple venues. There is no free version, but a trial is available. While the upfront cost is high, many churches see long-term value since you won’t have monthly fees.

Offline/Online use: ProPresenter is a desktop application and works offline by default – all your content is stored locally, so you can present without internet. An optional Cloud Sync feature is available (at additional cost) if you want to synchronize presentations across devices or back them up online. But an internet connection is not required during a service, which means you won’t be left in the lurch by a network outage. ProPresenter also has mobile apps for remote control (so a pastor or technician can control slides via phone) which would require a local network connection, but not necessarily internet.

What makes EasyWorship suitable for churches of all sizes?

EasyWorship lives up to its name by focusing on simplicity and an intuitive workflow. It’s a church presentation software designed to be volunteer-friendly, so even people with little tech experience can quickly learn it. EasyWorship provides a clean, straightforward interface to build your entire service – you can organize song lyrics, Scripture slides, announcements, and media clips all in one place. This tool is known for covering the essential features churches need without overwhelming complexity. It includes a built-in library of worship songs and Bible translations (in multiple languages), so you don’t have to manually input common lyrics or verses. Because of its ease of use and flexible pricing, EasyWorship is marketed to churches of all sizes, from small congregations to large ones. In fact, the company explicitly notes that “churches come in all shapes and sizes, so our pricing does too,” indicating they have packages for any size and budget. This scalability, combined with a gentle learning curve, makes EasyWorship a compelling choice for many church administrators.

Why it stands out: EasyWorship hits a sweet spot for churches that need powerful functionality without a steep learning curve. It supports a variety of media formats (images, videos, PowerPoints) and even offers live video feed support and basic streaming integration. Yet, it keeps things organized with simple tabs for Songs, Scriptures, Media, and Slides, which you can toggle between easily. Its interface is very intuitive, often praised as one of the easiest in this category. Another standout aspect is affordability – EasyWorship is one of the most budget-friendly paid options, offering both monthly and annual subscription plans that many churches can fit into their tech budget. They also include unlimited free support at every subscription level, which is a big plus if you value having help available.

Pros:

• User-friendly design: The interface is designed for volunteers. It’s “simple and intuitive… easy to learn and use”, meaning you can train a new operator quickly. For many churches, this ease of use reduces Sunday morning stress.
• Built-in song & Bible library: EasyWorship comes pre-loaded with a library of popular worship song lyrics and multiple Bible versions. This saves time – you can just search and add scripture or hymn lyrics without retyping them. It’s especially helpful for multilingual ministry, as you can likely find scriptures in the language you need (and you can add more).
• Media and video support: It has an integrated media player and supports a wide range of media formats (audio, video, images). You can play video clips or even a live camera feed during a service. It also allows using PowerPoint slides within the software if needed.
• Affordable pricing options: EasyWorship is one of the most affordable paid church presentation tools. Plans start around $15 per month (billed annually) for the Basic tier, which is far less upfront cost than some competitors. Even the Premium plan (with extra media) is around $23/month (billed annually). This makes it accessible for small churches. (They offer a free trial as well.)
• Suitable for any church size: Whether you have 50 or 5,000 congregants, EasyWorship can work. It supports multi-screen output and a stage display for larger venues, but it’s also perfectly happy running on a single laptop in a small church. The software’s simplicity scales well – smaller churches appreciate its no-fuss setup, while larger ones can still use its advanced options like live feed integration.
• Offline use: EasyWorship is a desktop application (Windows-based), so it works offline once installed. You do not need internet to run presentations. This reliability is good for churches in areas with poor internet. (Internet is only needed for things like software updates, downloading new media, or cloud features if used.)

Cons:

• Windows-only software: A notable limitation is that EasyWorship only runs on Windows PCs. There is no Mac version. So if your church uses Mac systems, EasyWorship won’t be an option unless you run Windows via Boot Camp or a VM. This also means volunteers need to be comfortable with Windows.
• Fewer advanced features: EasyWorship covers the basics very well but isn’t as feature-rich as ProPresenter or Faithlife Proclaim. For example, it might lack some high-end video effects or intricate stage display customizations that power users crave. It’s designed for simplicity, which means extremely complex productions could be harder to do.
• Subscription model: In recent versions, EasyWorship shifted to a subscription pricing model (monthly/annual payments) rather than a one-time purchase. While the cost is low, some churches prefer a perpetual license. A few users have been unhappy with having to subscribe continuously. (However, note that if you purchased an older EasyWorship 6 or 7 license outright, you can continue using that without subscription – but new customers will use the subscription plans.)
• Occasional bugs on older versions: Some users reported stability issues or bugs, particularly in past versions. The company does update the software, but if you’re using an older release (or older hardware), you might encounter some glitches. It’s generally stable on a well-spec’d modern PC with the latest version.

Pricing: EasyWorship offers two main subscription tiers. The Basic Plan (Software Only) starts at around $15/month (if paid annually, approximately $180/year) for an average-sized church. This gives you the core software with all features and free support. The Premium Plan (Software + Media) is about $23.33/month (paid annually ~$280/year), which includes access to a premium library of worship media (backgrounds, mini-movies, etc.). The pricing is also scaled by church size (attendance) to keep it fair for small churches – larger churches might pay a bit more. There is no free forever version of EasyWorship, but a free demo (with watermark) is available to try it out. Importantly, all plans let you install the software on multiple computers within one church campus under a single license (so the pastor, worship leader, and booth PC can all have it).

Offline/Online use: EasyWorship is primarily offline software. You install it on a Windows PC and can create and run presentations without any internet connection. This is great for stability – you won’t be affected by internet outages. EasyWorship does have a remote control app for phones/tablet, which would require a local network (Wi-Fi) to connect to the computer. There’s also a Cloud feature (EasyWorship Cloud) that can sync your songs and media library between computers, but using that is optional and requires internet for syncing. In normal operation, EasyWorship does not need to be online to function, ensuring your service runs smoothly even in offline environments.

What are the pros and cons of MediaShout?

MediaShout is a powerful church presentation software that has been serving churches for many years (now on version 7). It offers an extensive feature set geared towards making worship presentations highly customizable. MediaShout supports displaying song lyrics, scriptures, sermon points, images, videos, and more – all the usual church presentation needs. What sets it apart is the level of customization it allows: from tweaking the interface layout to setting up custom templates and cues, MediaShout lets tech-savvy users fine-tune their workflow. It even has unique touches like a “Volunteer Mode” that simplifies the interface for volunteers during the service (preventing accidental edits). This can be a lifesaver for churches where not every operator is deeply trained – volunteers get a basic, safe control view while the technical director can use the full features when editing. MediaShout is suitable for small or large churches alike, and it supports both Windows and Mac (though Windows is the primary platform with the latest features). It also supports numerous Bible versions (including foreign-language Bibles), which is helpful for multilingual ministry. Overall, MediaShout is often seen as a middle-ground: more advanced than EasyWorship in features, but sometimes considered a step below ProPresenter in polish – yet it comes at a competitive price point.

Why it stands out: MediaShout’s key strength is customization with church-specific features. For example, you can integrate it with platforms like Dropbox to easily import media, or use SongSelect to import lyrics, and even interface with PowerPoint if someone prefers to import their PPT sermons. The software allows you to set up your own sequence of cues (e.g., play a sound, show a video, then display a verse) with considerable control. A notable feature is its support for multiple languages in the interface itself – you can change the software’s interface language to Spanish, French, etc., which few others offer. This is great if your media team is more comfortable in another language. MediaShout also has a reputation for great customer support, which is highly rated by users. For churches that want a lot of control and don’t mind a bit of a learning curve, MediaShout can be an excellent choice.

Pros:

• Extensive feature set and customization: MediaShout is packed with features – you can display multiple scripture versions in parallel, use advanced text formatting, set up complex cue sequences, and even show live social media feeds or tweets on screen. It’s highly flexible; you can customize templates, slide layouts, and even the software’s UI to suit your team. This means you can create exactly the presentation style you envision.
• Volunteer Mode for simplicity: A standout feature is Volunteer Mode, which gives your volunteer operators a simplified control screen with limited buttons. This prevents mistakes during live services (e.g., they can’t accidentally edit slides or mess up settings). It makes MediaShout easier for non-experts to run once everything is set up.
• Integration and compatibility: MediaShout integrates with common church tools – for instance, it can import songs from CCLI SongSelect, works with various Bible translations, and can incorporate PowerPoint presentations directly. It also supports playback of audio and video files (with a built-in media player) and can handle multi-screen outputs. It’s a comprehensive hub for all your media needs in worship.
• Multi-platform (Windows/Mac): MediaShout historically has been Windows-first, but they have offered Mac versions as well. This cross-platform availability is a plus if your church uses Macs (though check that the Mac version is up-to-date; Windows typically gets the newest version first). In any case, on Windows it runs well and supports modern OS features.
• Good support and community: Users frequently commend MediaShout’s support team and the user community forums. Having responsive support is crucial when you hit a snag on a Saturday night. MediaShout also provides training resources to help you learn the software. Knowing you can get help quickly adds peace of mind.

Cons:

• Learning curve and UI complexity: While MediaShout is user-friendly for basic operations, the interface can feel “busy” due to the many features. It may take some time to become proficient in all it can do. In other words, ease of use is a trade-off – you gain power but at the cost of simplicity. The Volunteer Mode mitigates this during services, but the person designing slides will need to invest time to learn the software’s full capabilities.
• Cost for full features: MediaShout’s pricing can be a bit confusing. They offer a Basic version at around $179/year (subscription) which lacks some features. The full feature set requires either the annual $399/year plan or a one-time purchase around a similar price. Essentially, to unlock all its power, you’ll spend roughly the same as ProPresenter (around $399). Some might question paying ProPresenter prices for a tool that, while powerful, is arguably “not as robust” as ProPresenter in certain areas.
• No mobile apps (limited remote control): Unlike ProPresenter or EasyWorship, MediaShout does not have a dedicated mobile remote app for Android or iOS (as of 2025). In fact, there is no Android app for remote control. This means you can’t easily use a phone to advance slides; you’ll need to be at the computer or use third-party remote solutions. This might be a downside if your pastors like controlling slides from stage via a tablet.
• Text editing quirks: Some users report that MediaShout’s text editing and formatting tools are not as strong as they’d like. For instance, fine-tuning the look of text on slides might feel easier in PowerPoint, leading people to prepare slides in PowerPoint then import to MediaShout. This isn’t a deal-breaker, but if your team is picky about typography and layout, it’s something to test.
• Primarily offline, limited cloud sync: MediaShout does not have the cloud-based collaboration that Proclaim has. It’s mostly an offline software (which can be a pro for reliability). There is no inherent multi-user cloud editing – you’d share files manually or via something like Dropbox. This is fine for many churches but less ideal if multiple people need to work on presentations remotely.

Pricing: MediaShout 7 offers a few pricing options. The MediaShout Basic plan is about $179/year (subscription) but has some feature limitations (e.g., fewer Bible versions, perhaps no advanced features). The MediaShout Complete (all features unlocked) can be obtained for around $399. MediaShout’s website indicates $399 as a one-time cost for the full license (similar to ProPresenter’s price), and they often include a year of support/upgrades. It’s a bit unclear if that $399 is one-time or yearly for the “MediaShout Plus” package – but ChurchTrac notes that to get the full package they charge $399, same as ProPresenter. Essentially, budget for roughly the high hundreds if you want everything, or choose the lower annual plan if you only need basics. There isn’t a free tier (aside from a trial). Keep in mind, MediaShout’s value is good if you leverage its features; if you only use it for simple tasks, a cheaper software might suffice.

Offline/Online use: MediaShout is installed software (available for Windows, and Mac in some versions). It is fully functional offline – you do not need internet during your worship service. This makes it reliable; once everything is downloaded and set up on your computer, no outside connection is required. If you want to share presentations or media between computers, you’d use external methods (like copying files or using a cloud drive). MediaShout does integrate with online services (SongSelect, etc.), so to download songs or Bible versions from those, you’d need internet at that moment. But during actual presentation, it works offline. There’s no real-time cloud sync for multiple users editing like Proclaim. So, in summary, MediaShout is an on-premise solution: great if you prefer offline stability, but collaboration happens the old-fashioned way (by sharing files or having everyone at one computer).

How does Faithlife Proclaim support modern church presentations?

Faithlife Proclaim (often just called Proclaim) is a distinctive option because it is a cloud-based church presentation software. It’s built by Faithlife (the makers of Logos Bible Software) and is designed to facilitate teamwork in creating worship slides. What makes Proclaim stand out is that it allows an unlimited number of team members to collaborate on presentations from anywhere – all under one church license. You can install Proclaim on any number of computers (Windows or Mac) and have pastors, worship leaders, and media volunteers all working together. Changes sync through the cloud, so your worship set is always up to date on every device. This is ideal for distributed teams or last-minute changes: for example, a pastor can tweak sermon slides at home, while the worship leader adds songs from elsewhere, and it all merges seamlessly. Proclaim also integrates deeply with the Logos ecosystem, meaning you can pull in Scripture passages, sermon illustrations, or even use your Logos Bible study notes in your slides easily. It’s very much a modern solution built for connected ministry, though it also supports offline presenting (if you pre-download content) to ensure reliability on Sunday. Proclaim is suitable for any size church, but its subscription pricing and rich feature set especially appeal to medium and large churches who benefit from the multi-user workflow and huge media library included.

Why it stands out: Proclaim’s cloud-powered approach offers convenience and collaboration that other software don’t. With Proclaim, you don’t pay per computer or user – you pay one subscription and your whole team (however many people) can use it. This is great for church admins managing volunteers: you can have multiple folks logged in preparing different parts of the service without extra cost. Another standout is the included media content – Proclaim comes with the largest media library of any option, with tons of stock worship backgrounds, countdown videos, etc., via Faithlife Media. Many of these media are included in the subscription, so you might save money not buying media elsewhere. Proclaim also has unique interactive features like live polls and congregation engagement (e.g., you can have people vote on a question via their phones and show results in real-time during a service). And because it’s from Faithlife, it integrates with other tools: CCLI SongSelect for lyrics, Planning Center, and even sends song usage reports to CCLI automatically. It’s a forward-looking platform for churches that want the latest tech conveniences.

Pros:

• Real-time cloud collaboration: Multiple team members can work on the presentation simultaneously from different locations. Everything is saved in the cloud, so you never worry about “which computer has the latest version.” This is perfect for coordinating between pastors, worship leaders, and AV teams. No more passing flash drives around – updates appear instantly on all devices.
• Unlimited installations & users: Proclaim’s licensing is per church, not per machine. You can “add as many members of your team and access the software from any computer” without extra fees. This means your whole staff and volunteers can have Proclaim on their home computers to prepare, which is both cost-effective and convenient.
• Integration with Logos and other tools: If your church uses Logos Bible Software, Proclaim will be a dream – it links directly with your Logos account. You can import slides from Logos, quickly insert Bible quotes (with your preferred translation) and even use your sermon outline from Logos Sermon Builder. It also integrates with SongSelect (for lyrics import) and Planning Center (for service planning data). This ecosystem connectivity saves time if you’re already using those platforms.
• Huge media library included: Subscribers get access to an impressive library of church media. There are thousands of background slides, worship motion videos, countdown timers, and stock images ready to use. The Proclaim/Faithlife Media library is arguably the largest among presentation softwares. Instead of purchasing media packs separately, you have a trove included, which can justify the subscription cost.
• Interactive and innovative features: Proclaim supports things like live audience polling, sending Bible verses to congregants’ Bible apps, and signaling nursery alerts – features designed to engage the congregation in new ways. It also has built-in sermon recording capabilities; you can record the sermon audio (and even slides) through Proclaim and publish it easily after service. These extra features turn Proclaim into more than just presentation software – it’s part presentation, part ministry tool.
• Multilingual content support: While the interface is in English, Proclaim can display any language content if you have the fonts. Thanks to Logos integration, you have access to myriad Bible translations (Spanish, Chinese, etc.) that you can pull in. This means doing a bilingual service or switching languages for a scripture reading is straightforward.
• Offline mode when needed: Despite being cloud-based, Proclaim is designed so that you can present without internet on the day of service. As long as your presentation is synced and all media is downloaded beforehand, you can run everything offline. So, you get cloud benefits during prep, but you won’t be left hanging if the Wi-Fi drops on Sunday.

Cons:

• Recurring subscription cost: Proclaim is subscription-only (there’s no one-time purchase), and the packages can get expensive, especially for larger churches who might need the higher-tier libraries. The starting price is around $200/year for smaller churches, but advanced tiers (with more media or features) cost more – it can go a few hundred dollars per year. Over several years, this could end up costing more than a one-time license alternative. Budget-conscious churches might find this model less appealing.
• Dependent on cloud for setup: While you can present offline, the collaborative workflow assumes you have internet during the week. If your church staff isn’t consistently online or you prefer offline prep, Proclaim loses some advantage. Essentially, to fully utilize Proclaim, a reliable internet connection is important (for syncing, pulling media, logging in users, etc.). If you’re mostly offline, other software might be simpler.
• Faithlife ecosystem uncertainty: One minor caveat raised by some is that Faithlife (the company) has occasionally retired products in their suite. (For example, they sunset some apps in recent years.) There’s no indication Proclaim is at risk – it’s quite central to Faithlife’s offerings now – but the reliance on a company’s ecosystem means you trust they will continue supporting it long-term. The company’s focus can shift, which is outside your control.
• Learning curve for new concepts: If you’re used to traditional slide programs, Proclaim’s approach (sections for Pre-Service, Service, Post-Service loops, etc.) might require a mental shift. It’s not hard to learn, but it’s different. Also, training volunteers on Proclaim includes teaching them how to collaborate and sync, which is an added layer beyond just running slides. That said, many find Proclaim user-friendly overall once accustomed, on par with EasyWorship in ease of use.
• No permanent access if subscription lapses: With subscription software, if you stop paying, you lose access. If a church’s budget tightens unexpectedly, you wouldn’t want to be locked out of your presentation program. With Proclaim, you’d need to maintain payments to keep using it (though you could export your presentations beforehand as a safeguard).

Pricing: Faithlife Proclaim’s pricing is tiered by the included media and features. The base subscription (Essentials) starts around $199.99 per year for a small church. Larger churches (with higher attendance) or those wanting more media might opt for higher tiers like Proclaim Pro Media or Partner subscriptions, which can be ~$400/year or more. Faithlife doesn’t charge per user or install – all plans allow unlimited users. The cost mainly scales by church size and media access. They often bundle Proclaim with other Faithlife products (for example, a bundle that includes Logos or other services). While not the cheapest, consider that this includes the media library (which, if bought separately, could cost hundreds). Free trial: Proclaim offers a 30-day free trial, and sometimes promotional extended trials, so you can test it with your team. There is no free-forever version; it’s a paid product.

Offline/Online use: Proclaim is a cloud-enabled software available on Windows and Mac. During your preparation and editing, you’ll generally be online so that edits sync and media downloads. However, Proclaim explicitly supports offline operation for presentation: you can “create, present, and record without an internet connection”, as long as you have your content synced beforehand. In practice, that means before church, open Proclaim while online to ensure all songs, images, videos are fully loaded on the machine. Then you can go offline; Proclaim will not try to stream media from the cloud during the service – it uses local copies. This design ensures your sermon won’t derail due to connectivity issues. So Proclaim gives you the best of both worlds: cloud convenience when you have internet, and peace of mind offline mode during the actual worship service.

Is there a free church presentation software for 2025 (like WorshipTools Presenter)?

Yes – if you’re on a tight budget or just starting out, WorshipTools Presenter (formerly known as Worship Extreme) is an excellent free church presentation software. WorshipTools is unique among non-open-source platforms in that it offers a fully functional free tier. Even with the free version, you get a modern, volunteer-friendly presentation program that can cover most needs of a worship service. Presenter (the name of the app) is sleek and fairly easy to use, with a drag-and-drop interface and a clean layout. It supports displaying songs, scriptures, videos, and images, much like the paid alternatives. It also has integrated multi-screen support (including a stage display for lyrics cues) and even some built-in motion graphics to make your slides visually appealing. One of WorshipTools’ strong points is that it’s part of a larger suite: it ties into WorshipTools Planning (a service planning and volunteer scheduling app) and Music Stand (a digital chord chart app for musicians). This means with one account, you handle your service order, your presentation slides, and even your band’s sheet music, all synced together – a powerful combo for a free solution. WorshipTools Presenter is suitable for churches of any size in principle, but it’s especially attractive to small and medium churches that need to keep costs down while still having a capable, up-to-date system.

Why it stands out: Cost is the obvious factor – WorshipTools Presenter can be used at no cost, and even their paid upgrade (Pro) is relatively cheap. But beyond price, it stands out for being cloud-based and volunteer-focused. The software stores your presentations in the cloud (with offline mode for when you present) and provides 500MB of cloud storage even on the free plan. This means you can prepare your service at home and have it synced to the church computer automatically. The interface is designed with volunteers in mind – it’s kept simple and uncluttered, making it easy for anyone to learn. Despite being free, Presenter includes advanced features like SongSelect integration (to import lyrics legally) and a built-in Bible library for quick scripture projection. It even offers extras like congregational polls and questionnaires to increase engagement during service (e.g., live questions or feedback). In short, WorshipTools Presenter punches above its weight, delivering a lot of capability for little to no cost.

Pros:

• Free tier available: WorshipTools Presenter is fully usable for free. The free plan isn’t a trial – you can continue using it indefinitely. It includes all the core features and even access to all three WorshipTools apps (Presenter, Planning, and Music Stand). This is a huge plus for churches with zero budget. You get lyrics projection, media support, and planning tools without spending a dime.
• Ease of use (volunteer-friendly): The interface is modern, clean, and designed to be straightforward. Many churches comment that volunteers pick it up quickly, especially if they’ve used any basic presentation software before. It may not have every bell and whistle, but the advantage is simplicity, reducing training time.
• Cloud syncing: Presenter automatically syncs presentations to the cloud on all logged-in devices. Need to edit slides from home? No problem – when you arrive at church, everything is already updated on the sanctuary PC. This also serves as a backup mechanism (no fear of losing your work if a computer crashes). Even the free plan offers cloud storage (500MB) for your media and presentations.
• Multi-screen and stage display: For a free tool, Presenter impressively supports multiple output screens. You can set up an audience screen, a separate lobby feed, a livestream lyrics overlay, and a stage confidence monitor with upcoming lyrics for the band. There’s also a remote app and a stage display app for mobile devices. This is comparable to what high-end software offer – a big win for churches on a budget.
• Integrations and features: Presenter integrates with CCLI SongSelect to import song lyrics easily, and it has many popular Bible translations built-in for offline scripture display. It also handles video backgrounds, looping motion graphics (with some included for free), and can trigger automations like changing lighting (with MIDI, if set up). For planning, it links with Planning Center (a widely used church service planner) to import service orders. These features are remarkable given the price point.
• Affordable upgrade for more: If you need additional storage or features, the paid WorshipTools Pro subscription is about $162/year (which is only ~$13.50/month). This unlocks unlimited cloud storage and more media (like a large library of motion backgrounds). Even this paid level is much cheaper than most competitors’ paid plans.

Cons:

• Not as powerful as premium solutions: While WorshipTools Presenter covers the basics well, it “may lack some advanced functionalities found in premium, paid alternatives”. For instance, it doesn’t have native live streaming output (like ProPresenter or Proclaim do), and its media library, while decent, is smaller. Churches with very complex production needs (e.g., integrating multiple live video feeds, custom stage layouts with lots of layers) might find Presenter’s feature set a bit limited.
• Internet reliance for syncing: Presenter is built with cloud sync at its core. An internet connection is strongly recommended when using it, especially for preparing or making last-minute changes. If you lose connection, you can still run a service with what’s been saved offline, but you might not be able to access something you created on another device. In short, it’s not as standalone as an offline tool – plan to have internet during prep (and ideally during services to use features like live polls or to sync last-second edits).
• Slightly less polished in some areas: As a newer product (and one that’s free), you might encounter occasional minor bugs or limitations. For example, customization options are somewhat shallow – you can’t deeply fine-tune slide designs to the extent you might in PowerPoint or ProPresenter. Also, support is community-driven (though they do have forums and documentation). It’s the trade-off for an accessible tool: you get 80% of the functionality for a fraction of the cost, but that last 20% (ultra-specific features or ultra-smooth performance under heavy load) might not be there.
• Training resources: While the interface is simple, WorshipTools doesn’t have as expansive training materials or user conferences as the big players do. You may have to rely on the user forum or help docs for troubleshooting. The community is growing, but if having official support lines and tons of tutorials is important, note that this is a leaner operation.
• No Linux support: It runs on Windows and Mac (and mobile for the remote apps), but there’s no Linux version. (Most churches use Win/Mac anyway, but a few tech-savvy churches that run Linux might use OpenLP instead in that case.)

Pricing: Free. WorshipTools Presenter’s base functionality costs nothing. Simply create an account and download the software. The free plan includes the Presenter app with all standard features, 500 MB of cloud storage for your media, access to the WorshipTools Planning and Music Stand apps, and community support. If you want more, the WorshipTools Pro subscription (also called “Presenter Pro” or “WorshipTools Pro Plus”) is approximately $162 per year. The paid plan expands your cloud storage to unlimited, gives you access to a larger library of motion graphics and media, and priority support. It’s completely optional – many churches find the free version sufficient. There’s also a mid-tier Plus plan (cheaper) if you need something in between. Importantly, all plans allow unlimited users and installations (like Proclaim, it’s per church). Given the low cost, even the paid version is within reach for most churches if they desire the extras. But you can truly run forever on the free edition if you’re happy with the basics.

Offline/Online use: WorshipTools Presenter is a hybrid – it’s a desktop app that caches data locally, but it’s designed to work best with an internet connection. For presenting during a service, it can run offline as long as you already opened the presentation when online (so that all songs and media were synced to the device). Many churches have used it offline successfully, but one of its cons is that it feels geared toward being online. For example, to add new songs or edits on the fly, internet helps because it syncs or pulls from cloud. If you know you won’t have internet on Sunday, you should prepare everything in advance and test it in “Offline Mode” (there is an Offline toggle that allows you to use it without logging in each time). In summary, Presenter can be used offline for the actual playback, but plan to connect to internet for smooth preparation and to take advantage of its cloud features. The free plan’s 500MB cloud limit means you might store some media only locally if you exceed that, so be mindful to have those local files available on the presenting computer in offline scenarios.

Aside: OpenLP (Open Source) – Another free option worth mentioning is OpenLP, a completely free and open-source worship presentation software. OpenLP is maintained by a community and is also cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux). It supports multiple languages (its interface can be translated and it supports Bibles in many languages), which is great for multilingual congregations. OpenLP has many of the same capabilities (songs, Bibles, images, even PowerPoint integration) and no cost at all. However, it may require more technical know-how to set up and isn’t as polished visually as the others – the learning curve can be steeper, and one should expect a few quirks or “clunky” aspects. If you have a tech-savvy team and zero budget, OpenLP is a fantastic solution. For most churches looking for free software with a smoother experience, WorshipTools Presenter tends to be easier out of the box, whereas OpenLP offers unlimited customization (even the ability to tweak the code) for those who have the skills.

How can a church choose the best presentation software for its needs?

Choosing the right church presentation software comes down to evaluating a few key factors in light of your church’s specific situation. Here are four main considerations to guide your decision:

1. Budget: Start with an honest look at what you can afford. Prices range from free (OpenLP, WorshipTools) to several hundred dollars. If you have a tight or zero budget, a free solution might be your only choice. If you have some funds, determine if a one-time purchase (ProPresenter, MediaShout) or an ongoing subscription (Proclaim, EasyWorship) makes more sense. Remember, the most expensive software is not automatically the best for you – all of the top options will improve your worship presentations to a significant degree. It’s about what fits your budget comfortably. Don’t overspend on features you won’t use, but also consider it an investment in your ministry’s effectiveness.
2. Features and Integrations: Identify the must-have features for your context. Do you need live streaming or social media integration? Then maybe ProPresenter or Proclaim would be worth it. Do you value having a huge built-in media library? Proclaim or ProPresenter (with ProContent) shine there. Are you managing songs in Planning Center or using Logos Bible Software? If so, choosing software that integrates (WorshipTools with Planning Center, Proclaim with Logos, etc.) will save you time. Make a short list of features that are critical (e.g., “Must run on Mac” or “Needs stage display for choir” or “Supports bilingual slides”). Then see which software checks those boxes. It helps to watch demo videos or even try out trials to see if the features meet expectations.
3. Ease of Use (Volunteer Skill Level): Consider who will be running this software. If you have a dedicated tech team with time to learn, a more complex but powerful tool could be fine. If you rely on rotating volunteers or staff who aren’t tech-savvy, prioritize a tool known for simplicity like EasyWorship or Proclaim. ProPresenter is extremely powerful but does require more training (a “learning curve” exists). Free open-source options like OpenLP cost no money but will cost you time to set up and learn. It’s crucial the software “meets you where you are” skill-wise. The less time spent struggling with the program, the more time you have to actually plan worship. Many vendors offer tutorial videos – take advantage of those and even let a couple of your volunteers try the interfaces during trial periods to get feedback on usability.
4. Compatibility (Hardware and Ecosystem): Ensure the software plays nicely with your existing hardware and software environment. For example, if your church only has Mac computers, that immediately rules out EasyWorship (Windows-only) and perhaps indicates ProPresenter, Proclaim, or WorshipTools as better options (all Mac-compatible). Check your projection system too – all these softwares output to projectors/screens, but if you have special hardware (like a video switcher or a need for Alpha channel graphics for live stream overlay), certain software like ProPresenter or EasyWorship with NDI support might be necessary. Also, consider if you need to import content from other programs: if a lot of your pastors’ slides are in PowerPoint, you’ll want a program that imports PPT seamlessly (MediaShout, ProPresenter, and OpenLP do). Or if you want to reuse the software’s content in other places, look for export options. In short, the software should integrate smoothly into your workflow – both the tech and the people side of that workflow.

By evaluating these factors – budget, features, ease of use, and compatibility – you can narrow down the field. There’s no one-size-fits-all “best” choice; the best is what aligns with your church’s needs and resources. For instance, the “best” for a house church might be a free, simple tool, whereas the “best” for a megachurch with a broadcast ministry might be a high-end solution with streaming and multiple outputs. All the top five options discussed here are reliable and effective; your task is to find the sweet spot where the software meets your requirements in all these areas. It often helps to ask other churches of similar size what they use successfully or to join forums/groups for first-hand reviews. And remember, you can often try the software (through free trials or free versions) before fully committing – do some hands-on testing with your team to see which one everyone feels comfortable with. With a bit of research and prayer, you’ll find a presentation tool that enhances your worship services and frees you to focus on ministry rather than software.