Music Licensing
CCLI
The Church Copyright License to project and print worship lyrics, plus add-on licenses for streaming services and sharing rehearsal recordings.
- Price
- From $83/yr by church size; Streaming from $84/yr (Oct 2026)
- Free option
- No
- Works on
- Web, Service
- Learning curve
- Easy
The short answer: is CCLI right for your church?
CCLI's Church Copyright License lets your church project and print lyrics, record services for limited distribution, and arrange songs that have no published version. It's priced by church size. The catch: streaming your services needs the separate CCLI Streaming License, and playing artist tracks or multitracks in a stream needs Streaming Plus.
Who CCLI is for
Great for
- Churches that project or print worship lyrics every Sunday
- Churches streaming services with the band playing live
- Worship leaders who want lyrics and chord charts through SongSelect
Skip it if
- Churches singing mostly from Catholic or mainline hymnal publishers. Check whether those publishers license through a different provider.
- Churches playing music at non-worship events like a youth movie night. That needs a separate performance license.
How churches use CCLI
Sunday lyrics on screen
Project lyrics from your presentation software and turn on auto-reporting in a supported app, so song use is reported without a spreadsheet.
Streaming the service
Add the CCLI Streaming License so the worship set can stay in your YouTube or Facebook stream. Add Streaming Plus if your band plays along to tracks.
Christmas Eve program
Print carol lyrics in the Christmas Eve program, with the song title, writer credit, copyright line and your license number.
Getting started with CCLI
- 1
Find your church's size band on CCLI's price table and order the Church Copyright License.
- 2
Add the Streaming License if any part of your worship set goes online.
- 3
Turn on auto-reporting in your presentation software and add your license number to song credits.
Pros and watch-outs
What we like
- Covers more than 600,000 songs and hymns
- Free SongSelect lyrics for license holders
- Auto-reporting through popular presentation apps
- Priced by church size, from $83 a year
Watch out for
- Streaming needs a separate add-on license
- Doesn't cover copying choral octavos, cantatas or instrumental sheet music
- Copies made under the license must be destroyed if it lapses
CCLI FAQ
What does a CCLI license cover?
The Church Copyright License covers projecting and printing lyrics, recording services for limited distribution, and making arrangements or translations where no published version exists. It doesn't cover streaming or copying choral and instrumental sheet music.
Do we need a CCLI Streaming License to livestream our service?
Yes, if the stream includes worship songs. CCLI says streaming songs performed in your services needs the Streaming License or direct permission from the copyright owners.
Can we use backing tracks in our livestream?
Only with the CCLI Streaming Plus License, which covers artist tracks, backing tracks and multitracks from authorized sources, usually audio only. Showing other video content usually needs the copyright owner's permission.
How much does a CCLI license cost?
It depends on church size. The Church Copyright License is $83 a year for 1 to 24 people and $297 for 100 to 199 (Oct 2026). Streaming is extra, from $84 a year.
