Presentation Software
OpenLP
Free, open-source worship software for lyrics, Bible verses and media. Volunteer-built, with no license fees on Windows, Mac or Linux.
- Price
- Free (open source)
- Free option
- Yes
- Works on
- Windows, Mac, Linux
- Learning curve
- Moderate
The short answer: is OpenLP right for your church?
OpenLP is free, open-source worship presentation software for song lyrics, Bible verses, media and slides. It's best for small churches and church plants that need a capable booth app with no license fees. The catch: it's built and supported by volunteers, so help comes from forums and a manual, and the interface feels dated.
Who OpenLP is for
Great for
- Small churches that need lyrics and scripture on screen for no cost
- Booths running an older Windows, Mac or Linux computer
- Volunteers comfortable finding answers in a manual or forum
Skip it if
- Churches that want a support line and a polished interface. A paid presentation app includes both.
- Teams that build slides together from home. A cloud-based presentation app handles that.
How churches use OpenLP
Lyrics with no budget
Import songs, tag verses and choruses, and set the verse order once so Sunday's volunteer just clicks through.
Remote from the stage
Let the worship leader or pastor advance slides from a phone with the free Android or iOS remote app.
Stage view on any screen
Open the stage view in a browser on any device on your network, so a spare tablet becomes a confidence monitor.
Getting started with OpenLP
- 1
Download OpenLP for Windows, Mac or Linux from openlp.org.
- 2
Import a Bible translation and the songs for this Sunday.
- 3
Open the web remote on your phone and practice running one service.
Pros and watch-outs
What we like
- Free and open source, with no license fees ever
- Runs on Windows, Mac and Linux
- Free phone remote and browser-based stage view
- Plays PowerPoint and LibreOffice Impress presentations
Watch out for
- Volunteer support only, through forums and a manual
- Interface feels dated next to paid apps
- Release updates come slowly
Need slides that look good on Sunday?
OpenLP shows whatever you give it. Remix announcement slides cover the weekly basics, like welcome screens and announcements, so the volunteer running slides isn't designing at 8am.
See announcement slides ↗Made by Church Media Squad, who also run Pro Church Media.
OpenLP FAQ
Is OpenLP really free?
Yes. OpenLP is open-source software that is free to download and use, with no paid tier. It's built by volunteers and supported by donations.
Does OpenLP work on a Mac?
Yes. It runs on macOS 10.15 or newer, on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, as well as Windows 10 and up and Linux.
Can OpenLP import songs from SongSelect?
Yes. OpenLP can import CCLI SongSelect files, which requires your church's SongSelect subscription.
Where do we get help with OpenLP?
From the online manual, FAQ and community forums. There's no company behind it, so there's no support line to call.
