Software profile
OpenLP
Partially verifiedFree, open-source worship-presentation software for displaying songs, Bible verses, media and service content on major desktop platforms.
The short version
A fit worth testing against your real workflow.
OpenLP is a strong fit where the budget needs to stay focused on hardware and content rather than subscriptions. The trade-off is that the church must be ready to own the setup, updates, rehearsals and contingency plan itself.
Directory assessment
OpenLP is an excellent cost-conscious presentation starting point where a church can own its own setup and support. Free software does not remove the need for rehearsal, backup plans, content licences or someone responsible for the presentation computer.
Procurement verdict
What to investigate first
- Problem this profile addresses
- Small churches seeking free presentation software
- Material differentiator to test
- Song projection
- First risk or uncertainty
- Community rather than commercial support model
Decision evidence
What is evidenced, and what still needs asking
This is an evidence summary, not a product score. It counts the state of the procurement fields below and keeps the broader listing status separate.
- 0 Confirmed
- 0 Independently evidenced
- 0 Supplier claim
- 20 Not confirmed
- 0 Possibly outdated
- Contact or pricing band
- Not confirmedNot confirmedNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- Multi-site support
- Not confirmedNot confirmedNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- Administrator limits
- Not confirmedNot confirmedNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- Volunteer usability
- Not confirmedNot confirmedNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- Implementation complexity
- Not confirmedNot confirmedNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- Technical administration
- Not confirmedNot confirmedNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- UK purchasing availability
- Not confirmedNot confirmedNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- GBP pricing
- Not confirmedPublished GBP starting priceNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- VAT treatment
- Not confirmedNot confirmedNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- Gift Aid
- Not confirmedNot applicable to this product profileNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- Multi-factor authentication
- Not confirmedNot confirmedNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- Role-based permissions
- Not confirmedNot confirmedNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- Audit logs
- Not confirmedNot confirmedNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- Data-processing agreement
- Not confirmedNot confirmedNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- Hosting and location
- Not confirmedNot confirmedNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- International transfers
- Not confirmedNot confirmedNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- Export formats
- Not confirmedImports from selected presentation packagesNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- Migration assistance
- Not confirmedNot confirmedNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- UK support hours
- Not confirmedDocumentation; Community forumsNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
- Contract and cancellation
- Not confirmedNot confirmedNo supporting source is recorded for this field. Listing checked 25 Jul 2026.
Best suited to
- Small churches seeking free presentation software
- Technically confident volunteers who can test and maintain a local setup
Evidence-backed strengths
- Free and open source
- Cross-platform presentation and browser-based remote control
Limitations and questions
- Community rather than commercial support model
- The church remains responsible for setup, resilience and content licensing
Confirmed core features
- Song projection
- Bible-verse presentation
- Images, audio and video
- Custom slides
- Remote web control
- Stage view
What does the supplier currently publish?
Pricing and trial
OpenLP is free, open-source software under the GNU GPL. There is no subscription or paid trial; churches remain responsible for their own hardware, content and support arrangements.
| Tier or starting point | Published price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| OpenLP | Free | Open-source GNU GPL software; installs can be used without subscription fees |
Free trial: No — No time-limited trial is needed because the software is free to download and use.
Can the church make its local setup reliable enough for live use?
A practical free presentation stack
OpenLP publishes support for songs, Bible verses, presentations, images, audio, video and remote control across major desktop platforms. It is free and open source under the GNU GPL.
Run a full rehearsal with the actual projector, songs, Bible translations, videos and operator. Keep a simple backup such as exported slides or printed lyrics for the first live services.
What does external feedback add?
What public reviews and peer discussion do — and do not — show
This profile does not use an aggregate review score. It is based on the project’s own published feature, licensing and support information.
- No subscription cost makes a pilot accessible.
- Local technical ownership and rehearsal discipline are central to fit.
Community testimonials are not treated as independent testing or a guarantee of compatibility with church hardware.
The questions a shortlist needs to answer
OpenLP FAQs
Is OpenLP really free?
Yes. OpenLP is published as free, open-source software under the GNU GPL. There is no subscription fee, although the church still supplies hardware, content and support.
Does OpenLP have a free trial?
A trial is not needed because OpenLP is free to download and use. Test it thoroughly with the church’s actual live-service equipment.
Can OpenLP display songs and Bible verses?
Yes. The project describes song, Bible, media, custom-slide and presentation support, plus browser-based remote control. Check content licences separately.
Operations and support
- Data hosting
- Not confirmed
- GDPR information
- Not confirmed
- Integrations
- VLC media playback, PowerPoint and LibreOffice presentation support
- Import and export
- Imports from selected presentation packages
- Support
- Documentation, Community forums
Research sources
Sources support only the fields named beneath each link. Supplier material is not independent testing; external review material is included as a limited signal rather than a verdict.
- OpenLP product overview
Checked 25 July 2026 · Supports: Free and open-source licence, Platforms, Presentation features, Remote control - OpenLP reference manual
Checked 25 July 2026 · Supports: GPL licence, Presentation use, No-cost installation