If your church runs ProPresenter, you know it's powerful — but you also know it's expensive. A single license costs hundreds of dollars, and the feature set can feel overwhelming for small to mid-size congregations.
The good news? There are now several excellent alternatives — many of them completely free — that handle lyrics, Bible verses, media playback, and live production beautifully. Whether you're a church plant working with a shoestring budget or a seasoned tech director looking for something lighter, this guide will help you find the right fit.
Why look beyond ProPresenter?
ProPresenter has been the industry standard for over a decade. It's used in megachurches, conferences, and touring productions worldwide. But for many churches, it presents real challenges:
- Cost. A single ProPresenter 7 license is $399 ($499 for Pro). For churches running multiple computers, the cost adds up fast.
- Complexity. The interface is packed with features most churches never use. The learning curve is steep for volunteers rotating through tech teams.
- Platform lock-in. macOS and Windows only. No web-based or mobile options for quick edits.
- Resource usage. ProPresenter can be heavy on older hardware, which many churches rely on.
These pain points have driven a wave of innovation. Let's dive into the best alternatives available today.
10 alternatives compared
We've evaluated each alternative based on pricing, ease of use, platform support, and key features relevant to modern worship services.
1. Magnify — Best for simplicity & speed
Price: Free (open source, AGPLv3)
Platform: Web (PWA — works offline)
Full disclosure: this is our software, but we built it because we saw a real need. Magnify is an offline-first web app that installs in seconds — no downloads, no licenses, no accounts. It handles lyrics with active-line highlighting, Bible verses with parallel translations, media overlays, and PDF slide support, all from a clean, minimal interface.
It's designed for church volunteers: intuitive enough for first-time users but powerful enough for weekly production. And since it runs in the browser, it works on any device — even older Chromebooks.
2. OpenSong — Best for customization
Price: Free (open source)
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux
OpenSong has been around for years and remains a solid choice for churches that want full control. It supports lyrics, chords, setlists, PDF display, and has a built-in presentation mode. The interface feels dated, but it's lightweight and runs on just about anything.
"We used OpenSong for five years. It's stable, reliable, and the price is right. The only reason we moved was that our volunteers wanted something more modern."
— Tech Director, Community Church, Ohio
How to choose the right one
The right software depends on your church's specific needs. Here's a quick framework:
- Under 100 attendees? Magnify or OpenSong. Free, lightweight, minimal learning curve.
- 100–500 attendees? Magnify (web flexibility) or EasyWorship (desktop).
- 500+ with multiple venues? ProPresenter or Playback Pro.
- Volunteer-run tech team? Magnify. Simplicity wins when people rotate weekly.
Final thoughts
The church presentation software landscape has never been more diverse. You no longer need to spend thousands to have a professional presentation system. Whether you choose a free open-source option like Magnify or OpenSong, or a paid tool like EasyWorship, the important thing is finding software that serves your congregation — not the other way around.
We built Magnify because we believe church tech should be accessible, simple, and free. If you haven't tried it yet, give it a spin — it installs in seconds and there's nothing to lose.
