Software profile
OpenLP
Free, open-source worship display software for songs, Bible verses, media and service content on major desktop systems.
30-second answer
What to know before you open the full record
- What it is
- Free, open-source worship display software for songs, Bible verses, media and service content on major desktop systems.
- Contexts worth testing
- Churches needing free presentation software, Teams using Windows, macOS or Linux and able to support their own setup
- Published starting price
- £0 / month
- Relevant UK checks
- Available more broadly
- Shortlist when
- Small churches seeking free presentation software
- Check first
- Community rather than commercial support model
- Evidence date
- Sources checked 25 July 2026
This is an evidence-led starting point, not a ranking or hands-on verdict. Supplier sources establish what they publish; your church should test material workflows and resolve the questions below.
Five-minute assessment
Assess the likely fit and trade-offs
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.
Decision framing
Shortlist when, then check first
- Shortlist when
- Small churches seeking free presentation software
- Test in a real workflow
- Song projection
- Settle before buying
- Community rather than commercial support model
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
What the supplier publishes
- 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.
Full due diligence
Evidence, operations and source record
Use this full record to test practical details, retain source links and take specific gaps to the supplier.
Published operations and support details
- Integrations
- VLC media playback, PowerPoint and LibreOffice presentation support
- Import and export
- Imports from selected presentation packages
- Support
- Documentation, Community forums
Sources reviewed
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
Reviewed 25 July 2026 · Supports: Free and open-source licence, Platforms, Presentation features, Remote control - OpenLP reference manual
Reviewed 25 July 2026 · Supports: GPL licence, Presentation use, No-cost installation
