Freedom251 › Church Presentation Software
Open Worship
What Open Worship is
Open Worship is free, open-source presentation software for displaying church lyrics on screens and in livestreams. Its song library can organize, search, and tag songs; users can import song text from files or enter songs manually. Service setlists can be arranged before a service or assembled during one, reordered, and saved for future use. For in-person display, Open Worship sends lyrics to connected screens or projectors and supports scripture display. For livestreams, it provides NDI output for lyric overlays in OBS, vMix, Wirecast, and other NDI-compatible software. Output choices include a 1920×360 lower-third layout, a 1920×1080 full-screen layout, and chroma key support for transparent backgrounds. The site describes local-network NDI streaming as zero-latency and requiring no extra hardware. Users can customize fonts, colors, backgrounds, and text shadows. Keyboard controls include Space or the arrow keys for navigation and B to black out the output. Open Worship runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its MIT license allows personal and commercial use, and its Free plan is described as free forever, with no subscriptions or ads. The download page notes that Windows may display a SmartScreen security warning and explains how to continue running the program.
Who it suits
Open Worship suits churches that need to organize song libraries and prepare or manage service setlists across screens or livestreams. It is also suited to teams using NDI-compatible streaming software and people who want a free, MIT-licensed tool for Windows, macOS, or Linux.
What it does well
- Organizes, searches, and tags songs from imports or manual entry.
- Builds, reorders, and saves service setlists.
- Displays lyrics and scripture on connected screens or projectors.
- NDI output supports overlays in OBS, vMix, and Wirecast.
- Customizes fonts, colors, backgrounds, and text shadows.
- MIT-licensed for personal and commercial use.
What to know first
- Livestream overlays require NDI-compatible software.
- Windows may show a SmartScreen security warning during download.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free forever · no subscriptions · no ads | Free |
As inno8.github.io lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Open Worship website and choose a download for Windows, macOS, or Linux.
- Install and launch the software on the chosen platform.
- Import song text files or enter songs manually, then organize the library.
- Build a service setlist and connect the display screens or projectors.
- For livestream overlays, use NDI output with compatible software such as OBS, vMix, or Wirecast.
- On Windows, if SmartScreen appears, choose “More info” and then “Run anyway.”
Verdict
Choose Open Worship if your church needs free software for lyrics, scripture, service setlists, and NDI livestream overlays across Windows, macOS, or Linux. It may be less suitable if your livestream workflow does not use NDI-compatible software.
Questions
What does Open Worship cost?
The Free plan costs nothing and is described as free forever, with no subscriptions or ads.
Which operating systems does it support?
Open Worship supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Can it display scripture as well as lyrics?
Yes. It supports both lyrics display and scripture display.
Which livestream software can use its lyric overlays?
Its NDI output supports OBS, vMix, Wirecast, and other NDI-compatible software.
Can I use Open Worship commercially?
Yes. The software is MIT-licensed and free for personal and commercial use.
Does Open Worship have a free trial?
No. The listed facts say there is no free trial; the product has a free plan.
Facts from Open Worship's own pages
- Keyboard controls
- Users can navigate with Space or arrow keys and press B to black out the output. · inno8.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
- License
- Open Worship is MIT-licensed and free for personal and commercial use. · inno8.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
- Livestream integrations
- NDI output supports lyric overlays with OBS, vMix, Wirecast, and other NDI-compatible software. · inno8.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
- Local streaming
- The site describes NDI streaming over a local network as zero-latency and says it requires no extra hardware. · inno8.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
- Multi-display
- The software projects lyrics to connected screens or projectors. · inno8.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
- Overlay modes
- Livestream output includes a 1920×360 lower-third mode, a 1920×1080 full-screen mode, and chroma key support for transparent backgrounds. · inno8.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- The site lists downloads for Windows, macOS, and Linux. · inno8.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Open Worship is free, open-source church presentation software for displaying worship lyrics on screens and livestreams. · inno8.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
- Security notice
- The download page says Windows may show a SmartScreen security warning and instructs users to choose “More info” then “Run anyway.” · inno8.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
- Service schedules
- Users can build service setlists ahead of time or on the fly, reorder them, and save them for future services. · inno8.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
- Song library
- The song library can organize, search, and tag worship songs, with songs imported from text files or entered manually. · inno8.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
- Styling
- Users can customize fonts, colors, backgrounds, and text shadows. · inno8.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Where Open Worship stands on Freedom251
- Church Presentation Software#10 of 35