Ormilio vs OpenLP

OpenLP is often the first name churches hear when they look for free worship software. Ormilio is a different kind of tool. OpenLP runs the big screen from the church computer. Ormilio puts the words on everyone's phone and on the big screen, and the leader moves them forward from a phone.

Here is a fair, simple look at both, so you can choose what fits your group, or use them side by side.

What OpenLP is

OpenLP is free, open source worship presentation software. It runs on Windows, Mac and Linux computers and puts song lyrics on the big screen. It is often recommended for churches with no budget for software. It has a community forum where people help each other.

OpenLP also has a Stage View. It is a text-only view for a phone, tablet or computer, with large letters on a black background. You open it by typing an address into a browser, and you can change how it looks with your own layouts. There is a Chord View for musicians and a web remote for moving the slides. These work on devices that are on the same Wi-Fi as the computer running OpenLP.

What Ormilio is

Ormilio is a simple web app for showing the words of songs and readings. The leader picks songs from the free library of public domain hymns and royalty-free songs, or pastes in their own words. Each verse becomes a slide. Then the leader puts today's songs in order and moves forward from a phone. They can tap Next line by line, or set the seconds per line and let the words move on their own.

Everyone else joins by scanning a QR code, tapping a WhatsApp link or typing a short join number. There is no app to install and no account to make. The words open on each phone, on the same line as the big screen. Each person can make the letters bigger, switch to dark mode, scroll back, and tap to catch up. The big screen shows the same words full screen, easy to read from the back.

Ormilio shows plain lyrics and readings only, in any language and alphabet. There are no chords, no audio, no video and no backgrounds. It is free forever for up to 10 songs and 20 people at once. Ormilio Plus costs $10 a month, paid in your own currency.

The main differences

Same Wi-Fi or the internet. OpenLP's Stage View works for phones on the same Wi-Fi as the church computer. Ormilio works over the internet, so people can join on mobile data with a QR code, a WhatsApp link or a join number. Nobody needs the Wi-Fi password.

Who the phone view is for. OpenLP's Stage View and Chord View are mainly for the people on stage and the person running the screens. Ormilio's phone view is made for everyone in the room, with bigger letters, dark mode, scroll back and tap to catch up.

Computer or phone. OpenLP needs a computer running during the service, and someone to set it up. With Ormilio, the leader can do everything from a phone, and there is nothing to install. OpenLP is free and open source for any size of church. Ormilio is free for up to 10 songs and 20 people at once, and $10 a month after that.

Can you use both?

Yes. You can keep OpenLP on the big screen and the stage, and add Ormilio so everyone can read the songs on their own phone. This helps the back rows, guests who are not on the church Wi-Fi, and anyone who reads better up close.

The two are separate tools. Today's songs go into Ormilio too, and someone moves the words forward in Ormilio while OpenLP runs on the computer. For a home group, a prayer meeting or singing outdoors, Ormilio can also work on its own, with no computer at all.

Which one fits your group?

Choose OpenLP if you want free, open source software on the church computer to run the big screen, with views for the stage and for musicians, and you are happy to set it up.

Choose Ormilio if you want everyone to read the same words on their own phone, over the internet, with nothing to install, or if you lead a choir, a prayer group, a youth group or a home group. Choose both if you like OpenLP on the big screen and want the whole room on the same line.