What Is ProPresenter?
ProPresenter is professional presentation software built specifically for live environments — churches, conferences, broadcast studios, and live events. Developed by Renewed Vision, it has been the dominant presentation tool in churches for over a decade, and for good reason: it does things that PowerPoint, Keynote, and generic presentation software simply cannot.
At its core, ProPresenter manages everything your congregation sees on screen — worship lyrics, scripture references, sermon slides, announcement graphics, motion backgrounds, countdown timers, and live video feeds. It sends different content to different screens simultaneously, which is the fundamental capability that separates church presentation software from general-purpose tools.
ProPresenter 7 is the current version (released 2019, with continuous updates since). It runs on macOS and Windows, supports unlimited display outputs, and includes built-in NDI networking for sending video over Ethernet to your livestream production chain.
We run ProPresenter every week in our production workflow. It handles the graphics layer while our cameras feed into an ATEM Mini Pro ISO for switching and recording. This guide covers everything we have learned from setting it up, troubleshooting it, and integrating it into professional production environments.
ProPresenter 7: Core Features
ProPresenter 7 packs broadcast-grade capabilities into software that costs less than a single Sunday's worth of flowers. These are the features that matter for worship production.
Multi-Screen Output
Unlimited display outputs — audience screens, stage displays, lobby monitors, and confidence monitors. Each screen shows different content simultaneously. The single biggest reason churches choose ProPresenter over alternatives.
8-Layer Slide Editor
Stack up to 8 layers per slide — text, images, video, shapes, and live video feeds. This is what makes ProPresenter feel like a broadcast graphics tool instead of a church slideshow app.
Built-in NDI Output
Send ProPresenter output over your network to any NDI-compatible device — video switchers, OBS Studio, vMix, or recording software. No physical cable required between the ProPresenter computer and your production chain.
CCLI SongSelect Integration
Import songs directly from CCLI SongSelect with lyrics, chord charts, and automatic copyright information. Search by title, lyrics, or number. Reporting is handled automatically.
Planning Center Integration
Pull your service order from Planning Center Online directly into ProPresenter. Songs, media, and arrangement details sync automatically, so the media operator builds the presentation from the planned setlist.
Live Video Input
Route camera feeds through ProPresenter for picture-in-picture, lower thirds over live video, and dynamic compositing. Accepts NDI, capture cards, and webcam inputs. Essential for churches integrating graphics with their livestream.
Hardware Requirements
ProPresenter is GPU-intensive. Motion backgrounds, multi-layer compositing, and multi-screen output all rely on GPU rendering. The computer running ProPresenter should be dedicated to that task — not also running the livestream, recording, or anything else.
Mac (Recommended)
Minimum: Apple M1, 8GB RAM, macOS Monterey or later
Recommended: Apple M1 Pro/M2 or later, 16GB RAM, macOS Sonoma or later
Ideal: Mac Studio M2 Max or Mac Mini M4 Pro, 32GB RAM — handles 4K output, NDI, and multiple screens simultaneously
ProPresenter runs natively on Apple Silicon. An M1 Mac Mini ($599) is the most cost-effective dedicated ProPresenter machine. The Mac Studio ($1,999+) is overkill for most churches but future-proofs for 4K multi-screen setups.
Windows
Minimum: Intel i5 10th gen, 8GB RAM, NVIDIA GTX 1050, Windows 10
Recommended: Intel i7 12th gen or AMD Ryzen 7, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 3060, Windows 11
Ideal: Intel i7 14th gen or AMD Ryzen 9, 32GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 4070 — handles 4K, multiple outputs, and NDI
Windows requires a dedicated GPU with current drivers. Integrated graphics cause frame drops on motion backgrounds. The GPU matters more than the CPU for ProPresenter performance on Windows.
Our recommendation: Mac Mini M4
For most churches, an Apple Mac Mini with M4 chip and 16GB RAM is the best value ProPresenter machine. It handles 1080p and 4K output, NDI, and multiple displays without breaking a sweat. It is small, silent, reliable, and does not need a dedicated GPU because Apple Silicon handles GPU rendering natively. At $599, it costs less than most church projectors. Pair it with a small monitor for the operator, and you have a dedicated ProPresenter station for under $800 total.
Display Configuration: Multi-Screen & Stage Display
The ability to send different content to different screens is what makes ProPresenter worth $289/yr. Here are the common configurations, from simple to enterprise.
Single Screen (Beginner)
1 screenOne audience-facing projector or LED wall. The simplest setup — the ProPresenter operator sees the same output as the congregation.
Hardware needed: 1 HDMI/DisplayPort output from the ProPresenter computer to the projector or display.
Watch out: No stage display means the worship team cannot see upcoming lyrics. The operator has no preview of the next slide before sending it live.
Audience + Stage Display (Standard)
2 screensOne audience screen plus a stage display (confidence monitor) facing the worship team. The stage display shows current lyrics, next lyrics, and timer information. This is the minimum setup for a comfortable worship experience.
Hardware needed: 2 video outputs — one to the audience display, one to the stage monitor. Most Macs have HDMI + Thunderbolt. Windows PCs need a GPU with 2+ outputs.
Watch out: The operator still sees only the editing interface on their laptop. For full confidence, add a multi-view output or use the ATEM Mini Pro multi-view.
Audience + Stage + Lobby (Advanced)
3 screensMain audience screen, stage confidence monitor, and a lobby display showing a welcome loop or live service feed. Each screen shows completely different content.
Hardware needed: 3 video outputs — native ports plus a USB-C to HDMI adapter or a Thunderbolt dock. NDI can replace physical cables for any of these outputs.
Watch out: More outputs require more GPU power. On underpowered machines, motion backgrounds may drop frames when driving 3+ displays simultaneously.
Multi-Campus with NDI (Enterprise)
4+ screensMultiple audience screens, stage displays, lobby screens, and NDI feeds to the livestream production chain. NDI sends ProPresenter output over the network without physical cables.
Hardware needed: Dedicated ProPresenter computer (Mac Studio or high-end PC) on a gigabit Ethernet network. NDI feeds go to ATEM switchers, OBS, or vMix via network.
Watch out: Requires gigabit networking infrastructure. Wi-Fi is not reliable enough for NDI — hardwired Ethernet is mandatory.
Using Motion Backgrounds in ProPresenter
Motion backgrounds are what make ProPresenter presentations look cinematic instead of like a PowerPoint slideshow. They are looping video files that play behind your lyrics, sermon points, and announcement text.
ProPresenter handles motion backgrounds through its media layer system. Each slide can have a video file assigned as its background layer, and ProPresenter handles looping, crossfading between different backgrounds, and rendering text over the top in real time.
How to Add Motion Backgrounds
Import: Drag MP4 or MOV files into your ProPresenter media bin. ProPresenter accepts most common video codecs — H.264 and H.265 are ideal.
Assign: Select any slide, click the media layer, and choose your motion background from the library. The background will loop automatically behind your text.
Theme files: Church Motion Graphics (CMG) and other providers offer native ProPresenter theme files that include pre-designed slide layouts with motion backgrounds already integrated. These are drag-and-drop ready.
Resolution: Use 1920x1080 minimum. 4K (3840x2160) is better if your display supports it. ProPresenter downscales automatically for lower-resolution outputs.
Frame rate: 30fps is acceptable, 60fps looks noticeably smoother on LED walls where motion artifacts are more visible.
For a complete breakdown of motion background providers, free resources, DIY creation tools, and screen-specific optimization, see our complete guide to church motion graphics and our worship motion backgrounds guide.
Lyrics, Scripture & Media Management
ProPresenter's media management goes far beyond a folder of files. It is a structured library system designed for the weekly cycle of church services.
Song Library & CCLI Integration
Songs in ProPresenter are stored as structured documents with verse, chorus, bridge, and tag sections. CCLI SongSelect integration lets you search and import songs directly with lyrics, chord charts, and automatic copyright reporting. Planning Center integration pulls your weekly setlist into ProPresenter with the correct arrangements and song order already configured.
Bible Display
ProPresenter includes 125 Bible translations. Search by reference or keyword, and scripture displays on screen with your chosen formatting. Multiple translations can be shown simultaneously (useful for bilingual congregations). Scripture slides integrate into your presentation flow alongside lyrics, announcements, and media.
Media Playback
Videos, images, and audio files play directly from ProPresenter without switching to a separate media player. Countdown timers, announcement loops, sermon bumper videos, and baptism testimonials all run from the same application. This eliminates the awkward “switch to VLC for the video” moment that plagues churches using generic presentation software.
NDI Output for Livestreaming
NDI (Network Device Interface) is the feature that transforms ProPresenter from a presentation tool into a broadcast graphics engine. It sends video output over your Ethernet network to any NDI-compatible device — no physical cable required between the ProPresenter computer and your production chain.
In a typical church livestream setup, ProPresenter sends its NDI feed to a video switcher (like the ATEM Mini Pro) or to OBS Studio for compositing with camera feeds. The switcher operator can cut between cameras and the ProPresenter lyrics feed seamlessly, just like a broadcast television lower-thirds system.
NDI Setup Requirements
Network: Gigabit Ethernet (wired). Wi-Fi is not reliable enough for NDI video — dropped frames and latency make it unusable for live production.
ProPresenter: Enable NDI output in Preferences → Advanced. Select which screen outputs should broadcast via NDI.
Receiving device: OBS Studio (with NDI plugin), vMix, NewTek TriCaster, or any NDI-compatible switcher. ATEM switchers do not natively support NDI but work with an NDI-to-HDMI converter ($100-300).
Latency: NDI adds approximately 1-3 frames of latency (30-100ms). This is imperceptible for worship lyrics but can matter for time-critical broadcast cues.
NDI is included in the base ProPresenter license at no extra cost. For a complete livestream setup guide including how to integrate ProPresenter with cameras, switchers, and streaming platforms, see our complete streaming setup guide.
ProPresenter vs EasyWorship vs MediaShout
Every church presentation software tool makes the same promise. Here is how they actually compare in real-world production. For an even deeper dive into all five options, see our complete church presentation software comparison.
| Feature | ProPresenter $29/mo or $289/yr (subscription) | EasyWorship From $15/mo or $299 one-time | MediaShout $29/mo or $289/yr | OpenLP (Free) Free, open source | Proclaim (Faithlife) From $19/mo (cloud-based) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platforms | macOS, Windows | Windows only | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS (cloud sync) |
| Multi-Screen | Unlimited outputs, each fully customizable | Main + stage + 1 additional (3 max) | Main + stage display | Main + stage display | Main + stage display |
| NDI | Built-in NDI output and input | No native NDI support | No native NDI support | No | No |
| Media Layers | 8 layers per slide (text, video, shapes, live input) | Basic — text over single background | Moderate — text and media layers with cue system | Basic — text over image backgrounds | Moderate — cloud-synced templates and media |
| Worship | CCLI SongSelect, Planning Center, 125 Bible translations | CCLI SongSelect integration, built-in Bible | Strong Bible integration, CCLI support, cue-based workflow | Bible display, CCLI song import, basic media playback | Faithlife Bible integration, team collaboration built-in |
| Learning Curve | Steep — powerful interface takes 2-4 weeks to master | Easy — most volunteers learn it in one session | Moderate — cue-based approach is different from slide-based | Easy — basic interface, limited features | Easy-Moderate — cloud-first approach is intuitive for teams |
ProPresenter
$29/mo or $289/yr (subscription)Churches with dedicated media teams, multi-screen setups, livestream production, or LED walls. The industry standard.
EasyWorship
From $15/mo or $299 one-timeSmall to medium churches on Windows that need a simple, quick-to-learn tool. Best ease-of-use in the category.
MediaShout
$29/mo or $289/yrChurches that prefer a cue-based workflow (think theater lighting board) over a slide-based approach. Good Bible tools.
OpenLP (Free)
Free, open sourceChurches with zero budget that need functional lyric projection. Not suitable for production-quality worship environments.
Proclaim (Faithlife)
From $19/mo (cloud-based)Multi-campus or distributed teams that need cloud collaboration. Good option if your worship leader and media operator plan remotely.
ProPresenter Pricing Breakdown
ProPresenter uses a one-time purchase model with optional annual renewals for updates. There are no feature tiers — every license includes every feature.
Single Seat License
$289/yr- Full ProPresenter 7 with all features
- One computer activation
- One year of software updates
- Access to ProContent free media library
- All screen outputs and NDI included
Renewal: $199/year for continued updates (optional — software keeps working without renewal, you just miss new features)
Best for: Most churches. Single computer running ProPresenter at one location.
Campus License
$999- Everything in Single Seat
- Unlimited computers at one physical campus
- One year of software updates
- Great for churches with a main room + youth room + overflow
Renewal: $499/year for continued updates
Best for: Churches running ProPresenter on multiple computers in the same building.
ProPresenter+ (Cloud Add-On)
$49/month per campus- Cloud media library sync across all campus computers
- Remote planning — build presentations from anywhere
- Team collaboration features
- Cloud backup of all ProPresenter libraries
- Automatic sync of songs, media, and presentations
Renewal: Monthly subscription — canceling removes cloud features but keeps your local library intact
Best for: Multi-campus churches or teams where worship leaders plan remotely.
Total cost for most churches
$289/yr (license) + $599 (Mac Mini) = $998 to get a dedicated ProPresenter station running with multi-screen output, NDI, and the full feature set. That is less than a single LED wall panel. Annual renewals ($199/year) are optional — ProPresenter keeps working without renewal, you just miss future updates.
Tips From a Production Team That Uses It Weekly
Dedicate a computer to ProPresenter
Do not run ProPresenter on the same machine handling your livestream, recording, or anything else. A dedicated Mac Mini or PC ensures ProPresenter has full GPU and RAM resources. This single decision eliminates 80% of ProPresenter performance issues we see in churches.
Build your presentation by Wednesday
The biggest source of Sunday morning stress is a presentation built Saturday night. Pull your Planning Center setlist into ProPresenter by midweek. Add scripture references, sermon slides, and announcement graphics. Run through the entire presentation at least once before the service. This gives you time to fix issues instead of scrambling.
Use stage display — it changes everything
A stage display (confidence monitor) facing the worship team shows current lyrics, next lyrics, and timing information. It costs $150-300 for a TV on a stand. The impact on worship quality is worth 10x that — your worship leader never loses their place, and the congregation notices the difference in confidence and flow.
Keep your media organized by series
Create folders for each sermon series. Inside each folder: motion backgrounds, title slides, scripture templates, and announcement graphics for that series. When the series ends, archive the folder. This prevents the media library from becoming an unsearchable mess after six months.
Test motion backgrounds on your actual display during the week
A motion background that looks stunning on your laptop looks completely different on a projector or LED wall. Test every new background on your actual sanctuary display during the week. Pay attention to text readability — if lyrics are hard to read over the background, the background is wrong for that slide.
Train at least three operators
ProPresenter has a learning curve. If only one person knows how to run it, you are one sick day away from a crisis. Train at least three volunteers. ProPresenter's operator view is straightforward once someone understands the basics — it is the setup and configuration that requires deeper knowledge.
Use NDI to eliminate cable runs
If your ProPresenter computer is not near your video switcher, NDI sends the video feed over your network instead of requiring a long HDMI or SDI cable run. This is especially useful for churches where the media booth is far from the production area. Just make sure you are on a wired gigabit Ethernet connection — not Wi-Fi.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does ProPresenter cost?
ProPresenter costs $289/yr for a single-seat license with one year of updates. Annual renewal is $199/year for continued updates, but the software keeps working indefinitely even without renewal — you just miss new features. A campus license ($999) covers unlimited computers at one location. ProPresenter+ ($49/month) adds cloud sync and remote planning. There is no monthly subscription for the base software.
What computer do I need to run ProPresenter?
For Mac: an M1 Mac Mini ($599) with 16GB RAM is the best value dedicated ProPresenter machine. For Windows: Intel i7 12th gen or AMD Ryzen 7 with 16GB RAM and an NVIDIA RTX 3060 or better. The GPU matters more than the CPU — ProPresenter uses GPU rendering for motion backgrounds, transitions, and multi-screen output. An SSD is essential. If running NDI plus multiple screens, step up to 32GB RAM.
Can ProPresenter output to multiple screens?
Yes — unlimited outputs. Most churches run 2-3 screens: main audience display, stage confidence monitor, and optionally a lobby screen. Each output can show different content. You need one video output per screen, either physical (HDMI/DisplayPort) or over the network via NDI. NDI is especially useful for sending ProPresenter graphics to your livestream production chain without running a cable from the ProPresenter computer.
Is ProPresenter better than EasyWorship?
For churches with dedicated media teams, multi-screen setups, or livestream production — yes, ProPresenter is significantly more capable. For small churches with a single screen and volunteer operators, EasyWorship is easier to learn and cheaper. The key differences: ProPresenter supports unlimited screens (EasyWorship caps at 3), ProPresenter has NDI (EasyWorship does not), and ProPresenter has 8-layer compositing (EasyWorship has basic text-over-background). But EasyWorship can be learned in one training session — ProPresenter takes 2-4 weeks.
Does ProPresenter work with NDI for livestreaming?
Yes. ProPresenter has built-in NDI output that sends video over your Ethernet network to any NDI-compatible device — OBS Studio, vMix, ATEM switchers with NDI converters, or recording software. This is how most churches with advanced livestream setups get ProPresenter graphics into their video production. NDI requires wired Ethernet (not Wi-Fi) for reliable performance.
How do I add motion backgrounds to ProPresenter?
Drag MP4 or MOV video files into your ProPresenter media library. Assign them to slides by selecting the media layer on any slide. ProPresenter also supports native CMG (Church Motion Graphics) themes with pre-designed layouts. For the best motion background resources, see our complete guide to church motion graphics. Use 1920x1080 minimum resolution, 30fps or higher. ProPresenter handles looping automatically.
What is ProPresenter+ and is it worth it?
ProPresenter+ is a $49/month cloud add-on that enables remote planning, cloud media sync, and team collaboration. It is worth it for multi-campus churches sharing content across locations, or teams where the worship leader builds the setlist remotely. Single-campus churches with one ProPresenter computer do not need ProPresenter+ — the base $289/yr license includes everything for local use.
Can I use ProPresenter for livestreaming?
ProPresenter does not stream directly, but it integrates into every major livestream workflow. NDI output sends ProPresenter graphics to OBS Studio, vMix, or a hardware switcher. Alternatively, capture the HDMI output with a video switcher like the ATEM Mini Pro. Most churches use ProPresenter as the graphics engine within a production chain: cameras go into a switcher, ProPresenter goes into the same switcher via NDI or HDMI, and the switcher outputs the combined feed to the streaming platform.
At Ruah Creative House, we run ProPresenter as part of our weekly production workflow. We work with churches to turn raw service footage into polished content — sermon reels, social media clips, and highlight videos. ProPresenter is the graphics layer; our Sunday-to-Social and Ministry Media Partner services handle everything that happens after the service ends.