Planning Center vs MediaShout Comparison: Everything You Need to Know Before Choosing

MediaShout is a church presentation software application that enables churches to display song lyrics, Bible passages, announcements and almost any media file during worship services and events. Developed in the United States and used by churches for many years, it addresses the need for a reliable, flexible presentation tool that can handle the dynamic nature of worship, where content must be displayed smoothly and changes may occur during the service. General slide software is not designed for these conditions, and volunteer operators need an interface that makes live control straightforward. MediaShout’s approach combines powerful media handling with a cue-based workflow, allowing teams to prepare service scripts in advance and then run them confidently. The vendor also emphasises strong support options, recognising that churches often depend on volunteers who may need assistance when preparing or running presentations, particularly in the hours before a Sunday service. Key features include a script-based service planner, built-in Bible translations, lyric management with integration to song licensing services, and support for videos, images, audio and presentation files. Multi-screen output allows different content to be sent to the main congregation screens, stage displays and streaming outputs, while live editing and quick-access tools help operators respond to unplanned changes. Themes, backgrounds and text formatting options support a consistent visual style. Integration with platforms such as Planning Center can import service plans, reducing duplicate preparation, and features for live streaming and lower-thirds overlays support hybrid worship. MediaShout is available for Windows and macOS, with licensing options that include subscriptions. It is aimed at churches of all sizes, from small congregations with a single projector to larger churches with complex media setups, as well as ministries, schools and faith-based events. Pricing starts from around USD 21 with a free trial available; there is no permanently free version of the software.