ProPresenter vs. Risen Media
Which is Right for Your Church?
Choosing the right worship presentation software is a critical decision for churches looking to create engaging and seamless services. Risen Media and ProPresenter are two of the most popular options, each offering unique features and capabilities. This article compares the two platforms to help you decide which one best suits your church's needs.
What is ProPresenter?
ProPresenter is a well-established desktop software offering a robust set of features tailored for churches, schools, and event organizers seeking high levels of customization. Developed by Renewed Vision in 2000, it was designed specifically for ministries and has since become a trusted name in professional presentations. ProPresenter includes advanced features such as multi-screen support, live video integration, real-time editing, and stage display capabilities. With its user-friendly interface and powerful tools, it enables users to create engaging and professional-quality presentations.
What is Risen Media?
Risen Media is a web-based church software built to simplify and elevate worship services, sermons, and events. Designed with a focus on user-friendly tools and modern features, it empowers churches to create visually impactful presentations effortlessly. Whether displaying Bible verses, song lyrics, videos, or announcements, Risen Media ensures a seamless service flow. Known for its intuitive interface, customizable templates, and reliable performance, it caters to churches of all sizes, making it a compelling alternative for modern worship needs.
Supported Platforms
Risen Media is a web-based application that runs seamlessly on any device, including macOS, Windows (XP, Vista, 8, 10, 11), Chromebook, smartphones, and tablets.
ProPresenter 7, a cross-platform app, performs equally well on macOS and Windows (10 and 11).
Advantage: Risen Media
Supported Languages
Risen Media currently supports two languages:
- English
- Spanish
ProPresenter, on the other hand, supports 10 languages, including:
- English
- Spanish
- Korean
- Portuguese
- French
- German
- Russian
- Chinese (Simplified)
- Czech
- Norwegian
Advantage: ProPresenter
Trial Period
Both applications offer a 14-day free, unrestricted trial of their full software.
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Customer Support
Both solutions provide real-time chat, email, phone, and video call support. Additionally, Risen Media includes built-in tutorial videos, ensuring users can get started quickly.
Advantage: Risen Media
Slide Capabilities
Both platforms allow users to display slides with text, graphics, and videos, providing advanced slide editors that surpass PowerPoint and Google Slides.
Risen Media, however, introduces several unique features:
- A drag-and-drop tool for YouTube videos or online images, eliminating the need for downloads.
- Built-in social media integration, allowing real-time social media feeds to appear in presentations.
- Effortless Bible verse integration: Whether a single verse or multiple verses in different languages, Risen Media can split them into slides in seconds.
ProPresenter does not include these capabilities.
Advantage: Risen Media
Live Video Integration
ProPresenter supports live video and camera inputs, enabling dynamic presentations.
Risen Media does not offer live video integration.
Advantage: ProPresenter
Bible Translations and Languages
The ability to display Scripture passages quickly and seamlessly is an essential feature for worship presentation software, and both Risen Media and ProPresenter deliver on this front.
ProPresenter supports 125 Bible translations across 36 languages.
Risen Media, on the other hand, offers 341 Bible translations in 42 languages as of the time of writing. Since Risen Media is web-based, any newly added resources are instantly available to users without requiring updates. Additionally, unlike ProPresenter, Risen Media does not charge extra fees for accessing Bible translations.
Advantage: Risen Media
Media Assets
Both platforms include free media assets such as background images, title cards, and motion graphics.
Risen Media, being web-based, consistently updates its media library, giving users instant access to new assets. ProPresenter users must wait for software updates to access new content.
Advantage: Risen Media
Multi-screen support
While both platforms support multi-screen functionality, Risen Media’s SideSlide feature offers unmatched versatility. With SideSlide, users can show different content on separate displays, such as images on one screen and text on another, or English verses on one screen and Spanish on another.
ProPresenter lacks this advanced capability.
Advantage: Risen Media
Wireless Presentation
Risen Media eliminates the need for cables or computers during presentations. Users can control slides directly from their smartphones or even with a TV remote.
In contrast, ProPresenter requires a computer to be physically connected to displays or projectors.
Advantage: Risen Media
Multiple Presentations
Risen Media allows users to run multiple presentations simultaneously on different screens. For example, announcement slides can play in the lobby while worship slides run in the sanctuary, all without requiring additional computers.
ProPresenter does not support this feature.
Advantage: Risen Media
Live Edit
ProPresenter: Supports live editing through its Continuous Editing feature, allowing users to modify slides while a presentation is running. However, editing is limited to the main operator controlling the slides on the desktop application.
Risen Media: Also supports live editing, but with a key advantage, any authorized user can edit slides in real-time from any device, including smartphones and tablets, not just the person advancing the slides. This makes it more flexible for teams collaborating remotely or from different locations.
Advantage: Risen Media
Sermon Preparation
Risen Media includes a built-in sermon writing tool, allowing pastors to craft sermons and convert them into presentation slides in one place. Additional resources like Bible verses, commentaries, books, quotes, and Strong’s Concordance are integrated into the platform. An AI Assistant further enhances sermon preparation.
ProPresenter does not provide sermon preparation tools.
Advantage: Risen Media
Worship Presentation
Risen Media supports chord displays on confidence screens, enabling band members to see live lyrics and chords on their devices. The software auto-scrolls lyrics and synchronizes seamlessly with live worship. Band members can also adjust capo settings individually.
ProPresenter does not offer these features.
Advantage: Risen Media
Bible Study
Risen Media features a comprehensive Bible study tool, enabling users to compare translations, access commentaries, books and quotes, view prayers, take notes, and more.
ProPresenter lacks Bible study capabilities.
Advantage: Risen Media
Church Operations
Risen Media goes beyond presentation software, offering tools for church operations, including:
- Community Database
- Calendar and Events
- Volunteer Scheduling
- Check-ins
- Email and Newsletters
- Email Automation
- Community Portal
- Prayer Requests
- Task Management
ProPresenter does not include church operations features.
Advantage: Risen Media
Sharing and Networks
Risen Media allows users to share presentations with other churches at the click of a button. Its built-in Networks feature also facilitates asset and presentation sharing among connected churches.
ProPresenter does not support sharing or network capabilities.
Advantage: Risen Media
Live Alerts
ProPresenter offers live audience alerts, including nursery calls and discreet stage monitor notifications, to help keep services running smoothly.
Risen Media also supports live alerts, but with added flexibility—any authorized user, not just the slides operator, can send alerts from any device, including their smartphone.
Advantage: Risen Media
Final Thoughts
Both Risen Media and ProPresenter have their strengths. While ProPresenter excels in live video integration and live alerts, Risen Media stands out with its live editing capabilities, web-based accessibility, and a range of unique features such as multi-screen support, extensive Bible translations, sermon preparation, and comprehensive church operations tools. Its ability to update instantly without requiring software downloads makes Risen Media a flexible and modern solution for churches seeking an all-in-one platform.
More Worship Presentation Software Comparisons
Wondering how Risen Media compares to other top presentation software? We’ve put together a series of in-depth comparison guides to help you decide. Explore our most popular comparisons below:
See Risen Media in Action
Want to see how Risen Media can simplify your Sunday setup? Schedule a quick walk-through with our team. We’ll guide you through building slides, running a service, and collaborating online.
No pressure, just a friendly demo tailored to your church.