Holyrics

Holyrics is church presentation software for services and events, pairing a desktop program with a mobile app for presentation control. It is best suited to teams that need lyrics, Scripture, media and stage content in one workflow. Its broad presentation and Telegram tools are balanced by Java requirements and limits on streaming, file transfer and cloud sync.

Overview

Holyrics covers the core work of projecting worship material while extending beyond lyrics and Bible verses to text, images, audio, video, countdowns, alerts and stage-view content. It supports multi-screen output, so it can serve events that need more than a single presentation display.

The mobile app can access program data and control presentations. Cloud synchronization can keep program data and media files aligned between computers, but it does not synchronize local settings. That makes it useful for sharing service material across machines, though it is not a complete mirror of each computer's setup.

Holyrics is compatible with streaming programs but does not stream directly. Churches that need the presentation software itself to deliver a stream should look elsewhere or pair it with a separate streaming program.

It belongs in Church Presentation Software and the broader Presentation software category.

Key features

Projection and media

Alongside lyrics and Scripture, presenters can show general text and images, play audio and video, and use countdowns and alerts. Support for stage content and multiple screens gives it range for worship teams serving both the audience and people on stage. Its audio and video player supports VLC Media Player.

Mobile and Telegram tools

The Holyrics mobile app offers access to program data and presentation control, a practical option for managing a service away from the desktop. Telegram integration adds questions, polls, draws, chat synchronization and chatbot-based file transfer. Files sent directly through Telegram chat are capped at 20MB; larger files can be shared by Google Drive link, adding a step for teams moving bigger media.

API and setup

The Advanced plan includes an online API through which other applications can send HTTP requests to Holyrics over the internet. That makes Advanced the relevant tier for teams connecting Holyrics to other software. The downloadable desktop program runs on Windows, Linux and Mac and requires Java 8; Java 9 does not work, so Java compatibility is a meaningful setup constraint.

Pricing

Holyrics uses a freemium model. The free Holyrics plan costs nothing. Paid plans are priced monthly: Basic costs $5 a month and covers up to 3 computers and up to 30 apps, while Advanced costs $10 a month for up to 10 computers and up to 100 apps. Basic suits smaller teams that need paid access within tighter device and app limits; Advanced gives larger teams more room and adds the online API.

Advanced + Worshipwide costs $25 a month and includes all Advanced benefits, plus the full gallery and new Worshipwide packs. It is the tier for teams that want that expanded collection as well as Advanced's capacity. The free plan avoids a subscription, but the given plan terms do not define its feature or usage caps, so a team choosing it should confirm that it covers its workflow before relying on it.

The Holyrics iOS app costs $0.99, paid once. The iOS app is a separate one-time purchase from the monthly desktop-related plans.

Platforms

The desktop download is available for Windows, Linux and macOS. Holyrics also has Android and iOS apps; the iOS app has the separate 0.99 USD one-time price. The Java 8 requirement applies to the desktop program, and Java 9 is incompatible.

Who it's for

Holyrics fits churches and worship teams that want one program for lyrics, Scripture, other service media, stage content and mobile control. Telegram interaction features and cloud syncing can help teams coordinate audience participation and share program material between computers. It is less suitable for teams seeking an all-in-one streaming service, unrestricted direct Telegram file transfers, or cloud synchronization that also carries local settings.

Pros and cons

• Pro: It handles lyrics, Scripture, media, countdowns, alerts and stage content, giving worship teams a wide range of service material in one presentation tool.
• Pro: Mobile control and Telegram questions, polls, draws and chat synchronization add ways to manage and coordinate a service beyond the desktop.
• Pro: Advanced's online API supports HTTP requests from other applications, which can suit teams integrating Holyrics into a broader setup.
• Con: Holyrics does not stream directly, so streaming requires a compatible separate program.
• Con: Desktop use requires Java 8, and Java 9 does not work, which can complicate setup on machines with the wrong Java version.
• Con: Cloud sync excludes local settings, and direct Telegram transfers stop at 20MB; both limits can mean extra setup or workarounds.

Alternatives

Choose WorshipTools Presenter if its free tier's 500 MB of cloud storage, 10 users and 15 items per service suit your team, with unlimited services and songs. Church Presenter is a fit for readers who want a free-forever option with no subscription or seat limits, released under GNU GPL v3. FreeShow is another free presentation option, with Linux, macOS, web and Windows platforms and a stated commitment from its maker to keep it free.

DisplayWord offers a free church plan with hall-screen and Bible presentation, a song library and editor, PDF chord sheets, offline use, media and backgrounds. VerseCAST is worth considering for Android, iOS and web use when Bible presentation is the priority; its free demo limits slide count and functionality, while its Monthly plan costs $3.49 a month.

OpenLP, VerseVIEW and Quelea are also free alternatives.

Verdict

Holyrics is a strong fit for churches that want broad worship presentation features, mobile control and Telegram-based interaction in one tool, with paid tiers that scale by computers and apps. Choose it if those capabilities outweigh the Java 8 setup requirement and the limits on streaming, cloud sync and direct file transfer. Look elsewhere if direct streaming or a less constrained setup is central to your workflow.