Short answer: ProPresenter is the standard production tool for church media teams, but it does not detect verses from the sermon on its own: someone still types each reference. Pewbeam listens to the preacher, finds the verse (even when it's paraphrased) and sends it into ProPresenter over NDI, so most churches run the two together.
At a glance
| Pewbeam | ProPresenter | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan (60 minutes of transcription, one-time); Plus $14/month or $144/year; Core $30/month or $300/year | $29/month or $289/year per seat; campus licence $59/month or $649/year |
| Runs on | Windows 10+ and macOS 10.13+ | Mac and Windows |
| Automatic verse detection from speech | Yes, including paraphrased verses | No; scripture is looked up and added by an operator |
| Worship lyrics | AI lyrics that follow the singer line by line, including CCLI songs | Lyrics slides advanced by an operator |
| Slide generation | AI slides from the sermon, notes or a prompt | Built by hand in the editor |
| Production features | HDMI and NDI output, themes, up to 6 outputs | Deep production suite: stage displays, media, multi-screen, livestream tools |
| Works offline | Yes, on Plus and Core | Yes |
Can I use Pewbeam with ProPresenter?
Yes, and that's the most common setup. Pewbeam's paid plans send an NDI feed that ProPresenter takes in like any other source, so verses and lyrics appear inside your existing ProPresenter look while your operator keeps full control of everything else.
Where Pewbeam is stronger
- No typing during the sermon. Pewbeam hears the reference or the paraphrase and puts the verse up within seconds.
- Lyrics that follow the singer, and AI slide generation from the sermon or your notes.
- Price. Plus is $14 a month, less than half a ProPresenter seat.
Where ProPresenter is the better fit
- Full production control. Stage displays, media playback, complex multi-screen layouts and livestream integration are what ProPresenter is built for, and Pewbeam doesn't try to replace them.
Which should you choose?
If you already have ProPresenter, keep it and add Pewbeam for automatic scripture and lyrics. If you're a small church without a media team, Pewbeam alone can handle verses, lyrics and slides at a lower cost.
Frequently asked questions
Does ProPresenter detect Bible verses automatically?
No. ProPresenter lets an operator look up and add scripture quickly, but it does not listen to the sermon and detect verses by itself. Pewbeam does this and can feed the result into ProPresenter over NDI.
How does Pewbeam connect to ProPresenter?
Over NDI. On Plus and Core, Pewbeam outputs an NDI feed that ProPresenter receives as a source. You need NDI Runtime 5 or later on the Pewbeam computer.
How much does ProPresenter cost compared with Pewbeam?
Renewed Vision lists ProPresenter at $29/month or $289/year per seat, or $59/month for a campus licence. Pewbeam Plus is $14/month and Core $30/month, with a free plan to start.
More comparisons
Pewbeam vs PrayerKey · Pewbeam vs TajiCast · Pewbeam vs SmartVerses · Pewbeam vs EasyWorship
Sources
Competitor details were checked on their official sites on 24 September 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm on each site before you buy.