MediaShout
MediaShout is a professional church presentation software designed to help ministry leaders create and manage worship services with integrated lyrics, scriptures, and multimedia elements.
Planning Center
Planning Center is a comprehensive church management software suite providing modular tools for attendance tracking, donation processing, volunteer scheduling, and worship service coordination to help ministries stay organized.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | MediaShout | Planning Center |
|---|---|---|
| Website | mediashout.com | planningcenter.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $19/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1998 | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Nashville, USA | Carlsbad, USA |
Overview
MediaShout
MediaShout is a dedicated presentation tool built specifically for churches and ministry environments. You can create complete worship services by combining song lyrics, scripture passages, and background media into a seamless visual experience. It solves the common struggle of managing multiple media types during a live service, allowing you to transition between elements with a single click while maintaining a professional look for your congregation.
You can access a massive library of song lyrics and over 70 Bible versions directly within the interface. The software is designed for both technical directors and volunteer operators, offering a simplified interface that reduces the risk of mistakes during live events. Whether you are running a small Bible study or a large multi-screen Sunday service, you can customize your displays to show different content to your audience and your stage team.
Planning Center
Planning Center is a modular software suite designed to help you manage every aspect of your church's daily operations. Instead of a rigid, all-in-one system, you can choose specific applications for check-ins, giving, registrations, and worship planning. This flexibility allows you to build a custom toolkit that fits your ministry's unique size and specific workflow requirements without paying for features you don't use.
You can track member engagement, coordinate complex volunteer schedules, and process digital donations through a unified interface. The platform simplifies communication with your congregation through automated emails and a dedicated mobile app. Whether you are a small plant or a multi-site campus, you can scale your tools as your community grows while keeping your data synchronized across all departments.
Overview
MediaShout Features
- Integrated Bible Library Access over 70 Bible versions directly in the software to quickly drop scripture into your presentation slides.
- Song Lyric Management Import and organize thousands of worship songs with automatic formatting so you never have to type lyrics manually.
- Dual-Screen Support Control your presentation on one screen while your congregation sees the finished product on the main sanctuary display.
- Stage Display Send specific cues, clocks, and high-contrast text to your worship team on stage to keep everyone in sync.
- Volunteer Mode Switch to a simplified interface that allows volunteers to run the entire service with minimal training or technical knowledge.
- Multimedia Integration Play videos, display images, and overlay text simultaneously without worrying about file compatibility or playback lag during services.
Planning Center Features
- Services & Scheduling. Plan your worship sets and schedule volunteers with automated requests so your weekend services run without a hitch.
- People Database. Organize your member information in one central hub and track engagement levels to ensure no one falls through the cracks.
- Online Giving. Accept donations via credit card, ACH, or text-to-give and automatically generate year-end tax statements for your donors.
- Secure Check-Ins. Keep your children's ministry safe with fast label printing and secure pickup codes that give parents peace of mind.
- Event Registrations. Create custom sign-up forms for camps or conferences and process payments directly through your church website.
- Church Center App. Give your congregation a mobile home where they can join groups, register for events, and manage their own profiles.
Pricing Comparison
MediaShout Pricing
- Full version of MediaShout 7
- Unlimited site license
- All software updates included
- Phone and email support
- Access to cloud media library
- 70+ Bible versions included
- Single one-time payment
- Perpetual software license
- Standard software updates
- Email support included
- 70+ Bible versions included
- No recurring monthly fees
Planning Center Pricing
- Free versions of all apps
- Up to 5 Service members
- Up to 15 Check-ins/month
- Up to 10 Registration signups
- Unlimited People profiles
- Community support access
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Up to 25 Service members
- Unlimited service plans
- File storage for charts
- Volunteer scheduling tools
- Rehearsal pack integration
Pros & Cons
MediaShout
Pros
- Extensive library of Bible versions and worship songs
- Volunteer-friendly interface reduces Sunday morning stress
- Flexible pricing with both subscription and one-time options
- Excellent customer support tailored to church needs
Cons
- Requires a relatively powerful Windows computer for stability
- Learning curve when moving from basic PowerPoint
- Mac version has historically lagged behind Windows features
Planning Center
Pros
- Modular approach lets you pay only for needed features
- Highly intuitive interface requires very little staff training
- Excellent mobile app for both staff and congregation
- Seamless data syncing between different ministry modules
- Regular feature updates based on direct user feedback
Cons
- Costs can add up quickly when using multiple modules
- Limited customization for some automated email templates
- Reporting features can be basic for complex data needs