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Worship songs you can use without a CCLI license

A CCLI Church Copyright License lets a church reproduce copyrighted songs, for example projecting lyrics or printing a song sheet, and asks the church to report what it used. Songs that are in the public domain, or that their writers have licensed for free worship use, do not need it.

Every song listed here is one of those. Public domain hymns carry no restrictions at all. Songs shared under the WorshipCommons License may be sung, projected, printed, arranged, translated, and recorded or streamed as part of a worship gathering, free and forever. A few songs carry a Creative Commons license or the writer's own grant instead, which can ask for credit or limit use to non-profit settings. Each song page names its license.

A CCLI number on a song page is for churches that report anyway. Reporting it is optional.

Do we need a CCLI license to use these songs?

No. Public domain songs need no license, and songs under the WorshipCommons License already give every church permission for worship use. You do not register, report, or pay.

Can we livestream or post our service with these songs?

Yes. Recording or streaming a worship gathering is part of worship use under the WorshipCommons License, and public domain songs have no restrictions. Selling a recording of the song is different and needs the writer.

Can we print or project the lyrics and chords?

Yes. Print chord charts and lyric sheets for the people gathered, and put the words on a screen. Giving copies away is fine; selling them as a product is not.

What about other songs our church sings?

Copyrighted songs from outside WorshipCommons still need whatever license their writers or publishers require, such as a CCLI license.

80 songs

More: Public domain hymns · Christmas songs and carols for church · Advent hymns and songs · Easter hymns and songs · Communion hymns and songs · Thanksgiving hymns and songs