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With so many different communication solutions available, figuring out which one is right for you is tricky. You know you want to disseminate information, announcements, event details, and other relevant content to congregation members, volunteers, staff, and other stakeholders through email, text messaging, social media, and mobile apps, but need to figure out which tool is best. I've got you! In this post I'll help make your choice easy, sharing my exposure to dozens of different tools as a technical consultant for a metropolitan church, with my picks of the best church communication software.

What is Church Communication Software?

Church communication software is a platform used to communicate and engage with a church's community. It serves as a centralized hub for managing and distributing various forms of communication, including announcements, event invitations, newsletters, prayer requests, and more, to foster connection, community, and engagement among members.

This tool typically includes features such as email and newsletter creation and distribution, text messaging and push notification capabilities, social media integration for sharing updates and engaging with the community, event management tools for promoting and coordinating church events, and member directory management for maintaining up-to-date contact information.

Overviews Of The 10 Best Church Communication Software

Here’s a brief description of each of the best church management software solutions with membership communication features. I’ll go over some best use cases, feature highlights, and provide screenshots to give you a glimpse of their inner workings.

Best for real-time online engagement

  • 90-day free trial + free plan available
  • From $8.75/user/month
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Rating: 4.5/5

Slack is a communication software that has proven to be an invaluable asset for various organizations, including churches. Its versatile features facilitate seamless interaction and collaboration among church staff and congregation members. By creating dedicated channels for different ministry teams or church-related topics, members can easily share information, discuss plans, and strengthen their community ties in a structured and organized environment.

One of the standout features of Slack that benefits churches is its real-time messaging capability. This allows for immediate communication, which is crucial in organizing events, disseminating information quickly, and fostering a sense of immediacy and connection within the church community. Additionally, Slack's file-sharing feature enables users to easily distribute documents, like newsletters, schedules, or sermon notes.

Slack's adaptability also allows for a tailored communication experience, accommodating the unique needs of different church groups or ministry teams. Whether it's coordinating volunteer activities, planning worship services, or engaging in prayer groups, the platform provides a dynamic and interactive environment that promotes online engagement and community building in real time, no matter where members are located.

Slack offers integrations with over 2,600 external applications, including Google Drive and Zoom, which can be particularly beneficial for scheduling meetings, sharing files, or conducting video conferences for remote church services or meetings.

Best for event planning communication

  • Free demo
  • $50/account/month.
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Rating: 4.8/5

Breeze church management software is a cloud-based solution for small to medium-sized churches. The intuitive interface allows you to search and find contact information quickly, tag people as required, and customize accordingly.

Breeze can be used for church communications as a powerful platform that simplifies and enhances communication processes within the church community. It provides features such as email and text messaging integration, allowing churches to easily send out announcements, newsletters, event invitations, and updates to their congregation. Breeze also enables targeted messaging, making it possible to create communication groups based on specific criteria or demographics within the church.

Additionally, it offers tools for tracking member engagement and communication history, ensuring personalized and meaningful interactions. Breeze's intuitive interface and mobile app capabilities make it convenient for both church staff and members to access and engage with communication materials. With Breeze, churches can optimize their communication strategies, strengthen relationships, and foster active involvement within their community.

Breeze also offers features to help with event registration, printing name tags, and tracking attendance. Alerts can be set to highlight individuals who have ceased attending for a given number of weeks.

Best all-in-one church communication software

  • provides customized pricing upon request.
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Rating: 3.9/5

Subsplash is a comprehensive platform that provides a suite of tools designed to assist churches in managing and engaging their communities. The platform offers a range of features including custom-branded mobile and TV apps, a website builder, digital giving with donor management, media hosting and live streaming, church management tools, secure messaging, and event management. This wide array of features makes Subsplash a robust solution for comprehensive church engagement and communications management.

Subsplash offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to enhance churches' communication with their congregation. Within the platform, churches can create personalized mobile apps, enabling members to foster connections through in-app messaging groups, access sermon videos, and receive timely push notifications for upcoming events and vital announcements. Subsplash also equips churches with tools for crafting and overseeing their own church websites, complete with customizable templates, event calendars, and eye-catching announcement banners.

Subsplash provides a diverse range of tools for streamlined church communication through email and SMS. The platform empowers users to effortlessly compose and dispatch emails and text messages to distinct church groups, including volunteers, small group participants, and newcomers.

Subsplash supports the creation of automated email campaigns, such as welcoming series for first-time visitors or event reminders. The platform also offers comprehensive analytics to monitor the performance of email and SMS campaigns, including metrics like open rates and click-through rates.

Best for managing church resources

  • 30-day free trial
  • From $14/month/up to 75 group members

Planning Center is a suite of cloud-based applications designed to support church leaders in planning, scheduling, and managing church programs. The software is modular in design, so you only pay for the tools you need.

Planning Center can be used for church communications as a comprehensive tool that facilitates efficient communication and coordination within the church community. It offers features such as email and text messaging integration, allowing churches to send out important announcements, event reminders, and updates to their congregation.

Additionally, Planning Center provides tools for organizing and scheduling volunteers, enabling seamless communication with team members regarding their responsibilities and any changes or updates. It also allows for the creation of interactive event registration forms, making it easier for members to sign up and receive relevant information. With Planning Center, churches can enhance their communication strategies, ensuring effective and timely dissemination of information to their members and volunteers.

The publishing module allows you to create content and share it with your congregation. You can use customizable pages and the Android/iOS mobile app to distribute sermons and other messages.

Best for membership reports

  • You can access a demo and request a free trial.
  • from $279/month

Church Windows helps religious organizations manage administrative tasks and day-to-day interactions with followers. The system can be deployed either in the cloud or on-premises. You can also build a unified church calendar to keep track of community happenings, track your budget, and pay church employees.

Church Windows can be used for church communications as a comprehensive software solution that aids in effective communication and engagement within the church community. It provides features such as email and text messaging integration, allowing churches to send out important announcements, newsletters, event invitations, and updates to their congregation. Church Windows also offers tools for managing contact information, tracking member participation, and generating reports to analyze communication effectiveness.

Additionally, it facilitates targeted messaging by enabling churches to segment their audience based on various criteria. With Church Windows, churches can streamline their communication efforts, ensure timely and relevant messaging, and foster strong connections with their members.

Church Windows enables church administrators to view and track household and individual records, record interaction notes, perform accounting duties, and create visitation reports. Church Windows’ customer support is top-notch and they can help you make the most out of the tool according to your needs.

Best for digital discipleship

  • Free trial available
  • a one-time license fee starting at $299.

Servant Keeper helps faith-based organizations organize operations more efficiently. It's easy to communicate with members by email, track attendance and pinpoint volunteers with skills needed for specific events.

Servant Keeper can be used for church communications as a versatile platform that helps churches effectively communicate with their members and manage various aspects of church administration. It offers features such as email and text messaging capabilities, allowing churches to send out announcements, event reminders, and updates to their congregation. Servant Keeper also provides tools for managing contact information, tracking attendance, and creating targeted communication lists based on specific criteria.

Additionally, it enables churches to schedule and automate communication, ensuring timely and consistent delivery of messages. With Servant Keeper, churches can enhance their communication strategies, improve engagement, and maintain strong connections with their members, ultimately fostering a vibrant and connected church community.

Visitors can be excluded from member-only communications. Other features include modules for child check-in, online scheduling, and accounting.

Best communication software with cash balancing

  • 15-day free trial available
  • $29.50/account/month

Aplos offers a range of software tools to help large and small churches run more efficiently. Aplos offers custom communications, along with fund accounting software, church membership management, donation management, and reporting.

Aplos can be used for church communications as a comprehensive platform that facilitates efficient communication and engagement within the church community. It offers features such as email marketing and mass communication tools, allowing churches to send out personalized emails, newsletters, and event invitations to their congregation. Aplos also integrates with social media platforms, enabling churches to easily share updates and engage with their members across different channels.

Additionally, it provides tools for managing contact lists and tracking member engagement, ensuring targeted messaging and effective follow-up. With Aplos, churches can streamline their communication efforts, strengthen connections, and foster active participation and involvement within their community.

With Aplos, churches of all sizes can handle all their communications and group management needs in one place. This user-friendly software is well suited to small groups and medium-sized churches.

Best for empowering volunteers

One Church Software is a cloud-based church management system that helps ministries reach out to local communities and streamline daily operations. Features include text messaging, workflow creation, and volunteer management.

One Church Software can be used for church communications by providing a centralized platform that streamlines and enhances communication processes within the church. It offers features such as email and text messaging integration, allowing churches to easily send out announcements, newsletters, event invitations, and updates to their congregation.

One Church Software also enables targeted messaging, ensuring that specific groups or individuals receive relevant information. Additionally, it facilitates two-way communication by allowing recipients to respond to messages, increasing engagement and fostering community participation. Overall, One Church Software empowers churches to efficiently manage their communications, improving connectivity and fostering stronger relationships within their community.

One Church Software allows you to update contact preferences, send follow-up messages through the system, and inform members of upcoming church events. You can automate text in church messaging, emails, communications, and promotions.

Best for communication & marketing solution

  • From $99/month/account

Neon One is a cloud-based contact management solution for nonprofit organizations of all sizes. The built-in fundraising tools include add-ons for email blasts, donor management, and automated membership renewals. They offer different modules for communication management, customer relationship management (CRM), fundraising, payroll, and website building.

The system can be customized to match the look and feel of an existing website, and event pages can be configured as required. Administrators can send automated event notifications to registered attendees. They integrate with apps like QuickBooks, Mailchimp, TrueGivers, Eventbrite, and Windfall.

Neon One can be used for church communications as a comprehensive platform that empowers churches to effectively connect and engage with their community. It provides features such as email marketing and text messaging capabilities, allowing churches to send out personalized communications, newsletters, event invitations, and donation appeals. Neon One also offers integrated donor management tools, enabling churches to track and analyze communication interactions with their members, donors, and volunteers.

With robust segmentation options, churches can create targeted communication lists based on specific demographics or engagement levels. Additionally, Neon One integrates with social media platforms, expanding churches' reach and enhancing their online presence. Overall, Neon One equips churches with the tools they need to implement cohesive and impactful communication strategies, fostering strong relationships and driving community involvement.

Best for mass email communication

  • 30-day free trial upon request
  • $35.13/account/month

Elexio church administration software helps you to communicate with your members using text, mass emails, or voicemail. The system integrates church management software with church website design, check-in, giving kiosks, and a church mobile app.

Elexio can be used for church communications as a robust platform that facilitates effective and streamlined communication within the church community. It offers features such as email and text messaging capabilities, allowing churches to send out announcements, newsletters, event invitations, and updates to their members.

Elexio also provides tools for managing contact lists, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information for targeted messaging. Additionally, it offers integration with social media platforms, enabling churches to extend their reach and engage with members through multiple channels. With Elexio, churches can optimize their communication strategies, fostering strong connections, and promoting active participation within their community.

Key features include attendance tracking, contribution management, and automated workflows. You can also coordinate worship services and schedule volunteers.

The 12 Best Church Communication Software Summary

Tools Price
Slack From $8.75/user/month
Breeze ChMS $50/account/month.
Subsplash provides customized pricing upon request.
Planning Center From $14/month/up to 75 group members
Church Windows from $279/month
Servant Keeper a one-time license fee starting at $299.
Aplos $29.50/account/month
One Church Software No price details
Neon One From $99/month/account
Elexio $35.13/account/month
PushPay pricing is available upon request.
Trumpia From $94/month
Preview Image - <h2 class="c-block__title b-summary-table__title c-listicle__title h3" > Compare Software Specs Side by Side</h2>

Compare Software Specs Side by Side

Use our comparison chart to review and evaluate software specs side-by-side.

Compare Software

Other Church Management Software Options

Here are a few more that didn’t make the top list.

  1. Textmagic

    Best for two-way communications

  2. ACS

    Best for large churches

  3. Faithful Steward by Diakonia

    Best for an affordable solution

  4. Together+ by Aware3

    Best forms & registration tools

  5. Attendance Now

    Best HTML email builder

  6. Church Software by Grplife

    Best free church website & hosting

  7. Wild Apricot

    Best for building an online store

  8. FaithLife

    Best for sermon prep

  9. Pursuant

    Best for fundraising analytics

  10. Connection Card Pro

    Best for large churches

  11. Excellerate

    Best for automated follow-up letters

  12. Tithe.ly

    Best for automating tithe collection

  13. Donarius

    Best for tracking contributions

  14. Fellowship One

    Best for background checks

  15. Church Teams

    Best for discipleship communications

  16. Click Nonprofit

    Best for free Google advertising

  17. ChurchTrac

    Best for service outlines with a song library

Church Communication Solutions: Comparison Criteria

What do I look for when I select the best church management system for communication? Here’s a summary of my evaluation criteria: 

  1. User Interface (UI): Is it clean, attractive, and appropriate for church use?
  2. Usability: Is it easy for non-professionals (such as church members) to master? Does the company offer tech support, user support, tutorials, and training that works with church needs (like a contact center available on weekends)?
  3. Integrations: Is it easy to connect with other church management tools? Are there any pre-built integrations? Does the tool connect with all popular communication solutions, like email, social media, SMS, website notices, and anything else you use daily?
  4. Value for $: How appropriate is the price for nonprofit organizations? Is pricing clear, transparent and flexible?

Church Communication Tools: Key Features

Here are some key features to look for when selecting church communication software:

  1. Supports your preferred messaging channels: offers a range of options to tailor your communications (from social media to text messages)
  2. Database management: enables you to update your list of contacts easily
  3. Engagement tools: offers features designed to increase engagement from members of the congregation
  4. Integrates with popular church management software: works with church accounting, church management software, etc.
  5. Simple to use: makes it easy for inexperienced team members to start using the software
  6. Scalable: grows as your church and its requirements develop
  7. Faith-based compliance: designed to be suitable for use by most faith-based or religious groups

You might also like: 10 Best Free Church Management Software

What software do churches use?

Most churches today use specialized church management (ChMS) software to run their organizations efficiently. Many different software vendors develop applications specifically for this large, growing market. Pastors may require specialized functionality for venue upkeep, website & app building, real-time communication, discipleship tracking, fundraising & collections, event management, and even accounting & payroll.

What is ChMS software?

Church management software (also known as ChMS software) is the range of applications used by churches and related institutions to manage operations more effectively. ChMS software covers everything from attendance recording to people management and helps to simplify complex church procedures.

Related Read: Complete Guide To Church Management For Lead Pastors

What Do You Think About These Church Management Systems and Communication Tools?

Do these systems help you communicate with your congregation, or are the old ways better? Let us know what you think in the comments below. While you’re here, be sure to check out this article on streaming software for churches, too.

For even more information, we've written this article for you:

Complete How-To Guide To Church Records Management

Related Read:

By Alexandria Schmidt

Lexie was born into a family of pastors and other church leaders. She was trained by her grandfather and worked as an assistant youth pastor in a megachurch in her twenties. Now she runs a peer support group and is the Technical Consultant for her current church, MCC Illiana. While she is no longer pastoring, she is staying active in other parts of the ministry.