Best Church CRM Shortlist
Here’s my shortlist of the best church CRM:
Managing a church community takes a lot of work. You’re handling events, donations, and everything in between, and it adds up fast. A church CRM can take some of that weight off your shoulders by keeping things organized, giving you more time to care for your community.
I've spent years testing and reviewing church management software. I know the ins and outs of the industry and aim to provide you with an unbiased look at the best solutions available. In this listicle, you'll find my top picks for church CRM, chosen for their ability to address your specific needs.
I believe these tools can make your work more manageable and efficient. So, let's dive into the options and find the perfect fit for your team.
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Best Church CRM Summary
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top church CRM selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for member and group management | Free plan available | From $19/month | Website | |
| 2 | Best for online giving features | Free plan available | From $72/month | Website | |
| 3 | Best for financial management | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 4 | Best for mobile giving | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 5 | Best for budget-conscious users | Free plan available | From $8.10/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 6 | Best for UK churches | 30-day free trial | From $15.50/month/account | Website | |
| 7 | Best for multi-campus churches | 30-day free trial | From $14/month/up to 75 group members | Website | |
| 8 | Best for small churches | Free trial available | From $35.13/month | Website | |
| 9 | Best all-in-one solution | 10-day free trial | From $40/month | Website | |
| 10 | Best for open-source users | Free plan available | Pricing upon request | Website |
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ChMeetings
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.8 -
Gracely
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.5 -
Text In Church
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.8
Best Church CRM Reviews
Below are my detailed summaries of the best church CRM that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a detailed look at the key features, pros & cons, integrations, and ideal use cases of each tool to help you find the best one for you.
For churches seeking a reliable management solution, Gracely offers an intuitive platform that enhances your community's operations. It is designed to support ministries by simplifying administrative tasks and fostering communication within your congregation. Whether you're managing events, tracking contributions, or engaging with members, Gracely addresses these needs with ease.
Why I Picked Gracely
I picked Gracely for its robust member and group management capabilities, which are essential for any church CRM. The platform allows you to maintain detailed profiles and organize groups effectively, ensuring that you can keep track of your congregation's needs. Additionally, Gracely's event planning feature simplifies the process of organizing and managing church events, making it easier to engage your community. These specific functionalities closely align with the core needs of a church CRM, providing a reliable solution to your church's administrative challenges.
Gracely Key Features
In addition to its member and group management and event planning capabilities, Gracely offers:
- Online Giving and Contributions Tracking: This feature allows you to facilitate and track online donations, promoting financial transparency within your church.
- Customizable Forms: With this feature, you can collect vital information and feedback from your congregation through tailored forms.
- Dedicated Church Portal: This portal enables members to update their profiles, view giving history, and register for events, enhancing member engagement.
- Financial Management: Gracely helps you track income, expenses, and budgets with detailed financial reporting, simplifying your church's financial oversight.
Gracely Integrations
Native integrations are not currently listed by Gracely.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Secure online giving improves financial transparency
- Comprehensive event planning features simplify logistics
- Effective community management tools streamline church operations
Cons:
- Page refresh required to see newly added updates
- Some users may find the interface too simplistic
New Product Updates from Gracely
Gracely Introduces Faster Event Attendance and Mailing Labels
Gracely has introduced a faster event attendance system and a new mailing label feature, enhancing user experience and efficiency. For more information, visit Gracely's official site.
Tithe.ly is a church management platform focused on enhancing online giving for churches of all sizes. It provides tools for managing donations, a member engagement, and communication, making it an excellent choice for churches prioritizing digital contributions.
Why I picked Tithe.ly: It excels in facilitating online giving, a crucial aspect for modern churches. The platform offers features like mobile giving, text-to-give options, and recurring donations. These tools make it easy for your congregation to contribute, enhancing the overall giving experience. I believe Tithe.ly's focus on digital donations sets it apart for churches looking to boost their online giving capabilities.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include event registration to manage church activities, member directory for organizing contact information, and sermon streaming to reach your audience online.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Salesforce, Planning Centre, Rock RMS, Grow Church, Generis, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Recurring donation capabilities
- Easy text-to-give setup
- Mobile giving options
Cons:
- May need technical support
- Limited customization features
IconCMO is a church management software tailored for churches, focusing on financial management and accounting. It serves a wide range of churches by providing tools for budgeting, tracking donations, and managing membership data.
Why I picked IconCMO: It specializes in financial management, offering robust tools for handling church budgets and donations. You can manage your church's finances with features like fund accounting, contribution tracking, and detailed financial reports. These capabilities ensure your financial records are accurate and transparent. I believe its focus on finance makes it a valuable tool for churches prioritizing financial oversight.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include fund accounting to separate and track different financial sources, contribution statements for members, and membership management to efficiently organize and maintain member data.
Integrations are available through IconCMO’s API to connect to your own custom solutions or third-party software.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable financial statements
- Effective fund accounting
- Detailed financial reports
Cons:
- Limited design customization
- Requires financial knowledge
Pushpay is a church management platform primarily focused on enhancing mobile giving experiences for churches. It serves churches looking to improve their donation collection through mobile and digital channels, while also offering communication and engagement tools.
Why I picked Pushpay: It excels in providing mobile giving solutions that make donations easy for your congregation. With features like text-to-give, mobile app donations, and customizable giving pages, your church can increase its digital contributions. These features ensure that members can give conveniently from their smartphones.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include event management to help you organize church activities, a custom church app to keep your congregation connected, and communication tools to engage with your members effectively.
Integrations include Salesforce, Planning Center,, QuickBooks, Rock RMS, Mailchimp, Gusto, FellowshipOne, Sage Intacct, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive event management
- Effective text-to-give feature
- Customizable donation pages
Cons:
- Limited customization for app
- Higher cost than some alternatives
ChurchTrac is a church management software designed for budget-conscious churches seeking an affordable way to manage their operations. It offers tools for tracking membership, managing donations, and scheduling events, providing essential features without breaking the bank.
Why I picked ChurchTrac: It offers cost-effective solutions for churches looking to manage their operations efficiently. You can track attendance, manage your church's budget, and organize events all in one place. Its affordability makes it accessible for churches with limited resources. The tool’s straightforward interface ensures you and your team can easily navigate its features.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include custom dashboards that let you view key metrics at a glance, accounting tools for managing church finances, and worship planning to organize services effectively.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Mailchimp, Planning Center, PayPal, and Stripe.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Effective financial tools
- Customizable dashboards
- Affordable for small budgets
Cons:
- Limited customer support
- Limited advanced features
ChurchSuite is a church management software designed primarily for churches in the UK, offering tools for member management, event coordination, and communication. It caters to churches of all sizes looking to enhance their administrative efficiency and congregational engagement.
Why I picked ChurchSuite: It's tailored for UK churches, providing localized support and compliance with regional regulations. You can manage your church's database, communicate with members, and organize events. The platform's focus on the UK market ensures you have the tools needed for effective church management. In my experience, its regional focus makes it a valuable asset for churches in the UK.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include event management to support planning and attendance, a member database to organize contact information, and communication tools for sending emails and messages to your congregation.
Integrations include Mailchimp, Google Calendar, Stripe, PayPal, Elvanto, and Xero.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Compliance with UK regulations
- Effective event management tools
- Localized support for UK users
Cons:
- Primarily focused on UK market
- Limited customization options
Planning Center is a church management software tailored for multi-campus churches looking to coordinate activities across locations. It provides tools for scheduling, organizing services, and managing members, helping your team keep everything in sync.
Why I picked Planning Center: It caters to multi-campus churches needing centralized management. You can schedule services across locations, manage volunteer teams, and track attendance effortlessly. Its flexibility allows you to adapt to your church's specific needs. The tool's design makes it easy for staff to collaborate, ensuring all campuses run smoothly.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include service planning to organize worship elements, volunteer scheduling for managing teams, and giving management to track donations efficiently.
Integrations include Mailchimp, QuickBooks, Stripe, PayPal, WorshipPlanning, and Twilio.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Detailed volunteer scheduling
- Supports multi-campus management
- Highly customizable modules
Cons:
- Some features require add-ons
- Requires time to learn
SimpleChurch CRM is a user-friendly church management system designed for small church communities. It focuses on simplifying tasks like member management, event scheduling, and donation tracking to help your team operate smoothly.
Why I picked SimpleChurch CRM: This tool caters to small churches that need straightforward solutions without complexity. It offers features like easy-to-use member directories, contribution tracking, and check-in systems for events. The simplicity of its interface and functionality makes it accessible for teams without technical expertise. You can manage your church's needs effectively without feeling overwhelmed by too many options.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include an intuitive check-in system for events, text messaging capabilities for quick communication, and volunteer management to organize your team efficiently.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Mailchimp, Planning Center, Tithe.ly, and Stripe.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Effective communication tools
- Quick setup process
- Simple interface for non-tech users
Cons:
- Basic reporting options
- Limited advanced features
Faith Teams is a church management software aimed at providing an all-in-one solution for churches of various sizes. It offers features for managing members, tracking contributions, and organizing events, making it ideal for churches seeking a single platform for multiple needs.
Why I picked Faith Teams: It provides an all-in-one platform that covers a wide range of church management tasks. You can manage your congregation with features like automated workflows, text messaging, and online giving. These features help streamline operations and enhance communication within your church. In my experience, having everything in one place simplifies management and improves efficiency.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include automated workflows to manage tasks efficiently, text messaging for instant communication with members, and built-in online giving to facilitate donations directly through the platform.
Integrations include Mailchimp, QuickBooks, Planning Center, Stripe, and Google Calendar.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Strong member management
- Automated workflows
- Built-in online giving
Cons:
- Limited customization options
- Learning curve for new users
ChurchCRM is an open-source church management solution designed for churches looking for a customizable and community-driven platform. It helps manage member data, track donations, and organize events, making it ideal for tech-savvy church teams.
Why I picked ChurchCRM: Being open-source, ChurchCRM offers flexibility and customization that many closed systems don't. You can modify the code to fit your church's specific needs. It includes features like member management, donation tracking, and event scheduling, all customizable to your preferences. The open-source nature means you can engage with a community of users and developers for support and collaboration.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include member management with detailed profiles, contribution tracking for transparent financial records, and event management to organize church activities efficiently.
Integrations include Mailchimp, PayPal, and Stripe.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Frequent updates from community
- Active user community
- Fully customizable code
Cons:
- May need a developer for setup
- Requires technical knowledge
Other Church CRM
Here are some additional church CRM options that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:
- B1 Church
For member engagement
- One Church Software
For multi-site management
- SteepleMate
For small group coordination
- ServantKeeper
For detailed member profiles
- FellowshipOne
For large church networks
Church CRM Selection Criteria
When selecting the best church CRM to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like managing member data efficiently and facilitating online giving. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:
- Manage member data
- Track donations and contributions
- Schedule events and services
- Facilitate communication with members
- Provide reporting and analytics
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Mobile app access
- Customizable dashboards
- Integration with social media platforms
- Advanced volunteer management
- Multi-site support
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Intuitive interface design
- Easy navigation
- Minimal learning curve
- Responsive design for mobile use
- Clear and concise user guides
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Access to webinars
- Comprehensive user manuals
- Dedicated onboarding support
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- 24/7 support availability
- Multi-channel support options
- Knowledgeable support staff
- Fast response times
- Access to a community forum
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Competitive pricing
- Transparent pricing structure
- Flexible subscription plans
- Discounts for non-profits
- No hidden fees
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Consistent positive feedback
- Reported ease of use
- Satisfaction with customer support
- Value for money perceptions
- Highlighted areas for improvement
How to Choose a Church CRM
It’s easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here’s a checklist of factors to keep in mind:
| Factor | What to Consider |
|---|---|
| Scalability | Will the CRM grow with your church? Consider future expansion, the number of users, and potential need for additional features as your congregation grows. |
| Integrations | Does it connect with tools you already use? Look for compatibility with existing systems like accounting software, email platforms, and social media. |
| Customizability | Can you tailor it to fit your needs? Check if the CRM allows adjustments to fields, reports, and user interfaces to match your specific requirements. |
| Ease of Use | Is it simple for everyone to use? Ensure the interface is intuitive for all users, regardless of their tech skills, to avoid frustration and resistance. |
| Implementation and Onboarding | How smooth is the transition? Assess the support for setup, training resources, and whether there's a clear plan to integrate the CRM into daily use. |
| Cost | How does it fit your budget? Compare pricing models, check for hidden fees, and consider long-term costs versus immediate benefits for your church. |
| Security Safeguards | Are your data protected? Ensure the CRM has encryption, access controls, and compliance with data protection regulations to safeguard member information. |
| Support Availability | Is help readily available? Look for 24/7 support, response times, and access to knowledgeable staff to assist with any issues that arise. |
What Is a Church CRM?
Church CRM tools are a type of software designed to help churches manage their operations, including member data, donations, and events. Church administrators, pastors, and volunteers typically use these tools to keep the church running smoothly and maintain engagement with the congregation.
Member management, donation tracking, and event scheduling features help with organization, communication, and community building. Overall, these tools provide churches with the ability to efficiently manage their resources and foster better relationships within their communities.
Features
When selecting a CRM tool for your church, keep an eye out for the following key features:
- Member management: Stores and organizes information about church members in a cloud-based system, helping church leaders keep records up to date and support ongoing follow-up and engagement.
- Donation tracking: Supports donor management by tracking contributions, including credit card donations, and generating reports that improve financial visibility.
- Event scheduling: Helps churches plan services and events while sending notifications that keep members informed and improve attendance.
- Communication tools: Enable mass emails, targeted messages, and automated follow-up so churches can communicate clearly with their congregation.
- Mobile app access: Provides on-the-go access for staff and volunteers, allowing church leaders to manage people management tasks from anywhere.
- Customizable dashboards: Allow users to tailor their view of member activity, donations, and events, making customer relationship management more efficient.
- Volunteer management: Organizes volunteer roles and schedules, helping churches automate coordination and reduce manual work.
- Online giving: Enables digital donations through secure, cloud-based tools that integrate with the church website for convenient giving.
- Reporting and analytics: Delivers insights into church members, donor trends, and engagement activity to support informed decision-making.
- Security safeguards: Protects sensitive member and donor data using encryption and compliance measures designed for church CRM systems.
- Unlimited users: Allows staff, volunteers, and church leaders to access the system without usage limits or added fees.
Benefits
Implementing church CRM provides several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Improved organization: Centralizes member data, donations, and event details, making it easier for your team to access and manage information.
- Enhanced communication: Utilizes tools like messaging and email to keep your congregation informed and engaged with church activities.
- Efficient event planning: Streamlines scheduling and coordination, helping ensure successful and well-attended church events.
- Financial transparency: Tracks contributions and generates reports, providing clear insights into your church's financial health.
- Volunteer coordination: Manages volunteer roles and schedules, ensuring church activities run smoothly and efficiently.
- Convenient online giving: Facilitates digital donations, offering members a simple way to contribute financially to the church.
- Data security: Protects sensitive information with encryption and compliance with data protection regulations, giving peace of mind.
Costs & Pricing
Selecting a CRM requires an understanding of the various pricing models and plans available. Costs vary based on features, team size, add-ons, and more. The table below summarizes common plans, their average prices, and typical features included in church CRM solutions:
Plan Comparison Table for Church CRM
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | $0 | Basic member management, limited event scheduling, and basic communication tools. |
| Personal Plan | $5-$25/user/month | Enhanced member management, donation tracking, event scheduling, and standard communication tools. |
| Business Plan | $30-$50/user/month | Advanced member management, detailed reporting, volunteer management, and online giving capabilities. |
| Enterprise Plan | $60-$100/user/month | Comprehensive analytics, full customization options, multi-site support, and premium customer support |
Church CRM FAQs
Here are some answers to common questions about church CRM:
Do Church CRM tools support volunteer coordination for events and weekly services?
Most Church CRM platforms include tools to manage volunteer schedules, roles, and availability. You can assign tasks, send reminders, and track participation more easily. This reduces confusion and helps teams stay organized for Sunday services and special events.
Can Church CRMs help manage multi-campus ministries effectively?
Many Church CRM systems allow you to oversee multiple locations under one account. You can track attendance, communications, and giving for each campus separately or as a whole. This makes it easier to support growth while keeping leadership aligned.
Can church CRMs integrate with existing tools?
Yes, most church CRMs offer integrations with popular tools like accounting software, email platforms, and social media. Check the CRM’s integration capabilities to ensure it can connect with the tools you’re already using. This will help streamline your processes and avoid data silos. Look for CRMs with a wide range of integrations to cover all your needs.
Is data security a concern with a church CRM tool?
Yes, data security is a significant concern with church CRM. Ensure the CRM has robust security measures like encryption and access controls to protect sensitive member information. Verify compliance with data protection regulations. It’s crucial to choose a CRM provider that prioritizes security to safeguard your church’s data.
What’s Next:
If you're in the process of researching church CRM, connect with a SoftwareSelect advisor for free recommendations.
You fill out a form and have a quick chat where they get into the specifics of your needs. Then you'll get a shortlist of software to review. They'll even support you through the entire buying process, including price negotiations.
