The Best Church Database Software Tools: 2024’s Industry-Leaders
10 Best Church Database Software Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 16 tools reviewed.
If attempting to keep up with managing your church operations gives you the thousand yard stare… I feel you. The pain is real. I too have spent countless hours buried in spreadsheets or wandering endless of email threads.
But fear not! With the right tool, you can streamline your church operations, communicate better with your congregation, and get back to what really matters: ministry.
Ready to say goodbye to chaos and hello to efficiency? Let’s dive in and find the perfect church database software for you.
Why Trust Our Software Reviews
We've been testing and reviewing church database software since we launched TheLeadPastor in 2019. As pastors and church leaders ourselves, we know how tough it is to choose the right software.
Like you, we've spent countless hours finding the best tools for our ministries. To make life easier for our readers (you, basically), we've invested in extremely detailed, thorough research. We've trialed over 2,000 tools and written over 1,000 reviews to help you make the 'just right' choice.
Want to see how we stay transparent? Check out our affiliate page. For a detailed look at our process, see our review methodology.
The 10 Best Church Database Software Solutions Summary
| Tools | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Keap | From $249/month (billed annually) | Website |
| ChMeetings | From $12/month | Website |
| ACS | No price details | Website |
| Planning Center | From $14/month/up to 75 group members | Website |
| Fellowship One | Pricing is available upon request | Website |
| ChurchSuite | From $15.50/month/account | Website |
| Faith Teams | From $40/month | Website |
| ChurchTrac | No price details | Website |
| Elvanto | From $50/month/account | Website |
| Tithe.ly | giving app is free, but the pricing for Tithe.ly All Access is $99/month. | Website |
Compare Software Specs Side by Side
Use our comparison chart to review and evaluate software specs side-by-side.
Compare SoftwareHow to Choose Church Database Software
As you work through your software selection process, keep these points in mind:
- User-Friendly Interface: The software should be easy to navigate. Complicated systems frustrate staff and volunteers, leading to inefficiency. For example, a church secretary shouldn't need extensive training to manage the database.
- Integration Capabilities: Check if the software integrates with other tools your church uses, like accounting software or email marketing platforms. This saves time and reduces data entry errors. For instance, seamless integration with your church management system can streamline operations.
- Scalability: Ensure the software can grow with your church. As your congregation expands, your needs will too. A scalable solution prevents the hassle of switching systems later. For example, a database that handles a small group now should accommodate a larger community in the future.
- Security Features: Protect sensitive information with robust security measures like encryption and user access controls. This protects your members' data from breaches. For instance, software with two-factor authentication can add an extra layer of security.
- Support and Training: Reliable customer support and training resources are vital. When issues arise, quick and effective help can save the day. For example, 24/7 support or comprehensive online tutorials can greatly improve user satisfaction.
By keeping these considerations in mind, you'll be better equipped to choose the right church database software for your needs.
Overviews Of The 10 Best Church Database Software Solutions
Here’s a brief description of each church database app to showcase each tool’s best use case, some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give a snapshot of the user interface.
Keap is a versatile CRM database software designed to streamline organizational operations through powerful automation features. For churches, Keap provides essential tools to manage their congregation effectively. Its automation capabilities allow churches to automate follow-up emails to new visitors, schedule appointments, and send reminders for events and volunteer opportunities. This ensures consistent and timely communication, enhancing engagement and participation within the community.
Additionally, Keap’s robust contact management system enables churches to keep a detailed database of members, track their involvement, and segment them for targeted outreach. The software's customizable templates and workflows also help automate administrative tasks, freeing up time for church leaders to focus on ministry work.
ChMeetings is a powerful church management software designed to help churches efficiently manage their databases. Suitable for congregations of all sizes, it offers comprehensive tools for organizing and maintaining member information, contributions, and attendance records. Standout features include detailed member profiles and custom fields, allowing churches to capture and store extensive data tailored to their specific needs. The software also provides reporting capabilities to generate reports on various aspects of church operations.
Additionally, ChMeetings excels in database management with features like advanced search and filtering, enabling quick access to specific data. It supports seamless data import and export, allowing for easy integration with other systems and tools. The software's cloud-based platform ensures data accessibility from any location, while automated backup and encryption provide robust data security.
ACS is a church management software database you can use to capture and manage member profiles, contact information, history, family relations, and notes, allowing you to get to know your members better. You can use the software to create picture directories to place faces on member names and have a visual aid to recognize members faster. ACS Suite can also help you keep a database of your interactions with church members that you can use as a guide on how to proceed with future interactions and plans on how to improve stewardship programs.
ACS is the best church database software if you need to present church information because it has customizable pie charts, line graphs, bar graphs, and reports you can use. It also lets you create up to three statistical reports with custom setup options so you can prepare and present the data that you require. With the help of ACS’s reporting capabilities, you can take an in-depth look at the state of your church membership, so you’ll know which areas you need to improve on.
Planning Center is a suite of tools you can use to record and maintain critical information about your church and its members. It has a calendar functionality you can use to schedule events and track rooms and resources to avoid scheduling conflicts. Planning Center has a membership management feature to record and organize the personal details of church members like contact information, group memberships, church history, and others.
Planning Center is the best church database software if your church has many active small groups because it has a group management feature you can use to maintain a database of groups and their members. The software lets you add a comprehensive description of a group and its goals to help encourage new members. You can also use Planning Center to share useful documents, videos, audio, and other files to specific groups to help both the group and its members grow.
Planning Center integrates with other church management tools, including ProPresenter, PushPay, Worship Extreme, Zapier, etc.
FellowshipOne is a church management software database you can use to create a membership database allowing you to get to know your congregation better. It has a mobile app version that church members can use to update their personal information and contact details, ensuring that you always have updated information about your flock. You can also use the software to maintain a database of church resources like facilities, volunteers, media files, equipment, and others.
FellowshipOne is the best church database software to ensure a faithful database software program of your church’s funds because it has a built-in church accounting software. FellowshipOne’s church accounting software is easy to understand and use, making it ideal for churches and non-profit organizations with no full-time CPA employee. You can use the software to track bills, deposits, and budgets, ensuring that you can access financial information in a centralized location. FellowshipOne lets you track receivables and sync them to your central chart of accounts, so you have a financial database to use in assessing your church’s financial health.
ChurchSuite is a cloud-based church management software solution for keeping your church members’ details in a secure, centralized location. It can help you maintain a database of important member information like contact details, family members, birthdays, and anniversaries, ensuring that you have access to critical information that will help you minister to members effectively. It has a suite of communication tools so you can send emails or text messages to church members and communicate crucial information about church events and services.
ChurchSuite is the best church management software if you have many young members because it allows you to securely track and manage your church’s youth and children’s ministry. It has a built-in child check-in functionality to help assure parents that the church is looking after the security and welfare of their children. You can use ChurchSuite to sort children by age group to help you formulate age-appropriate programs and events.
Faith Teams is an all-in-one church management system you can use to maintain an updated member directory, ensuring you can get in touch with members to minister to them. It has a contribution management feature so you can track contributions and print year-end statements for donors for transparency. Faith Teams allows you to add an unlimited number of members into your database, making it ideal for large churches and small churches hoping to increase its membership.
Faith Teams is the best church database software to provide excellent worship services to church members because it has a service planner feature. The software lets you maintain a database with all the tools you need to deliver successful worship services, including a database of songs, sermons, Bible texts, and multimedia presentations. Faith Teams also allows you to automate the sending of guests’ follow-ups so you can concentrate on making every worship service a success.
Churchtrac is an all-in-one church management software you can use to manage your church membership database so you can get to know your members better. You can use it to plan worship services and schedule volunteers, ensuring that worship services will go smoothly. It has a giving feature to help you accept donations through checks, online donations, and text giving, ensuring that you have enough funds to sustain your ministry and all of its programs.
Churchtrac is the best database software for your church if you want to find group members because of its unlimited tagging options easily. With Churchtrac, you can tag members in the different groups and use the tags as filters making searches easier. You can create custom tags if you have unique groups that don’t match pre-set tags.
Elvanto is a SaaS church management system for handling administrative tasks like maintaining your church calendar, managing membership database, worship planning, volunteer scheduling, and donor management. It has built-in templates allowing you to send mass emails and SMS to relay critical information to all members. Elvanto has a mobile app version that works on iOS and Android mobile devices so church volunteers can participate in event planning and collaborate with fellow volunteers.
Elvanto is the best church management system if you want to create custom forms to obtain membership details because of its form builder feature. Elvanto’s form builder feature provides you with customizable forms you can use for group memberships, worship services, fund-raising events, and others. This gives you complete control over the type of information you want to obtain for your church database software program. You can embed forms on your church website so you can automatically sync information, ensuring that your church database is constantly updated.
Elvanto integrates with other church management and productivity apps like SongSelect, PayPal, MailChimp, and Stripe.
Tithe.ly is a giving platform that churches of all sizes can use to provide members with a wide variety of options for providing financial assistance to the ministry. You can use Tithe.ly to add or update your church members’ contact details, profile images, family members, and other important details you can use to minister to them. Tithe.ly also allows you to conduct background checks for new members and volunteers, ensuring that you protect the other members of your congregation.
Tithe.ly is the best church management system if you want to manage your church’s fund-raising efforts because it has digital giving tools. You can use this ChMS to keep track of your church’s offline and online giving, like cash and check gifts, ensuring that you can keep tabs on your cash inflow. You can use Tithe.ly to generate comprehensive reports of your gifts, deposits, and other financial transactions, giving you a clear idea of your church’s financial health.
Other Options
Here are a few other options if you haven’t found what you’re looking for yet.
Selection Criteria for Church Database Software
When choosing church database software, we look for features that help you spend less time on admin tasks and more time on ministry. We test and research these tools to make sure they meet key needs and solve common problems.
Core Church Database Functionality - 25% of total weighting score
Common features include member management, attendance tracking, donation tracking, volunteer management, event scheduling, communication tools, reporting, mobile access, security features, and integrations.
To make our list, the software must handle:
- Tracking member information and history
- Managing donations and finances
- Organizing events and volunteers
- Communicating with members through email and SMS
- Generating reports for church leadership
Additional Standout Features - 25% of total weighting score
- Mobile app access for on-the-go management
- Advanced reporting and analytics tools
- Integration with social media for outreach
- Customizable dashboards for specific needs
- Enhanced security features like two-factor authentication
Some tools also offer automated attendance tracking and advanced data analytics for deeper insights.
Usability - 10% of total weighting score
- Easy-to-use interface
- Drag-and-drop event scheduling
- Simple navigation and search functions
- Clear data entry forms
Onboarding - 10% of total weighting score
- Training videos and interactive tutorials
- Pre-designed templates for quick setup
- Step-by-step product tours
- Chatbots and webinars for ongoing support
Customer Support - 10% of total weighting score
- 24/7 customer support
- Responsive and knowledgeable staff
- Multiple support channels (phone, email, live chat)
- Comprehensive help center or FAQ section
Value For Money - 10% of total weighting score
- Competitive pricing
- Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
- Tiered pricing options for different church sizes
- Free trial or demo available
Customer Reviews - 10% of total weighting score
- Positive user feedback on functionality and ease of use
- High ratings for customer support and onboarding
- Consistent praise for reliability and performance
- Testimonials highlighting practical benefits and time savings
By focusing on these criteria, our team can make sure the church database software we recommend actually moves the needle for pastors, allowing them to spend less time on admin tasks and more on ministry.
What is Church Database Software?
Church database software is a tool that helps churches manage their daily tasks. For example, it can send emails to members, keep track of who attended events, and record donations automatically. This software makes it easier for church leaders to track member information, donations, event planning, and communication.
Using church database software means you can focus on ministry instead of paperwork.
Features of Church Database Software
When choosing church database software, look for features that save you time on admin tasks so you can focus more on ministry. Here are the key features to look for:
- Easy Member Management: Quickly update and access member details, saving time for pastoral care.
- Automated Reporting: Generate reports with minimal effort, freeing up time for more important tasks.
- Event Scheduling: Simplifies organizing church events, allowing you to focus on spiritual leadership.
- Online Giving: Streamlines donations, reducing admin tasks and increasing financial transparency.
- Communication Tools: Send emails or texts to members easily, improving outreach and engagement.
- Volunteer Management: Track and coordinate volunteers efficiently, ensuring smooth operation of church activities.
- Attendance Tracking: Monitor attendance without hassle, helping you understand member involvement and needs.
- Mobile Access: Manage church operations on the go, making it easier to handle tasks from anywhere.
- Customizable Dashboards: View important information at a glance, helping you make quick and informed decisions.
- Security Features: Protect sensitive data, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to focus on ministry.
By choosing software with these features, you'll streamline your operations and free up more time for ministry work, enhancing your ability to serve your congregation effectively.
Benefits of Church Database Software
When looking at church database software, here are five key benefits for lead pastors and church leaders:
- Better Member Management: Easily track and update member info, helping you stay connected and care for your congregation better.
- Easier Communication: Send emails and texts to members quickly, making sure everyone gets important messages and stays engaged.
- Simple Donation Tracking: Keep track of donations without hassle, ensuring financial transparency and making budgeting easier.
- Efficient Event Coordination: Organize events and manage volunteers smoothly, so you can focus more on ministry and less on logistics.
- Quick Reporting: Generate detailed reports fast, giving you insights into church operations and helping you make informed decisions.
Using church database software helps you manage your church more efficiently, giving you more time to focus on ministry. These tools enhance member engagement, improve financial oversight, and streamline admin tasks, making your work easier and your church stronger.
Costs & Pricing for Church Database Software
When choosing church database software, it's important to know the different plan options and their pricing. This will help you find the best fit for your church's needs and budget. Below is a table summarizing the common plans, their average prices, and the features they include.
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features | Best For... |
| Free | $0 | Basic member management, limited communication tools, basic reporting. | Small churches with tight budgets. |
| Basic | $20/month | Member management, email communication, donation tracking, basic event scheduling. | Small to medium churches needing core features. |
| Standard | $50/month | All Basic features, plus text messaging, advanced reporting, volunteer management. | Medium churches needing more tools. |
| Premium | $100/month | All Standard features, plus mobile app access, custom dashboards, enhanced security features. | Larger churches needing advanced features. |
| Enterprise | $200/month | All Premium features, plus full integration with other software, priority support, unlimited users. | Very large churches needing top-tier features. |
Each plan offers a variety of features to meet different needs. Think about your church size, budget, and specific needs when choosing a plan.
Church Database Software Frequently Asked Questions
Is our members' information safe and secure with this software?
Yes, most church database software includes strong security features like encryption and user access controls to keep member information safe. Look for options with two-factor authentication and regular security updates.
Can this software manage multiple church locations?
Yes, many church database tools can handle multiple locations. They let you manage data, events, and finances for each site while keeping everything connected.
Can we customize the software to fit our church's needs?
Yes, you can usually customize dashboards, reports, and member fields to fit your church's needs. Some tools also allow you to integrate with other software you use.
How does the software back up and recover our data?
Good church database software backs up your data automatically and has easy recovery options. This keeps your information safe and accessible if something goes wrong.
Are there any extra fees or hidden costs?
Some software may have extra fees for additional features or users (especially when it comes to transaction fees.) Generally, software providers are pretty up-front about their pricing, but it's still important to check the pricing details and ask about any extra costs before you decide.
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