10 Best Church Event Management Software Reviewed For 2024
10 Church Event Management Tools Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 10 tools reviewed.
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
Event planning has always been one of the most demanding parts of my role as a pastor. Whether it’s a church picnic, a community outreach, or a holiday service, the weight of coordinating all the moving parts can feel overwhelming:
- Coordinating chaos: Juggling schedules, volunteers, and resources while dodging last-minute changes.
- Time-consuming tasks: Manually managing RSVPs, sending reminders, and updating spreadsheets.
- Budgeting and reporting: Tracking expenses, generating reports, and collecting feedback—often prone to errors.
Looking back, these struggles happened because I didn’t have the right tools to streamline the process.
That’s why I’ve evaluated this year's very best options for church event management software. These tools can simplify event planning, save you hours of admin work, and free you to focus on the ministry work that truly matters.
Why Trust My Software Review?
My writing team and I have been testing and reviewing church event management software since TheLeadPastor.com launched back in 2019. As pastors and church leaders ourselves, we know how tough it is to pick the right software, and how necessary that software is.
Our team digs deep to help you make better software choices. We've tested over 2,000 tools for various church needs and written more than 1,000 detailed reviews. Learn how we stay transparent and our online church management software review methodology.
The 10 Best Church Event Management Software Solution Summary
| Tools | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| ChMeetings | From $12/month | Website |
| RSVPify | No details | Website |
| Realm | Pricing upon request | Website |
| Swift Events | No details | Website |
| Arlo | From $94/user/month | Website |
| EventPro | Customized pricing upon request | Website |
| Smart Church Solutions | No details | Website |
| PowerChurch Plus | costs from $395 | Website |
| Hopin | From $99/event, (minimum purchase of 5 events). | Website |
| MinistryPlatform | Pricing upon request | 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 Event Management Software
Finding the right church event management software can feel overwhelming, but the right choice can transform your ministry. The wrong tool, though, might leave your team frustrated or bogged down by inefficiencies. Here’s what to prioritize so you can find a tool that truly works for your church:
- Ease of Use: If the software is too complicated, your team won’t use it. Look for an intuitive interface that simplifies your work. For example, some tools offer drag-and-drop features for quick event setups.
- Integration with Existing Tools: Your church already relies on tools like a church management system or email service. The software you choose should integrate seamlessly to save time and reduce frustration.
- Scalability: As your church grows, so will your events. Choose software that can handle larger groups, multiple locations, or expanding ministries without skipping a beat.
- Support and Training: Good software isn’t enough if you can’t use it effectively. Look for companies that offer reliable customer support, training materials, or even live sessions to get your team up and running.
- Cost: Stewardship is critical in ministry. Compare prices, ask about hidden fees, and check for discounts for non-profits or long-term plans. A little research now can save your budget later.
The right church event management software will save your team time, reduce stress, and make events easier to plan—leaving you free to focus on what matters most: your ministry.
Overviews Of The 10 Best Church Event Management Software Solution
Here’s a brief description of each church event management system to showcase each tool’s best use case, some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give a snapshot of the user interface.
ChMeetings is a church management software designed to enhance the administrative aspects of church operations, including event management. It caters to churches of all sizes, offering a comprehensive suite of tools for planning, organizing, and executing events. Notable features include event scheduling, automated reminders, and RSVP tracking, which help ensure that all events run smoothly and are well-attended. The software also supports custom event forms and registration, making it easy for members to sign up and participate in various church activities.
Further enhancing its utility, ChMeetings provides robust tools for volunteer management, allowing church leaders to assign roles and coordinate efforts seamlessly. The platform includes features like QR code check-ins for quick and efficient attendance tracking and detailed reporting to evaluate event success and gather insights for future planning. Additionally, ChMeetings integrates with popular communication channels to facilitate event promotion and updates.
The platform integrates with MailChimp, PayPal, Twilio, SMSGlobal, and more.
RSVPify is an events management software for churches, businesses, and non-profit organizations that need software to efficiently plan and execute events. You can use it for event planning and tracking invitees giving you an idea of how many attendees to expect during the actual event. RSVPify also allows you to create customized event registration and online reservation forms to collect attendees’ contact information and get to know your audience before an event.
Generating funds is critical for your church because it can help you provide services to your congregation and initiate outreach programs for your community. Rsvpify can help you sell tickets for events to generate funds. You can use RSVPify to sell ticket variations like VIP tickets so you can maximize the potential of fundraising activities. RSVPify also gives you the option of collecting online donations for specific events, giving church members the freedom to choose the amount they want to give.
RSVPify integrates with other event planning and communication tools, including Facebook, Slack, Salesforce, and Gmail.
Realm is a church management platform that facilitates an all-in-one approach to event management, ministry planning, donor management, volunteer management, accounting, and other operations. As an event management software, Realm features tools for scheduling events, managing registrations, and collecting payments. It also includes capabilities for setting up recurring events, tracking attendance, and managing RSVPs. Realm enables churches to coordinate event-related tasks such as assigning volunteers, conducting background checks, and customizing check-in kiosks.
The software also facilitates communication with event registrants and allows for the sharing of events on church websites and social media. You can view the event registrant list at any time to contact or follow up with a person directly. Additionally, Realm offers a mobile app that supports event check-in and provides access to event details for the church community.
The platform integrates with Growth Method, Constant Contact, Nelco, Go Method, Verified First, Vanco, and more.
Swift Events is a virtual events platform you can use to widen the reach of church events and services using the internet. You can use the platform to conduct live polls, SMS polling, quizzes, and gamification to make your event more interactive. It also allows you to conduct pre-and post-event surveys to help you determine areas you can improve to make future events more successful.
Online events are getting more popular among churches, and if you want to start hosting online events, then Swift Events is the best church event management software for you. Swift Events allows you to customize your online event using your font, color, and layout style to make your event stand out while promoting your church. You can use Swift Events to Livestream in-person events on your church website, or social media account so you can reach members who cannot attend in-person anywhere they are in the globe.
Swift Events integrates with other communication and video conferencing tools like Webex, Zoom, and GoToMeeting.
Arlo is a training management software with an event management feature to help you conduct recurring events successfully. It allows you to create customized registration forms ensuring you capture all the details of participants for easier group management during the actual event. Arlo can help you create tasks and assign them to volunteers or church employees. Arlo also helps streamline task management by automatically sending a task checklist whenever you assign a task.
Part of ministering to a flock is helping them improve themselves by gaining new skills or maximizing the ones they possess and Arlo is the best event management software for you if you hold recurring events or educational ones. With Arlo, you can easily plan and execute educational events like a series of seminars about how to minister to the community or how to manage Sunday schools effectively. You can use Arlo to create multi-session courses that allow participants to choose the sessions they want to take. Arlo lets you automate workflows to help you save time, like sending feedback surveys to help you gauge the success of your events.
EventPro is an event management software for churches of all sizes, businesses, and nonprofits to help them plan and execute events. It has different modules to help you manage your events, including attendance tracking, email marketing, child check-in, etc. You can also use EventPro to create custom event webpages to market your event and act as an online registration form.
Mounting an event means utilizing resources, and EventPro is the best event management software for you if you want one that allows you to manage the resources you need during the event. You can use EventPro to allocate resources like tables and chairs, audio-visual equipment, tents, and others to ensure the comfort of attendees and avoid double-booking equipment. If you have to source equipment, you can use EventPro to maintain a record of hired equipment and their costs for accounting purposes.
Smart Church Solutions is software for all the facilities requirements of your church. You can use it to design facilities that can serve the needs of your congregation. It is a system that church leaders can use to maintain facilities and ensure proper working order. Smart Church Solutions’ event scheduler allows users to design and create custom forms for events like registration forms or consent forms.
Smart Church Solutions is a church facilities management software to ensure proper utilization of church facilities during events. It allows users to reserve rooms, venues, sound systems, multimedia devices, and others critical to the success of any event. Smart Church Solutions is a useful software because it can help prevent conflicts and double booking, resulting in the disruption of events and discord among church members.
PowerChurch Plus is a church management software solution with different modules to help you manage your church and its activities. It has a membership management feature for maintaining a record of your members, their contact details, and other critical information. PowerChurch Plus’ donation management feature can help you manage member contributions whether from checking accounts, credit card, text giving, or online giving. This donor management feature also allows you to keep donors' financial information secure while ensuring that records of donations are available for fund accounting.
Small churches and large churches rely on the generosity of volunteers when it comes to manning events, and PowerChurch Plus is the best church management software for you if you want to ensure that volunteers know what to do during events. PowerChurch Plus has a volunteer management feature to assign tasks to people giving you a better idea of who is responsible for a task and which tasks need more resources. You can use the software to automate the sending of notifications whenever a new task gets assigned to help you save time from sending a text message to each volunteer.
Hopin is a management software for handling not just in-person events but online events and hybrid events too. You can use it as a planning center to manage your event in its entirety, from planning to post-event evaluation. It has an analytics feature to help you analyze critical data like attendee statistics, chat transcripts, and event recordings so you can use event data to plan future events.
No matter how amazing your event is, it can turn into a disaster if you cannot market it properly, which is why Hopin’s event marketing feature is a vital feature. You can use Hopin to create an amazing landing page that can help promote your event and drive attendance or launch an email marketing campaign. It also has an attendee management feature for resending tickets, creating promo codes, issuing refunds, and others that can help increase attendance at your events.
Hopin integrates with other amazing event management tools like Twitter, Mailchimp, GoFundMe, Figma, and Slack.
MinistryPlatform is a versatile church management software designed to streamline operations for large churches. It excels in event management with features tailored to handle the complexities of organizing and executing church events. The platform's comprehensive calendar and events tool allows for efficient scheduling, promoting, and managing of events. It supports various event types, from small group meetings to large conferences, ensuring that all logistical details are covered.
Specific features that enhance its event management capabilities include detailed volunteer management tools, which help coordinate and track volunteer activities for events. This ensures that the right people are in the right places, and tasks are efficiently managed. Additionally, the platform offers robust communication tools that allow for targeted messaging to event participants, reminders, and follow-ups.
The platform offers many integrations, including PCO Connect, BIS, Checkr, MinistrySafe, Twilio, Message Metrics, SendGrid, Generosity, OnlineGiving, and Vanco, Tithe.ly.
Related Software Tools:
- 10 Best Church Volunteer Management Software
- 10 Best Church Data Management Systems
- Guide To Church Conflict And Crisis Management
- Our Cutting-Edge Church Management Software Picks
Selection Criteria for Church Event Management Software
Planning church events can be rewarding, but juggling schedules, volunteers, registrations, and budgets often feels overwhelming. The right church event management software simplifies these tasks, freeing you to focus on ministry.
- Ease of Use: Look for intuitive tools with features like drag-and-drop functionality to make event setup simple.
- Integration: Ensure the software works with your existing tools, like church management systems and email platforms, to save time and reduce errors.
- Scalability: Choose software that grows with your church, handling both small gatherings and large conferences.
- Support and Training: Providers with training resources and 24/7 customer support make onboarding smooth and troubleshooting quick.
- Cost: Seek budget-friendly options with transparent pricing and discounts for non-profits.
By focusing on these key areas, you’ll find a church event management software tool that saves time, reduces stress, and helps your ministry thrive.
Core Church Event Management Software Functionality - 25% of Total Weighting Score
Great church event management software should cover the basics and address your everyday needs. Here are the core features I prioritize when evaluating tools:
- Event scheduling: Easily set up and manage events on your calendar.
- Attendee registration: Track and manage who’s coming to each event.
- Volunteer management: Organize volunteer schedules, roles, and tasks.
- Communication tools: Send reminders and updates to attendees and volunteers.
- Task management: Assign and monitor tasks so nothing falls through the cracks.
- Budget tracking: Keep your event finances in order with clear oversight.
- Reporting and analytics: Measure event success and gather insights for improvement.
- Mobile access: Manage everything on the go.
- System integration: Work seamlessly with your current tools.
The software on my list had to support these common use cases to qualify, ensuring that it truly simplifies your event planning process.
Additional Standout Features - 25% of Total Weighting Score
To stand out, a tool needs more than just the basics. These features can elevate your event planning experience:
- Automated communication: Schedule reminders and notifications to save time and ensure attendees stay informed.
- Advanced integrations: Sync seamlessly with other platforms like email systems or social media.
- Mobile-friendly design: Manage events anywhere, from any device.
- Customizable templates: Adapt event workflows to fit your church’s unique needs.
- Scalability: Plan for larger events and expanding ministries with confidence.
These features are game-changers for busy pastors looking to enhance their event management process.
Usability - 10% of Total Weighting Score
A user-friendly tool is essential for encouraging adoption by your team. I prioritize:
- Intuitive interface: Features like drag-and-drop tools simplify event setup.
- Easy navigation: Clear menus and options save time during busy planning sessions.
- Minimal learning curve: Your team shouldn’t need hours of training to get started.
The more accessible the software, the more effectively it can support your ministry.
Onboarding - 10% of Total Weighting Score
Getting your team up to speed quickly is critical. I look for:
- Training videos and templates: Resources to help you start strong.
- Interactive product tours: Guides that walk you through essential features.
- Live training sessions: Opportunities to learn directly from experts.
Good onboarding ensures you can start reaping the benefits of your software right away.
Customer Support - 10% of Total Weighting Score
Reliable support makes a big difference when something goes wrong. Here’s what I value most:
- 24/7 availability: Assistance whenever you need it.
- Multiple channels: Live chat, phone, and email support for convenience.
- Comprehensive help center: Detailed guides and FAQs for self-service.
Quick, reliable support helps ensure your events stay on track.
Value for Money - 10% of Total Weighting Score
When evaluating pricing, I look for:
- Transparent costs: No surprises or hidden fees.
- Discounts for churches: Many tools offer special rates for non-profits.
- Flexible plans: Options that suit churches of all sizes and budgets.
Investing in the right software can save both time and money in the long run.
Customer Reviews - 10% of Total Weighting Score
Feedback from other church leaders is invaluable. I prioritize tools with reviews that highlight:
- Ease of use: Tools that are simple to implement and use.
- Functionality: High marks for features like communication and volunteer management.
- Support: Praise for fast, reliable customer service.
Hearing from others who’ve successfully used the software can give you confidence in your choice.
Trends in Church Event Management Software for 2024
The future of church event management software is exciting, with tools becoming more integrated and user-friendly than ever. Here are the trends shaping 2024:
- Enhanced integrations: Tools that work seamlessly with church management systems, social media, and email platforms.
- Mobile-first design: Manage events easily from your smartphone or tablet.
- Automated communication: Keep everyone in the loop with scheduled reminders and notifications.
- Advanced analytics: Gain deeper insights into your event’s success with detailed reporting.
- Volunteer tools: Better scheduling and communication features to support your team.
- Customization: Tailor software to your church’s specific needs for a more personal experience.
These trends are making it easier than ever for pastors to manage events and focus on what matters most: ministry.
What is Church Event Management Software?
Church event management software is your digital assistant for organizing events. It handles tasks like scheduling, registration, volunteer coordination, and communication in one central location. By automating these processes, it frees you from juggling spreadsheets and emails, letting you focus on connecting with your community.
Features of Church Event Management Software
When selecting software, look for features that simplify your workload:
- Automated scheduling: Save time by setting up events quickly.
- Communication tools: Send updates and reminders automatically.
- Volunteer management: Track volunteer schedules and assignments.
- Online registration: Streamline sign-ups and reduce paperwork.
- Centralized database: Keep all event details in one place.
- Task management: Ensure nothing is overlooked with clear task tracking.
- Mobile access: Manage events on the go.
- Budget tracking: Maintain financial transparency.
- System integration: Connect with your current tools for smoother operations.
These features ensure that planning events becomes a stress-free experience, allowing you to focus on ministry.
Benefits of Church Event Management Software
Using event management software offers significant advantages for your church:
- Simplified planning: Save time and reduce stress with streamlined workflows.
- Improved communication: Ensure attendees and volunteers stay informed.
- Efficient volunteer coordination: Organize schedules and tasks in one place.
- Centralized data management: Easily access event details without hunting for information.
- Financial transparency: Track expenses and income with clear reporting.
By adopting this software, you’ll free up time and resources to focus on what matters most: serving your congregation and growing your ministry.
Costs & Pricing for Church Event Management Software
When considering church event management software, understanding the available plans and pricing is crucial for making the right choice. Here are the common plan options, their average prices, and features to help you decide which one best fits your needs.
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features | Best for... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic event scheduling, attendee registration, limited communication tools | Small churches, church plants |
| Basic | $10/month | Event scheduling, attendee registration, email reminders, basic reporting | Small to medium churches |
| Standard | $30/month | All Basic features, volunteer management, mobile access, advanced reporting | Medium churches |
| Premium | $60/month | All Standard features, custom templates, automated workflows, integration with other tools | Large churches, multi-site churches |
| Enterprise | Custom Pricing | All Premium features, dedicated support, unlimited users, advanced customization | Very large churches, complex needs |
Each plan offers different features tailored to the size and needs of your church. Consider what features are essential for your operations and choose the plan that best supports those needs.
Church Event Management Software Frequently Asked Questions
Can church event management software handle multiple events at once?
Yes, most church event management software can handle multiple events simultaneously. These tools typically offer features like separate dashboards for each event, allowing you to manage and track each one without confusion.
How secure is the data stored in church event management software?
Data security is a top priority for most church event management software providers. They usually employ encryption, regular backups, and secure access controls to protect your data. It's always good to check the specific security measures of the software you choose.
Can we customize the event registration forms to fit our needs?
Many church event management software solutions offer customizable registration forms. These forms allow you to tailor fields to gather specific information from attendees, making it easier to manage event-specific requirements.
Does church event management software support online payments?
Yes, many church event management tools support online payments. They integrate with payment processors to allow attendees to pay for events directly through the software, making the process smooth and efficient for both organizers and attendees.
Is there training available for church staff to learn how to use the software?
Most providers offer various training resources, including video tutorials, webinars, and help articles. Some even provide live training sessions or dedicated support to help your team get up to speed quickly.
These questions cover important aspects of church event management software not previously discussed, helping pastors make more informed decisions.
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My SEO team tells me that when someone scrolls THIS far down the page, they haven't found the information they're looking for. If that's you, here are some additional articles to widen and deepen your knowledge on this stuff:
- The Top 5 Benefits of a Great Church Management System
- How to Choose Church Management Software You (and Your Team) Will Love
- Complete Guide To Church Event Management & Planning
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