20 Best Church Financial Software To Track Donations & Expenses In 2024
10 The Best Church Finance Software
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 20 tools reviewed.
Selecting the right church finance software can be a daunting task, especially if you're a lead pastor without much prior experience in either software selection or in church finances. The decision, though, is a big one. The software you choose will play a crucial role in how effectively your church manages its finances.
This article aims to demystify the process of selecting church finance software.
My team and I are pastors and church leaders ourselves, with extensive experience evaluating and reviewing church finance software. Stick with us, and you’ll find yourself educated and equipped to make the right choice for your church.
Why Trust Our Software Reviews
The team at TheLeadPastor.com has been testing and trialing and exhaustively reviewing church finance software since 2019. As church leaders and pastors ourselves, we understand the unique needs, challenges, and pain points. We understand how critical (and tough!) it is to make the right decision when selecting software..
We aren’t afraid to invest in deep research, if it helps our readers make better software purchasing decisions. We’ve tested more than 2,000 tools with a variety of pastoral and church use cases. We've written over 1,000 comprehensive software reviews. Learn how we stay transparent & our church finance software review methodology.
The Best Church Finance Software Summary
| Tools | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| MinistryPlatform | Pricing upon request | Website |
| ChMeetings | From $12/month | Website |
| Aplos | $29.50/account/month | Website |
| PowerChurch Plus | costs from $395 | Website |
| Elexio | $35.13/account/month | Website |
| FlockBase | Basic plan costs $15/month, plus plan for $29/month and pro plan for $59/month | Website |
| Church Windows | from $279/month | Website |
| CDM+ | custom pricing upon request | Website |
| Xero | From $14.50/user/month | Website |
| One Church Software | From $58/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 Finance Software
Each church is as unique as its lead pastor - so every church has its own process for researching, testing, and selecting various software options. We recommend you keep the following points in mind:
- Cost Effectiveness: You’ll find that church finance software pricing can vary wildly, so carefully consider both up-front costs, and ongoing fees. The best solution should not only fit your budget, but also represent significant cost savings over the long-time. You’ll save on manual bookkeeping and financial consultants - not to mention time saved. Software that includes automatic tithing and donation tracking will absolutely cut down on the time spent on financial record-keeping, allowing staff to focus on other ministry tasks.
- Ease of Use: The user interface and usability of the church finance software you choose is critical. Keep in mind: church volunteers and staff are not always technically inclined, so your software should, ideally, be a) user friendly, and b) offer comprehensive training options. Software that is intuitive and easy to learn will ensure smooth operations and reduce errors in financial management.
- Integration Capabilities: Effective church finance software should integrate seamlessly with the other digital tools your church uses (ie: membership management systems, email platforms, and event scheduling, etc.) When all of your digital tools work together, they provide an holistic overview of church operations and finances. Then, management is simpler - everything works together from one central point.
- Security Features: Financial data is sensitive; as a steward of the resources God has given your members, securely handling said data is paramount. Choose church finance software with robust security measures. Especially look for data encryption, regular backups, and user access controls. This protects against data breaches and ensures that only authorized personnel can access financial information. Ultimately, a good choice will maintain and deepen the trust and integrity of your community.
- Reporting Flexibility: Decision making is a fundamental aspect of your role as a lead pastor… but decisions are only as sound as the available information. This is why reporting features in church finance software are so critical. Look for software that provides customizable reports on income, expenditures, budget comparisons, and financial forecasts. This capability will help identify and respond to financial trends - which will add your strategic financial decision (forecasting, planning for future projects, adjusting budgets, etc.)
Overviews Of The 10 Best Church Finance Software
Here’s a brief description of each finance software to showcase each tool’s best use case, some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give a snapshot of the interface.
MinistryPlatform is a versatile church management software designed to support the financial operations of large churches. It supports financial stewardship by offering comprehensive tools for managing donations, tracking contributions, and generating detailed financial reports. The platform's giving and contributions feature also supports various donation methods, including online, mobile, and text-to-give options, making it easy for congregants to donate and for the church to manage these donations efficiently.
In addition to its donation management capabilities, MinistryPlatform also provides robust fundraising management tools. The software allows for detailed tracking of fundraising campaigns, pledges, and recurring donations, ensuring that church leaders have a clear view of their financial health and fundraising progress. The PocketPlatform mobile app further enhances donor engagement by providing easy access to giving options and financial information. It also integrates with various giver and donor development apps for a more well-rounded view of finances.
ChMeetings is a church management software designed to assist churches in organizing their administrative tasks. The software’s financial tracking capabilities allow users to add and manage transactions, accounts, funds, categories, and payees seamlessly. Additionally, ChMeetings offers insightful visual financial insights through its accounting dashboard. This feature provides at-a-glance visuals of account and fund balances, income, and expenses using graphs, enabling churches to quickly understand their financial standing.
In addition to its robust financial features, ChMeetings offers a wide array of tools that enhance overall church management. Standout features include comprehensive member management, event planning and scheduling, communication tools, and volunteer management. The software supports online and offline donation tracking, pledge management, and online payment processing. It integrates with services like MailChimp, PayPal, Twilio, and SMSGlobal, and has a developer API.
Aplos church software offers a robust suite of financial features, including fund accounting, bank integration, bank reconciliation, pledge tracking, and check to print. It also has an integrated payroll system to ensure that all employees receive accurate salaries helping you avoid payroll disputes and ensuring employee satisfaction. Aplos also has a donor portal that allows church members to contribute to your church safely and securely.
Aplos is best for those who need to generate financial reports so they can get a clear view of their church’s financial health. You can use aplos church software to generate budgeting reports to ensure that expenses stay within budget. Aplos also allows you to generate donation reports to give you a better idea of where contributions are coming from and plan how you can improve them.
Aplos integrates with Gusto Payroll System.
Powerchurch Plus software combines church management and a church accounting system you can use to balance your accounts and produce auditable trails to enhance accountability. It also has a simplified payroll system to plug in specific requirements that will automatically compute for you. The system also allows you to track restricted gifts to ensure compliance with FASB 117.
PowerChurch Plus is best for religious organizations that issue many checks for their transactions because of its Quick Check feature. You can use Quick Check to print checks for issuance to suppliers, partner organizations, utility companies, and payroll. Powerchurch Plus software also allows you to keep an accurate record of issued checks to ensure that your account stays balanced and has available funds for your checks.
Elexio is a church management system you can use to manage your church’s database, ensuring that you have up-to-date information on all your members. You can also use Elexio to automate simple and repetitive tasks to streamline workflow so you can concentrate on ministering to your flock. Elexio’s church accounting feature is an add-on you can purchase to ensure that your church complies with government requirements even if you don’t have a CPA on board.
Elexio is best for those who want access to their ChMS while working remotely because Elexio is a cloud-based system. You can use Elexio wherever you are as long as you have an internet connection. Since it is a cloud-based system, other team members will automatically see any updates or changes you implement on the system, ensuring that there won’t be any conflicts or discrepancies.
FlockBase is a web-based church management software you can use to compute payroll, pay your staff and comply with IRS regulations. A fund accounting feature allows you to track your fund balances and ensure that your programs have enough funding. FlockBase also has a robust reporting feature you can use to view balances, funds, and expenses on different levels of your organization.
FlockBase is the best church accounting software if you want one with a robust bank reconciliation feature that allows you to match your bank balance with your book balance. FlockBase’s bank reconciliation feature allows you to immediately detect accounting and bank errors so you can correct them immediately. This feature also helps your church prevent and detect fraud to protect the fund and needs of your church.
Church Windows is a church management system that can also serve your church’s accounting needs like payroll, accounts receivable, financial reporting, and tax computations. You can use it in event registration, child check-in, and post-event reporting so you can assess the effectiveness of your church’s services. Church Windows allows you to send SMS and email communications to ensure that church members are up-to-date with what’s happening in your church.
Church Windows is best for those who want a software solution that works even with no internet connection because it still allows you to work offline. You can still view and update membership records even if you have no internet connectivity meaning you are always productive. Church Windows also allows you to its accounting program offline with records automatically updated once you have internet connectivity to work on your laptop in an area where you don’t have a reliable internet connection.
CDM+ is a fund accounting software designed specifically for the unique needs of churches and nonprofits. You can use it to track your income and expenses, ensuring that you have enough funds to attend to your ministry’s needs. Church leaders can use CDM+ to generate reports about the church’s financial health and share them with boards, committees, and staff to give them a clear view of its structure and financial standing.
CDM+ is best for those who work remotely because it has a mobile app version that you can use on iPhones and Android mobile devices. CDM+ mobile allows users a safe and secure way of accessing sensitive financial information. CDM+ also has features available on church management software like access to the member database, calendar management, and push notifications.
Xero is a church accounting software you can use to safely accept donations online so you can replenish funds for your church’s operations and expenses. You can use it to track expenses and settle your bills so your church can continue operating and serving its members. Xero also enables users to track accounts receivables and payables, allowing church administrators a clear view of their churches’ cash flow.
Xero is best for small churches because it has a basic interface ideal for straightforward and recurring pay runs. A small church can use Xero to compute payroll, and it allows churches to pay employees manually or via batch payments depending on the church’s preference. Xero gives you the option of a third-party payroll app as your church grows and your payroll needs become more complex.
One Church Accounting has a bank integration feature that provides users a convenient way of importing and categorizing bank transactions for accurate reconciliation. It has a chart of accounts feature to have a complete listing of every account in a general ledger allowing you an easy-to-understand view of your fund’s subcategories. Its budgeting feature will enable you to track your annual budget and ensure that your expenses are within your church’s financial capability.
One Church Accounting is best for those who want customizable dashboards for easier viewing of financial records. This church accounting software presents you with graphs and metrics to have an overview of your income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow in a user-friendly and easy-to-understand format. With the real-time data of One Church Accounting’s dashboards, you can immediately address financial concerns and prevent them from becoming major issues.
Other Church Finance Software Options
Here are a handful or two of honorable mentions that my team and I felt deserved to be listed here. Some are church-specific software programs but others are simply non-profit friendly with free or low-cost plans.
Related Church Finance Software Reviews
After reading this list, you may have decided you need something a bit more compact or robust than the church financial software listed here. Here are a few similar church software review articles that may help:
- We've reviewed church accounting software solutions for setting budgets and guiding your church finance committee.
- Church bookkeeping software is specifically designed to handle the day to day fiscal needs (tracking spending, generating reports, etc.)
- If your church employs staff, you'll need church payroll software.
- There are a significant number of church giving apps to consider for you congregation.
- For managing donors specific types of software can help streamline tracking, and support developing donor relationships.
Selection Criteria for Church Finance Software
Selecting church finance software is a critical process. For our reviews, we examined a host of variables. We left no stone unturned in our efforts to understand the specific functionalities and use cases.
Now, church finance software these days comes packed with features, all of which claim to streamline church ops. After personally testing and researching these tools, my team and I developed a criteria-based approach to software evaluation and selection:
Core Church Finance Software Functionality: 25% of total weighting score
Common features for church finance software typically include budget tracking, donation management, fund accounting, financial reporting, tax compliance, expense management, payroll integration, member contributions tracking, and secure financial data storage.
To be considered for inclusion on my list of the best church finance software, the solution had to support the ability to fulfill common use cases.
- Streamlined donation tracking
- Efficient budget management
- Comprehensive financial reporting
- Accurate tax compliance
- Secure data handling
Additional Standout Features: 25% of total weighting score
To be considered for inclusion on my list of the best church finance software, the solution had to include:
- Automation tools that reduce manual data entry, like automated donation receipts and payment processing.
- Analytics features, such as predictive budgeting tools that help forecast financial trends and expenditures.
- Mobile access capabilities that allow staff to manage and view financial information securely from anywhere.
- Integration with other church management tools to ensure a unified platform for all church operations.
- Enhanced security features beyond basic encryption, such as multi-factor authentication and continuous security monitoring.
Usability: 10% of total weighting score
To be considered for inclusion on my list of the best church finance software, the solution had to include:
- A clean and intuitive interface that simplifies complex financial tasks.
- A dashboard that provides a quick overview of the church's financial health at a glance.
- Drag-and-drop functionality in financial reporting sections for ease of custom report creation.
Onboarding: 10% of total weighting score
To be considered for inclusion on my list of the best church finance software, the solution had to include:
- Availability of comprehensive training materials, such as video tutorials and step-by-step guides.
- Interactive product tours that familiarize new users with key functionalities immediately after purchase.
- A responsive customer support team that assists with data migration and software setup.
Customer Support: 10% of total weighting score
To be considered for inclusion on my list of the best church finance software, the solution had to include:
- Quick response times and multiple channels of support, including live chat, email, and phone.
- Proactive support, including regular check-ins and updates on new features.
- Dedicated account managers for personalized service and assistance.
Value For Money: 10% of total weighting score
To be considered for inclusion on my list of the best church finance software, the solution had to include:
- Transparent pricing models with no hidden fees.
- Tiered pricing structures that accommodate churches of different sizes and budgets.
- Cost comparisons with similar products to ensure competitive pricing.
Customer Reviews: 10% of total weighting score
To be considered for inclusion on my list of the best church finance software, the solution had to include:
- High ratings in user satisfaction, particularly regarding ease of use and customer support.
- Positive feedback on specific features like reporting accuracy and security measures.
- Comments on long-term benefits and improvements in financial management efficiency.
Over the years, we’ve found this criteria-based approach effective, yielding recommendations that provide not only the essential functions critical to church financial health and excellent user experience.
Trends in Church Finance Software for 2024
Church finance software continues to evolve rapidly as the unique needs of church administrations and financial management develop and shift as well. For this section, our team reviewed the most recent product updates, press releases, and release logs from the most popular and innovative church finance tools in the market.
We’ve spotted several key trends emerging that reflect the ongoing changes in the church finance industry. These developments not only highlight the areas of rapid evolution and high demand but also point to changes in how churches are managing their finances.
AI and Automation
- Increased Integration Capabilities: Recent updates show a significant push towards enhancing integration between church financial software and other church management systems. This trend highlights a growing need for a unified platform that simplifies administrative workflows. Providers are especially working toward providing seamless syncing of financial data with membership and event management features.
- Adoption of AI and Machine Learning: the functionality of AI in financial forecasting and anomaly detection is becoming more prevalent. These tools offer novel capabilities for predicting financial trends and identifying discrepancies, which are crucial for effective financial stewardship and planning. Keep an eye out for this one. Our team only expects this to increase!
Customer Experience and Security
- Focus on User Experience and Accessibility: Developers continue to place a greater emphasis on creating user-friendly interfaces and mobile access. This trend addresses the demand for software that is accessible for volunteers and staff to access when out of office… There is also a push for software to be more intuitive for users with varying levels of tech-savvy.
- Enhanced Data Security and Compliance Features: As threats to digital security continue to increase - church financial software is rapidly evolving to include more robust security measures. Advanced encryption, multi-factor authentication, and comprehensive compliance tools are now standard, ensuring that your church can protect sensitive financial information and meet regulatory standards.
Declining Need for Manual Data Entry
- Decline in Manual Data Entry Features: The days of typing receipts line by line into a computer seem to be behind us. As automation becomes more advanced, features that require extensive manual input are becoming less important. Automated data entry, real-time financial updates, and smart categorization are reducing the need for manual processes, which were once a staple in church finance software.
These trends indicate a clear path forward in church finance software development, focusing on integration, security, innovative use of AI, and improved user experience. Each of these areas aligns with ongoing challenges faced by churches today, such as the need for efficient data management, stringent security, financial insight, and ease of use, ensuring that church leaders can devote more time to their primary pastoral responsibilities.
What Is Church Finance Software?
Simply stated, church finance software is a specialized tool designed to manage the financial operations and transactions of a church. It automates processes like donations, budgeting, payroll, and financial reporting.
This has a lot to offer for lead pastors, as it can significantly cut down on your administrative task load, while still ensuring accurate and transparent handling of funds.
By using church finance software, you’ll find you have higher capacity for ministry, thanks to much reduced day-to-day management load. And, further to the point, you’ll have access to accurate, up to date insight to inform your decisions.
Features of Church Finance Software
When choosing church finance software, look for a solution that delivers simplicity, flexibility, and accuracy. Software that provides those benefits will not only meet your church’s immediate needs, but will also adapt to future changes while still delivering precision in its financial records.
Here are the most important features to look for:
- User-Friendly Interface: Software with an intuitive design makes it easier to manage church finances efficiently. This simplicity helps staff and volunteers quickly learn and use the software, reducing errors and increasing productivity.
- Customizable Reporting: Customizable reports allow you to see the data you need in the format you prefer. This flexibility helps you make informed decisions based on accurate, relevant financial insights.
- Integration with Other Tools: Software that integrates with your existing church management systems reduces the need for duplicate data entry and maintains accuracy across all church operations.
- Robust Security Measures: Strong security features not only protect sensitive financial data but also maintain the trust of your congregation while protecting against data breaches.
- Automated Data Entry: Spend less time on manual data entry; this feature enhances accuracy by minimizing human error in financial records. (This one’s a big deal.)
- Multi-User Access: Set different access levels for users; ensure your staff and volunteers can perform their tasks without compromising sensitive information.
- Scalability: Software that scales with your church’s growth prevents the need for future software changes. Software that scales will grow alongside your congregation, seamlessly handling increasing demand.
- Cloud-Based Technology: Cloud-based software offers accessibility from anywhere, which is crucial for staff who manage tasks remotely. This flexibility also ensures that updates and backups are handled automatically, enhancing both simplicity and accuracy.
- Comprehensive Support and Training: With ongoing support and training, any issues that crop up are resolved quickly, with minimal disruption.
- Budget Tracking and Forecasting: Effective budget management tools help track expenditures and forecast future financial conditions. This feature is critical for maintaining financial health and planning strategically.
These features form the basis for church finance software that undergird your church’s financial health. Focus on solutions that offer these capabilitie, and you’ll find your resources go further. You’ll be a better stewardof the resources entrusted to your church.
Benefits of Church Finance Software
Choosing the right church finance software will have an immediate and recognizable impact - especially in the streamlining of financial responsibility. Here are other notable benefits you can anticipate:
- Improved Financial Accuracy: great software automates calculations and record-keeping, reducing human error and ensuring that financial reports are precise and reliable. This accuracy is crucial for maintaining trust and transparency within the church community.
- Enhanced Security Measures: With robust security protocols, church finance software protects your sensitive financial data against unauthorized access and potential breaches. This peace of mind is essential for safeguarding member contributions and church funds.
- Streamlined Administrative Processes: Automation of routine tasks such as donation tracking and expense reporting frees up staff and volunteers to focus on more strategic activities. This efficiency boost can lead to more effective ministry and community outreach.
- Comprehensive Reporting Capabilities: Your church finance committee can generate detailed reports with ease, providing valuable insights into the financial health of the church. These insights are critical for your leadership team to make informed decisions about budgeting, spending, and fundraising.
- Scalability for Growth: As churches grow, their financial needs become more complex. Church finance software can scale to meet these evolving demands without the need for significant changes or additional resources
Investing in high-quality church finance software is not only about improving financial management - it’s also about empowering your ministries. It’s about providing tools that facilitate growth and promote good stewardship. This honors God, serves your members, and (ultimately) extends your impact further into the community where you’re planted.
Costs & Pricing for Church Finance Software
While individual pricing options can vary wildly from one software solution to another, the below table will give you a good overview of the costs you can expect. Plans are generally designed to cater to different sizes and types of church operations, from small congregations with straightforward financial needs to large organizations requiring detailed financial analytics and extensive user support. When choosing a plan, consider both the current and future needs of your church to ensure the software can grow with your congregation and continue to serve your needs effectively.
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features | Transaction Fees |
| Free | $0 | Basic bookkeeping, simple reporting, limited users | 2.5% + $0.30 per transaction |
| Basic | $10-25/month | Budget tracking, financial reporting, user support | 2.3% + $0.30 per transaction |
| Standard | $25-50/month | Enhanced security, integration with other systems, multi-user access, advanced reporting | 2.1% + $0.30 per transaction |
| Premium | $50-100/month | All Standard features, automation, advanced analytics, custom integrations, priority support | 1.9% + $0.30 per transaction |
Church Finance Software Frequently Asked Questions
Here are questions we encountered many times throughout our research for this article. They’re worth touching on here:
What sort of church finance reports will I be able to generate?
Generally speaking, most of the church finance software options we recommend allow you to generate a variety of financial reports, such as balance sheets, profit and loss statements, cash flow statements, and specific reports for tracking donations and tithes. The church finance reports you need will likely vary depending your board of directors (or church finance committee.) The software options described in this article will allow you to create reports can be customized to show weekly, monthly, or annual data, helping you understand the financial health of your church in detail.
Can church finance software integrate with other systems I am currently using?
Short answer: Yes, most likely.
Longer answer: Probably, depending on the software you’re already using. Part of what we look for in the church finance software we recommend is exactly this: integrations. The software you’ll find here does integrate smoothly with a wide range of other systems, including most industry leading church management tools, email marketing platforms, and payroll systems. This integration capability ensures that you can maintain a cohesive and efficient workflow across all aspects of your administration and management.
What is the learning curve associated with church finance software, and what kind of support and training should I expect?
The specifics will vary from provider to provider, but we have highlighted software that is user-friendly with an intuitive interface. We know that your staff/volunteers will be at different technical levels.
That being said – it’s important to do your due-diligence: look for comprehensive onboarding training, detailed user manuals, and ongoing support via phone, email, and live chat to ensure you and your team can effectively use your software from day one.
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