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With so many different church management solutions available, figuring out which is right for you is tough. You know you want to enable members to stay connected with church events, receive timely updates, and contribute to various activities using any device, but need to figure out which tool is best. I've got you! In this post I'll help make your choice easy, sharing my personal experiences using dozens of different tools with diverse worship teams, with my picks of the best church management apps.

What is a Church Management App?

A church management app is a centralized platform where church leaders can store and access important information, and streamline administrative tasks to improve efficiency and productivity. They are used by church administrators and leaders to manage various aspects of their organization, such as member databases, communication, event planning, donation tracking, and volunteer management. These tools normally include member directory access, event calendars, communication tools (such as push notifications or messaging), and contribution tracking to help connect and engage members.

By using a church management app, leaders can free up more time to focus on serving their congregation and fulfilling their mission.

Overviews Of The 10 Best Church Management Apps

Here’s a brief description of each church management app to showcase each tool’s best use case, some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give a snapshot of the interface.

Best for mobile app church management

  • Free trial available
  • Pricing upon request

Realm is a church management software that provides a range of tools and services to assist churches in managing their ministries, connecting with their congregation, and simplifying administrative tasks. The app offers a centralized place for all church operations to take place. It includes features such as dashboards, reporting, donor management, volunteer management, online giving, accounting, background checks, and more.

Realm also has a mobile app designed to connect the church community. Realm Connect allows members to update their personal information, manage their giving, view their contribution records, check in to events, and communicate with their small groups or ministry teams. Additionally, Realm has a separate app, Realm Shepherd, that focuses on enhancing pastoral care. It provides leaders with tools to manage and oversee their responsibilities more efficiently, follow up on assignments or pastoral visits, and keep track of the congregation's needs and milestones.

These mobile app capabilities ensure that congregation members and church staff can remain connected and engaged, even when not physically at church. Realm integrates with Verified First, Vanco, Nelco, Growth Method, Constant Contact, Go Method, and more.

Best for workflow automation

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

Breeze is a user-friendly church management software adopted by over 9,000 churches and counting for membership data, event management, donation tracking, and basic task automation.

Breeze lets you add as many members as you want into your system, so there’s no need to switch to a new one as your church membership grows. Breeze also allows you to compose and send personalized text messages and emails to individuals and groups, making it easier for you to send reminders or update them about church activities or events. During events, you can use Breeze as an adult and child check-in tool and print name tags for attendees.

Breeze is best for basic workflow automations that can support church management and administration. With Breeze, you can automate simple tasks so you can devote more time attending to your congregants. You can automate schedule-based communications (anniversaries, birthdays, holidays), project task assignment, filter-based user grouping (leaders, volunteers, families with children in Sunday school), and follow-up check-ins for unfinished work.

Best for event management

  • Free version with limited features for up to 100 members
  • From $10/month/up to 250 members.
Visit Website
Rating: 5/5

ChMeetings is a church management app you can use to manage a database of members, create and update their profiles and assign roles when needed. It is available in several languages, including English, French, Chinese, and Spanish, making it ideal for churches with different nationalities. ChMeetings has dashboards you can customize with widgets, view reports, and retrieve data according to your church’s needs.

ChMeetings is best for churches that hold recurring events because it allows users to record and analyze said events. You can use ChMeetings to track attendance and look at trends to formulate action plans to improve attendance and reception. You can also use ChMeetings to create post-event survey forms to receive valuable feedback from attendees and alter a program’s flow to address the needs of attendees.

Best for member database

  • Free trial available
  • From $39.60/user/month

TouchPoint is a church management system with volunteer scheduling functionality to increase efficiency during church events and prevent scheduling conflicts. Use TouchPoint as a communications center to send messages and updates and promote events to your church members. You can also use TouchPoint to raise awareness and funds if your church has outreach programs or fundraising events for special causes.

TouchPoint is best for managing a congregation’s database because it allows church leaders an updated view of their members’ profiles. Members can also update their status, like indicating if they are sick or have a neighbor who plans to join the church so you can attend to their special needs immediately. TouchPoint also allows you to indicate in members’ profiles distinctive information like their wedding dates, other family members, and even extended family members so you can get a better grasp of who your members are.

Best for financial management

  • Pricing is available upon request

Blackbaud is a church management program you can use to manage small groups through email and text messages to ensure all activities get properly manned. You can also use Blackbaud in volunteer management and assigning specific roles to prevent overlaps and promote accountability. It also has reporting and analytics functionalities to gain insights on how you can manage your congregation better.

Blackbaud is best for churches that need an effective fund management system to safeguard the ministry’s financial health. Blackbaud lets you see how much fund your church has and how money gets spent. It also has a reporting functionality that you can use to fulfill budgeting and reporting requirements.

Best for online giving

  • Pricing is available upon request

Church App is a church management solution that also has a mobile version that you can use on Android and iOS mobile devices to access crucial information remotely. It has integrated communication tools to keep in touch with the church community via emails and text messaging. You can use Church App in scheduling volunteers and church workers to ensure the prioritization of administrative tasks and church needs.

Church App is the best software solution for churches looking for an intuitive and efficient way of managing online donations because it has PushPay integrated. Religious organizations can use Church App to provide members with a safe and secure way of donating by ensuring that their credit card and debit card information are secure. Church App provides users with different methods of giving depending on their preference, like text giving or check giving. Users can also choose one-time or recurring donations, whichever they prefer.

Church App integrates with Church Community Builder, Planning Center, Ministry Platform, as well as church accounting software like Intuit QuickBooks.

Best for organizing small groups

  • 30-day free trial
  • From $50/month/account

Elvanto is a cloud-based church management solution with features for administration support, pastoral communication, worship coordination, children and youth group check-in, and financial planning.

Elvanto works best for church administrators who need an app they can use to organize the volunteers of their church. Elvanto lets you create schedules and assign tasks, ensuring that projects have the necessary manpower backing them.

Use Elvanto to create themed groups, add members to your service, and create event schedules that your whole congregation can access. You can use Elvanto to schedule meetings and send reminders for team members so they can block off their calendars and avoid conflicts.

Elvanto integrates with tithe.ly, MailChimp, PayPal, PushPay, and many other useful apps.

Best for website creation

  • 30-day free trial
  • paid version costs $48/account/month

WildApricot is an affordable church management software that you can use to simplify and manage your church’s membership administration using an automated application process. You can use WildApricot to create events that automatically sync with your calendar for easier viewing by your members. It also has an event registration feature to track the number of attendees at your event, even if you don’t have a physical registration table.

WildApricot is best for a church that wants to build a new website because it provides users with user-friendly customizable templates that make website building easy. You can use WildApricot to create a website with all the features you need in serving your congregation. If you have an existing website, you can use WildApricot to add useful widgets such as event calendars and giving forms to make your website more functional.

Best for small large churches

  • 14-day free trial
  • Basic plan costs $15/month, plus plan for $29/month and pro plan for $59/month

FlockBase is a cloud-based solution for church management with attendance tracking capabilities, making it easier for church members to check-in during events and services. It can also make church administration easier with its built-in accounting software that helps church leaders maintain positive financial health and ensure that church needs have the necessary funding. FlockBase allows users to assign users roles and permissions, ensuring that church workers have access to complete administrative tasks.

FlockBase is the best software solution for churches of all sizes because it only has one pricing, no matter how many members a church has. This allows church leaders to add an infinite number of records and information without worrying about going over their program’s limits. The single pricing model allows churches to save money that they can use for other pressing needs of their congregants.

The Best Church Management Apps Summary

Tools Price
Realm Pricing upon request
Breeze ChMS $50/account/month.
Subsplash provides customized pricing upon request.
ChMeetings From $10/month/up to 250 members.
Touchpoint From $39.60/user/month
Blackbaud Pricing is available upon request
Church App by PushPay Pricing is available upon request
Elvanto From $50/month/account
Wild Apricot paid version costs $48/account/month
FlockBase Basic plan costs $15/month, plus plan for $29/month and pro plan for $59/month
Preview Image - <h2 class="c-block__title b-summary-table__title c-listicle__title h3" > Compare Software Specs Side by Side</h2>

Compare Software Specs Side by Side

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

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Other Church Management App Options

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

  1. ACS

    Best church management software solution for Catholic churches

  2. ChurchInfo

    Best open source church management app

  3. ShelbySystems

    Best apps for pastors of large churches

  4. Fellowship One

    Best church management software for background checks

  5. Aplos

    Best donation management for mid-sized churches

  6. SimpleChurch CRM

    Best apps for pastors with detailed membership data

  7. Servant Keeper

    Best ChMs for child check-in and security

  8. ChurchTrac

    Cloud-based church management software that is user-friendly and affordable

Other Church Apps Reviews

Church management apps aren't the only apps that churches are using these days. Make sure you are keeping up with the digital age and check out these other church app reviews that I've compiled here.

How I Selected the Best Church Management App

If you're wondering how I selected the best church management app, here's where I'll break it all down for you. First of all, I started with church management app that have high user review and satisfaction ratings. Then, using my experience in church management, I discerned what key criteria were most important for church management app and compared how each of them stacked up against the rest.

I empathize with how much time it takes to source the right software for a job. I do this work so that you don't have to. I've been using and reviewing church management app for years so you can trust me to do the heavy lifting and compile all the facts you need to make your final decision.

Selection Criteria

After careful consideration, I've determined that these are the most important criteria when selecting the best church management app. Here's a brief list outlining the whats and whys of my selection.

Ease of Use

Ease of use is an important factor to consider when selecting a church management app because it impacts the efficiency and productivity of any non-profit organizations. If the app is difficult to use, it may discourage users from adopting it fully, leading to errors and data inconsistencies. On the other hand, if the app is intuitive and user-friendly, users can quickly learn how to use it and incorporate it into their daily tasks. This can lead to improved collaboration, better communication, and more streamlined workflows.

Customer Service

Customer service is an important factor to consider when selecting a church management app because it ensures that the organization has access to the support and resources they need to use the software effectively. If users encounter technical issues or have questions about the app's functionality, a responsive customer support team can help them troubleshoot problems and provide guidance. This can prevent frustration and delays in completing tasks. Additionally, a good customer service team can provide training and educational resources to help users make the most of the app's features and capabilities.

Software Integrations

Software integrations are an important factor to consider when selecting a church management app because they allow the app to work seamlessly with other tools and systems that the organization may already be using. By integrating with existing software, such as accounting or communication tools, the app can provide a more comprehensive view of the organization's operations and improve efficiency by reducing the need to switch between multiple applications.

Pricing

Pricing is an important factor to consider when selecting a church management app because it impacts the organization's budget and resources. Different apps may have different pricing models, such as subscription-based or one-time payment, with varying features and limitations. It's important to choose the church app pricing that fits within the organization's budget and provides the necessary features and functionality for the organization's needs. Additionally, some apps may offer free trials or demo versions to allow users to test the software before committing to a subscription or purchase.

Key Features

  • Membership Management: Gives you the ability to maintain an accurate record of members
  • Group Management: Allows you to manage groups and volunteers to ensure they are aware of their roles and schedules.
  • Online Giving: Allows members to donate to the church using online giving, text giving, or donating using checks. 
  • Communication Tools: Allows church leaders to maintain contact with flock members through text messages, emails, and newsletters. 
  • Church Project Management: Track calendars and tasks related to day-to-day workflows
  • Church finances: Manage basic finances like budget tracking and financial reports

People Also Ask

Here are a few questions I wanted to cover before I let you go. Hopefully they help you get oriented when researching and selecting online church management tools.

How Do You Choose a Good Church Management App?

Choosing a good church management app involves considering factors such as features, ease of use, customer support, software integrations, and pricing. The app should provide the necessary functionality for member management, donation tracking, event planning, and communication tools, while also being intuitive and user-friendly. Reliable customer support and software integrations with other tools your organization uses are important, as well as pricing that fits within your organization’s budget.

Additionally, reading user reviews and ratings can provide valuable insights into the app’s performance in real-world scenarios. By carefully considering these factors, the organization can choose a church management app that meets its needs and helps it achieve its mission more effectively.

What are the Benefits of Using a Church Management App?

Using a church management app can provide several benefits for the organization, including:

  1. Centralized database: A church management app provides a centralized database of information that can help leaders keep track of member information, attendance, donations, and other important data.
  2. Improved communication: Many church management apps offer communication tools such as email or text messaging to help leaders stay in touch with members and keep them informed about events and updates.
  3. Streamlined administrative tasks: By automating administrative tasks such as event planning, volunteer management, and donation tracking, church management apps can save time and reduce errors.
  4. Increased engagement: Church management apps can help leaders connect with members and encourage greater involvement in the organization by providing access to events, volunteer opportunities, and other resources.
  5. Data analysis: By providing access to data analysis tools, church management apps can help leaders identify trends, make informed decisions, and improve the organization’s overall effectiveness.
  6. Youth group app: Use a modern app to organize youth group membership where young folks spend the most time—on their smart devices.

Overall, using a church management app can help leaders run their organization more efficiently, engage with members, and achieve their mission more effectively.

Church Management Apps for Modern Churches

A church management app is an essential program that can help your church deliver optimum services to its members, and getting one can help you streamline processes to spend more time ministering to your flock. If you want to know more about software that can help your church grow and deliver excellent services, sign-up for The Lead Pastor newsletter today! 

Related Read: Young Disciples: Turning A Youth Group Into A Youth Church

By Ashley Vaughan

Since she began leading worship at the age of 15, Ashley has always been passionate about supporting the local church and leading others into worship. For the past 10 years she has been leading worship teams and finds much joy and fulfillment in empowering and raising up other leaders. Ashley is a song writer with Worship Central Canada and has had the incredible opportunity to travel and lead worship, while collaborating with other worship leaders.