2025’s Top Church Management Software Tools (Compared and Ranked)
10 Best Church Management Software Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 29 tools reviewed.
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
Before utilizing church management software, three things consistently derailed my day to day operations as a pastor:
- Scattered or missing member information
- Miscommunications with our leadership team
- Poorly managed church events
Since adopting and implementing excellent church software, my leadership team and I are seeing huge improvements in our church processes and communications.
Reasons to Trust My Church Management Software Reviews:
- I've been testing / reviewing church software since 2019.
- I'm a pastor who's lived through the consequences of poorly chosen software.
- I use deep research to help other church leaders make sound purchasing decisions.
- My team and I have tested 2,000+ tools for different church needs.
- My team and I have written 1,000+ comprehensive software reviews.
- I'm committed to transparency.
- I use a rigorous church management software review methodology .
The 10 Best Church Management Software Summary
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for all-in-one church management | Free plan available | From $12/month | Website | |
| 2 | Best for managing church donations and events | Free plan available | From $19/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 3 | Best for organizing member information | Free plan available | From $69.99/month | Website | |
| 4 | Best for ease of use | Free demo available | From $25/month | Website | |
| 5 | Best for growing congregations | 30-day free trial | From $58/month | Website | |
| 6 | Best for managing people and payments | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 7 | Best for on-site local network installation | Not available | Website | ||
| 8 | Best mobile app experience | Free trial available | From $39.60/user/month | Website | |
| 9 | Best for church finances | 30-day free trial | From $50/month/account | Website | |
| 10 | Best for connecting the church community | Free trial available | Pricing upon request | Website |
The 10 Best Church Management Software Reviews
In this post, we’ve tried to cover a broad spectrum of software, considering the complexity, price points, and functionality.
ChMeetings is a cloud-based Church Management Software (ChMS) designed to streamline church operations for organizations of all sizes. Used by over 7,000 churches globally, it offers an all-in-one platform with multilingual support in 22 languages and budget-friendly pricing.
Why I Picked ChMeetings: With robust member and group management tools, ChMeetings enables administrators to maintain congregational records, track attendance, and oversee ministries or small groups. The software also includes secure online donation capabilities, simplifying contribution tracking.
ChMeetings Standout Features & Integrations
Features include user-friendly accounting tools that support budgeting, reporting, and donation tracking. Additionally, every user gets access to a standard mobile app, with an option to upgrade to a branded version for a customized experience. ChMeetings also offers a free plan for up to 50 members.
Integrations include Stripe, Twilio, MailChimp, PayPal, and more if you use their developers' API.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Multilingual support
- Supports secure donation tracking and online payments
- Very affordable, tiered pricing based on church size
Cons:
- Could offer more advanced financial management features
- Mobile app could use some improvements
Gracely is a comprehensive church management software designed to consolidate various church operations. It assists church leaders in managing member communications, organizing events, tracking donations, and overseeing group activities.
Why I Picked Gracely: Gracely stands out due to its intuitive interface and robust features tailored to church needs. One of its most notable features is its people management capability, which allows churches to maintain detailed member profiles and track attendance effectively. Additionally, Gracely’s donation tracking system ensures secure and transparent handling of contributions and provides churches with tools to manage their finances.
The software also offers event management tools that enable churches to plan and coordinate events, from scheduling to communication. It even features group management capabilities and a customizable church portal ensuring that each church can tailor the software to fit its unique needs and preferences.
Gracely Standout Features & Integrations
Features include personalized emails, document distribution, an online giving system, donation reports, payment processing, customizable web pages and videos, group discovery, news and updates, and forms management.
Integrations include Google Pay and Apple Pay for secure online and in-person donation collection and tracking. It also integrates with SendGrid for sending personalized emails to individuals or groups within the church community.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Effective features for connecting members
- User-friendly interface
- A free plan is available
Cons:
- Limited integrations available
- Limited language support
SteepleMate is a church management software designed for churches and religious organizations to manage their operations and enhance community engagement. It provides features such as people and guest management, church directories, prayer networks, online donations, and event management.
Why I Picked SteepleMate: One reason to consider SteepleMate is its comprehensive people and guest management system. This feature allows you to efficiently organize member information, track attendance, and manage guest interactions, ensuring that everyone in your community feels connected and cared for.
Another valuable aspect of SteepleMate is its event management capabilities. You can easily plan and coordinate church events, manage RSVPs, and communicate details to attendees, simplifying the process for both organizers and participants. The platform also offers a web kiosk feature, which can be used for tasks like event check-ins,
SteepleMate Standout Features & Integrations
Features include online giving, birthday tracking, mass communication, staff management, pledges and campaigns, dynamic disbursements, non-cash contributions, customizable websites, mobile app access, sermon management, attendance tracking, and on-site kiosks.
Integrations for SteepleMate include QuickBooks for financials.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Good check-in process
- Range of giving features
- Robust people management tools
Cons:
- Limited integration options
- Limited customization options in certain modules
Breeze is an easy-to-use web-based church management system designed with small churches to mid-sized churches in mind.
With Breeze, you can easily add new data, send mass emails and text messages, track attendance and check-in children securely, and process donations online and by text message. Breeze requires no contract or setup fee and offers a data migration service to get you started quickly.
Why I Picked Breeze: Breeze makes it easy to manage your church's database, communicate with your members via email or text message, offer online and text giving, safely check in children, manage events and volunteers, and run reports.
Breeze Standout Features & Integrations
Features include a membership database, email and text messaging, attendance tracking, donation processing, reporting, and event management.
Integrations can be built using the Breeze API.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Responsive customer support
- Easy data transfer from other systems
Cons:
- Some features are quite basic
One Church Software is a cloud-based church management system that offers a comprehensive solution for churches to manage their operations more efficiently. It provides tools for membership management, communication, donations, event planning, and reporting and analytics.
Why I Picked One Church Software: I like that its intuitive membership management system allows churches to easily track and engage with their congregation, while the robust donation tracking feature ensures transparency and efficiency in managing contributions. Additionally, One Church Software excels in event planning, providing tools to schedule, promote, and manage church events. Its all-in-one approach simplifies church administration, making it an invaluable tool for church leaders.
One Church Software also offers a variety of communication tools, including email and SMS messaging, ensuring that church members stay informed and connected. Its volunteer management feature also enhances the process of recruiting, scheduling, and managing volunteers, which is crucial for the successful operation of church activities and events. The platform is also highly scalable for churches with growing communities.
One Church Software Standout Features & Integrations
Features include worship planning, check-in, attendance tracking, form and survey creation, customizable workflows, child check-in security, online giving options, facility management, small group management, automated reminders, and detailed reporting.
Integrations include MailChimp, Pushpay, Intercom, and eSPACE.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Mobile app available
- Integrates all church management functions in one
- Convenient event management
Cons:
- Can get pricey with more profile users and feature add-ons
- Lack of integrations
Blackbaud Church Management Software is a cloud-based tool that can effectively manage your people, gifts, communications, events, and volunteers all in one place.
Better understand how your congregation is engaging with your church through a single source of data. With connected Financial Management, Payments, and more, on one digital platform. Simplify tithes and online giving for your congregation with one-time and recurring giving options via a connected giving app.
Blackbaud is an excellent church software for planning and executing successful fundraisers. You can use Blackbaud to ensure that you can communicate with team members to make planning events easier. Blackbaud also lets you monitor how team members are doing on their assigned tasks so you can offer assistance if needed. You can also use Blackbaud to create reports about your fundraisers to assess their effectiveness.
Why I Picked Blackbaud: With Faith Journey tracking you can get a better understanding of your members using comprehensive member and family profiles. Monitor attendance, anniversaries, donations, and engagement.
Blackbaud Standout Features & Integrations
Features include analytics, fundraising, relationship management, financial management, marketing and engagement, payment services, and church accounting.
Integrations include Bonfire, CallHub, CampBrain, ClickBid, GivBee, Gratavid, and Promp.io.
Excellerate Church Management Software is a comprehensive and flexible solution that is highly adaptable to your church needs, including membership management, visitor follow-up, small groups, fundraising, child check-In, volunteer scheduling, and more.
Excellerate church management software features like member tracking and attendance tracking can help you monitor the growth of your church and implement plans to sustain the said growth. You can use it to generate church directories to help you connect with members. You can also use it to monitor a pledge, donation, or contribution for record keeping and accounting purposes.
Why I Picked Excellerate Church Management Software: With the help of Excellerate, you can send follow-ups so you can schedule visits or invite prospects to church events. Excellerate also lets you gauge your success in converting new members so you can improve your methods and attract new members.
Excellerate Standout Features & Integrations
Features include membership management, visitor tracking and follow-up, tithes and offerings, small groups, class sign-ups and attendance, email/text messaging, reporting, and volunteer scheduling.
Integration with your church website is offered.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Scalable cost based on church size
- No monthly subscription for on-site installations
- Choice between cloud-based or on-site installation
Cons:
- Some knowledge of SQL is helpful.
- Accessing technical support costs extra
TouchPoint is a substantial cloud-based church management software solution that equips church leaders and administrators of mid-sized churches to large churches looking for an off-the-shelf ChMS which is also highly customizable.
TouchPoint has a marketing feature for staying in touch with donors. Plus, Touchpoint’s customizable mobile app can help you manage your church better. It has a self-check-in feature so members can register their attendance during their events.
Church leaders can use the mobile app to create sermon notes to guide them during worship services. Touchpoint’s mobile app has an accounting feature that lets church members review their giving history and statements.
Why I Picked TouchPoint: A fully-integrated mobile app helps you share sermons, Bible verses, song lyrics, and other media directly to your congregations' smartphones.
TouchPoint Standout Features & Integrations
Features include membership management, volunteer management, child check-in, discipleship groups, ministry engagement, tithes, and event management.
Integrations include OnlineGiving, Twilio, and Sage.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Best-in-class mobile app
- Responsive tech support
Cons:
- Slow to implement updates
- Initial setup has a steep learning curve
Elvanto is an all-in-one cloud-based solution with many innovative features. Child check-in, privacy, and safety are some of the key features integrated into Elvanto, vital for children and youth leaders to ensure all in their care are accounted for.
Elvanto has an all-inclusive range of tools with no add-on modules and no extra charges. Some of the main features include access control, customizable forms, custom reports, mobile apps, event management, group management, email and SMS messaging, volunteer scheduling, and attendance tracking.
Elvanto makes the planning of worship services and managing volunteers simple. Create run sheets, schedule your volunteers, and access your song database, lyrics, and chords. It has a simple drag-and-drop interface that makes quickly creating service plans for your team a breeze.
Why I Picked Elvanto: Elvanto has powerful features for accessing financial data, contribution management, and can connect with various online giving providers.
Elvanto Standout Features & Integrations
Features include access control, customizable forms, custom reports, mobile apps, event management, group management, email and SMS messaging, volunteer scheduling, and attendance tracking.
Integrations include SongSelect, Faithlife Proclaim!, SafeMinistryTraining, MailChimp, Stripe, PayPal, Continue to Give, Mogiv, and Pushpay.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Great integration with 3rd party financial partners
Cons:
- Check-ins don't always work reliably
Realm by ACS Technologies is a cloud-based church management software platform designed to support the diverse needs of ministries, administration, and pastoral care. It offers an integrated approach to church management to unite the entire community and enable pastors to tend to their congregations more effectively.
Why I Picked Realm: The software offers mobile applications, such as Realm Connect and Realm Shepherd, which allow pastors and congregation members to stay connected and engaged with church activities, contribute online, and access information and pastoral care tools from anywhere.
The platform also offers tools for a range of administrative tasks such as reporting, real-time dashboards, event management, volunteer coordination, accounting, background checks, and customizable options to fit the unique needs of each church.
Realm Standout Features & Integrations
Features include personalized training and assistance, profiles and directories, online and mobile giving tools, posts, chats, custom roles for volunteers based on skillsets and interests, and custom pathways for internal workflows.
Integrations include Constant Contact, Go Method, Growth Method, Nelco, Vanco, Verified First, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Event registration and payment processing features
- Connectivity and communication features
- Integrated solution for church management
Cons:
- Potential learning curve for new users
- User interface could be improved
Other Church Management Software
Do none of the above work for you? Check out the list below for additional church management software tools:
- ChurchTrac
For centralizing church functions
- MinistryPlatform
For large churches
- Raklet
For building your own branded app
- Subsplash
All-in-one church management software
- Kyrios
Church reporting dashboard
- Church Windows
Shared calendar & event scheduling
- CDM+
Charity/NGO fundraising app
- CFS Live
Feature-based subscription model
- CCIS
Technical support & training
- Fellowship One
Worship planning software
- Churchteams
For people data
- SeekerWorks
New guest onboarding
- Elexio
For church marketing
- FaithLife
Church website builder
- PowerChurch
Assortment of add-ons
- ShelbySystems
Denominational headquarters solution
- ACS Realm
For small churches
- Wild Apricot
NGO membership management tool
- Text In Church
SMS/messaging service for churches
Other Key Related Software Tools
These are also thoroughly tested, vetted, lead pastor-approved:
- Membership management tools
- Donor management software
- Church giving software
- Church accounting software
- Best worship software
- Volunteer management
Selection Criteria for Church Management Software
To do this well:
- Know the software features you need.
- Define your church's unique needs.
Unless you do THAT well, you will NOT be well-positioned to find the tool uniquely suited to:
- Your current church needs
- Support your church growth
- Increase your member engagement
To surface the BEST results, we look at SEVEN areas:
Core Church Management Features (25% of total weighting score)
Our non-negotiable features:
- Member directory
- Donation management
- Event scheduling
- Volunteer management
- Financial reporting
- Communication tools
- Check-in systems
- Mobile access
- Worship planning
- Integration with other tools
The software should:
- Manage a member database
- Streamline donations and finances
- Coordinate events and volunteers
- Enhance church communication
- Offer secure check-ins for children
Standout Features (25% of total weighting score)
This year's best-of-the-best tool will offer THESE above-and-beyond solutions:
- AI-powered insights for donor engagement
- Advanced metrics and analysis on member involvement
- Tools that make it easier for staff and volunteers to work together
- Supplementary dedicated apps
- The ability to create custom reports, dashboards, and comms for your church.
Usability (10% of total weighting score)
If THESE elements aren't present, your people will struggle to adapt to it:
- Intuitive interfaces
- Drag-and-drop calendar scheduling
- Clear, simple workflows for critical tasks (like financial reconciliation or event planning)
Onboarding (10% of total weighting score)
Each tool needs to make it EASY for even your elderly volunteers to learn and begin using. We look for:
- Training videos or setup guides
- Templates for importing pre-existing information (member records, etc)
- Easy to follow product tour
- Onboarding/training support
Customer Support (10% of total weighting score)
This is obvious. Unless these things are present, we don't want to recommend a too:
- Live chat, email, or phone support
- Quick response times
- Community forums, FAQs, and webinars
Value for Money (10% of total weighting score)
Stewardship is key. An expensive tool that underperforms is a poor use of your congregations hard-earned, freely given money.
We look for:
- Fair pricing for features
- No hidden fees
- Good short-term AND long-term value
Customer Reviews (10% of total weighting score)
We look deeper than the software vendor's marketing, too. We comb through customer reviews, looking for customer mentions of the following:
- Ease of use
- Effective customer support
- Proof the tool reduced admin
Since 2019, we've seen that this evaluation metric is effect, and consistently bubbles up reliable, useful, worthy tools.
How To Choose Church Management Software.
1. Consider Scalability.
The best tools are designed to grow WITH your church.
Sure, you only need something small now - but pick a software that can expand as your church grows. Otherwise... you're just going to have to do this all over again 3-5 years down the road... when the costs (and stakes) will be higher.
2. Prioritize User-Friendliness.
Your team’s tech skills will vary, so choose software that’s easy to use for everyone:
- Training: tutorials and webinars are massive.
- Simple Interface: Accessible for all staff and volunteers.
- Cloud-Based Access: Allows work from anywhere.
3. Look for Integration.
The POINT of a ChMS is to simplify and streamline your church management. It should lower the number of software tools you need to futz with. For example:
- It should allow you to move information between itself and your accounting software.
- It should talk seamlessly to your email service or social media channels
- It should interface directly with your church's giving software (so you can tie specific donations to specific members)
When this is happening, you spend WAY less time jumping between tools.
4. Choose Flexibility
Your church has unique needs, so make sure the ChMS you consider can adapt to those. The two major areas that will support flexibility are:
- The ability to customize the types of information you store. Tailor member data to your church’s needs.
- The ability to customize the types of reports you pull. Generate reports that matter to your ministry, and directly support your vision and mission.
5. Don't Skimp on Customer Support and Training
If your church doesn't have dedicated IT - this is especially crucial. Make sure the ChMS tool you choose offers the following:
- Comprehensive Training: Tutorials, webinars, and user forums.
- Accessible Support: Phone, email, and live chat options available.
- Automated Task Management: Helps manage growth efficiently.
- Expandable Storage: Ensures you never run out of space.
Trends in Church Management Software
I love being on the forefront of church tech - so I regularly review the most recent releases, reviews, and software updates from the top church software movers and shakers.
Here's what's cutting edge today:
- ChMS + Social Media + Streaming Platforms:
Many tools now connect with social media and live streaming services (to help spread their reach to online members). - Shifting Focus to Mobile & App Development
The best tools offer dedicated apps, and work GREAT on phones. Helpful for obvious reasons. - Advanced Analytics / Reporting
With more folks using phones and apps, forests of data are being collected. That data contains insights that can be insanely useful in decision-making. Don't get creepy on your members, though.
Futuristic / Bleeding-Edge Stuff:
- AI-Fueled Communications
Harness the power of LLMs to personalize member communication and even donor-specific engagement. NOTE: this isn't for everyone. Some folks prickle at the mere mention of AI. Be careful about how you implement this stuff. - Virtual Reality (VR) Services
A few advanced platforms are testing VR technology for immersive remote attendance experiences. It's a wild world.
On the Way Out...
- Say goodby to support for printing directories & physical mail
Most churches have shifted away from resource intensive mailings and directories... and I'm seeing ChMS vendors are pulling that support more and more - On-site tools are fading...
You don't have to be in the office to log into your ChMS anymore. Cloud-based software is the default standard now. It's easier to access, simpler to update, and requires less IT support.
What is Church Management Software?
Church Management Software (ChMS) helps pastors and church leaders spend less time, energy, and money on the day-to-day operations.
When someone says 'Church Management Software', they're generally referring to a bundle of tools that use a core database to organize information, and automate simple tasks.
Those tools typically do the following jobs:
- Member Management: Keeps track of church members information
- Event Planning: Helps orchestrate church events.
- Communication Tools: Makes it easy to send messages to members.
- Contribution Management: Tracks donations and finances.
And, best of all - all of these features are accessible through ONE central hub.
Central Features of Church Management Software
The right church management software should make your church run more smoothly and help it grow. Here are the top features to look for:
- Comprehensive Member Management: Track member data in detail. This helps personalize communication and build strong relationships.
- Robust Communication Tools: Send direct and group messages easily. Good communication keeps everyone informed and engaged.
- Flexible Contribution Tracking: Track donations and tithes in different ways. Accurate tracking is important for financial transparency.
- Event and Volunteer Management: Simplify scheduling and organizing events and volunteers. This ensures activities run smoothly and are well-staffed.
- Worship Planning and Coordination: Plan services and coordinate worship teams. Good planning helps deliver impactful services.
- Check-In and Security for Children’s Ministry: Ensure safe check-in for children’s programs. This is essential for the safety of young members.
- Online Giving and Payment Processing: Secure online donations and registrations. Easy online giving encourages generosity.
- Customizable Reporting: Create tailored reports on finances, attendance, and more. This helps make informed decisions.
- Integration with External Platforms: Work seamlessly with other tools like accounting systems or email marketing. Integration saves time and reduces admin work.
- Mobile App Availability: Access on the go with a mobile app. This helps members stay connected anytime, anywhere.
Choosing software with these features will help your church manage operations, engage the community, and support growth. Each feature is important for supporting your church’s mission.
Benefits Your ChMS Should Provide
Church management software is a must-have in today’s digital world. It helps churches run more efficiently, freeing up resources like time, money, and volunteers for community engagement and outreach.
1. You'll spend less time in admin.
The software automates routine tasks like member tracking, scheduling, and reporting. This saves time and effort, allowing church staff to focus more on ministry.
2. Communication will get simpler.
It improves communication with members through mass emails, text messaging, and social media integration. This ensures important information and updates reach everyone quickly and efficiently.
3. Financial management will improve.
The software tracks donations, manages budgets, and generates financial reports. This provides a clear view of your church’s finances, helping make informed decisions and promoting accountability.
4. Members will be more engaged.
Features like event registration, volunteer sign-ups, and group management boost member involvement. It makes it easy for members to find and join activities that interest them.
5. More clarity in decision making.
Collecting and analyzing data on attendance, donations, and engagement helps church leaders make informed decisions. These insights guide planning and outreach efforts, helping grow the church and deepen its impact.
Cost & Pricing for Church Management Software
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features | Best For... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic member management, limited communication tools, basic reporting. | Small churches with tight budgets. |
| Basic | $25/month | Member management, email communication, donation tracking, basic event scheduling. | Small to medium churches needing core features. |
| Standard | $60/month | All Basic features, plus text messaging, advanced reporting, volunteer management. | Medium churches needing more tools. |
| Premium | $120/month | All Standard features, plus mobile app access, custom dashboards, enhanced security features. | Larger churches needing advanced features. |
| Enterprise | $250/month | All Premium features, plus full integration with other software, priority support, unlimited users. | Very large churches needing top-tier features. |
Church Management Software Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I know if the software will work with our existing systems and tools?
Check the software’s integration capabilities. Most church management software can connect with popular tools like accounting software, email marketing platforms, and more. Review the software’s list of supported integrations or ask the provider directly to ensure compatibility with your current systems.
2. What if we have data from an old system? Can it be transferred?
Yes, most church management software allows you to import data from old systems. Check with the software provider for specific instructions or help. They often offer data migration services or detailed guides to make the process easier.
3. Can I customize the software to fit our church's specific needs?
Many church management software tools offer customization options. You can often customize fields, reports, and dashboards. Check the software’s features to see what can be tailored to fit your church’s unique needs.
4. How secure is church management software?
Security is a top priority for most church management software providers. Look for software that offers data encryption, secure servers, and regular backups. Make sure they comply with relevant data protection laws. Always use strong passwords and train your staff on security best practices.
5. How often is the software updated and improved?
Most church management software providers release regular updates to improve features and fix bugs. Check the provider’s update history or ask them about their update schedule. Regular updates ensure you have the latest tools and security features.
Your ChMS Will Help to Lead and Manage Efficiently
The best church management software offers features that boost efficiency and productivity. Successfully implementing church management software means you'll manage your congregation better, track donations, manage members, and communicate with their congregations.
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