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With so many different church management solutions available, figuring out which one is right for smaller churches can be tricky. You know you want to have a platform that helps you communicate with your congregation better and centralize some tasks and facility needs, but need to figure out which tool is best for your budget. I've got you! In this post I'll help make your choice easy, sharing my personal experiences as an assistant youth pastor for a megachurch and my exposure to dozens of tools, with my picks of the best church management software for small churches.

What is Church Management Software for Small Churches?

Church management software for small churches is a specialized tool that helps pastors, administrators, and volunteers manage the day-to-day operations of their church. It provides an all-in-one platform to manage member databases, track donations, manage events, schedule volunteers, and communicate with members.

This software helps churches automate routine tasks, save time, and reduce errors, allowing them to focus on serving the community. By adopting church management software, small churches can improve their operational efficiency, engage with their members, and build a stronger community.

Overviews Of The 10 Best Church Management Software For Small Churches

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

Best for communication that promotes engagement

  • Free trial available
  • Pricing upon request

Realm is a cloud-based church management platform that provides tools and services to help churches manage their ministries, connect with their congregation, and handle administrative tasks. Its ability to integrate multiple operations and functions, like donation management, volunteer management, and accounting, makes it ideal for small churches with limited resources.

The software includes communication tools, discipleship tracking, pastoral notes, and mobile apps for congregation members to stay connected and give online. It also offers integrated solutions for administrators, with real-time dashboards, reports, accounting, and background checks. 

One standout feature is Realm's Connect app, designed to facilitate clear communication between pastors and congregation members and promote engagement. It allows users to message each other, create posts, and read church news, helping them feel connected even when they're not at church. The app also allows for donation management and giving, which integrates seamlessly with Realm's church management platform for reporting and accounting purposes.

Best all-in-one ChMs

  • provides customized pricing upon request.
Visit Website
Rating: 3.9/5

Subsplash is an all-in-one church management software that handles everything from website building, live streaming, social groups, messaging, events, volunteer management, and giving processes in one, centralized platform.

Subsplash is a modern and innovative church management software that delivers exceptional value for its cost, with a strong focus on creating high-quality media and mobile experiences through branded apps, content curation, and audio/video content hosting, enabling tech-savvy churches to engage their followers on their mobile devices by uploading blog posts, podcasts, videos, and even streaming live services.

Subsplash stands out for its impressive ability to handle a wide range of tasks, offering a feature-rich Church Management System (ChMS) that caters to churches of all sizes, from small, newly-established plants to mega and multi-site churches, by providing a powerful combination of facility and people management functions, allowing users to plan events, create a drag-and-drop website, and manage recurring donations, all within a single church management solution.

Best for events 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 software that you can use to track and store your members’ data. It has a mobile app version that works on iOS and Android mobile devices and is accessible to both admins and members.

What I love about this tool is its customization features. You can get a custom-named app to reflect the name of your church. You can also get customized icons, store listing, and login screen for a small add-on fee. ChMeetings also empowers church members to access their profiles and update their information or customize their notification settings.

ChMeetings is the best church management software if you frequently organize events because you can use it to create events and send invites via text messaging, email, or push notifications. You can also use it as a planning hub to handle event registration and print QR codes or QR cards for easier management of attendees. You can use your ChMeetings generated QR codes to quickly check-in attendees and avoid long queues during registrations.

Best for payroll management

  • You can access a demo and request a free trial.
  • from $279/month

Church Windows is a church management software that you can use to maintain individual and household records for your congregation. It also gives you a means of connecting with members through customized emails and by scheduling personal visitations. The software also has reporting capabilities so that you can generate visitation and attendance reports based on the criteria of your choice.

Church Windows is the best church management program for handling your church’s payroll because it can accommodate a wide range of compensation requirements. It has updated tax tables so that you won’t encounter any issues during tax season. You can use Church Windows to produce reports on salaries, allowances, taxes, donations, and deductions so you can avoid errors usually brought by manual computations.

You can integrate TaxBandits in Church Windows as an optional service so you can file your taxes electronically.

Best for donor management

  • From $99/month for up to 1,000 records

DonorPerfect is a fundraising CRM that can help your church optimize your fundraising efforts. You can use DonorPerfect to create branded forms that include your church’s logo to encourage more donors to join your fundraising efforts. DonorPerfect’s forms are configurable and mobile-friendly; you can send them via email, your church website, or through social media accounts.

DonorPerfect is the best fundraising CRM to build a better relationship with your donors because it lets you sustain a constant email marketing campaign to keep your donors engaged. You can also use DonorPerfect to make donating easier through a simple click-and-pay method. You can also use DonorPerfect to send automated receipts with thank you messages to show gratitude to your supporters.

Best for customizations & integrations

  • From $99/month/account

Neon One is a management software that can provide non-profit organizations with a unified platform to manage their relationship with stakeholders. You can use Neon One to manage fundraisers, community-giving activities, and donor-centered events for your church. It also has built-in digital (video messages, social media posts) and conventional communications tools (text messaging, newsletters) that you can personalize to stay in touch with members of your congregation.

Neon One is the best management software to personalize your church management solution because you can develop tools and features through Neon One’s API. Integrations are also available so you can connect to preexisting software like GivBee, Salesforce, VolunteerLocal, and Fundraise Up.

Neon One integrates with Zapier so you can access additional communication, project management, marketing, and accounting software if you have a paid plan with them.

Best for community building

  • Customized pricing upon request

ChurchStaq is a community engagement solution that you can use to manage the profiles of the members of your congregation. It has a custom church app that you can use to access ChurchStaq data while working remotely. You can also use ChurchStaq to manage your calendar and schedule events.

ChurchStaq is best for those who want to improve community engagement because it can help you measure and understand the impact of your ministry to your community through easy-to-generate reports. It also provides you with a means of connecting to congregants both in-person and online.

ChurchStaq integrates with Intuit QuickBooks, Elvanto, and other CMS programs.

Best mobile app

  • Free demo
  • Free church management software

ChurchCRM is a cloud-based CRM that your church can use to keep track of your members, contributions, and facility data. You can count on ChurchCRM when creating volunteer programs, fundraisers, and other church events. ChurchCRM allows you to input an unlimited number of people and families into the system, making it ideal for growing churches.

ChurchCRM is best for churches that organize outdoor activities such as bible camps, team building activities, and family days. Its mobile app version allows you to use the program while working remotely. ChurchCRM’s intuitive mobile app lets members check-in for events and organizes volunteers while on the field. The app lets you use your tablet or mobile phone to attend to your congregation’s needs even if you’re not in front of your workstation.

Best for organizing Sunday schools

ChurchInfo is a free church software solution that you can use to record and maintain data about your members and groups. You can use ChurchInfo to manage pledges, launch text-giving initiatives, and even track donations. ChurchInfo can be ideal for you if you want to use a free management software to manage volunteer opportunities.

ChurchInfo is best for your church if you have a Sunday school class or program because you can use it to maintain a Sunday school database of participants, class schedules, and volunteers. You can assign roles to members such as servant keeper, student, liaison, or teacher. You can generate attendance sheets using ChurchInfo for easier record-keeping.

Best for Text and Email Communications

  • Flocknote has a free plan for churches with under 40 members. Paid plans cost from $8/month. And up depending on the length of your contact list.

Flocknotes is a user-friendly church management program that you can use to stay in touch with members of your congregation. You can use it to send newsletters to keep your congregation abreast of the latest news and articles about your church. You can also use Flocknotes to maintain a member database so you will have access to contact information, important documents, and attendance records.

Flocknote is the best church management software if you use text messages and emails to engage your congregation because it offers unlimited text messages and emails with its monthly plan. Flocknote also has an email composer that you can use to send emails with customizable colors, gifs, layouts, and fonts. The email composer allows you to take polls, send attachments, embed videos, and track RSVPs to special events.

The Best Church Management Software For Small Churches Summary

Tools Price
Realm Pricing upon request
Subsplash provides customized pricing upon request.
ChMeetings From $10/month/up to 250 members.
Church Windows from $279/month
DonorPerfect From $99/month for up to 1,000 records
Neon One From $99/month/account
ChurchStq Customized pricing upon request
ChurchCRM Free church management software
ChurchInfo No price details
Flocknote Flocknote has a free plan for churches with under 40 members. Paid plans cost from $8/month. And up depending on the length of your contact list.
Preview Image - <h2 class="c-block__title b-summary-table__title c-listicle__title h3" > Compare Software Specs Side by Side</h2>

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Other Small Church Management Software Options

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

  1. ChurchTrac

    Best accounting features

  2. Breeze ChMS

    User-friendly and affordable church management software that helps churches manage attendance, giving, events, and volunteers.

  3. Raklet

    Church management software solution that allows users to organize a contacts database, send communications, organize events and raise funds.

  4. Churchteams

    All-in-one web-based platform that helps churches manage small groups, volunteers, events, check-in, and donations.

  5. Continue to Give

    Cloud-based church management software that enables users to send communications, organize events, print tickets, and audit funds.

  6. SimpleChurch CRM

    ChMS with modules for communication, giving, training, and organization. Sliding scale monthly fee based on directory size.

  7. Aplos

    Cloud-based platform designed to help churches organizations manage their finances, track donations, and communicate with their members.

  8. CahabaWorks

    A church accounting software with features that allow users to manage contributions, payroll and balance accounts.

  9. Planning Center

    Church management software that provides a suite of tools for managing church services, events, volunteers, giving, and communication.

How I Selected the Best Church Management Software for Small Churches

If you're wondering how I selected the best church management for small churches, here's where I'll break it all down for you. First of all, I started with church management for small churches 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 for small churches 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 for small churches 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 for small churches. Here's a brief list outlining the whats and whys of my selection.

Ease of Use

Small churches often have young and old members. It’s important to find a software that is user-friendly, easy to learn, and easy to master for all age groups. I’m looking for a tool that offers good tech support, user support, tutorials, and training.

User Interface (UI)

Small churches usually struggle with limited resources, meaning they can’t spend a lot of time or energy learning the ins-and-outs of a new tool. I’m looking for an intuitive, clean interface that does away with complex clutter.

Software Integrations

I want any church management software to connect with other tools you might need to use day-to-day, like member databse management, givings tracking, membership and attendance, event planning, facility management, contact management, volunteer management, and communications.

Pricing

Small churches will need a good balance of fair pricing (preferably a free or low cost plan) with must-have features, like communication tools and facility administration.

Key Features

  1. Membership Management: A feature that allows a church administration to maintain a record of church membership, personal details, phone numbers, and other crucial information. 
  2. Volunteer Management: Volunteer management helps ensure that the volunteer schedule is updated, ensuring that all tasks and events have an adequate workforce. 
  3. Event Management: Churches can use this feature to plan events, outreach programs, print name tags, handle event registration, and attendance tracking during events. 
  4. Donation Management: allows users to track online giving, tithes, and payments from donors and stakeholders. 
  5. Communication Tools: Allows users to reach out to the church community through mass emails and SMS reminders, and follow-ups. 
  6. Church Accounting Software: Allows users to handle accounting-related church needs such as expense tracking, fund accounting, budgeting, and tax filing. 
  7. Child check-in: Ensures the safety and security of children attending church by verifying their identity and the identity of the person authorized to pick them up.

People Also Ask

Here are a few key questions I wanted to answer during the research of this article. Start here if you need additional guidance.

How Do You Manage a Small Church?

Managing a small church involves several key responsibilities, including:

  1. Pastoral care: Providing spiritual guidance and support to members of the congregation, including counseling, visitation, and prayer.
  2. Worship planning and delivery: Planning and leading worship services, including selecting music, preparing sermons, and coordinating volunteers.
  3. Administrative tasks: Managing church finances, maintaining records, scheduling events, and coordinating volunteers.
  4. Outreach and evangelism: Developing and implementing strategies to reach out to the local community and bring new members into the church.

To manage a small church effectively, it’s important to:

  • Build relationships: Take the time to get to know members of the congregation personally, and foster a sense of community and belonging.
  • Communicate clearly: Keep members informed about church events, activities, and decisions, and encourage open communication.
  • Delegate responsibilities: Empower volunteers to take on responsibilities and contribute to the life of the church.
  • Stay organized: Use tools such as church management software to keep track of administrative tasks and streamline processes.
  • Stay focused on the mission: Keep the focus on the church’s mission and values, and make decisions that support that mission.
  • Continually learn and grow: Attend training and continuing education opportunities to stay current on best practices in pastoral care, worship planning, and church management tools.

By prioritizing these responsibilities and strategies, you can effectively manage a small church and help it thrive.

What are the Benefits of Church Management Software for Small Churches?

Church management software can provide many benefits to small churches, including:

  1. Streamlining administrative tasks: Church management software can help automate routine administrative tasks such as managing member information, donations, and event scheduling. This can save time and reduce the administrative burden on church staff and volunteers.
  2. Improved communication: Church management software can facilitate communication between members, staff, and volunteers. It can provide a central location for announcements, updates, and event details, making it easier to keep everyone informed.
  3. Increased engagement: By providing tools for online giving, event registration, and volunteer sign-ups, church management software can help increase engagement and participation in church activities.
  4. Enhanced data management: Church management software can help organize and manage data related to member demographics, attendance, giving, and more. This can provide valuable insights into the needs and interests of the congregation and inform decision-making.
  5. Cost savings: By automating tasks and improving efficiency, church management software can help save money on administrative costs and free up resources to invest in other areas of the church.

Overall, church management software can help small churches operate more efficiently, engage their members more effectively, and make data-driven decisions to better serve their community.

Are There Any Free Church Management Software Options?

Yes! In fact, many on our list are free to use or offer a free subscription tier for small churches. Try ChurchInfo, ChurchCRM, ChurchTrac, Flocknote, ChMeetings, Continue to Give, Raklet, and Cahaba Works.

Church Management for Small Churches—Because Every Church Matters

Church Management Software can equip religious organizations with the proper tools to ensure that their members are well-taken care of. Make sure that you follow The Lead Pastor if you want to learn about the latest church management software and tools in the market.

Related Reading: Ultimate Guide To Church Business Plans: How To & A Free Template

By Alexandria Schmidt

Lexie was born into a family of pastors and other church leaders. She was trained by her grandfather and worked as an assistant youth pastor in a megachurch in her twenties. Now she runs a peer support group and is the Technical Consultant for her current church, MCC Illiana. While she is no longer pastoring, she is staying active in other parts of the ministry.