The 6 Best Church Text Messaging Services for Growing Ministries
Are text messaging services right for your church?
Do you want to reach first-time guests?
Would you like more consistent church communication with your members?
Are you hoping to increase the amount of donations given to your church?
If you answered "yes" to any of the questions above, then church text messaging is right for you! Churches of all sizes–from small church plants to multi-campus churches to the largest churches–can benefit from sending mass texts to the mobile phones of members and visitors.
In this article, we'll look at the best mass text messaging services for churches.
Do you want to reach first-time guests?
Would you like more consistent church communication with your members?
Are you hoping to increase the amount of donations given to your church?
If you answered "yes" to any of the questions above, then church text messaging is right for you! Churches of all sizes–from small church plants to multi-campus churches to the largest churches–can benefit from sending mass texts to the mobile phones of members and visitors.
In this article, we'll look at the best mass text messaging services for churches.
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Text Messaging for Church
Text messaging services allow church leaders to engage their members throughout the week, send event reminders and invites, and even ask for donations. Ideally, this functions as a form of two-way communication to which church members can respond.
Benefits of Using a Church Texting Software
Mass text messaging is an extremely effective way of reaching people...and getting a response!
In fact, text messages get a 98% open rate and a 45% response rate. That's incredible, especially when you compare it with email, which only gets a 20% open rate and 6% response rate.
Text messaging is also fast and convenient for ministry leaders. With only a few words, you can instantly communicate about important information such as changes in service times or locations.
In fact, text messages get a 98% open rate and a 45% response rate. That's incredible, especially when you compare it with email, which only gets a 20% open rate and 6% response rate.
Text messaging is also fast and convenient for ministry leaders. With only a few words, you can instantly communicate about important information such as changes in service times or locations.
How to Choose the Best Church Texting Service
To choose the best mass text messaging service for you, you'll want to consider ease of use, price, and flexibility. The best text messaging services will be a part of a church management software that can seamlessly sync your SMS text messages with advanced features such as a contact database and unlimited emails.
Top 6 Church Texting Solutions
1. Tithely
Tithely Text Messaging is a cost-effective and easy-to-use solution for churches that want to better connect with their church members. With robust features for text and email, Tithely Messaging can help you build a form of communication that's fast, convenient, and effective.
With Tithely Text Messaging you can:
With Tithely Text Messaging you can:
Send 500 free texts per month
Use 2-way messaging to engage and connect with members and visitors
Automate follow-ups to new visitors
Store your list of contacts
Send custom email campaigns to sync with your text messages
And more...
Tithely Messaging syncs seamlessly with Tithely Giving, Tithely People, and more. Plus, Tithely Messaging includes a full email marketing software for helping you to design and send custom email campaigns, for a communication strategy that's doable for church administrators–and effective for church congregations.
Tithely Messaging only costs $19 a month. You get 500 free messages per month, and pay only $10 per additional 500 messages.
Pros: Low cost, seamless integration with your other church software tools, two-way messaging
Cons: None!
Tithely Messaging only costs $19 a month. You get 500 free messages per month, and pay only $10 per additional 500 messages.
Pros: Low cost, seamless integration with your other church software tools, two-way messaging
Cons: None!
2. EZ Texting
EZ Texting is a mass text message service that's not specifically tailored to churches, but can be used by ministry leaders.
EZ Texting offers:
EZ Texting offers:
Two-way texting
Contact management
The ability to send a drip campaign
Group texting
And more
For 500 text messages per month, EZ Texting's most basic plan costs $30.
Pros: EZ Texting includes advanced features, such as the ability to send different types of campaigns.
Cons: EZ Texting isn't designed for churches; therefore, it's not an ideal solution for churches wanting to manage everything from the same online platform.
Pros: EZ Texting includes advanced features, such as the ability to send different types of campaigns.
Cons: EZ Texting isn't designed for churches; therefore, it's not an ideal solution for churches wanting to manage everything from the same online platform.
3. PastorsLine
PastorsLine is a subscription-based text messaging platform that's designed specifically for churches and ministries.
PastorsLine provides:
PastorsLine provides:
Two-way messaging
Group texting
Connect cards
Automated texting
A special "contests" feature
And more
PastorsLine offers a free 30-day trial with 500 text messages. Their paid plans range from $15-$750 per month for 500 - 57,5000 messages.
Pros: With lots of features, PastorsLine is a robust solution for sending text messages to your church members.
Cons: PastorsLine can be a bit complicated to navigate. To sync with your existing platform, you'll need to rely on their API's and integrations.
Pros: With lots of features, PastorsLine is a robust solution for sending text messages to your church members.
Cons: PastorsLine can be a bit complicated to navigate. To sync with your existing platform, you'll need to rely on their API's and integrations.
Text in Church is a text and email software just for churches.
Text in Church offers:
Text in Church offers:
Automated text messages for your church members and staff
Pre-set templates for text messages
Connect cards
Integrations with email platforms
And more
Text in Church's most basic plan costs $31 for 500 text messages.
Pros: Text in Church has special tools that are great for churches.
Cons: Text in Church is on the pricier side, going up to $81 per month.
Pros: Text in Church has special tools that are great for churches.
Cons: Text in Church is on the pricier side, going up to $81 per month.
5. ProTexting
ProTexting is a text messaging solution that's targeted at businesses that want to reach their customers. In theory, ProTexting can also be used by churches to engage with their members.
ProTexting provides tools for:
ProTexting provides tools for:
Sending group texts
Collecting analytics
Two-way messaging
Contact management
Sending a single text message
And more
ProTexting costs $49 a month to send 1,000 text messages.
Pros: ProTexting may be a great option for churches that are very large, or need an enterprise-level service.
Cons: ProTexting isn't designed for ministry leaders. It's also expensive, costing nearly $50 for 1,000 text messages (vs. $29 for 1,000 texts with Tithely, for example).
Pros: ProTexting may be a great option for churches that are very large, or need an enterprise-level service.
Cons: ProTexting isn't designed for ministry leaders. It's also expensive, costing nearly $50 for 1,000 text messages (vs. $29 for 1,000 texts with Tithely, for example).
6. ChurchCast
ChurchCast is an SMS messaging service for churches that want to use text, email, and even voice calls to connect with their communities.
Here's what ChurchCast includes:
Here's what ChurchCast includes:
Both mass and targeted text messaging
Volunteer reminders
Survey features
And more
ChurchCast's pricing is unclear, but you can contact them to learn more.
Pros: ChurchCast is designed for churches, meaning that it offers features that are designed specifically for the needs of a ministry.
Cons: ChurchCast doesn't appear to offer a very comprehensive set of tools; its website says nothing about two-way text messaging or pricing.
Pros: ChurchCast is designed for churches, meaning that it offers features that are designed specifically for the needs of a ministry.
Cons: ChurchCast doesn't appear to offer a very comprehensive set of tools; its website says nothing about two-way text messaging or pricing.
12 Ways Your Church Can Use Text Messaging
1. Engage People Between Sunday
Send church-wide texts during the week to connect with your members about small groups, Bible studies, volunteer opportunities, and more.
2. Keep Congregation Updated on Important Information
Use bulk text messaging to update your congregation on information about service times, location, parking, special event details, and more.
3. Turn New Guests and Holiday Visitors into Engaged Members
Send personalized messaging to the mobile devices of visitors to help them connect more deeply with your church. Or, create personal connections with occasional guests using two-way messaging.
4. Sharing Inspirational Bible Passages or Quotes
Use text messaging to share encouraging Scripture passages throughout the week. Or, send daily devotionals to encourage your church members in their time with Jesus.
5. Collect Prayer Requests
Collect prayer requests and send prayer alerts to your congregation (with permission, of course).
6. Make In-Real-Life Marketing More Effective
Follow up church-wide announcements with SMS messages that explain details and give an opportunity to respond (such as giving to a pledge campaign).
7. Support & Consolation Messages
Send messages to individuals or families who have lost loved ones or experienced hardship.
8. Coordinating Events
Use SMS texting to coordinate events such as volunteer trainings, ministry events, prayer meetings, and more.
9. Canceling Services
Need to cancel a service? Send a quick message to your entire congregation.
10. Urgent Church Text Alerts
Send urgent text alerts to let church members know about last-minute changes to upcoming events, or a church-wide response to breaking news.
11. Encouraging Online Giving
Encourage online giving with text messages that give information on how to give quickly and conveniently (or ask for a donation directly via text, if your church offers text-to-give!)
12. Capture Feedback
Ask for feedback from church members and visitors on a specific event or meeting.
How Group Texting for Churches Works
Group texting for churches can work in a number of different ways. Ideally, a text messaging solution will sync with your contact database–which should offer a Groups feature. Most texting solutions will allow you to send texts to entire groups, or single text messages.
Text Messaging vs. Other Alternatives
Text Messaging vs. Email
Send church-wide texts during the week to connect with your members about small groups, Bible studies, volunteer opportunities, and more.
Text Messaging vs. Church Mobile Apps
Text messaging goes directly to a person's mobile phone, which can be a more instant way to connect. But a church mobile app can offer the ability for small groups to use messaging features to connect with each other. Ideally, both should be used.
Text Messaging vs. Social Media
Social media is great for displaying content and information, and itcan be used to connect with people. But as a communication solution, it's not comparable to texting.
Church Texting Solutions FAQs
What is the Best Mass Texting Service for Churches?How Much Does Church Mass Texting Cost?Are There Any Free Church Texting Apps?What is the Best Mass Texting Service for Churches?
The best mass texting service for churches is Tithely Messaging. Tithely is cost-efficient, easy to use, and designed specifically for the needs of churches.
How Much Does Church Mass Texting Cost?
Church mass texting costs anywhere from $19 a month to hundreds of dollars a month. It depends on how many text messages you want to use, and what kind of solution you choose.
Are There Any Free Church Texting Apps?
Many texting services offer free trials, and some apps offer a free plan with very limited text messaging.
