Church leaders spend over 10 hours a week on administrative tasks. The right church management software can cut that in half, freeing up more time for ministry.
Finding an affordable church management software is key for a church of any size. There are even free solutions available (but we don't recommend them, and we'll tell you why).
In the following article, we'll look at all-in-one software for churches and help you make a decision for choosing a church management tool that's right for you.
Church Management Software (ChMS) is more than just a cloud-based tool—it’s the digital backbone of a thriving ministry. At its core, ChMS is an all-in-one solution that centralizes and automates the most vital functions of church operations. This includes:
By integrating these tools in one place, ChMS empowers leaders to focus more on ministry and less on manual tasks or disconnected systems.
Smaller congregations often rely on spreadsheets or manual processes, which can quickly become overwhelming. ChMS helps them:
Larger churches benefit from scalable features like:
ChMS isn’t just for churches. Nonprofits, mission organizations, and Christian ministries can use these tools to:
A powerful ChMS doesn't just simplify tasks—it transforms how your church operates and grows. Here’s how:
Church leaders spend up to 20% of their week on administrative tasks. With ChMS, churches automate:
Keeping your congregation informed is key. ChMS enhances this with:
Transparency builds trust. A ChMS supports this with:
With integrated data and engagement tools, ChMS allows leaders to:
Online giving is expected to grow to over 60% of church contributions by 2026. A good ChMS:
The only advantage of free church management software is that it's free. While free merchandise and occasional free food are fun, a free web-based church management software isn't going to serve you in the long run.
Free church software won't have the advanced features you need for effective church management and church operations. Instead of looking for free software, look for software with affordable monthly pricing or a pricing plan that works for your budget.
For churches that need more than a basic free plan but aren't ready to commit to a high-cost solution, there's a valuable middle ground—affordable church management software that offers free trials. These platforms provide a risk-free way to test essential features like event scheduling, donation tracking, and volunteer management without upfront investment.
Free trials allow churches to experience the full functionality of paid tools, helping leadership teams make informed decisions before purchasing. This option is especially ideal for growing churches that need scalable solutions but are still budget-conscious. Some ChMS providers, including Tithely, offer flexible plans with robust features and trial periods to ensure the software is a good fit before making a long-term commitment.
Tithely is Best For: All-in-one church operations, giving, and communication
Key Features:
Why It Stands Out: Combines multiple tools into one affordable subscription—ideal for growing churches wanting integrated systems.
Downside: Feature Rich
While some may initially feel overwhelmed by the number of features (Giving, Apps, Sites, ChMS, Messaging, Events, etc.), Tithely is designed to be simple and scalable. Churches can start with Giving and gradually adopt more tools as their needs grow—making it a future-proof solution that scales with you, not a bloated one where cost increases over time.
Breeze from Tithely is Best For: churches looking for simplicity
Key Features:
Why It Stands Out: Incredibly user-friendly and quick to set up; ideal for churches without full-time tech staff.
Downside: Breeze is now part of Tithely.
Breeze is no longer available as its own product. It's now completely integrated with Tithely, and includes a central database for all your church management needs.
Planning Center is Best For: Worship service planning and volunteer coordination
Key Features:
Why It Stands Out: Best-in-class for worship planning and volunteer rotation—widely used by contemporary churches.
Downside: Modular pricing adds up
Each module (People, Services, Giving, etc.) is priced separately, so costs can increase quickly as you expand usage.
ParishSOFT is Best For: Catholic parishes seeking specialized management tools.
Key Features:
Why It Stands Out: Tailored specifically for Catholic churches with relevant features.
Downside: Dated user interface
The platform’s design can feel outdated compared to newer, more modern ChMS solutions, impacting usability.
ChMeetings is Best For: Churches needing basic management tools.
Key Features:
Why It Stands Out: Offers essential features with an emphasis on affordability.
Downside: Fewer advanced features
While affordable, it lacks the depth of tools and integrations that larger or fast-growing churches may eventually need.
DonorKite is Best For: Organizations prioritizing donation management over church operations.
Key Features:
Why It Stands Out: Focuses primarily on donation tracking and financial aspects.
Downside: Not a full ChMS
Primarily a donation management tool—it doesn’t include core features like people tracking, check-ins, or communication tools.
Church Windows is Best For: Churches seeking robust financial management capabilities.
Key Features:
Why It Stands Out: Strong emphasis on accounting and financial tasks.
Downside: Steep learning curve
The robust financial and membership tools can be complex and may require training or support for new users.
Excellerate is Best For: Churches needing basic management functionalities without advanced features.
Key Features:
Why It Stands Out: Provides essential features for church management.
Downside: Not cloud-native by default
The desktop-based version lacks the convenience of cloud-based access unless you upgrade to the hosted version.
ChurchTrac is Best For: Budget-conscious churches seeking comprehensive features.
Key Features:
Why It Stands Out: Offers a wide range of tools at an affordable price point.
Downside: Limited features
Despite its functionality and affordability, ChurchTrac doesn't offer some of the advanced features needed for connection and engagement (such as a customizable website or app).
Church Office Online is Best For: Churches looking for a simple, web-based management system.
Key Features:
Why It Stands Out: Provides a straightforward solution for church administration.
Downside: Cost scales as church attendance grows
For example, using Church Office Online for a 525-person church will cost over $100 per month. For any church with over 1k people, you'll need to contact for quote.
To choose the best ChMS solution for small churches, we looked at cloud-based church management software with powerful features like an online contribution collection tool, communication via email and text message, and the ability to produce custom reports about finances.
We also looked for seamless integration between all aspects of the software solution. The contact database should connect smoothly with the email marketing tool, for example.
Next, we looked at the ChMS solution as a tool for ministry engagement. If it doesn't simplify admin processes, help you grow your church, connect with members, and give you more time for what matters most, ministry, it's not worth it.
Usability was another key. Is there a steep learning curve to using the tool, or is it intuitive and user-friendly?
Finally, we looked at price. While there are some free solutions, these are rarely a good idea. Instead, we focused on products that charged a low monthly subscription fee. A one-time fee paid every month is usually a good payment plan for churches.
The Church Management software that's right for your church is the tool that meets your needs and your budget. You'll also want to consider using a tool that can expand with your church (and your growing needs) without expanding in price.
Finding the right church management software starts with understanding your church’s unique needs. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make a wise decision:
Begin by listing what you’re hoping to improve—membership tracking, online giving, volunteer scheduling, event planning, etc. A small church may need simplicity and affordability, while a larger church may prioritize advanced reporting or worship planning.
ChMS pricing ranges widely:
Don’t forget to factor in costs for setup, training, or add-on tools.
Many platforms offer free trials or live demos. Use this time to involve key staff and test the software’s fit with your workflows.
Will the software grow with you? Look for tools that allow you to add users, launch new ministries, or expand to multiple campuses without switching platforms.
Introducing new software can transform your church’s operations—but only if the rollout is smooth. Here’s how to set yourself up for success:
Churches use a range of tools for church management. Sometimes, it's a good idea to look at how many churches use a specific tool. For example, 37,000 churches all over the world use Tithe.ly–a good indication that it's a great choice for many churches.
As mentioned, some church software may be free. Standalone online giving tools may be free. For example, Tithe.ly Giving is free to use, not including transaction fees.
But once you expand your needs to church management, look for quality over "free." Typically, free products that promise to handle all of your church's management needs aren't super high quality.
CRM is an acronym for customer relationship management. In the context of church, this typically refers to contact management. Yes, most churches use CRMs to help them manage their members.
If your church management software solution isn't user friendly, then it's time to replace it. You should also replace it if it isn't suited to your church size, isn't well-liked by your church staff, or doesn't include the key features you need to run your church well (like reporting tools or contribution tracking).
You need a cloud-based church management system for the basic operations of your church like service planning and contact management. But you also need church management software for collecting online donations, managing contribution details, coordinating outreach activities, and even running daily operations at your church office or headquarters.
The best solution for churches will include additional features that help church leaders and church administration staff to manage and connect with their people. Additional features can include communication tools (such as the ability to send a mass email), volunteer scheduling, the ability to run the software with a mobile app, and more.
Ultimately, church management software is about building a stronger church community!
