Custom Church Apps: Does Your Church Need One?

If your church is like most, you likely use a variety of separate tools and platforms to keep your congregation engaged.

You’ve got social media accounts, an email platform, a web page with all your sermons, and maybe even text messaging. Trying to keep up with and juggle all these separate tools can be a tough go.

If you can relate, maybe it’s time for you to have a custom church app.

A custom church app can serve as a central hub for your members. A place for them to go for all things church related. A digital gathering place, if you will.

In this guide, we’re going to walk you through everything you need to know about custom church apps. By the end, you’ll know whether a church app is the right solution for you.

What Is a Custom Church App?

A custom church app is a smartphone application tailored specifically for your church. It can be downloaded from an app store (like Apple or Google) and used by your members to access information, resources, and tools related to your church.

With a custom church app, you have control over the layout, features, and content. It’s your app for your members and church leaders.

Why Your Church Needs a Custom App

Churches today operate in an increasingly digital world. According to the Pew Research Center, 98% of U.S. adults now own a smartphone, and most use it daily for communication, payments, and media. That means your members already live on their phones. A church app simply meets them where they are.

Top Benefits of Having a Custom Church App

There’s a reason many churches are using custom church apps. They offer several significant benefits.

Boost Member Engagement with Push Notifications

People use their smartphones for everything. Communication, exchanging money, getting the news, listening to podcasts, etc. It’s all smartphones all the time.

A custom church app enables you to capitalize on people’s heavy phone usage. You can send out push notifications for urgent updates or reminders. You can also keep your members informed about upcoming events, sermons, and other church activities.

With a custom church app, you can foster better engagement with your members, making it easier for them to stay connected and involved in the life of the church.

Centralized Communication

A custom church app consolidates all your communications in one central location. Yes, you can (and probably should) still use email, text, and so on.

But the beauty of having a custom church app is that your church members can find all the information they want in one place. They don’t have to hunt through their email or text messages, or try to remember something you announced during church. With a custom church app, everything is easily accessible in one central location.

Simplify Online Giving

With a custom church app, you make it easier than ever for your church members to give. All they have to do is open the app, select the giving option, and then make a donation. This eliminates the need for physical donation envelopes or checks, making it much more convenient to give.

The easier it is to give, the more likely your members are to do it. When you make it easier to donate, giving almost always goes up.

Watch Sermons and Media On Demand

If your sermons aren’t easily accessible by a mobile device, people aren’t likely to listen to or watch them. Think about it. Most people listen and watch on their phones or tablets.

Making sermons available on demand can really serve your church. This allows members and visitors to catch up on any sermons they may have missed or re-watch ones that particularly spoke to them. It also makes it easier for people to share the message with others, as they can simply send a link or share it on social media.

Also, if your church has a podcast or does Bible studies, you can make those resources available through your app as well.

Promote Events and Simplify Sign-ups

Getting people to sign up for and attend church events can be challenging. You need a sign-up form and a way to remind your members about the upcoming events. A church app can help with this by providing a platform for event promotion and sign-ups.

You can create a calendar within the app that lists all upcoming events, along with details such as date, time, location, and any necessary registration information. This makes it easy for members to see what’s coming up and plan accordingly.

You can also send push notifications or in-app reminders leading up to the event to remind people to RSVP or sign up if they haven’t already done so.

Key Features to Look For in a Church App

When choosing a custom church app builder, prioritize platforms that offer:

• Custom branding (colors, fonts, logos)
• Event management with calendar sync
• Sermon and media hosting (audio/video streaming)
• Prayer request submission forms
• Online giving and donation tracking
• Push notifications and member alerts
• Admin dashboard for easy updates and analytics

How Much Do Custom Church Apps Cost?

The cost of custom church apps can vary depending on the platform used and the features selected.

Tithely’s custom church app is included with All Access and provides all the features listed above (custom branding, calendar management, sermon hosting, etc.).

The Tithely Automatic App Builder makes it super simple to create your app. Upload your church’s logo and input the website, and watch the app builder do its magic. From there, you can customize every aspect of your app.

You can sync the app with Tithely Giving, your website, and church management tools so everything stays up-to-date. And, of course, you can manage every aspect of the app through your custom dashboard.

Choosing the Right Church App: Quick Checklist

Before committing to a provider, ask these key questions:

• Does it integrate with your giving platform or church management software?
• Can you customize the branding to match your church identity?
• How easy is it for your staff to update content?
• Are analytics and engagement reports included?
• Is customer support reliable? Do I get to speak with a real human? (for Tithely, the answer is, "Yes!")

How to Get Started with a Custom Church App

1. Book a Demo: Start by scheduling a live demo to see how the platform works.
2. Design and Customize: Upload your logo, colors, and website information.
3. Add Core Content: Include sermons, events, and giving options.
4. Launch and Promote: Announce the app during Sunday services, on your website, and through social media.
5. Track Engagement: Use the built-in dashboard to monitor app downloads, donations, and user activity.

Once you sign up with Tithely, our guided setup and video tutorials will have you up and running in no time. And if you have any questions or run into any problems, the Tithely customer success team is here to support you every step of the way.'

Final Thoughts: Transforming Your Ministry With An App

A custom church app truly can change the way you do ministry. It brings everything your members need into one place: sermons, events, giving, communication, and more. It’s incredibly convenient. But it’s more than that. It’s also about creating a deeper connection between your church and your community.

If you’re tired of juggling multiple tools or feeling like your church communication is scattered, a custom church app might be exactly what you need. It’s easier than ever to set one up, and the long-term benefits in engagement, giving, and discipleship are well worth the investment.

Ready to see how a custom app could serve your church? Book a demo today and take the next step toward building a more connected, engaged church family.

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