Is a Custom Church App Worth It? Here’s Why It Might Be the Key to a Thriving Community

Is a custom app worth it for your church community? 

With so many tech tools already available – from websites to social media – it’s a fair question. After all, you lead a church, not a tech company!

But a custom app might be more valuable than you think. 

In this article, we’ll take a look at some common objections to building a church app…and why we think a custom app isn’t just worth it, it’s key for a thriving community.

But first, let’s look at what a church app can actually do. 

What Can a Church App Do? 

Keep Your Church Family Connected

Most of your church congregation is busy throughout the week. They’re working, going to school, caring for their kids, cleaning their homes, maintaining relationships, and taking care of their health. Where does connection fit in?

A church app can make it easy for church members of all ages to stay connected to your community throughout the week. Push notifications keep everyone in the loop about upcoming events, and a prayer wall displays prayer requests from other members. 

Edify & Teach Church Members On the Go

When your church members or visitors have missed a sermon, a church app makes it simple to catch up on the weekly message during their evening commute, dinner prep, or morning workout. Sermon series archives are easily accessible through a church app so that anyone with the app can listen to current or past sermons…anytime, anywhere. 

Simplify Generosity

Financial generosity falls easily by the wayside for many church members, despite their best intentions (in fact, the average churchgoer gives less than 3% of their income). 

With a church app, donors can give on the go with just a couple taps. Even better, they can set up recurring giving through the app so that tithing is automated. 

What’s Holding Churches Back from Using an App?

Church Apps are Expensive to Build & Maintain

Church apps can be expensive to build and maintain. If you hire a custom developer or outsource the task to a marketing company, you could be looking at thousands of dollars in build costs – not to mention the ongoing price of maintenance. With an already-tight budget, is it worth it?

The good news: A custom app can be extremely affordable – even for small churches. Tithely's Automatic App Builder helps you build your own app in minutes: simply input your church’s website and logo, select a layout, and watch your custom app come to life. After that? You pay less than $100 a month for maintenance and support. 

Church Apps are Only for Big Churches

Most mega churches have apps for their congregations of thousands. After all, they have whole teams to support the app, countless events to manage, and heavy streams of incoming finances. Small- to medium-sized churches look different! Does it make sense for a church of less than 500 (or less than 100) to have a custom app?

The short answer: yes! As mentioned above, apps can be extremely affordable to build and maintain. They can easily be tailored to fit the less-complicated needs of a small church. Plus, they are ideal for communities without a full-time marketing staff – after all, they make it easier to communicate and connect with church members about weekend services and other events.

Church Apps are Only for Young(ish) People

What if your church congregation has an older demographic? Will the 65+ crowd even use a custom church app?

Surprising truth: Older people are becoming more tech-savvy than ever. In fact, over 80% of people aged 60-69 use a smartphone, and 62% of people over the age of 70 use a smartphone. Your older church members will appreciate a church app just as much as the Gen Z and Millennial crowd!

Church Apps All Look the Same

Just like your church website, you want your app to reflect the look and feel of your unique community. But don’t most apps look the same? 

While the features may be similar, the design doesn’t have to be! Tithely’s Custom Church App makes it simple to tailor your app so that it looks just like “you.” Your app will feel familiar to your church members….like an on-the-go touchpoint that represents church family.

What’s Holding You Back?

A custom church app is an easy, affordable way to help keep your church members connected, informed, and edified throughout the week. 

Here’s a quick rundown of the features you can offer your members on an app:

• Sermon Streaming + Archives: Watch sermons live or access sermons you’ve missed with just a couple of taps. 
• Integrated Event Calendar: Quickly learn about events like weekend services, prayer nights, mens/womens events, and more. 
• Prayer Wall: Learn about the needs of brothers and sisters in Christ – and pray!
• Push Notifications: Stay notified and updated about time-sensitive news…and informed about what’s going on without ever needing to log into the app!
• And more: Give to your church community, message other members, and much more.

So, what are you waiting for? Build your custom app today – it’s affordable and fast…and your church family will thank you!

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