Quick Overview
- 1#1: Planning Center - Comprehensive church management platform with automated workflows, groups, and communication tools for effective visitor and member follow-up.
- 2#2: Breeze ChMS - Simple, intuitive church database software that streamlines people tracking, events, and personalized email/SMS follow-ups.
- 3#3: ChurchTrac - Affordable all-in-one church management system featuring attendance tracking, custom follow-up workflows, and mass communications.
- 4#4: Subsplash - Digital engagement platform with church management tools for apps, giving, and automated follow-up sequences to connect with attendees.
- 5#5: Rock RMS - Powerful open-source CRM tailored for churches with advanced automation, segmentation, and multi-channel follow-up capabilities.
- 6#6: Faith Teams - Church scheduling and volunteer management software with integrated people database and follow-up reminders for events and groups.
- 7#7: Tithe.ly ChMS - Modern church management solution combining giving, people profiles, events, and targeted follow-up messaging via text and email.
- 8#8: Servant Keeper - Established church software for member tracking, contributions, and customizable follow-up reports and communications.
- 9#9: Church Windows - Desktop-based church administration software with robust people management and automated follow-up letter/email generation.
- 10#10: CDM+ - Modular church database system offering people records, attendance, and flexible follow-up tools through queries and mail merges.
These tools were curated and ranked based on key factors including feature depth (such as automation, communication capabilities, and relationship management), user experience across diverse church sizes, reliability, and overall value, ensuring they address the unique needs of congregations seeking to enhance their follow-up efforts.
Comparison Table
Effective follow-up is critical for nurturing church community connections, and selecting the right software can simplify this task. This comparison table explores tools including Planning Center, Breeze ChMS, ChurchTrac, Subsplash, Rock RMS, and more, examining features, usability, and how they fit diverse church needs. Readers will gain clear insights to identify which solution aligns with their organization’s size, workflow, and follow-up priorities.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Planning Center Comprehensive church management platform with automated workflows, groups, and communication tools for effective visitor and member follow-up. | specialized | 9.6/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 2 | Breeze ChMS Simple, intuitive church database software that streamlines people tracking, events, and personalized email/SMS follow-ups. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.3/10 |
| 3 | ChurchTrac Affordable all-in-one church management system featuring attendance tracking, custom follow-up workflows, and mass communications. | specialized | 8.6/10 | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 4 | Subsplash Digital engagement platform with church management tools for apps, giving, and automated follow-up sequences to connect with attendees. | specialized | 8.3/10 | 8.9/10 | 8.1/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 5 | Rock RMS Powerful open-source CRM tailored for churches with advanced automation, segmentation, and multi-channel follow-up capabilities. | enterprise | 8.6/10 | 9.4/10 | 7.2/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 6 | Faith Teams Church scheduling and volunteer management software with integrated people database and follow-up reminders for events and groups. | specialized | 7.6/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.7/10 |
| 7 | Tithe.ly ChMS Modern church management solution combining giving, people profiles, events, and targeted follow-up messaging via text and email. | specialized | 7.6/10 | 7.2/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 8 | Servant Keeper Established church software for member tracking, contributions, and customizable follow-up reports and communications. | specialized | 7.6/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.2/10 | 7.4/10 |
| 9 | Church Windows Desktop-based church administration software with robust people management and automated follow-up letter/email generation. | specialized | 7.1/10 | 7.6/10 | 6.4/10 | 7.0/10 |
| 10 | CDM+ Modular church database system offering people records, attendance, and flexible follow-up tools through queries and mail merges. | specialized | 7.1/10 | 7.8/10 | 6.2/10 | 6.9/10 |
Comprehensive church management platform with automated workflows, groups, and communication tools for effective visitor and member follow-up.
Simple, intuitive church database software that streamlines people tracking, events, and personalized email/SMS follow-ups.
Affordable all-in-one church management system featuring attendance tracking, custom follow-up workflows, and mass communications.
Digital engagement platform with church management tools for apps, giving, and automated follow-up sequences to connect with attendees.
Powerful open-source CRM tailored for churches with advanced automation, segmentation, and multi-channel follow-up capabilities.
Church scheduling and volunteer management software with integrated people database and follow-up reminders for events and groups.
Modern church management solution combining giving, people profiles, events, and targeted follow-up messaging via text and email.
Established church software for member tracking, contributions, and customizable follow-up reports and communications.
Desktop-based church administration software with robust people management and automated follow-up letter/email generation.
Modular church database system offering people records, attendance, and flexible follow-up tools through queries and mail merges.
Planning Center
specializedComprehensive church management platform with automated workflows, groups, and communication tools for effective visitor and member follow-up.
Automated 'Next Steps' workflows that trigger personalized follow-up sequences directly from check-in and event data into individual profiles.
Planning Center is a robust, cloud-based church management platform with powerful follow-up tools integrated across modules like People, Check-Ins, Groups, and Events. It enables churches to capture visitor data at check-in, automate personalized email/SMS follow-ups, assign tasks to staff, and track engagement through customizable workflows and reports. This all-in-one ecosystem streamlines the journey from first-time guest to committed member, making it a top choice for efficient church follow-up.
Pros
- Seamless integration across modules for automated workflows from check-in to follow-up
- Powerful customization with tasks, tags, and multi-channel communication (email/SMS)
- Scalable reporting and analytics to measure follow-up effectiveness
Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced automation features
- Pricing scales up significantly for larger churches or multiple modules
- Limited offline functionality as a fully cloud-based system
Best For
Mid-sized to large churches needing an integrated, scalable system for visitor tracking and automated long-term engagement.
Pricing
Modular pricing starts at $19/month for the first app (e.g., People), with additional modules from $14/month; scales by household count (free trial available).
Breeze ChMS
specializedSimple, intuitive church database software that streamlines people tracking, events, and personalized email/SMS follow-ups.
Automated workflows that trigger personalized follow-up emails, tasks, or texts based on attendance, registrations, or profile updates
Breeze ChMS is a cloud-based church management software designed to simplify follow-up processes for visitors, new members, and congregants through its people database, automated workflows, and communication tools. It enables churches to track attendance, assign tasks for personalized outreach, and send targeted emails or SMS messages based on engagement levels. The platform integrates giving, events, and groups to provide a holistic view of relationships, making it efficient for nurturing connections.
Pros
- Highly intuitive interface with minimal learning curve
- Automated workflows for visitor follow-up and task assignment
- Integrated email/SMS and attendance tracking for seamless engagement
Cons
- Reporting capabilities lack advanced customization
- Pricing increases significantly with larger congregations
- Limited native integrations beyond Zapier
Best For
Small to mid-sized churches seeking an straightforward, all-in-one tool for efficient visitor and member follow-up without complex setup.
Pricing
Starts at $72/month for up to 75 people, scaling to $279+/month for larger churches (billed annually; free trial available).
ChurchTrac
specializedAffordable all-in-one church management system featuring attendance tracking, custom follow-up workflows, and mass communications.
Task assignment system linked to individual profiles for targeted, trackable follow-ups
ChurchTrac is a comprehensive church management software that supports follow-up efforts through its robust people database, task assignments, and communication tools for visitors and members. It enables churches to track attendance, assign follow-up tasks, send personalized emails/SMS, and manage groups for assimilation workflows. With features like custom fields and reporting, it helps streamline outreach from first-time visitors to engaged members.
Pros
- Affordable pricing with free tier for small churches
- Intuitive interface and mobile app for quick access
- Strong people management and task-based follow-up tools
Cons
- Limited advanced automation compared to specialized tools
- Fewer third-party integrations
- Reporting lacks depth for complex analytics
Best For
Small to mid-sized churches seeking an all-in-one, budget-friendly platform for visitor tracking and basic follow-up workflows.
Pricing
Free for up to 50 active records; Essentials at $37/mo (100 records), Pro at $97/mo (500 records), Enterprise custom pricing.
Subsplash
specializedDigital engagement platform with church management tools for apps, giving, and automated follow-up sequences to connect with attendees.
Connect Cards for digital visitor capture with automated, personalized follow-up sequences
Subsplash is a comprehensive church management platform that provides custom-branded mobile apps, websites, online giving, and engagement tools tailored for digital connection. For church follow-up, it shines with Connect Cards that capture visitor information digitally, automated email and SMS campaigns, church-wide messaging, and event registrations to nurture leads and members. It integrates seamlessly across devices, helping churches track engagement metrics and personalize communications to boost attendance and involvement.
Pros
- Seamless integration of apps, websites, giving, and engagement tools
- Powerful Connect Cards and automated follow-up messaging via email/SMS
- Robust analytics for tracking visitor interactions and engagement
Cons
- Pricing is custom and can be expensive for small churches
- Steep learning curve for advanced customizations
- Less specialized for pure follow-up compared to niche tools
Best For
Mid-sized to large churches seeking an all-in-one digital platform with strong mobile-first follow-up capabilities.
Pricing
Custom pricing based on church size and features, typically starting at $99/month for basic plans and scaling to $300+/month; requires a demo for quotes.
Rock RMS
enterprisePowerful open-source CRM tailored for churches with advanced automation, segmentation, and multi-channel follow-up capabilities.
Dynamic workflows that automatically trigger multi-step follow-ups based on real-time attributes like attendance, giving, or survey responses
Rock RMS is a free, open-source church management system (ChMS) that provides comprehensive tools for church follow-up, including automated workflows, personalized communication, and detailed engagement tracking for visitors and members. It integrates CRM, groups, events, check-ins, and reporting to streamline nurturing relationships and discipleship processes. Highly customizable for churches seeking an all-in-one solution beyond basic follow-up.
Pros
- Completely free open-source core with unlimited users and data
- Powerful attribute-driven workflows for automated, personalized follow-ups
- Extensive integration of engagement data from check-ins, giving, and groups
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex setup requiring technical skills
- Interface feels overwhelming and cluttered for beginners
- Self-hosting demands IT resources; cloud options add costs for larger churches
Best For
Mid-to-large churches with technical teams needing a highly customizable, scalable follow-up system integrated with full ChMS functionality.
Pricing
Free open-source software; Rock Cloud hosting tiers from free (up to 100 weekly attendees) to $299+/month for enterprises, plus optional SMS/email fees.
Faith Teams
specializedChurch scheduling and volunteer management software with integrated people database and follow-up reminders for events and groups.
Volunteer self-scheduling portal with real-time availability and conflict alerts
Faith Teams is a church management software specializing in volunteer scheduling, team organization, and basic follow-up workflows for visitor assimilation and member engagement. It provides tools for creating rosters, sending automated communications, and tracking responses to streamline church operations. While not a full-fledged CRM, it integrates scheduling with simple follow-up tasks like assigning next steps to staff or volunteers.
Pros
- Intuitive scheduling with drag-and-drop calendars and volunteer self-signup
- Strong mobile app for on-the-go team management and notifications
- Affordable pricing suitable for small churches with scalable plans
Cons
- Limited advanced automation for complex follow-up sequences compared to dedicated CRMs
- Reporting and analytics are basic, lacking deep customization
- Fewer native integrations with other church tools like worship software
Best For
Small to mid-sized churches prioritizing volunteer coordination and simple visitor follow-up over enterprise-level CRM features.
Pricing
Starts at $29/month for up to 75 volunteers (Essentials plan); higher tiers like Pro ($99/month for 300 volunteers) and Enterprise (custom) add advanced features.
Tithe.ly ChMS
specializedModern church management solution combining giving, people profiles, events, and targeted follow-up messaging via text and email.
One-click integration of giving data into follow-up workflows and people profiles
Tithe.ly ChMS is an all-in-one church management software that combines online giving, people database management, event planning, and communication tools tailored for churches. It supports church follow-up through attendance tracking, custom lists, tags, automated workflows, and multi-channel messaging like SMS and email. While strong in integration with its giving platform, it provides solid but not advanced capabilities for visitor assimilation and member engagement.
Pros
- Seamless integration between giving and people management
- Intuitive mobile app for check-ins and quick follow-ups
- Affordable entry-level pricing with essential follow-up tools
Cons
- Workflow automation lacks depth compared to specialized tools
- Reporting and analytics are basic for larger churches
- Some advanced follow-up features locked behind higher tiers
Best For
Small to mid-sized churches prioritizing easy online giving alongside straightforward visitor and member follow-up.
Pricing
Free for basic giving; ChMS plans start at $19/mo (Essentials, up to 75 people), $59/mo (Standard), $99/mo (Pro), and $199+/mo (Enterprise).
Servant Keeper
specializedEstablished church software for member tracking, contributions, and customizable follow-up reports and communications.
Integrated visitor assimilation workflows with task assignments and historical interaction notes
Servant Keeper is a veteran church management software solution that provides comprehensive tools for tracking members, visitors, attendance, contributions, and follow-up tasks. It enables churches to manage visitor assimilation through customizable workflows, task assignments, notes, and communication via email integration. With both on-premise and cloud options, it emphasizes reliable data management and reporting for church administration.
Pros
- Robust member and visitor tracking with task follow-up tools
- Strong integrated accounting and reporting capabilities
- Reliable support and long-term stability from a 30+ year provider
Cons
- Dated Windows-centric interface feels outdated compared to modern web apps
- Limited native mobile functionality and automation features
- Customization requires more setup time for non-tech users
Best For
Mid-sized churches needing a dependable all-in-one system with solid follow-up and financial tracking.
Pricing
Cloud plans start at $19/month for small churches (up to 50 records), scaling to $99+/month for larger ones; on-premise is one-time purchase with annual support.
Church Windows
specializedDesktop-based church administration software with robust people management and automated follow-up letter/email generation.
Deep integration between membership database and accounting for automated follow-up on pledges and giving trends
Church Windows is a longstanding on-premise church management software for Windows, providing tools for membership tracking, visitor follow-up, attendance, contributions, and basic communication via email and letters. It allows churches to manage follow-ups through customizable queries, event assignments, and reporting on member engagement. While reliable for core functions, it emphasizes desktop workflows over modern cloud or mobile features.
Pros
- Comprehensive integration of membership, attendance, and financial data for follow-up insights
- Customizable queries and reports for targeted visitor and member outreach
- Strong data security with local on-premise hosting
Cons
- Outdated interface with limited modern UI elements
- No native mobile app or responsive design
- Steep learning curve due to modular, desktop-only setup
Best For
Small to medium-sized churches preferring secure, on-premise software with integrated accounting and basic follow-up capabilities.
Pricing
Perpetual licenses start at $995 for single-user basic edition, up to $4,995 for enterprise multi-user, plus 20% annual maintenance/support fees.
CDM+
specializedModular church database system offering people records, attendance, and flexible follow-up tools through queries and mail merges.
Advanced membership database with relationship mapping and task assignment for personalized, trackable follow-ups
CDM+ is a comprehensive church management software suite that includes membership and attendance tracking tools essential for church follow-up processes. It enables churches to capture visitor data, assign follow-up tasks to staff, monitor engagement through custom fields and reports, and communicate via email merges and directories. While not exclusively a follow-up tool, its integrated modules support assimilation by linking prospects to events, giving, and small groups. The system emphasizes data centralization for mid-sized to larger congregations.
Pros
- Integrated all-in-one system reduces need for multiple tools
- Powerful reporting and custom fields for tracking follow-ups
- Reliable on-premise option with strong data security
Cons
- Dated Windows-based interface feels clunky
- Steep learning curve for non-tech-savvy users
- Limited native mobile app and real-time cloud features
Best For
Medium to large churches needing a full management suite with robust follow-up tracking integrated into membership and events.
Pricing
Modular subscription pricing based on church size and modules; typically $200-$1,000/month, with perpetual licenses available.
Conclusion
The reviewed church follow-up tools each offer distinct strengths, but Planning Center emerges as the top choice, leading with its comprehensive workflows and seamless management of visitors and members. Breeze ChMS impresses with its intuitive design, making it a strong pick for those prioritizing simplicity, while ChurchTrac stands out for its affordability and robust automation, catering to diverse operational needs.
Elevate your church’s follow-up efforts by exploring Planning Center—where powerful tools meet user-friendly design to strengthen connections and nurture community.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
