Quick Overview
- 1#1: Planning Center - Comprehensive church management platform for managing people, worship planning, events, giving, and check-ins.
- 2#2: Breeze ChMS - User-friendly church management software for tracking members, events, giving, and communications.
- 3#3: Church Community Builder - Engagement-focused church software for building community through groups, events, and volunteer management.
- 4#4: Tithe.ly - Church giving and management platform with tools for donations, people database, events, and messaging.
- 5#5: Subsplash - Church app and engagement platform for custom apps, online giving, live streaming, and group management.
- 6#6: ChurchTrac - Affordable all-in-one church management system for membership, attendance, giving, and events.
- 7#7: Rock RMS - Powerful open-source church CRM for managing relationships, finances, events, and multisite operations.
- 8#8: Servant Keeper - Comprehensive church management software with member tracking, accounting, and contribution management.
- 9#9: CDM+ - Church administration software for accounting, membership, attendance, and event scheduling.
- 10#10: PowerChurch Plus - Church accounting and management software for contributions, attendance, and member records.
These tools were selected based on a balanced evaluation of key features, user experience, reliability, and value, ensuring they meet the varied needs of churches—whether focusing on community building, financial management, or multisite coordination.
Comparison Table
Church management software streamlines tasks like scheduling, tithe tracking, and community engagement for religious organizations; this comparison table details popular tools including Planning Center, Breeze ChMS, Church Community Builder, Tithe.ly, Subsplash, and more. Readers will gain insights into key features, usability, and best-fit scenarios to select the ideal software for their needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Planning Center Comprehensive church management platform for managing people, worship planning, events, giving, and check-ins. | specialized | 9.8/10 | 9.9/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.4/10 |
| 2 | Breeze ChMS User-friendly church management software for tracking members, events, giving, and communications. | specialized | 9.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.4/10 |
| 3 | Church Community Builder Engagement-focused church software for building community through groups, events, and volunteer management. | specialized | 8.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 4 | Tithe.ly Church giving and management platform with tools for donations, people database, events, and messaging. | specialized | 8.3/10 | 8.0/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 5 | Subsplash Church app and engagement platform for custom apps, online giving, live streaming, and group management. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 6 | ChurchTrac Affordable all-in-one church management system for membership, attendance, giving, and events. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.9/10 | 9.3/10 |
| 7 | Rock RMS Powerful open-source church CRM for managing relationships, finances, events, and multisite operations. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 6.8/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 8 | Servant Keeper Comprehensive church management software with member tracking, accounting, and contribution management. | specialized | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 6.9/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 9 | CDM+ Church administration software for accounting, membership, attendance, and event scheduling. | enterprise | 7.4/10 | 8.2/10 | 6.8/10 | 7.0/10 |
| 10 | PowerChurch Plus Church accounting and management software for contributions, attendance, and member records. | specialized | 7.2/10 | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | 8.5/10 |
Comprehensive church management platform for managing people, worship planning, events, giving, and check-ins.
User-friendly church management software for tracking members, events, giving, and communications.
Engagement-focused church software for building community through groups, events, and volunteer management.
Church giving and management platform with tools for donations, people database, events, and messaging.
Church app and engagement platform for custom apps, online giving, live streaming, and group management.
Affordable all-in-one church management system for membership, attendance, giving, and events.
Powerful open-source church CRM for managing relationships, finances, events, and multisite operations.
Comprehensive church management software with member tracking, accounting, and contribution management.
Church administration software for accounting, membership, attendance, and event scheduling.
Church accounting and management software for contributions, attendance, and member records.
Planning Center
specializedComprehensive church management platform for managing people, worship planning, events, giving, and check-ins.
Realtime collaborative worship planning in Services app with drag-and-drop song/rehearsal arrangements
Planning Center is a modular, cloud-based church management software suite tailored for churches of all sizes, featuring apps like People (church database), Services (worship planning), Check-Ins, Groups, Registrations, Giving, and Publishing. It enables seamless integration across tools to handle everything from member management and event planning to online giving and volunteer scheduling. Churches can start with free basic features and scale affordably by adding modules as needs grow.
Pros
- Highly integrated modular system with seamless app connectivity
- Intuitive, modern interface with drag-and-drop functionality
- Outstanding worship planning and realtime collaboration tools
Cons
- Costs can accumulate with multiple modules for larger churches
- Advanced custom reporting may require integrations or exports
- Some niche features demand third-party add-ons
Best For
Growing churches seeking a flexible, worship-centric platform that scales from small teams to multisite operations.
Pricing
Free for People (unlimited records); additional modules $14-$195/month based on active users or flat fees, with no long-term contracts.
Breeze ChMS
specializedUser-friendly church management software for tracking members, events, giving, and communications.
One-hour setup guarantee with guided onboarding for immediate usability
Breeze ChMS is a cloud-based church management software that simplifies administrative tasks for churches by centralizing member data, online giving, event management, and child check-in processes. It provides tools for groups, attendance tracking, worship planning, and communication via email/SMS. Designed for ease, it requires no setup fees or contracts, enabling quick onboarding and unlimited staff access.
Pros
- Intuitive interface with minimal training required
- Unlimited staff users and excellent 24/7 support
- Affordable, scalable pricing based on church size
Cons
- Reporting lacks advanced customization
- Limited integrations compared to enterprise options
- May feel basic for very large churches
Best For
Small to medium-sized churches prioritizing simplicity, quick setup, and cost-effectiveness over advanced features.
Pricing
Starts at $72/month for up to 75 profiles, $112 for 75-200, up to $279 for 1,000+; unlimited admins, no contracts or setup fees.
Church Community Builder
specializedEngagement-focused church software for building community through groups, events, and volunteer management.
Journey tracking system that monitors and automates personalized next steps for member spiritual growth
Church Community Builder (CCB) is a robust church management software platform designed to streamline operations for churches of all sizes by centralizing member data, group management, events, and giving. It provides tools for tracking engagement, organizing small groups and volunteering, child check-in systems, and personalized communication via email and SMS. The software emphasizes building deeper community connections through its 'Journey' tracking and automation features.
Pros
- Comprehensive people database with engagement tracking
- Powerful groups and volunteer management tools
- Reliable child check-in and event registration systems
Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced features
- Pricing scales quickly with church size
- Interface feels dated compared to modern competitors
Best For
Mid-sized to large churches seeking in-depth community engagement and group discipleship tools.
Pricing
Starts at $159/month for up to 75 profiles, with tiers up to $499+/month for larger churches; annual discounts and custom enterprise pricing available.
Tithe.ly
specializedChurch giving and management platform with tools for donations, people database, events, and messaging.
Seamless, integrated text-to-give and Apple/Google Pay donations accessible from anywhere in the platform
Tithe.ly is a cloud-based church management software (ChMS) that specializes in online giving while offering essential tools for people management, events, child check-in, groups, and communications. It provides a mobile-first platform with features like text-to-give, recurring donations, and expense tracking, making it ideal for streamlining church operations and donor engagement. Though not as feature-deep as some enterprise-level ChMS, it integrates giving seamlessly across all modules for a unified experience.
Pros
- Exceptional online giving tools including text-to-give, kiosks, and mobile apps with high adoption rates
- Intuitive, user-friendly interface that's quick to learn even for non-tech-savvy church staff
- Affordable pricing with no contracts and free basic giving platform
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and analytics compared to full-featured ChMS competitors
- Fewer third-party integrations, especially for worship planning or accounting software
- Scalability issues for very large churches with complex needs
Best For
Small to mid-sized churches seeking simple, giving-focused management without a steep learning curve.
Pricing
Free for basic giving; ChMS plans start at $29/month for up to 100 people, scaling to $159+/month for 1,000+ with custom enterprise options.
Subsplash
specializedChurch app and engagement platform for custom apps, online giving, live streaming, and group management.
Custom-branded mobile apps that deliver a premium, app-store-ready experience without requiring custom development.
Subsplash is a digital engagement platform tailored for churches, providing custom mobile apps, websites, media hosting, online giving, and tools for events, groups, and communication to foster congregant interaction. It excels in delivering a seamless online presence and mobile-first experience, with features like sermon streaming, push notifications, and customizable content delivery. While it offers basic people management and engagement tracking, it functions more as a front-end outreach tool that integrates with dedicated ChMS for comprehensive backend needs like attendance check-ins or accounting.
Pros
- Exceptional custom mobile app builder with native iOS/Android support and push notifications
- Integrated online giving with low processing fees and recurring donation options
- User-friendly dashboard for managing media, events, bulletins, and church-wide messaging
Cons
- Lacks robust native ChMS features like child check-in, volunteer scheduling, or detailed financial reporting
- Pricing scales quickly with church size, making it less affordable for small congregations
- Relies on third-party integrations for full member database and group management depth
Best For
Mid-sized to large churches focused on digital engagement, mobile apps, and online giving rather than traditional administrative ChMS functions.
Pricing
Custom quotes starting at $99/month for basic plans, scaling to $500+/month for larger churches; additional 2.9% + $0.30 per giving transaction.
ChurchTrac
specializedAffordable all-in-one church management system for membership, attendance, giving, and events.
Seamless child check-in system with labeling and security features for safe, efficient nursery and kids' ministry management
ChurchTrac is an affordable, cloud-based church management software tailored for small to medium-sized congregations, offering tools for member database management, event scheduling, attendance tracking, online giving, and group management. It simplifies administrative tasks with features like child check-in, worship planning, and email/SMS communication. The platform emphasizes ease of use and quick setup, making it accessible for churches without dedicated IT staff.
Pros
- Highly affordable pricing with no long-term contracts
- Intuitive interface and quick setup
- Reliable customer support with live chat and phone
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and analytics
- Fewer third-party integrations compared to competitors
- May feel basic for very large churches
Best For
Small to medium-sized churches needing straightforward, budget-friendly management tools without complex setups.
Pricing
Essentials ($37/mo for up to 100 people), Plus ($97/mo for 500 people), Pro ($197/mo for unlimited); 14-day free trial, month-to-month billing.
Rock RMS
enterprisePowerful open-source church CRM for managing relationships, finances, events, and multisite operations.
Lava templating engine for unlimited, code-free customization of workflows and interfaces
Rock RMS is a robust, open-source church management software platform that provides churches with tools for managing people, groups, events, attendance, giving, and communications. It features a modular design with extensive customization options via its Lava templating engine and drag-and-drop blocks. Ideal for tech-savvy teams, it supports mobile check-ins, online registration, and reporting, fostering community engagement without licensing fees.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source with no licensing costs
- Highly customizable through Lava templates and blocks
- Comprehensive feature set including check-ins, groups, and financials
Cons
- Steep learning curve requiring technical expertise
- Self-hosted setup demands IT resources and maintenance
- Interface can feel cluttered and overwhelming for beginners
Best For
Tech-savvy mid-sized to large churches seeking a customizable, cost-free solution with strong community support.
Pricing
Free open-source software; optional costs for hosting ($50-200/month), custom development, and premium support.
Servant Keeper
specializedComprehensive church management software with member tracking, accounting, and contribution management.
Advanced contribution tracking and church-specific financial reports with automated IRS-compliant forms
Servant Keeper is a veteran church management software solution that helps churches manage member databases, track contributions and attendance, schedule events, and handle administrative tasks efficiently. Available in both cloud-based (Servant Keeper 8) and on-premise versions, it emphasizes financial tracking with detailed reporting for tithes, offerings, and budgeting. It also supports online giving, communication tools, and integrations with tools like QuickBooks.
Pros
- Affordable pricing with strong value for core church functions
- Robust financial and contribution reporting tailored for churches
- Reliable customer support and long-standing stability
Cons
- Dated user interface that feels outdated compared to modern competitors
- Limited mobile app functionality and customization options
- Steeper learning curve for non-tech-savvy users
Best For
Small to medium-sized churches seeking cost-effective, reliable software focused on financial tracking and basic member management.
Pricing
Cloud plans start at $39/month for up to 250 households, scaling to $199+/month for larger congregations; on-premise options available with one-time fees plus annual support.
CDM+
enterpriseChurch administration software for accounting, membership, attendance, and event scheduling.
Sophisticated fund accounting system designed specifically for nonprofit churches with multi-fund tracking and GAAP compliance
CDM+ is a long-standing church management software solution that provides an all-in-one platform for handling membership, contributions, attendance, events, and accounting needs. It features a modular design allowing churches to select specific tools like fund accounting, worship planning, and facility management. As an on-premise, Windows-based system, it emphasizes data security, customization, and detailed reporting for mid-to-large congregations.
Pros
- Comprehensive fund accounting compliant with church financial standards
- Highly customizable reports and queries
- Strong data ownership with on-premise installation
Cons
- Dated desktop interface lacking modern intuitiveness
- No native cloud or mobile app support
- Steep learning curve and IT requirements for setup
Best For
Mid-sized to large churches prioritizing detailed financial tracking and on-premise data control over ease of use.
Pricing
Modular one-time licenses starting at $1,995 for core membership/contributions, up to $10,000+ for full suite; annual support ~18-20% of license fee.
PowerChurch Plus
specializedChurch accounting and management software for contributions, attendance, and member records.
Lifetime license model eliminating ongoing subscription costs
PowerChurch Plus is a Windows-based church management software providing essential tools for membership tracking, contribution management, attendance records, event scheduling, and basic accounting. It operates entirely on local servers with no cloud dependency, ensuring data privacy and ownership for churches. The software includes customizable reporting and worship planning features tailored for small to medium-sized congregations.
Pros
- One-time purchase with no recurring fees
- Full data control on local Windows servers
- Comprehensive reporting and attendance tracking
Cons
- Windows-only with no native mobile or web access
- Dated interface requiring a learning curve
- Limited integrations with modern tools
Best For
Small to medium churches preferring affordable, on-premises software without subscriptions or cloud reliance.
Pricing
One-time fee from $495 for basic edition to $995 for full version, including free minor updates.
Conclusion
In the world of church management software, the top tools deliver vital support, with Planning Center emerging as the top choice due to its all-encompassing platform. Breeze ChMS and Church Community Builder, while ranking second and third, are strong alternatives, each catering to distinct needs such as user-friendliness or community engagement. Together, these leaders simplify complex tasks, empowering churches to focus more on their core mission.
Explore Planning Center to experience its comprehensive features firsthand and take the first step toward more efficient, streamlined church management.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison