Quick Overview
- 1#1: Planning Center - Comprehensive church management platform excelling in volunteer scheduling, check-ins, and team communication.
- 2#2: Church Community Builder - Engages congregations with robust volunteer management, event coordination, and group tracking features.
- 3#3: Breeze ChMS - User-friendly church software simplifying volunteer scheduling, reminders, and availability tracking.
- 4#4: Faith Teams - Specialized tool for church volunteer rostering, automated reminders, and easy substitutions.
- 5#5: Rock RMS - Powerful open-source church CRM with advanced volunteer management, workflows, and reporting.
- 6#6: ChurchTrac - Affordable all-in-one solution for managing church volunteers, events, and attendance.
- 7#7: Elvanto - Cloud-based system for church volunteer rostering, forms, and ministry team organization.
- 8#8: Servant Keeper - Established church database software with volunteer tracking, scheduling, and contribution management.
- 9#9: CDM+ - Modular church management software supporting volunteer coordination and ministry operations.
- 10#10: Church Windows - Desktop-based church administration tool with volunteer scheduling and people database features.
We ranked tools by evaluating core performance, user-friendliness, feature depth, and overall value, ensuring they align with the diverse requirements of churches of all sizes and structures.
Comparison Table
Managing church volunteers efficiently is vital for nurturing community programs, and dedicated software can simplify coordination, scheduling, and connection. This comparison table examines key tools—such as Planning Center, Church Community Builder, Breeze ChMS, Faith Teams, Rock RMS, and more—equipping readers to find the best fit for their congregation’s size, processes, and goals.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Planning Center Comprehensive church management platform excelling in volunteer scheduling, check-ins, and team communication. | specialized | 9.7/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.3/10 |
| 2 | Church Community Builder Engages congregations with robust volunteer management, event coordination, and group tracking features. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 3 | Breeze ChMS User-friendly church software simplifying volunteer scheduling, reminders, and availability tracking. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.0/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 4 | Faith Teams Specialized tool for church volunteer rostering, automated reminders, and easy substitutions. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.1/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 5 | Rock RMS Powerful open-source church CRM with advanced volunteer management, workflows, and reporting. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 6 | ChurchTrac Affordable all-in-one solution for managing church volunteers, events, and attendance. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 7 | Elvanto Cloud-based system for church volunteer rostering, forms, and ministry team organization. | specialized | 8.3/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 8 | Servant Keeper Established church database software with volunteer tracking, scheduling, and contribution management. | enterprise | 7.6/10 | 7.8/10 | 6.9/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 9 | CDM+ Modular church management software supporting volunteer coordination and ministry operations. | enterprise | 7.4/10 | 8.2/10 | 6.3/10 | 7.1/10 |
| 10 | Church Windows Desktop-based church administration tool with volunteer scheduling and people database features. | other | 7.4/10 | 8.0/10 | 6.5/10 | 7.0/10 |
Comprehensive church management platform excelling in volunteer scheduling, check-ins, and team communication.
Engages congregations with robust volunteer management, event coordination, and group tracking features.
User-friendly church software simplifying volunteer scheduling, reminders, and availability tracking.
Specialized tool for church volunteer rostering, automated reminders, and easy substitutions.
Powerful open-source church CRM with advanced volunteer management, workflows, and reporting.
Affordable all-in-one solution for managing church volunteers, events, and attendance.
Cloud-based system for church volunteer rostering, forms, and ministry team organization.
Established church database software with volunteer tracking, scheduling, and contribution management.
Modular church management software supporting volunteer coordination and ministry operations.
Desktop-based church administration tool with volunteer scheduling and people database features.
Planning Center
specializedComprehensive church management platform excelling in volunteer scheduling, check-ins, and team communication.
Intelligent Scheduling with volunteer-driven approvals, position swaps, and predictive availability matching
Planning Center is a modular, cloud-based church management platform renowned for its Scheduling tool, which streamlines volunteer coordination by allowing leaders to create multi-service plans, match volunteers to roles based on skills and availability, and automate approvals and reminders. It integrates seamlessly with other modules like People for contact management and Services for worship planning, enabling a unified workflow. The mobile app empowers volunteers to manage their schedules on the go, accept shifts, and swap positions effortlessly.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop scheduling with volunteer self-management and automated communications
- Seamless integration across all modules for comprehensive church oversight
- Robust mobile app and reporting tools for real-time insights and engagement
Cons
- Pricing scales with church size and multiple modules, which can become costly for larger churches
- Initial setup and data migration require time investment
- Limited offline functionality and advanced customization options
Best For
Churches of all sizes seeking an integrated, user-friendly system to efficiently schedule and manage volunteers across multiple ministries and services.
Pricing
Modular pricing per product (e.g., Scheduling free for up to 75 people, $29-$99/month for larger churches); billed annually with no contracts.
Church Community Builder
specializedEngages congregations with robust volunteer management, event coordination, and group tracking features.
Automated rotation scheduling that ensures fair shift distribution based on availability and preferences
Church Community Builder (CCB) is a comprehensive church management software with robust volunteer management features, enabling scheduling, availability tracking, skill-based assignments, and self-scheduling portals for volunteers. It integrates volunteer coordination seamlessly with events, groups, check-ins, and people management, making it ideal for organizing ministry teams. The platform supports rotations, notifications, and reporting to streamline church operations across services and events.
Pros
- Powerful scheduling tools with rotations and self-scheduling for volunteers
- Deep integration with church-wide features like events and check-ins
- Strong reporting and communication for volunteer coordination
Cons
- Steep learning curve for setup and advanced features
- Higher pricing may not suit very small churches
- User interface feels dated compared to modern alternatives
Best For
Mid-sized to large churches needing integrated volunteer management within a full church database system.
Pricing
Custom pricing based on active records (people/households), typically $150-$400/month for most churches, with a free trial.
Breeze ChMS
specializedUser-friendly church software simplifying volunteer scheduling, reminders, and availability tracking.
Public event links for easy volunteer self-sign-ups and real-time availability tracking
Breeze ChMS is a cloud-based church management system that excels in volunteer management by integrating scheduling, sign-ups, and team coordination directly with its event calendar and people database. Churches can create events, share public links for self-sign-ups, track availability, and send automated reminders to volunteers. It also supports check-ins and basic skill-based assignments, making it a solid all-in-one solution for coordinating teams across services, events, and ministries.
Pros
- Intuitive interface with quick setup and minimal training needed
- Unlimited users, people records, and storage at a flat price
- Seamless integration of volunteer scheduling with events and check-ins
Cons
- Volunteer features are functional but lack advanced customization or complex rotation scheduling
- Reporting and analytics are basic compared to specialized tools
- Limited third-party integrations for enhanced volunteer workflows
Best For
Small to mid-sized churches needing simple, affordable volunteer scheduling integrated with core church operations.
Pricing
Flat $72/month for unlimited users, events, and storage; additional campuses at $50/month.
Faith Teams
specializedSpecialized tool for church volunteer rostering, automated reminders, and easy substitutions.
Volunteer self-scheduling with real-time availability and conflict detection
Faith Teams is a specialized church volunteer management software that excels in scheduling, team coordination, and check-in processes for church ministries. It enables leaders to create recurring schedules, allows volunteers to self-schedule via mobile apps, and supports kiosk-based check-ins for seamless event management. The platform emphasizes simplicity and communication, with features like text/email notifications and basic reporting tailored for church teams.
Pros
- Highly intuitive interface with drag-and-drop scheduling
- Robust self-scheduling and mobile apps for volunteers
- Affordable pricing with strong check-in kiosk functionality
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and analytics
- Fewer integrations with full church management systems
- No built-in people database or financial tools
Best For
Small to mid-sized churches seeking a straightforward, mobile-first solution for volunteer scheduling and coordination without complex CRM needs.
Pricing
Starts at $29/month for up to 5 teams/250 volunteers; scales with higher tiers up to $99/month for unlimited teams.
Rock RMS
enterprisePowerful open-source church CRM with advanced volunteer management, workflows, and reporting.
Volunteer Allocation engine that dynamically matches volunteers to roles across multiple events and ministries based on availability, skills, and preferences
Rock RMS is a free, open-source church management system (ChMS) that provides robust volunteer management capabilities, including scheduling, self-signup kiosks, team assignments, and background check integrations. It seamlessly connects volunteer coordination with other church functions like events, groups, check-ins, and giving, allowing for a unified platform. Highly customizable through its Lava templating engine and extensible architecture, it's designed for churches seeking scalability without vendor lock-in.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source with no user or feature limits
- Advanced volunteer tools like intelligent scheduling, self-signups, and cross-ministry allocation
- Deep integration with full church CRM, events, and mobile check-ins
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex initial setup for non-technical users
- Requires self-hosting or paid partners for cloud deployment and support
- Customization demands coding knowledge, which can overwhelm smaller teams
Best For
Medium to large churches with technical resources needing a scalable, customizable volunteer system integrated into comprehensive church management.
Pricing
100% free open-source software; self-hosting incurs server costs, or use community/cloud partners starting at $0-$500/month based on size.
ChurchTrac
specializedAffordable all-in-one solution for managing church volunteers, events, and attendance.
Volunteer self-scheduling portal that allows members to view and claim shifts directly, reducing admin workload
ChurchTrac is an affordable, all-in-one church management software tailored for small to medium-sized congregations, offering tools for member tracking, event scheduling, online giving, and volunteer coordination. Its volunteer management features include team assignments, availability calendars, scheduling requests, and communication tools to streamline ministry staffing. The platform emphasizes simplicity, with mobile access and reporting to help churches manage volunteers efficiently without complexity.
Pros
- Highly affordable pricing with robust core features
- Intuitive interface suitable for non-tech-savvy users
- Integrated volunteer scheduling with availability tracking and self-signup options
Cons
- Limited advanced customization and automation compared to premium competitors
- Reporting and analytics are basic, lacking deep insights
- Mobile app functionality is functional but not as polished as dedicated apps
Best For
Small to medium-sized churches seeking a cost-effective, straightforward solution for volunteer scheduling and basic church management.
Pricing
Starts at $37/month for Essentials (up to 75 people), $69/month for Growth (76-200 people), and scales up; free trial available.
Elvanto
specializedCloud-based system for church volunteer rostering, forms, and ministry team organization.
Visual drag-and-drop rota builder with volunteer self-signup and conflict detection
Elvanto is a cloud-based church management software designed to streamline volunteer coordination, event planning, and people management for churches of all sizes. It offers powerful tools for creating rotas, managing volunteer applications and approvals, and sending automated communications. With seamless check-in systems and reporting features, it helps churches efficiently organize teams and track engagement.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop rota scheduling for easy volunteer assignments
- Strong mobile app for on-the-go management and volunteer self-service
- Comprehensive reporting and people database integration
Cons
- Limited advanced customization options compared to enterprise tools
- Pricing scales quickly with larger congregations
- Fewer third-party integrations than some competitors
Best For
Small to medium-sized churches seeking user-friendly volunteer scheduling without a steep learning curve.
Pricing
Free for churches under 75 people; $19/month base + $1 per active person/month thereafter, billed annually.
Servant Keeper
enterpriseEstablished church database software with volunteer tracking, scheduling, and contribution management.
Kiosk-based self-signup and check-in for volunteers, enabling quick shifts and real-time availability updates
Servant Keeper is a long-established church management software platform that offers dedicated volunteer management tools alongside features like membership tracking, contributions, attendance, and event planning. Its volunteer module enables scheduling, availability tracking, team assignments, and self-signup kiosks for services and ministries. Primarily designed for churches, it supports both on-premise and cloud deployments to streamline volunteer coordination.
Pros
- Comprehensive integration with church-wide features like attendance and giving
- Reliable volunteer scheduling with kiosk self-signup options
- Strong customer support tailored to churches
Cons
- Dated user interface that feels clunky compared to modern SaaS tools
- Limited mobile app functionality for on-the-go management
- Customization options are basic and not highly flexible
Best For
Small to mid-sized churches needing an affordable, all-in-one system with dependable volunteer scheduling.
Pricing
Cloud subscriptions start at $39/month for up to 250 records, scaling up; on-premise licenses available as one-time purchases with annual support.
CDM+
enterpriseModular church management software supporting volunteer coordination and ministry operations.
Integrated volunteer self-service kiosks and skill-based scheduling that syncs directly with membership and event data
CDM+ is a long-established church management software suite from CDM Online, offering a dedicated Volunteer Management module alongside tools for membership, accounting, attendance, and contributions. It enables churches to schedule volunteers, track hours and skills, manage teams, and handle background checks within an integrated system. Designed primarily for Windows environments, it supports both on-premise installation and hosted options for streamlined church operations.
Pros
- Comprehensive integration with full church management suite for seamless data flow
- Robust scheduling tools with skill matching, availability tracking, and reporting
- Reliable for mid-sized churches with customizable workflows and on-premise security
Cons
- Dated Windows-based interface lacks modern web or mobile-first design
- Steep learning curve for setup and navigation
- Higher costs for full suite and limited free trial options
Best For
Medium to large churches needing an all-in-one, integrated system for volunteer coordination tied to broader administrative functions.
Pricing
Modular pricing starts at $99/month for hosted basic modules; full suite with volunteer management around $200-500/month depending on church size, plus one-time setup fees for on-premise.
Church Windows
otherDesktop-based church administration tool with volunteer scheduling and people database features.
Volunteer Scheduler kiosk mode for touch-screen self-sign-ups at events
Church Windows is a long-established church management software (ChMS) offering a dedicated Volunteer Scheduler module for managing church volunteers. It enables scheduling shifts, tracking availability, self-sign-up kiosks, and reporting on volunteer hours and participation, integrated seamlessly with membership, attendance, and events. While comprehensive, it's part of a broader suite best suited for traditional church operations rather than standalone volunteer tools.
Pros
- Deep integration with full ChMS for unified volunteer and member data
- Flexible scheduling with recurring shifts, kiosks, and availability calendars
- Robust reporting and tracking for volunteer engagement metrics
Cons
- Dated Windows-based interface feels clunky compared to modern web apps
- Limited native mobile support and apps
- Steep learning curve and complex modular setup
Best For
Mid-sized churches needing integrated volunteer management within a traditional all-in-one ChMS.
Pricing
Hosted plans start at $99/month (Essentials, up to 75 households) scaling to $499+/month for larger churches; modular add-ons extra, on-premise licensing available.
Conclusion
The reviewed tools demonstrate strong strengths in volunteer management, with Planning Center emerging as the top choice due to its comprehensive features covering scheduling, check-ins, and communication. Church Community Builder impresses with robust engagement and coordination tools, while Breeze ChMS stands out for its user-friendly design in simplifying scheduling and reminders.
Begin your journey with Planning Center to transform volunteer management, or explore Church Community Builder or Breeze ChMS to find the best fit for your church’s unique needs.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
