Quick Overview
- 1#1: Planning Center - Comprehensive church management platform with online giving, registrations, service planning, and streaming integrations.
- 2#2: Subsplash - Custom mobile app builder for churches featuring live streaming, on-demand sermons, and digital engagement tools.
- 3#3: Breeze ChMS - User-friendly cloud-based church management software for people tracking, events, online giving, and communication.
- 4#4: Tithe.ly - Powerful online giving and church management platform with mobile app, people database, and event tools.
- 5#5: ChurchTrac - Affordable all-in-one church software supporting online attendance, contributions, events, and member management.
- 6#6: Rock RMS - Free open-source church management system with robust online check-in, groups, giving, and website integration.
- 7#7: Church Community Builder - Community engagement platform for online groups, events, messaging, and church-wide communication.
- 8#8: Faith Teams - Cloud-based church management tool for online scheduling, volunteer coordination, check-ins, and attendance tracking.
- 9#9: Elvanto - Church management software optimized for online campuses with rostering, events, people management, and integrations.
- 10#10: Church Online Platform - Dedicated solution for hosting fully online church services, prayer rooms, small groups, and live streaming.
These tools were chosen for their ability to balance depth of functionality (including giving, event management, and communication), user-friendly design, and long-term value, while considering adaptability to diverse church sizes and operational styles.
Comparison Table
Online church software simplifies managing community, worship, and administration, making it vital for modern religious groups. This comparison table outlines tools like Planning Center, Subsplash, Breeze ChMS, Tithe.ly, ChurchTrac, and more, detailing features, pricing, and usability to help readers identify the best fit for their needs. By breaking down functionality and costs, the table serves as a practical resource for leaders seeking efficient, tailored solutions.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Planning Center Comprehensive church management platform with online giving, registrations, service planning, and streaming integrations. | specialized | 9.6/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 2 | Subsplash Custom mobile app builder for churches featuring live streaming, on-demand sermons, and digital engagement tools. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 3 | Breeze ChMS User-friendly cloud-based church management software for people tracking, events, online giving, and communication. | specialized | 8.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 4 | Tithe.ly Powerful online giving and church management platform with mobile app, people database, and event tools. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 5 | ChurchTrac Affordable all-in-one church software supporting online attendance, contributions, events, and member management. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 6 | Rock RMS Free open-source church management system with robust online check-in, groups, giving, and website integration. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 9.2/10 | 6.1/10 | 9.6/10 |
| 7 | Church Community Builder Community engagement platform for online groups, events, messaging, and church-wide communication. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 8 | Faith Teams Cloud-based church management tool for online scheduling, volunteer coordination, check-ins, and attendance tracking. | specialized | 7.6/10 | 7.2/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 9 | Elvanto Church management software optimized for online campuses with rostering, events, people management, and integrations. | specialized | 8.3/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 10 | Church Online Platform Dedicated solution for hosting fully online church services, prayer rooms, small groups, and live streaming. | specialized | 7.2/10 | 7.0/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.1/10 |
Comprehensive church management platform with online giving, registrations, service planning, and streaming integrations.
Custom mobile app builder for churches featuring live streaming, on-demand sermons, and digital engagement tools.
User-friendly cloud-based church management software for people tracking, events, online giving, and communication.
Powerful online giving and church management platform with mobile app, people database, and event tools.
Affordable all-in-one church software supporting online attendance, contributions, events, and member management.
Free open-source church management system with robust online check-in, groups, giving, and website integration.
Community engagement platform for online groups, events, messaging, and church-wide communication.
Cloud-based church management tool for online scheduling, volunteer coordination, check-ins, and attendance tracking.
Church management software optimized for online campuses with rostering, events, people management, and integrations.
Dedicated solution for hosting fully online church services, prayer rooms, small groups, and live streaming.
Planning Center
specializedComprehensive church management platform with online giving, registrations, service planning, and streaming integrations.
Seamless cross-app integration that automatically syncs data like people profiles, schedules, and giving records across the entire suite.
Planning Center is a cloud-based suite of integrated applications tailored for churches, covering people management, worship service planning, check-ins, groups, registrations, online giving, and content publishing. It enables churches to streamline operations, engage congregations digitally, and scale effortlessly with modular tools. The platform emphasizes seamless data flow across apps, making it a comprehensive solution for modern church administration.
Pros
- Modular design allows churches to pay only for needed apps with seamless integration
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface and mobile apps for easy use across devices
- Robust church-specific features like service planning, volunteer scheduling, and online giving
Cons
- Costs can accumulate for churches using multiple apps
- Steeper learning curve when utilizing the full suite
- Limited free tier beyond basic People and Giving modules
Best For
Growing churches of all sizes needing a scalable, integrated online platform for management, engagement, and worship planning.
Pricing
Core apps like People (up to 75 profiles) and Giving are free; additional apps start at $19/month (e.g., Services, Groups) with per-service or per-user scaling up to $99+/month.
Subsplash
specializedCustom mobile app builder for churches featuring live streaming, on-demand sermons, and digital engagement tools.
Custom native mobile apps that provide a fully branded, app-store-ready experience for church members
Subsplash is a comprehensive church management platform that provides churches with custom-branded mobile apps, professional websites, online giving, live streaming, and engagement tools to connect with congregations digitally. It streamlines church operations including event registration, group management, check-ins, and content delivery via push notifications. Designed for modern ministry, it helps churches build community and grow online presence seamlessly.
Pros
- Custom-branded native mobile apps for iOS and Android
- Seamless integration of giving, streaming, and engagement tools
- Robust analytics and reporting for church growth insights
Cons
- Higher pricing can be prohibitive for small churches
- Steep initial setup and learning curve for full customization
- Customer support response times can vary
Best For
Mid-sized to large churches seeking a professional, all-in-one digital platform with branded apps and advanced engagement features.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing starting at $99/month for basic plans (e.g., Messaging), $199+ for Giving/Streaming, up to $500+/month for full platform with apps; includes setup fees.
Breeze ChMS
specializedUser-friendly cloud-based church management software for people tracking, events, online giving, and communication.
One-click setup and reporting for instant usability
Breeze ChMS is a cloud-based church management system tailored for simplifying administrative tasks in churches. It provides essential tools for managing member databases, online giving, event registration, volunteer scheduling, child check-in, and communication via email/SMS. Designed with ease in mind, Breeze emphasizes quick setup and minimal training, making it accessible for non-tech-savvy church staff.
Pros
- Exceptionally intuitive interface with quick onboarding
- Affordable flat-rate pricing with unlimited staff users
- Reliable mobile app for check-ins and giving on the go
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and customization
- Fewer third-party integrations than larger competitors
- Scalability challenges for very large congregations
Best For
Small to medium-sized churches needing a straightforward, budget-friendly ChMS without steep learning curves.
Pricing
Starts at $72/month for up to 100 people, tiered up to $215/month for 1,000+; unlimited admins, no contracts.
Tithe.ly
specializedPowerful online giving and church management platform with mobile app, people database, and event tools.
Text-to-give functionality allowing instant donations via SMS without needing an app
Tithe.ly is a cloud-based church management software primarily focused on simplifying online giving and donations for churches of all sizes. It offers multiple giving methods including text-to-give, mobile app, kiosks, and recurring gifts, alongside essential management tools like people database, event registration, child check-in, and sermon management. The platform emphasizes mobile accessibility and integrations with tools like Planning Center and QuickBooks for seamless church operations.
Pros
- Exceptional online giving options with text-to-give and Apple/Google Pay support
- Intuitive mobile apps for both admins and givers
- Strong integrations with popular church software like Planning Center
Cons
- Transaction fees (2.9% + $0.30) on all donations add up for high-volume churches
- Advanced reporting and custom forms limited to higher-tier plans
- People management lacks some depth compared to dedicated CRMs
Best For
Small to mid-sized churches seeking user-friendly online donation tools with basic management features.
Pricing
Free for basic giving (with transaction fees); paid plans start at $19/mo for Essentials (up to 50 givers), $59/mo for Growth, plus 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
ChurchTrac
specializedAffordable all-in-one church software supporting online attendance, contributions, events, and member management.
Integrated worship planning tools with media library, song database, and service builder for seamless service preparation.
ChurchTrac is a comprehensive online church management software designed for small to medium-sized congregations, offering tools for member database management, online giving, event scheduling, attendance tracking, and worship planning. It provides an all-in-one platform to streamline administrative tasks, financial tracking, and volunteer coordination. With a focus on affordability and ease of use, it includes mobile apps for check-in and giving, making it accessible for churches with limited tech resources.
Pros
- Highly affordable pricing with excellent value for small churches
- Intuitive interface and quick setup with minimal training required
- Strong customer support including live chat and phone assistance
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and analytics compared to enterprise solutions
- Fewer third-party integrations than competitors
- Customization options are basic, which may not suit highly tailored needs
Best For
Small to medium-sized churches seeking an affordable, user-friendly all-in-one management solution without complex setup.
Pricing
Starts at $37/month for up to 100 people (Essentials plan), with higher tiers like Plus ($97/month for 250 people) and Pro ($197/month for 500 people); free trial available.
Rock RMS
specializedFree open-source church management system with robust online check-in, groups, giving, and website integration.
Fully open-source architecture enabling unlimited customization and no vendor lock-in
Rock RMS is a powerful open-source church management platform that provides comprehensive tools for managing people, groups, events, check-ins, giving, and communications within a church setting. It supports online church activities through features like online registration, digital giving, mobile apps, and integrations with streaming services. Highly scalable and customizable, it's ideal for churches wanting full control over their data and workflows without subscription fees for the core software.
Pros
- Completely free open-source core with no licensing fees
- Extremely customizable via drag-and-drop blocks and Lava templating
- Scalable for small to multi-campus churches with robust integrations
Cons
- Steep learning curve requiring technical expertise
- Self-hosting demands IT resources or paid cloud hosting
- Limited out-of-box support; relies on community forums
Best For
Churches with technical staff or volunteers who need a highly customizable, cost-free platform for complex operations.
Pricing
Free open-source software; optional costs for cloud hosting ($29+/month), premium support, and custom development.
Church Community Builder
specializedCommunity engagement platform for online groups, events, messaging, and church-wide communication.
Advanced small groups system with automated leader assignments, roster management, and engagement analytics
Church Community Builder (CCB) is a cloud-based church management software that centralizes member database management, small group coordination, event registration, online giving, and child check-in processes. It offers a member portal for self-service updates, volunteer scheduling, and worship planning tools to streamline church operations. Designed for churches seeking an all-in-one solution, CCB emphasizes relational ministry through robust people tracking and communication features.
Pros
- Comprehensive member database with custom fields and search capabilities
- Strong small groups management including leader tools and attendance tracking
- Reliable online giving and event registration with mobile-friendly options
Cons
- User interface feels dated and less intuitive compared to modern competitors
- Pricing scales quickly with church size, potentially expensive for smaller congregations
- Limited native mobile app functionality; relies heavily on web access
Best For
Mid-sized churches focused on small group ministry and relational engagement who need robust administrative tools.
Pricing
Custom subscription pricing based on active households, starting around $99/month for small churches and scaling to $300+/month for larger ones.
Faith Teams
specializedCloud-based church management tool for online scheduling, volunteer coordination, check-ins, and attendance tracking.
Smart scheduling engine that automatically finds substitutes and respects volunteer availability/preferences
Faith Teams is a cloud-based church management software specializing in volunteer scheduling, team communication, and event coordination for ministries. It enables churches to create drag-and-drop schedules, send mass texts/emails, manage check-ins, and track volunteer preferences in real-time. While strong in operational efficiency, it lacks robust tools for live streaming or online giving compared to broader online church platforms.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop scheduling with auto-fill and preferences
- Seamless text and email communication for quick team updates
- Mobile app for on-the-go access and check-ins
Cons
- Limited integrations with streaming or donation platforms
- Basic reporting and analytics capabilities
- No native support for virtual services or online campuses
Best For
Small to mid-sized churches focused on efficient volunteer management and ministry team coordination rather than full online worship experiences.
Pricing
Starts at $29/month for churches under 100 attendees, scaling to $99/month for larger groups with unlimited scheduling and advanced features.
Elvanto
specializedChurch management software optimized for online campuses with rostering, events, people management, and integrations.
Smart volunteer rostering that automatically fills shifts based on availability and preferences
Elvanto is a cloud-based church management software that helps churches manage their congregation, events, volunteers, check-ins, and online giving in one platform. It provides tools for tracking member information, scheduling services and small groups, and facilitating secure online donations. Designed for ease of use, it supports mobile access and integrates well with other church tools, making it ideal for streamlining church operations.
Pros
- Intuitive and modern user interface
- Strong volunteer management and scheduling
- Reliable check-in system for kids and events
Cons
- Reporting and analytics could be more advanced
- Limited customization options for forms and workflows
- Customer support response times can vary
Best For
Small to medium-sized churches looking for a user-friendly, all-in-one management solution without steep learning curves.
Pricing
Free for churches under 200 people; paid tiers start at $19/month for 200-499 attendees, scaling to $129/month for 5,000+.
Church Online Platform
specializedDedicated solution for hosting fully online church services, prayer rooms, small groups, and live streaming.
Customizable virtual sanctuary environments for an immersive online worship experience
Church Online Platform is a dedicated online church software that enables churches to broadcast live and on-demand services via customizable virtual sanctuaries. It includes engagement tools like real-time chat, prayer requests, digital connect cards, and integrated online giving. The platform supports multi-device streaming and basic community management features, making it suitable for digital ministry outreach.
Pros
- User-friendly interface for quick setup and streaming
- Strong focus on attendee engagement with chat and prayer tools
- Affordable entry-level pricing for small churches
Cons
- Limited advanced analytics and reporting
- Fewer integrations with popular church management systems
- Basic customization options compared to top competitors
Best For
Small to medium-sized churches building or expanding their online presence without complex needs.
Pricing
Starts at $49/month for basic plan (1 stream, core features); Pro plan at $99/month with unlimited streams and advanced engagement; custom enterprise pricing available.
Conclusion
The top 10 online church software tools demonstrate diverse capabilities, but three shine brightest: Planning Center, with its robust all-in-one management and integration features, claims the top spot. Subsplash leads in custom mobile engagement and streaming, while Breeze ChMS stands out for its user-friendly cloud design. Each offers distinct strengths, ensuring there’s a standout choice for nearly every church’s needs.
Take the first step toward efficient church operations—explore Planning Center today to unlock comprehensive giving, management, and engagement tools that support your community effectively.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison