Quick Overview
- 1#1: ParishSOFT - Comprehensive management solution tailored for Catholic parishes, handling family records, sacraments, finance, and reporting.
- 2#2: CDM+ - Modular software for parish administration including attendance, contributions, member management, and custom reporting.
- 3#3: Parish Data Systems - Integrated parish accounting and family database system designed for Catholic dioceses and parishes.
- 4#4: PowerChurch Plus - Versatile church management tool with features for membership tracking, donations, scheduling, and attendance.
- 5#5: Planning Center - Cloud-based platform offering modular tools for worship planning, people management, check-ins, groups, and giving.
- 6#6: Breeze ChMS - User-friendly church management software simplifying people tracking, events, giving, and communication.
- 7#7: ChurchTrac - Affordable all-in-one church software for managing members, events, giving, and online directories.
- 8#8: Rock RMS - Scalable open-source church management system with CRM, event management, and financial tools.
- 9#9: Subsplash - Church engagement platform providing custom apps, online giving, media, and management features.
- 10#10: Church Community Builder - Community-focused church software for groups, events, check-ins, and member engagement.
These tools were selected based on feature depth, usability, reliability, and value, ensuring they meet the practical and operational needs of parishes, whether large or small.
Comparison Table
Navigating parish management software can be challenging; this comparison table breaks down top tools like ParishSOFT, CDM+, Parish Data Systems, PowerChurch Plus, and Planning Center to simplify decision-making. By outlining features, usability, and core capabilities, it helps readers identify the solution that aligns with their parish’s unique needs, from managing finances to tracking volunteer roles.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ParishSOFT Comprehensive management solution tailored for Catholic parishes, handling family records, sacraments, finance, and reporting. | specialized | 9.4/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 2 | CDM+ Modular software for parish administration including attendance, contributions, member management, and custom reporting. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.1/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 3 | Parish Data Systems Integrated parish accounting and family database system designed for Catholic dioceses and parishes. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 7.4/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 4 | PowerChurch Plus Versatile church management tool with features for membership tracking, donations, scheduling, and attendance. | specialized | 7.6/10 | 8.1/10 | 6.8/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 5 | Planning Center Cloud-based platform offering modular tools for worship planning, people management, check-ins, groups, and giving. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.0/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 6 | Breeze ChMS User-friendly church management software simplifying people tracking, events, giving, and communication. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 7.9/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 7 | ChurchTrac Affordable all-in-one church software for managing members, events, giving, and online directories. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 7.9/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 8 | Rock RMS Scalable open-source church management system with CRM, event management, and financial tools. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 6.8/10 | 9.6/10 |
| 9 | Subsplash Church engagement platform providing custom apps, online giving, media, and management features. | enterprise | 7.6/10 | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 6.9/10 |
| 10 | Church Community Builder Community-focused church software for groups, events, check-ins, and member engagement. | specialized | 7.6/10 | 8.1/10 | 7.2/10 | 7.4/10 |
Comprehensive management solution tailored for Catholic parishes, handling family records, sacraments, finance, and reporting.
Modular software for parish administration including attendance, contributions, member management, and custom reporting.
Integrated parish accounting and family database system designed for Catholic dioceses and parishes.
Versatile church management tool with features for membership tracking, donations, scheduling, and attendance.
Cloud-based platform offering modular tools for worship planning, people management, check-ins, groups, and giving.
User-friendly church management software simplifying people tracking, events, giving, and communication.
Affordable all-in-one church software for managing members, events, giving, and online directories.
Scalable open-source church management system with CRM, event management, and financial tools.
Church engagement platform providing custom apps, online giving, media, and management features.
Community-focused church software for groups, events, check-ins, and member engagement.
ParishSOFT
specializedComprehensive management solution tailored for Catholic parishes, handling family records, sacraments, finance, and reporting.
Seamless diocesan database synchronization ensuring real-time compliance and centralized reporting across the archdiocese.
ParishSOFT is a comprehensive web-based parish management software designed specifically for Catholic parishes, offering tools for managing family records, sacramental tracking, financial contributions, and Mass attendance. It provides secure online portals for parishioners to update information, make donations, and access bulletins, while integrating seamlessly with diocesan databases for compliance and reporting. With robust reporting capabilities and customizable workflows, it streamlines administrative tasks for parish staff.
Pros
- Tailored specifically for Catholic parish needs with modules for sacraments, households, and contributions
- Strong diocesan integration and data security compliant with church standards
- User-friendly online giving and parishioner self-service portal
Cons
- Steep initial learning curve for new users due to extensive features
- Pricing is quote-based and can be higher for larger parishes
- Limited native mobile app functionality
Best For
Catholic parishes of all sizes seeking a robust, church-specific all-in-one management system with diocesan compatibility.
Pricing
Custom subscription pricing based on parish size and modules; typically starts at $200-500/month with annual contracts.
CDM+
specializedModular software for parish administration including attendance, contributions, member management, and custom reporting.
Advanced Household Management that dynamically links family relationships, contributions, and sacramental records in one centralized system
CDM+ is a comprehensive, modular parish management software solution designed specifically for churches and religious organizations, particularly Catholic parishes. It handles membership databases, household tracking, contribution and pledge management, full accounting, sacramental records, event scheduling, and worship planning. With decades of development, it offers deep customization and robust reporting to streamline parish operations.
Pros
- Highly modular design allows tailored implementation
- Exceptional financial accounting and contribution tracking
- Reliable reporting and data security features
Cons
- Primarily desktop-based with a dated interface
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Custom quotes can lead to higher costs for full suite
Best For
Mid-sized to large parishes needing robust financial management and detailed member tracking.
Pricing
Modular pricing with perpetual licenses or annual subscriptions; custom quotes typically range from $2,000-$10,000+ depending on modules and parish size.
Parish Data Systems
specializedIntegrated parish accounting and family database system designed for Catholic dioceses and parishes.
Seamless integration of sacramental records with automated diocesan reporting and contribution envelopes.
Parish Data Systems (PDS) is a specialized software suite tailored for Catholic parishes, offering tools for membership management, sacramental record-keeping (baptisms, marriages, etc.), financial accounting, and contribution tracking. It includes PDS Parish for core database functions, PDS Ledger for robust accounting, and PDS Online for web-based access and online giving. The system supports diocesan reporting and is available as on-premise or hosted solutions, making it a reliable choice for church administration.
Pros
- Highly specialized for Catholic parish needs with excellent sacramental and financial tracking
- Strong diocesan integration and reporting capabilities
- Reliable customer support from a company focused solely on faith-based organizations
Cons
- User interface feels dated compared to modern cloud-native alternatives
- Limited third-party integrations and mobile app functionality
- Setup and training can be time-intensive for smaller parishes
Best For
Medium to large Catholic parishes seeking a comprehensive, parish-specific solution with deep financial and sacramental management.
Pricing
Custom pricing based on parish size; typically $1,500–$5,000 annually for hosted plans, plus one-time setup fees—contact for quote.
PowerChurch Plus
specializedVersatile church management tool with features for membership tracking, donations, scheduling, and attendance.
Advanced envelope-based contribution tracking with automated tithing reports and audit trails
PowerChurch Plus is a desktop-based parish management software tailored for churches, offering tools for membership tracking, financial accounting, attendance records, event scheduling, and volunteer coordination. It provides a comprehensive database for parishioner information, including family groupings, sacramental records, and pictorial directories. The software emphasizes robust reporting and querying capabilities to help parishes manage operations efficiently without subscription costs.
Pros
- One-time purchase model with no recurring fees
- Strong financial tracking and contribution management
- Extensive customizable reports and queries
Cons
- Windows desktop-only with no mobile or web access
- Outdated interface requiring a learning curve
- Limited integrations with modern third-party tools
Best For
Small to medium parishes seeking affordable, on-premise software for core administrative tasks without cloud dependencies.
Pricing
One-time licenses from $289 (single-user) to $1,495 (network edition); free trial and support included.
Planning Center
enterpriseCloud-based platform offering modular tools for worship planning, people management, check-ins, groups, and giving.
Worship Planning Center with real-time collaboration, chord charts, and arrangement libraries
Planning Center is a cloud-based suite of church management tools tailored for parishes and churches, offering integrated modules for people management, worship planning, event registrations, check-ins, groups, services, and online giving. It streamlines administrative tasks like volunteer scheduling, attendance tracking, and service coordination with a modern, intuitive interface. While versatile for parish operations, it excels in creative planning and community engagement but may require add-ons for full financial depth.
Pros
- Seamless integration across all modules for unified parish management
- Highly intuitive drag-and-drop interface with mobile apps
- Robust worship planning and volunteer scheduling tools
Cons
- Pricing scales with additional services and church size, potentially costly
- Limited built-in sacramental tracking without custom fields
- Reporting features could be more advanced for large parishes
Best For
Mid-sized parishes with active worship ministries needing integrated planning, check-ins, and people management.
Pricing
People module free; additional services start at $14/month for small churches, scaling to $89+/month based on active profiles and giving volume.
Breeze ChMS
specializedUser-friendly church management software simplifying people tracking, events, giving, and communication.
One-click setup and import process that gets parishes operational in under an hour
Breeze ChMS is a cloud-based church management software tailored for small to medium-sized congregations, including parishes, offering tools for contact management, attendance tracking, online giving, event scheduling, and group coordination. It emphasizes simplicity with a clean interface and mobile accessibility, enabling quick setup without extensive training. The platform supports communication via email/SMS and basic reporting, making it suitable for streamlining parish administration.
Pros
- Intuitive interface requiring minimal training
- Affordable flat-rate pricing with no long-term contracts
- Strong mobile app and check-in system for events and attendance
Cons
- Limited advanced customization and reporting options
- Fewer integrations compared to enterprise-level competitors
- Scales less efficiently for very large parishes over 500 members
Best For
Small to medium parishes seeking a straightforward, budget-friendly tool for basic member management and operations without IT expertise.
Pricing
Starts at $72/month for up to 50 people, scaling to $120 for 51-100, $168 for 101-150, and higher tiers; free data import and 30-day trial.
ChurchTrac
specializedAffordable all-in-one church software for managing members, events, giving, and online directories.
Integrated worship planning tool that allows drag-and-drop service building with chord charts and media embedding
ChurchTrac is an affordable, web-based church management software tailored for small to mid-sized congregations, offering tools for member database management, contribution tracking, attendance monitoring, and event scheduling. It includes features like online giving, child check-in, worship planning, and small group management to streamline parish operations. The platform prioritizes simplicity and value, with no contracts and unlimited administrative users.
Pros
- Extremely affordable pricing starting at $5/month
- Intuitive interface with quick setup for non-tech users
- Responsive customer support and unlimited admin access
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and analytics compared to enterprise solutions
- Fewer third-party integrations than competitors
- Mobile app functionality is basic and not fully featured
Best For
Small to mid-sized parishes seeking a budget-friendly, straightforward management tool without needing extensive customization.
Pricing
Starts at $5/month (1-50 people), $37/month (51-200), $97/month (201-500), with higher tiers and custom enterprise pricing; no contracts, unlimited admins.
Rock RMS
enterpriseScalable open-source church management system with CRM, event management, and financial tools.
Lava templating engine for unlimited custom workflows, pages, and automations
Rock RMS is a free, open-source church management platform designed to help parishes and churches manage their communities comprehensively. It handles people databases, group management, event scheduling, online giving, child check-in, communication tools, and financial tracking. With extensive customization options via its Lava templating engine, it's built for scalability across small to large congregations.
Pros
- Completely free with no user or feature limits
- Highly customizable through open-source code and Lava templates
- Robust feature set including check-in, groups, giving, and reporting
- Strong community support and regular updates
Cons
- Steep learning curve requiring technical expertise for setup and customization
- Self-hosted model demands server management or paid hosting
- Interface can feel cluttered and overwhelming for non-tech users
- Limited out-of-box integrations compared to premium competitors
Best For
Tech-savvy parishes or larger churches seeking a free, infinitely customizable management solution without subscription costs.
Pricing
Free open-source software; optional paid hosting starts at ~$50/month, no per-user fees.
Subsplash
enterpriseChurch engagement platform providing custom apps, online giving, media, and management features.
Fully custom-branded mobile app that provides a native experience with push notifications, events, giving, and media tailored to the parish
Subsplash is a digital engagement platform designed for churches and parishes, offering custom-branded mobile apps, church websites, online giving, media streaming, events, check-ins, and basic people management tools. It excels in enhancing member connectivity through push notifications, live streaming, and multimedia content delivery. While it supports some parish management functions like groups and attendance tracking, it leans more toward digital ministry than comprehensive administrative CRM features.
Pros
- Custom-branded mobile app for seamless member engagement
- Integrated online giving with low fees and recurring options
- Strong media and event tools including live streaming and check-ins
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly with giving volume, expensive for small parishes
- Limited depth in traditional parish admin like detailed accounting or volunteer scheduling
- Requires add-ons or integrations for full CRM functionality
Best For
Mid-sized parishes focused on digital outreach, mobile apps, and online engagement rather than heavy administrative management.
Pricing
Custom pricing starts at ~$99/month for basic plans, scales to $500+/month based on giving volume, app downloads, and features; no long-term contracts.
Church Community Builder
specializedCommunity-focused church software for groups, events, check-ins, and member engagement.
Advanced Groups module for automated small group management, leader tools, and attendance tracking to build community connections
Church Community Builder (CCB) is a cloud-based church management software designed to streamline congregation management, including member databases, event registration, small group tracking, child check-in, and online giving. It focuses on fostering community engagement through tools like mobility apps and communication features tailored for churches. While versatile for general church admin, it lacks deep specialization for Catholic parish needs like sacrament tracking or diocesan reporting.
Pros
- Comprehensive member database with detailed profiles and interaction history
- Robust child check-in system with security features and kiosks
- Strong integration for online giving and event management
Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced features and setup
- Pricing scales quickly for larger congregations, becoming costly
- Limited native support for Catholic-specific functions like mass scheduling or sacramental records
Best For
Mid-sized Protestant or non-denominational churches prioritizing community groups and family engagement over specialized parish rituals.
Pricing
Starts at around $99/month for small churches (under 200 people), with custom enterprise pricing for larger ones; additional fees for premium add-ons.
Conclusion
The reviewed parish management tools showcase diverse strengths, each designed to address specific operational needs. ParishSOFT leads as the top choice, a comprehensive solution that seamlessly handles family records, sacraments, finance, and reporting. CDM+ and Parish Data Systems follow, with CDM+’s modular flexibility and Parish Data Systems’ integrated diocesan focus, making them excellent alternatives for varied requirements.
Don’t miss out—explore ParishSOFT today to unlock its tailored features and enhance your parish’s management efficiency.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison