Quick Overview
- 1#1: Breeze ChMS - Provides simple, intuitive church management for people, giving, events, and communication.
- 2#2: ChurchTrac - Offers affordable all-in-one church software for membership, attendance, giving, and events.
- 3#3: Elvanto - Delivers straightforward church management tools for rostering, events, people, and online giving.
- 4#4: Planning Center - Modular platform for worship planning, check-ins, giving, and church management.
- 5#5: Tithe.ly - Enables easy mobile giving, church management, and engagement for small churches.
- 6#6: Achurch - Simplifies church administration with tools for contributions, attendance, and member tracking.
- 7#7: Rock RMS - Free, open-source church management system for people, groups, finances, and events.
- 8#8: Subsplash - Powers church apps, websites, giving, and engagement for digital ministry.
- 9#9: Servant Keeper - Handles church accounting, membership, and contributions with straightforward software.
- 10#10: CDM+ - Comprehensive church database for membership, accounting, events, and reporting.
We ranked these tools based on ease of use, robust feature sets (encompassing people, finances, events, and communication), reliability, and value, ensuring each delivers practical, user-friendly functionality tailored to diverse church needs.
Comparison Table
Managing church operations efficiently hinges on choosing the right software, and this comparison table simplifies that process by exploring leading options. It features tools like Breeze ChMS, ChurchTrac, Elvanto, Planning Center, Tithe.ly, and more, guiding readers to identify the best fit for their community’s specific needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Breeze ChMS Provides simple, intuitive church management for people, giving, events, and communication. | specialized | 9.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.4/10 |
| 2 | ChurchTrac Offers affordable all-in-one church software for membership, attendance, giving, and events. | specialized | 8.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 3 | Elvanto Delivers straightforward church management tools for rostering, events, people, and online giving. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.0/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 4 | Planning Center Modular platform for worship planning, check-ins, giving, and church management. | specialized | 8.8/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 5 | Tithe.ly Enables easy mobile giving, church management, and engagement for small churches. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.7/10 |
| 6 | Achurch Simplifies church administration with tools for contributions, attendance, and member tracking. | specialized | 7.6/10 | 7.2/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 7 | Rock RMS Free, open-source church management system for people, groups, finances, and events. | specialized | 7.9/10 | 9.3/10 | 6.4/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 8 | Subsplash Powers church apps, websites, giving, and engagement for digital ministry. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 9 | Servant Keeper Handles church accounting, membership, and contributions with straightforward software. | specialized | 7.8/10 | 7.4/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 10 | CDM+ Comprehensive church database for membership, accounting, events, and reporting. | specialized | 7.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 6.2/10 | 6.8/10 |
Provides simple, intuitive church management for people, giving, events, and communication.
Offers affordable all-in-one church software for membership, attendance, giving, and events.
Delivers straightforward church management tools for rostering, events, people, and online giving.
Modular platform for worship planning, check-ins, giving, and church management.
Enables easy mobile giving, church management, and engagement for small churches.
Simplifies church administration with tools for contributions, attendance, and member tracking.
Free, open-source church management system for people, groups, finances, and events.
Powers church apps, websites, giving, and engagement for digital ministry.
Handles church accounting, membership, and contributions with straightforward software.
Comprehensive church database for membership, accounting, events, and reporting.
Breeze ChMS
specializedProvides simple, intuitive church management for people, giving, events, and communication.
One-click setup and import from spreadsheets, enabling immediate use without training
Breeze ChMS is a cloud-based church management software designed for simplicity, helping churches manage people, events, attendance, giving, and communication all in one intuitive platform. It eliminates the need for spreadsheets or complex systems, allowing teams to get started in minutes without IT support. Ideal for small to mid-sized churches, it offers mobile access, online giving, and check-in features to streamline operations.
Pros
- Incredibly simple interface with setup in under 10 minutes
- Unlimited users and excellent mobile app for on-the-go access
- Responsive customer support via chat, email, and phone
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and customization options
- Higher tiers needed for larger churches (over 500 people)
- No built-in event ticketing or complex group scheduling
Best For
Small to medium-sized churches seeking an effortless, all-in-one solution without steep learning curves or high costs.
Pricing
Starts at $55/month for up to 50 people, $72/month for 100 people, scaling to $199/month for 500+; no contracts, unlimited users.
ChurchTrac
specializedOffers affordable all-in-one church software for membership, attendance, giving, and events.
Flat-rate unlimited users on higher plans, offering exceptional scalability for growing churches at low cost
ChurchTrac is a cloud-based church management software tailored for small to mid-sized churches, providing essential tools for member directories, attendance tracking, event scheduling, online giving, worship planning, and group management. Its intuitive web and mobile interfaces streamline administrative tasks, enabling quick setup and daily use without a steep learning curve. With strong emphasis on affordability and simplicity, it helps churches focus on ministry rather than complex IT management.
Pros
- Highly affordable with unlimited users on Standard ($37/mo) and Premium plans
- Intuitive, beginner-friendly interface with mobile app support
- Comprehensive core features covering membership, giving, events, and attendance
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and customization for larger churches
- Fewer third-party integrations compared to competitors
- Basic check-in system lacks some modern kiosk features
Best For
Small to mid-sized churches needing a straightforward, budget-friendly all-in-one management tool without enterprise-level complexity.
Pricing
Basic $5/mo (1 user), Standard $37/mo (unlimited users, core features), Premium $97/mo (unlimited users + advanced tools); 14-day free trial.
Elvanto
specializedDelivers straightforward church management tools for rostering, events, people, and online giving.
Secure, label-printing child check-in kiosks for efficient family services
Elvanto is a straightforward church management software tailored for small to medium-sized churches, providing core tools for people database management, event planning, group tracking, and volunteer scheduling. It emphasizes simplicity with features like secure child check-in kiosks and customizable forms for registrations and events. Overall, it helps churches handle day-to-day administration without the complexity of enterprise-level systems.
Pros
- Intuitive interface that's quick to learn
- Generous free tier for churches under 75 people
- Reliable child check-in and volunteer rostering
Cons
- No native online giving or worship planning
- Reporting lacks advanced customization
- Fewer third-party integrations than larger platforms
Best For
Small to mid-sized churches needing simple tools for people management, events, and check-ins without advanced features.
Pricing
Free for up to 75 people; $29/mo (76-250), $59/mo (251-500), $99/mo (501-1000), with higher tiers available; annual billing discounts.
Planning Center
specializedModular platform for worship planning, check-ins, giving, and church management.
Drag-and-drop worship planning in Services with realtime team collaboration and chord charts
Planning Center is a modular, cloud-based church management platform offering tools like People (CRM), Services (worship planning), Check-Ins, Groups, Giving, and Registrations. Churches can select only the services needed, with seamless integration across apps for streamlined operations. Its modern interface and mobile apps make it accessible for managing church activities from planning services to tracking attendance and donations.
Pros
- Modular design allows customization without bloat
- Outstanding worship planning with real-time collaboration
- Strong mobile apps and integrations for check-ins and giving
Cons
- Pricing accumulates with multiple services
- Steeper learning curve for full suite utilization
- Limited free tier beyond basic directory
Best For
Small to mid-sized churches needing flexible, integrated tools for worship planning and basic management without enterprise complexity.
Pricing
Modular subscriptions per service: People free up to 75 profiles ($14+/mo beyond), Services $29/mo first campus, others $19-$89/mo with multi-campus scaling.
Tithe.ly
specializedEnables easy mobile giving, church management, and engagement for small churches.
Text-to-Give for instant SMS donations without apps or websites
Tithe.ly is a streamlined church giving platform designed for online tithes, offerings, and donations via mobile app, web, text-to-give, and kiosks. It supports recurring gifts, custom campaigns, and integrates with tools like Planning Center and QuickBooks for basic financial tracking. Primarily focused on simplifying digital contributions for churches without needing full management software.
Pros
- Intuitive setup with multiple giving methods including text and kiosks
- Strong integrations with popular church tools
- Secure and mobile-optimized donor experience
Cons
- Transaction fees can accumulate for high-volume churches
- Limited beyond giving—no built-in people management or events
- Reporting lacks depth for advanced analytics
Best For
Small churches seeking a straightforward, donor-friendly giving solution without comprehensive management features.
Pricing
Free to use with transaction fees (2.9% + $0.30 per credit card; lower rates on premium plans starting at $19/month).
Achurch
specializedSimplifies church administration with tools for contributions, attendance, and member tracking.
Its drag-and-drop event and volunteer scheduler that simplifies coordination for busy church staff.
AChurch (achurchonline.com) is a cloud-based church management software tailored for small to medium-sized congregations seeking simplicity. It offers core features like member database management, event scheduling, online giving, attendance tracking, and volunteer coordination. The platform prioritizes an intuitive interface to help churches handle day-to-day operations without technical expertise.
Pros
- User-friendly interface ideal for non-technical users
- Affordable pricing with no long-term contracts
- Reliable customer support via phone and chat
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and analytics
- Fewer integrations with third-party tools
- Basic mobile app functionality
Best For
Small churches or ministries needing straightforward tools for member management and basic operations without overwhelming features.
Pricing
Starts at $37/month for Starter plan (up to 150 people), $67/month for Standard (up to 400), and $97/month for Premium (unlimited); 30-day free trial.
Rock RMS
specializedFree, open-source church management system for people, groups, finances, and events.
Fully open-source architecture enabling unlimited customization without vendor lock-in
Rock RMS is a free, open-source church management system that provides comprehensive tools for managing people, groups, events, check-ins, giving, and communications. It excels in scalability with customizable workflows, mobile apps, and integrations for growing churches. While powerful, its complexity makes it less ideal for ultra-simple setups without technical support.
Pros
- Completely free with no licensing fees
- Highly customizable via open-source blocks and plugins
- Robust check-in and volunteer management system
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Complex initial setup and configuration
- Overkill for very small churches needing only basics
Best For
Tech-savvy small to mid-sized churches seeking a scalable, cost-free alternative to paid software.
Pricing
100% free (open-source); optional donations and hosting costs apply.
Subsplash
specializedPowers church apps, websites, giving, and engagement for digital ministry.
Fully custom-branded mobile apps published to Apple and Google stores for seamless member access.
Subsplash is a comprehensive church management platform focused on digital engagement, offering custom-branded mobile apps, church websites, online giving, event management, and media streaming. It centralizes church operations like member communication, sermon delivery, and donations into a unified system. Designed for churches of varying sizes, it emphasizes mobile-first experiences to boost connectivity and growth.
Pros
- Custom-branded mobile apps for iOS and Android with app store presence
- Integrated giving platform with high conversion rates and PCI compliance
- Robust engagement tools including messaging, events, and people management
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for very small churches (starts ~$99/mo and scales up)
- Feature-rich interface may overwhelm users seeking ultra-simple tools
- Limited customization in lower tiers without add-ons
Best For
Mid-sized churches prioritizing professional mobile apps and digital member engagement over basic admin functions.
Pricing
Custom subscription starting at ~$99/month for basic plans, scaling to $300+/month based on church size, features, and usage; no free tier.
Servant Keeper
specializedHandles church accounting, membership, and contributions with straightforward software.
Perpetual on-premise licensing that eliminates recurring subscription costs
Servant Keeper is a veteran church management software (ChMS) tailored for small to mid-sized congregations, providing essential tools for membership tracking, online giving, event scheduling, and financial reporting. Available in both cloud-hosted and on-premise versions, it prioritizes reliability and affordability over flashy modern features. Ideal for simple church operations, it handles core administrative tasks without overwhelming users with complexity.
Pros
- Exceptionally affordable with low monthly fees or one-time purchase options
- Reliable core features like detailed giving tracking and basic member management
- Strong customer support from a long-established provider
Cons
- Dated interface that feels outdated compared to modern competitors
- Limited integrations and mobile app functionality
- Customization options are basic and not highly flexible
Best For
Budget-conscious small churches needing straightforward tools for membership, giving, and events without advanced integrations.
Pricing
Cloud starts at $39/month (up to 100 households), scaling to $159+/month; on-premise offers one-time licenses from $795.
CDM+
specializedComprehensive church database for membership, accounting, events, and reporting.
Integrated relational database that connects contributions, attendance, and membership data across all modules for powerful querying and reporting
CDM+ by ECL Ministries is a modular, Windows-based church management software that provides comprehensive tools for membership tracking, contributions, attendance, events, accounting, and worship planning. It uses a relational database to link all church data seamlessly, allowing churches to purchase only the modules they need. While robust for mid-sized churches, it may feel complex for very simple operations due to its desktop nature and setup requirements.
Pros
- Highly customizable with modular add-ons tailored to church needs
- Strong financial and contribution tracking with detailed reporting
- Reliable relational database for integrated data management
Cons
- Desktop-only (Windows), lacking modern cloud accessibility
- Steep learning curve and dated interface for beginners
- Higher upfront costs for multiple modules and support
Best For
Mid-sized churches comfortable with desktop software that require detailed financial and membership management without cloud dependency.
Pricing
Modular perpetual licenses ($295-$1,495 per module) plus optional annual support (~20% of license cost); no subscription model.
Conclusion
The reviewed tools provide versatile solutions for simplifying church management, with Breeze ChMS leading as the top choice, thanks to its intuitive design and all-encompassing features for people, giving, events, and communication. ChurchTrac and Elvanto are strong alternatives, offering affordable all-in-one functionality and straightforward tools for specific needs like rostering or digital engagement.
Dive into Breeze ChMS to experience its user-friendly platform and transform how your church organizes daily operations—whether you’re managing membership, coordinating events, or facilitating giving, it’s a standout option to explore.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison