Quick Overview
- 1#1: Aplos - Cloud-based fund accounting software designed specifically for churches and nonprofits with donor management and compliance reporting.
- 2#2: PowerChurch Plus - Integrated church management and accounting system offering fund tracking, payroll, and financial reports for small congregations.
- 3#3: QuickBooks Online - Popular cloud accounting platform with nonprofit templates for handling church tithes, expenses, budgets, and IRS-compliant reports.
- 4#4: Church Windows - Church-specific accounting software providing general ledger, accounts payable, and fund accounting for small to medium churches.
- 5#5: CDM+ - Comprehensive church database and accounting solution with multi-fund tracking, budgeting, and contribution management.
- 6#6: ChurchTrac - Affordable all-in-one church management software including basic bookkeeping, online giving, and expense tracking.
- 7#7: Breeze ChMS - User-friendly church management system with simple financial tools for tracking giving, expenses, and budgets.
- 8#8: Xero - Cloud accounting software suitable for small churches with bank reconciliation, invoicing, and multi-currency support.
- 9#9: Wave - Free online accounting tool for small organizations offering invoicing, expense tracking, and basic reporting.
- 10#10: Planning Center - Church management platform with online giving integration and financial reporting for streamlined donation tracking.
We ranked tools by specialized features (including fund accounting, donor management, and IRS-compliant reporting), reliability, ease of use (intuitive design and minimal training needs), and value (pricing structure and feature-to-cost balance), ensuring each entry meets the unique needs of small to medium-sized congregations.
Comparison Table
Small churches can simplify financial management with the right bookkeeping software; this comparison table highlights top options like Aplos, PowerChurch Plus, and QuickBooks Online to guide informed choices. Readers will learn about key features, pricing, and usability, helping them identify a tool that aligns with their church’s size and operational needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aplos Cloud-based fund accounting software designed specifically for churches and nonprofits with donor management and compliance reporting. | specialized | 9.4/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 2 | PowerChurch Plus Integrated church management and accounting system offering fund tracking, payroll, and financial reports for small congregations. | specialized | 8.8/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 3 | QuickBooks Online Popular cloud accounting platform with nonprofit templates for handling church tithes, expenses, budgets, and IRS-compliant reports. | enterprise | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.5/10 | 7.0/10 |
| 4 | Church Windows Church-specific accounting software providing general ledger, accounts payable, and fund accounting for small to medium churches. | specialized | 7.9/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 5 | CDM+ Comprehensive church database and accounting solution with multi-fund tracking, budgeting, and contribution management. | specialized | 7.6/10 | 8.4/10 | 6.2/10 | 7.1/10 |
| 6 | ChurchTrac Affordable all-in-one church management software including basic bookkeeping, online giving, and expense tracking. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.6/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 7 | Breeze ChMS User-friendly church management system with simple financial tools for tracking giving, expenses, and budgets. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 8 | Xero Cloud accounting software suitable for small churches with bank reconciliation, invoicing, and multi-currency support. | enterprise | 7.2/10 | 6.8/10 | 8.4/10 | 7.0/10 |
| 9 | Wave Free online accounting tool for small organizations offering invoicing, expense tracking, and basic reporting. | other | 7.2/10 | 6.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 10 | Planning Center Church management platform with online giving integration and financial reporting for streamlined donation tracking. | specialized | 6.2/10 | 5.0/10 | 9.2/10 | 6.5/10 |
Cloud-based fund accounting software designed specifically for churches and nonprofits with donor management and compliance reporting.
Integrated church management and accounting system offering fund tracking, payroll, and financial reports for small congregations.
Popular cloud accounting platform with nonprofit templates for handling church tithes, expenses, budgets, and IRS-compliant reports.
Church-specific accounting software providing general ledger, accounts payable, and fund accounting for small to medium churches.
Comprehensive church database and accounting solution with multi-fund tracking, budgeting, and contribution management.
Affordable all-in-one church management software including basic bookkeeping, online giving, and expense tracking.
User-friendly church management system with simple financial tools for tracking giving, expenses, and budgets.
Cloud accounting software suitable for small churches with bank reconciliation, invoicing, and multi-currency support.
Free online accounting tool for small organizations offering invoicing, expense tracking, and basic reporting.
Church management platform with online giving integration and financial reporting for streamlined donation tracking.
Aplos
specializedCloud-based fund accounting software designed specifically for churches and nonprofits with donor management and compliance reporting.
Advanced fund accounting that automatically allocates transactions to multiple funds with real-time tracking
Aplos is a cloud-based accounting software tailored for churches and nonprofits, specializing in fund accounting to track restricted and unrestricted funds effortlessly. It provides tools for donation management, budgeting, expense tracking, and customized financial reporting to meet compliance needs. With integrations for online giving and payroll, it simplifies bookkeeping for small church staff without requiring accounting expertise.
Pros
- Specialized fund accounting handles church-specific restricted/unrestricted funds automatically
- Integrated donor database and online giving tools streamline contributions
- Robust reporting and dashboards for easy financial oversight and compliance
Cons
- Higher pricing tiers may stretch budgets for very tiny congregations
- Payroll features require add-ons or integrations
- Initial setup can involve a learning curve for non-accountants
Best For
Small to mid-sized churches seeking nonprofit-focused bookkeeping without hiring a dedicated accountant.
Pricing
Starts at $59/month (Basic), $99/month (Professional), $159/month (Enterprise); annual discounts available.
PowerChurch Plus
specializedIntegrated church management and accounting system offering fund tracking, payroll, and financial reports for small congregations.
Advanced fund accounting that tracks unlimited funds and automatically splits contributions by designation
PowerChurch Plus is a Windows-based desktop church management software with comprehensive bookkeeping tools tailored for small churches, including fund accounting, contributions tracking, accounts payable/receivable, payroll, and budgeting. It integrates financial management seamlessly with membership and attendance tracking, allowing churches to generate detailed reports like profit/loss statements, balance sheets, and donor statements. Designed for non-profits, it supports multi-fund tracking essential for handling designated offerings and restricted funds.
Pros
- Church-specific fund accounting with automatic allocation for offerings
- One-time perpetual license reduces long-term costs
- Robust reporting and customizable financial statements
Cons
- Desktop-only installation requires Windows and local maintenance
- Dated user interface with a moderate learning curve
- Limited integrations and no native mobile app
Best For
Small churches seeking an affordable, comprehensive desktop bookkeeping solution with strong fund accounting without ongoing subscription fees.
Pricing
One-time purchase starting at $595 for basic edition, up to $1,495 for full version with unlimited users; optional annual support ~20% of license cost.
QuickBooks Online
enterprisePopular cloud accounting platform with nonprofit templates for handling church tithes, expenses, budgets, and IRS-compliant reports.
Rule-based bank feed categorization that learns from past entries to automate donation and expense sorting
QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting platform from Intuit that provides comprehensive bookkeeping tools adaptable for small churches through custom categories for tithes, offerings, and expenses. It supports bank reconciliation, invoicing, payroll, and customizable reporting to track church finances effectively. While not tailored specifically for nonprofits, it enables fund accounting via classes and locations, making it suitable for organized small congregations. Its scalability allows growth from basic to advanced needs.
Pros
- Automated bank feeds and reconciliation simplify transaction matching for church deposits
- Customizable reports and classes support fund tracking like general fund or missions
- Mobile app and multi-user access enable volunteer or staff collaboration remotely
Cons
- No native nonprofit fund accounting or donor management, requiring workarounds
- Subscription pricing can strain tight church budgets without discounts
- Steep learning curve for non-accountants handling church-specific setups
Best For
Small churches with a dedicated bookkeeper or admin comfortable customizing general accounting software for basic fund tracking and reporting.
Pricing
Starts at $30/month (Simple Start) billed annually with nonprofit discounts available; tiers up to $200/month (Advanced) for more features.
Church Windows
specializedChurch-specific accounting software providing general ledger, accounts payable, and fund accounting for small to medium churches.
Multi-fund accounting optimized for church finances with automatic allocation and unlimited sub-funds
Church Windows is a longstanding church management software suite with dedicated bookkeeping modules tailored for small churches, offering fund accounting, accounts payable/receivable, payroll processing, and contribution tracking. It integrates financials seamlessly with membership and attendance data for comprehensive church administration. Designed as on-premise software, it emphasizes reliability and customization for nonprofit religious organizations.
Pros
- Church-specific fund accounting with unlimited funds
- Integrated contribution and donor tracking
- Robust reporting and audit trail features
Cons
- Dated user interface feels outdated
- On-premise installation requires IT setup
- Limited cloud/mobile accessibility
Best For
Small churches needing reliable, integrated bookkeeping and membership management without ongoing subscription fees.
Pricing
One-time purchase starting at $1,495 for basic edition, plus $300-$600 annual support; scales with modules.
CDM+
specializedComprehensive church database and accounting solution with multi-fund tracking, budgeting, and contribution management.
Sophisticated multi-level fund accounting that tracks unrestricted, restricted, and designated funds with church-specific compliance
CDM+ is a longstanding church management software suite from CDMplus.com, offering specialized bookkeeping and accounting tools designed for religious organizations. It provides fund accounting, general ledger management, accounts payable/receivable, payroll processing, and detailed contribution tracking tailored to church finances. The platform integrates these features with membership and attendance modules for comprehensive church administration.
Pros
- Robust multi-fund accounting ideal for church budgets and restricted funds
- Comprehensive reporting for contributions, expenses, and financial statements
- Seamless integration with membership and attendance tracking
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to complex interface
- Outdated user experience compared to modern cloud tools
- Pricing can be high for very small churches with limited needs
Best For
Small to mid-sized churches requiring integrated fund accounting and donor management without needing ultra-simple interfaces.
Pricing
Modular pricing with CDM+ Cloud subscriptions starting at $99/month for basic accounting; full suites often $200+/month or custom quotes, plus on-premise options with one-time fees.
ChurchTrac
specializedAffordable all-in-one church management software including basic bookkeeping, online giving, and expense tracking.
Automatic syncing of online donations and pledges directly into detailed contribution tracking and general ledger entries
ChurchTrac is an all-in-one cloud-based church management software with built-in bookkeeping tools designed specifically for small churches. It handles essential financial tasks like tracking contributions and pledges, managing expenses and budgets, vendor payments, and generating reports such as profit & loss statements and balance sheets. The platform integrates seamlessly with membership, attendance, and online giving features, allowing administrators to oversee church finances without needing separate accounting software.
Pros
- Affordable, flat-rate pricing scaled to congregation size
- Intuitive interface suitable for non-accountants
- Strong integration of online giving directly into bookkeeping
Cons
- Lacks advanced fund accounting or multi-entity support
- Reporting customization is somewhat limited
- No built-in payroll processing
Best For
Small churches (under 250 members) seeking simple, integrated bookkeeping without complex accounting requirements.
Pricing
Starts at $37/month for up to 100 members (Essentials plan), $57/month for 250 members (Standard), with higher tiers up to $157/month; 30-day free trial.
Breeze ChMS
specializedUser-friendly church management system with simple financial tools for tracking giving, expenses, and budgets.
Automatic, customizable giving statements generated with one click from tracked contributions
Breeze ChMS is a cloud-based church management software that offers simple bookkeeping tools tailored for small churches, including tracking of contributions, expenses, and basic financial reports. It seamlessly integrates online giving with automated donor statements and categorization, making it easy for non-accountants to manage church finances. While not a full accounting suite, it handles essential small church needs like income tracking and budgeting without complexity.
Pros
- Intuitive interface designed for volunteers with no accounting background
- Seamless online giving integration and automated donor statements
- Affordable pricing scaled to church size
Cons
- Limited advanced features like payroll, accounts payable, or complex invoicing
- Basic reporting requires export to QuickBooks for deeper analysis
- Financial tools are church-centric but not comprehensive for growing needs
Best For
Small churches with volunteer treasurers needing simple, integrated donation tracking and basic expense management.
Pricing
$72/month for up to 75 active records, $120 for 76-150, scaling up to $399 for 1,001+; includes unlimited users and support.
Xero
enterpriseCloud accounting software suitable for small churches with bank reconciliation, invoicing, and multi-currency support.
Automated bank feeds with AI-powered categorization for effortless transaction matching
Xero is a cloud-based accounting software primarily designed for small businesses, offering features like automated bank reconciliation, invoicing, expense tracking, payroll, and real-time financial reporting. For small church bookkeeping, it handles general ledger entries, contribution tracking as income, and expense categorization effectively but lacks native support for church-specific needs such as fund accounting or donor management. Users can customize charts of accounts and integrate with third-party apps to adapt it for ministry budgets and tithes.
Pros
- Seamless bank feeds and auto-reconciliation save time on manual entry
- Unlimited users allow volunteer teams to collaborate in real-time
- Strong reporting and dashboard for quick financial insights
Cons
- No built-in fund accounting for separate ministry budgets
- Limited native tools for pledge or recurring donor tracking
- Advanced features require higher-tier plans, increasing costs
Best For
Small churches with simple finances and tech-savvy volunteers seeking scalable general accounting without church-specific bloat.
Pricing
Starts at $20/month (Early plan) for basics; scales to $70+/month (Premium/Ultimate) for payroll and multi-currency; annual discounts available.
Wave
otherFree online accounting tool for small organizations offering invoicing, expense tracking, and basic reporting.
Unlimited free accounting and invoicing with no subscription fees
Wave is a free cloud-based accounting platform primarily designed for small businesses, offering invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, and basic financial reporting. For small churches, it handles straightforward bookkeeping tasks like recording donations as income and tracking general expenses effectively. However, it falls short on church-specific needs such as fund accounting for restricted donations or built-in donor management tools. Overall, it's a solid no-cost entry point for very basic church finances.
Pros
- Completely free core accounting with no limits on users or transactions
- Intuitive interface ideal for non-accountants like church volunteers
- Seamless bank integrations and receipt scanning for easy expense tracking
Cons
- Lacks fund accounting for tracking restricted vs. unrestricted church funds
- No native donor or pledge management features
- Transaction fees for payments (2.9% + 30¢) can add up for offerings
Best For
Very small churches with minimal bookkeeping needs and budget constraints seeking a free, simple tool.
Pricing
Free for accounting, invoicing, and reports; 2.9% + $0.60 per credit card transaction; payroll starts at $20/month + per-employee fees (US/Canada only).
Planning Center
specializedChurch management platform with online giving integration and financial reporting for streamlined donation tracking.
Batch upload and real-time syncing of online/offline giving directly tied to individual church member profiles for effortless stewardship tracking
Planning Center is a cloud-based church management suite with a dedicated Giving module focused on tracking donations, tithes, and online contributions from church members. It provides tools for batch entry of checks, generating giving statements, and basic financial reports tied to donor profiles. While excellent for contribution management, it lacks comprehensive bookkeeping features like expense tracking, accounts payable/receivable, payroll, or full general ledger functionality, making it more of a supplemental tool than a standalone accounting solution.
Pros
- Highly intuitive and modern interface that's easy for volunteers to use
- Excellent donor management and giving statement generation
- Seamless integration with other Planning Center modules like People and Services
Cons
- No support for expense tracking, invoicing, or bank reconciliations
- Lacks double-entry accounting or payroll features essential for full bookkeeping
- Reporting is limited to giving data, requiring external software for complete financials
Best For
Small churches prioritizing simple donation tracking integrated with worship planning and people management, rather than full accounting needs.
Pricing
Giving module starts at $19/month for up to 75 giving profiles, then $0.29/additional profile; often bundled in all-access plans starting at $99/month for larger churches; 30-day free trial.
Conclusion
The top small church bookkeeping tools showcase varied strengths, with Aplos leading as the best choice due to its specialized fund accounting, donor management, and compliance features. PowerChurch Plus impresses with integrated management and payroll tools, while QuickBooks Online stands out for its popularity and nonprofit templates, each offering a strong option for different needs. Aplos, however, emerges as the top pick, perfectly aligning with the unique requirements of churches.
Don’t miss out on streamlining your church’s finances—try Aplos today to simplify accounting, track contributions efficiently, and maintain compliance, and see how it can elevate your community’s financial management.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
