Quick Overview
- 1#1: Breeze ChMS - Simple, affordable all-in-one church management software for tracking people, events, giving, and attendance.
- 2#2: ChurchTrac - Comprehensive church management system with free tier, handling memberships, contributions, events, and reporting for small churches.
- 3#3: Tithe.ly - Church giving platform with management tools for donations, people database, events, and mobile engagement.
- 4#4: Planning Center - Modular cloud-based suite for worship planning, people management, online giving, check-ins, and groups.
- 5#5: Churchteams - Online church management software for volunteer scheduling, attendance tracking, events, and small group management.
- 6#6: Rock RMS - Flexible open-source church management system with free community edition for people, giving, and engagement tracking.
- 7#7: Church Community Builder - Church management platform focused on building relationships through groups, events, check-ins, and communication.
- 8#8: Subsplash - Church engagement platform providing custom apps, online giving, media hosting, and event management.
- 9#9: CDM+ - Modular church database software for accounting, membership, attendance, and fund accounting.
- 10#10: Aplos - Cloud accounting software tailored for small churches and nonprofits with fund tracking, budgeting, and donation management.
Tools were selected based on a balanced evaluation of features, ease of use, robustness, and value, ensuring they deliver practical solutions for small church management, growth, and engagement.
Comparison Table
Small churches navigating software options can find clarity in comparing leading tools like Breeze ChMS, ChurchTrac, Tithe.ly, Planning Center, and more. This table outlines key features, usability, and functionality to help readers identify the best fit for their community’s specific needs and operations.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Breeze ChMS Simple, affordable all-in-one church management software for tracking people, events, giving, and attendance. | specialized | 9.5/10 | 9.3/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.7/10 |
| 2 | ChurchTrac Comprehensive church management system with free tier, handling memberships, contributions, events, and reporting for small churches. | specialized | 9.1/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.3/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 3 | Tithe.ly Church giving platform with management tools for donations, people database, events, and mobile engagement. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.4/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.9/10 |
| 4 | Planning Center Modular cloud-based suite for worship planning, people management, online giving, check-ins, and groups. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 5 | Churchteams Online church management software for volunteer scheduling, attendance tracking, events, and small group management. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 6 | Rock RMS Flexible open-source church management system with free community edition for people, giving, and engagement tracking. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 6.4/10 | 9.6/10 |
| 7 | Church Community Builder Church management platform focused on building relationships through groups, events, check-ins, and communication. | specialized | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | 7.0/10 |
| 8 | Subsplash Church engagement platform providing custom apps, online giving, media hosting, and event management. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.0/10 |
| 9 | CDM+ Modular church database software for accounting, membership, attendance, and fund accounting. | specialized | 7.3/10 | 8.2/10 | 6.4/10 | 7.0/10 |
| 10 | Aplos Cloud accounting software tailored for small churches and nonprofits with fund tracking, budgeting, and donation management. | specialized | 7.8/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.1/10 |
Simple, affordable all-in-one church management software for tracking people, events, giving, and attendance.
Comprehensive church management system with free tier, handling memberships, contributions, events, and reporting for small churches.
Church giving platform with management tools for donations, people database, events, and mobile engagement.
Modular cloud-based suite for worship planning, people management, online giving, check-ins, and groups.
Online church management software for volunteer scheduling, attendance tracking, events, and small group management.
Flexible open-source church management system with free community edition for people, giving, and engagement tracking.
Church management platform focused on building relationships through groups, events, check-ins, and communication.
Church engagement platform providing custom apps, online giving, media hosting, and event management.
Modular church database software for accounting, membership, attendance, and fund accounting.
Cloud accounting software tailored for small churches and nonprofits with fund tracking, budgeting, and donation management.
Breeze ChMS
specializedSimple, affordable all-in-one church management software for tracking people, events, giving, and attendance.
One-minute setup and effortless usability, allowing churches to go live immediately without technical hurdles.
Breeze ChMS is a cloud-based church management system designed specifically for small to medium-sized churches, offering tools for people management, online giving, event registration, volunteer coordination, child check-in, and communication. It provides an all-in-one dashboard that simplifies administrative tasks, allowing churches to track attendance, manage finances, and engage members efficiently. With mobile accessibility and robust integrations, Breeze helps churches focus more on ministry than software management.
Pros
- Intuitive interface requiring no training or IT expertise
- Affordable flat-rate pricing with no contracts or setup fees
- Excellent 24/7 customer support via chat and phone
Cons
- Reporting features are basic compared to enterprise tools
- Limited scalability and advanced customizations for churches over 500 attendees
- Fewer third-party integrations than larger competitors
Best For
Small churches (under 200 attendees) seeking a simple, cost-effective all-in-one solution without steep learning curves.
Pricing
Starts at $72/month for up to 75 people, scaling to $159/month for 500+; month-to-month with free giving processing (standard card fees apply).
ChurchTrac
specializedComprehensive church management system with free tier, handling memberships, contributions, events, and reporting for small churches.
Built-in worship planning with a vast song and setlist database for seamless service preparation
ChurchTrac is a cloud-based church management software designed specifically for small to mid-sized churches, offering an all-in-one platform for member management, attendance tracking, and financial oversight. It includes tools for online giving, event scheduling, worship planning with a song database, and communication via email and SMS. The software emphasizes simplicity and affordability, making it accessible without requiring IT expertise.
Pros
- Highly affordable pricing with no long-term contracts
- Intuitive interface ideal for volunteers and small staff
- Comprehensive tools including worship planning and online giving
Cons
- Limited third-party integrations compared to larger platforms
- No dedicated mobile app (mobile-responsive web only)
- Advanced reporting and customization options are basic
Best For
Small churches with budgets under $100/month seeking a straightforward, all-in-one management solution without complex setup.
Pricing
Essentials ($37/mo billed annually), Standard ($77/mo), Premium ($117/mo); free trial available, no contracts.
Tithe.ly
specializedChurch giving platform with management tools for donations, people database, events, and mobile engagement.
Text-to-give and Apple/Google Pay integration for frictionless mobile donations
Tithe.ly is a cloud-based church management platform tailored for small to mid-sized congregations, with a strong emphasis on seamless online giving through mobile apps, text-to-give, and kiosks. It also offers people database management, event planning, attendance tracking, and basic communication tools. Ideal for tech-savvy small churches seeking an affordable entry into digital tithing without complex setups.
Pros
- Exceptionally simple mobile and text-to-give options that boost donations
- Free tier for very small churches with core management tools
- Intuitive interface requiring minimal training
Cons
- Transaction fees (2.9% + $0.30) can add up for high-volume giving
- Advanced reporting and customizations are limited compared to competitors
- Customer support can be slow for free users
Best For
Small churches focused on effortless online giving and basic management without a steep learning curve.
Pricing
Free for up to 100 people (basic features); Essentials $19/mo, Growth $59/mo, Plus $99/mo; online giving at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
Planning Center
specializedModular cloud-based suite for worship planning, people management, online giving, check-ins, and groups.
Real-time collaborative worship service planning in Services app
Planning Center is a modular, cloud-based suite of church management tools including worship planning (Services), people database (People), check-ins, groups, registrations, and online giving. It enables small churches to select and integrate only the apps they need, with real-time collaboration and mobile accessibility. The platform emphasizes worship planning and volunteer coordination, making it efficient for service preparation and team communication.
Pros
- Modular design lets churches pay only for needed tools with seamless integration
- Intuitive drag-and-drop worship planning with real-time team collaboration
- Strong mobile apps for check-ins, giving, and volunteer management
Cons
- Pricing adds up quickly when using multiple modules
- Steeper learning curve for full suite customization
- Limited free tier; scales with church size and active records
Best For
Small churches prioritizing worship planning, volunteer scheduling, and integrated giving who prefer flexible, scalable modules over all-in-one solutions.
Pricing
Modular subscriptions: People free up to 75 profiles then $19+/mo; other apps $14-$195/mo based on church size and usage; no contracts, month-to-month.
Churchteams
specializedOnline church management software for volunteer scheduling, attendance tracking, events, and small group management.
Unlimited administrative users at no extra cost, enabling full team access regardless of church size tier
Churchteams is an all-in-one church management software tailored for small to medium-sized churches, offering tools for membership tracking, online giving, event registration, child check-in, and volunteer scheduling. It emphasizes simplicity and affordability, with features like a mobile app for families and integrated communication via email and SMS. The platform supports unlimited staff users, making it efficient for teams without adding costs.
Pros
- Highly intuitive interface with minimal learning curve
- Unlimited staff/admin users included in all plans
- Strong mobile check-in and giving features for families
Cons
- Reporting and analytics are somewhat basic compared to enterprise tools
- Limited third-party integrations
- Customization options are minimal for unique workflows
Best For
Small churches (under 200 members) seeking a simple, cost-effective solution for core operations without advanced tech needs.
Pricing
Starts at $37/month for up to 75 active records, with tiers up to $99/month for 500+; unlimited admins and a 30-day free trial included.
Rock RMS
specializedFlexible open-source church management system with free community edition for people, giving, and engagement tracking.
Open-source Lava templating engine for unlimited, code-level customization without extra costs
Rock RMS is a free, open-source church management system that provides comprehensive tools for member database management, online giving, event registration, child check-in, volunteering, and communication. Built on a flexible platform with Lava templating for deep customization, it supports self-hosting or cloud deployment. It's particularly appealing for churches wanting robust functionality without licensing fees, though it demands some technical setup.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source core with no usage limits
- Highly customizable via Lava templating and plugins
- Extensive features including mobile app, kiosks, and integrations
Cons
- Steep learning curve for setup and customization
- Requires technical skills; not beginner-friendly
- Community support primary, with paid options for premium help
Best For
Tech-savvy small churches seeking a powerful, cost-free platform they can fully customize.
Pricing
Free self-hosted core; optional cloud hosting and support from $29/month (100 active records) scaling up.
Church Community Builder
specializedChurch management platform focused on building relationships through groups, events, check-ins, and communication.
Advanced Workflow Builder for automating custom processes like follow-ups and notifications
Church Community Builder (CCB) is a comprehensive church management software designed to streamline operations for churches of all sizes, offering tools for member database management, event registration, online giving, child check-in, small groups, and volunteer coordination. It provides robust reporting, communication features like email/SMS, and workflow automation to enhance engagement and administration. While scalable, it's particularly noted for its depth in people management and discipleship tracking.
Pros
- All-in-one platform with strong integration of giving, events, and groups
- Detailed people profiles and historical tracking
- Reliable child check-in and volunteer management tools
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for very small churches under 100 members
- Interface has a learning curve and feels somewhat dated
- Limited free trial and customization requires add-ons
Best For
Small churches anticipating growth that need a scalable system for member engagement and administrative efficiency.
Pricing
Starts at $99/month for up to 75 households (Essential plan), scaling to $199/month for 250 households (Standard), with custom enterprise pricing; billed monthly with no long-term contracts.
Subsplash
specializedChurch engagement platform providing custom apps, online giving, media hosting, and event management.
Custom-branded native mobile apps that provide a seamless, app-store-ready experience for church members
Subsplash is an all-in-one church management platform designed to enhance digital engagement through custom-branded mobile apps, church websites, online giving, media hosting, and tools for events, groups, and check-ins. It streamlines content delivery like sermons and bulletins while fostering community interaction. Primarily targeted at growing churches, it offers robust features for building a professional online presence.
Pros
- Custom native mobile apps for iOS and Android with push notifications
- Integrated online giving with high conversion rates and low fees
- Comprehensive media and content management for sermons and resources
Cons
- High cost with custom quote-based pricing, often $200+/month plus setup fees
- Overkill for very small churches with basic needs
- Limited transparency on pricing without a demo
Best For
Small churches aiming to scale their digital ministry with professional apps and engagement tools.
Pricing
Custom pricing starts around $99/month for basic plans but typically $200-500+/month; includes one-time setup fees and annual app store costs.
CDM+
specializedModular church database software for accounting, membership, attendance, and fund accounting.
Fully integrated church fund accounting that seamlessly links contributions to general ledger entries
CDM+ is a comprehensive, modular church management software suite from CDM Digital that handles membership tracking, contributions, attendance, events, and church-specific accounting. It offers both on-premise desktop applications (primarily Windows-based) and cloud-hosted web modules for flexible deployment. Designed for churches needing integrated administrative tools, it emphasizes detailed reporting and financial compliance tailored to religious organizations.
Pros
- Robust, church-specific accounting with fund accounting and budgeting
- Modular design allows buying only needed components
- Strong reporting and query tools for data analysis
Cons
- Dated interface with a steep learning curve for beginners
- Primarily Windows desktop-focused, limited mobile access
- Complex initial setup and customization
Best For
Small churches with dedicated staff needing integrated financial and membership management as they grow.
Pricing
Modular annual subscriptions starting at $295 per module (e.g., Membership or Accounting), with custom quotes for full suites; perpetual licenses available but less common.
Aplos
specializedCloud accounting software tailored for small churches and nonprofits with fund tracking, budgeting, and donation management.
Automated fund accounting that distinguishes between restricted and unrestricted funds for seamless nonprofit compliance
Aplos is a cloud-based accounting and financial management software designed specifically for nonprofits and small churches, providing fund accounting, donor management, budgeting, and online giving capabilities. It automates bank reconciliations, generates compliance-ready reports, and tracks restricted vs. unrestricted funds to meet FASB standards. While strong in finances, it offers limited features for broader church management like event planning or member databases.
Pros
- Nonprofit-specific fund accounting for easy compliance
- User-friendly interface suitable for non-accountants
- Integrated online giving and donor tracking
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for very small churches
- Lacks comprehensive church management tools like attendance or volunteer tracking
- Advanced reporting locked behind higher tiers
Best For
Small churches prioritizing robust financial accounting and donor management over full-spectrum church administration.
Pricing
Starts at $59/month for Core plan (basic accounting), $99/month for Plus, $149/month for Pro; plus 2.9% + $0.30 per online giving transaction.
Conclusion
Choosing the best small church software hinges on balancing needs, with these top tools offering robust solutions for people management, giving, and events. Leading the pack is Breeze ChMS, a standout for its simplicity, affordability, and all-in-one design that seamlessly serves diverse church operations. Not far behind are ChurchTrac, with its user-friendly free tier and comprehensive reporting, and Tithe.ly, a strong pick for enhancing engagement through giving and mobile tools, both excellent alternatives for specific priorities.
Explore Breeze ChMS today to experience its intuitive setup and all-encompassing features, and take a key step toward streamlining your church's management and connection with its community.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison