Event coordination, member data, online giving — running a church means juggling a lot of moving parts. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Church Management Software (ChMS) can make your life much easier.
No matter your church size — big, mid-sized, or small — church management software is designed to simplify everyday tasks like calendaring, member management, and finances, all in one place.
Whether you’re a small church looking to grow your church or a larger church looking to connect with a growing congregation, a ChMS can help you accomplish your goals.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the top church management software options and help you choose the right platform for your church.
It Should Meet Your Unique Needs
Every church is different and your chMs should meet the specific needs of your church. Maybe you’re looking for an all-in-one system with features like online giving, service planning, accounting, calendaring, check-in, and member management.
Or if you’re a smaller church, you might just need something that helps with scheduling events and tracking attendance. Take some time to list your needs so you can make sure your ChMS checks all the right boxes.
And Grow With Your Church
Watching your church grow is exciting, and you’ll want a ChMS that can grow right along with it. Think about the size of your congregation now and where you see it a year from now. Your software should have the features to handle your future needs—whether it’s managing finances, communication, or people.
While Being Easy to Use
As a church leader, you’re already juggling a lot and don’t have time to navigate a complicated software system. Make sure your ChMS is user-friendly, so everyone – from your staff to attendees – can easily use it without needing an MIS degree!
And Integrate Well with Your Existing Tools
Chances are you already have church tools you love using. When choosing a ChMS, look for one that easily integrates with those go-to tools for tasks like email marketing or website hosting. For example, a solid ChMS should work smoothly with your accounting platform, allowing them to exchange data and perform seamlessly together.
Don’t Forget Your Budget
Ah, the classic question, “Can we afford this?” Before choosing a ChMS, get familiar with the different pricing models such as subscription-based, tiered pricing, and per-user fees. Here’s a quick overview:
- Subscription-Based: You pay a recurring fee to use the software.
- Tiered Pricing: Different levels of service come at different price points, with higher tiers offering more advanced features.
- Per-User Fees: Your church is charged based on how many people will be using the system.
Take time to choose a ChMS that best fits your needs and budget. Most churches opt for monthly or annual pricing for flexibility. And don’t forget to watch out for those hidden transaction fees!
And Good Customer Support
We all need help from time to time. Find a church management software that puts their customers first. Your customer support team should be able to quickly and patiently solve any problems. Even better, they should offer the training you need to avoid those issues in the first place!
Does a Small Church Need Church Management Software?
You may assume Church Management Software is only necessary for a large church. The more people, the more you need for management help, right? But actually, small churches can benefit a great deal from a ChMS.
Let’s face it, smaller churches typically mean a smaller staff. A ChMS can offer you an extra set of hands to accomplish those everyday tasks. With less time behind a screen, you can effectively minister to your people face-to-face.
Here are just a few ways a ChMS can improve your small or mid-sized church:
Task Management
With a ChMS, you can easily track day-to-day tasks such as event planning, scheduling volunteers, or planning services. With everything in one place, you won’t have to worry about anything slipping through the cracks.
Budgeting
When it comes to online giving, a ChMS can help you track donations, generate financial reports, and manage expenses. It’s a great way to ensure you’re stewarding your church’s finances wisely.
Member Engagement
No matter your church size, building personal relationships with your church members is key. A ChMS will track attendance and manage personal information so you can stay connected with your congregation.
The Best Church Management Software for Small Churches
Now that you see the incredible benefits a Church Management Software can bring to your small church, it’s time to find the right platform that meets your goals.
We’ve put together a list of the top church management software for small to mid-sized churches.
Donorbox MinistryMomentum
Donorbox MinistryMomentum is a dedicated pillar of Donorbox designed specifically for churches. It offers online giving tools such as customizable donation forms, text-to-give, and event ticketing – all to help grow your church.
One of our favorite parts about Donorbox is its ability to integrate with popular accounting software, web platforms, and marketing tools. Donorbox MinistryMomentum really stands out by boosting your fundraising efforts while also supporting your daily operations.
Tithe.ly
Tithe.ly offers an all-in-one solution with features like volunteer scheduling, online giving, and event check-ins. Plus, it provides service planning tools that help with coordinating music, sermons, staff, and more. The Tithe.ly Breeze tier is great for small to mid-sized churches, offering everything you need at an affordable price point.
Faith Teams
Faith Teams is an easy-to-use, budget-friendly ChMS designed for smaller churches. Faith Teams lets you manage all your church member information in one place, and send emails and texts to members right from the platform. Faith Teams also includes helpful tools such as kids check-in, attendance tracking, and giving management.
FlockNote
Smaller churches can use Flocknote to connect with their church through unlimited text and email messages. They value reaching your congregation through more personalized communication rather than social media or app stores. Plus, Flocknote provides great donor and member management tools to help you stay organized.
How Does Church Management Software Benefit Large Churches?
If you lead a large church, you probably know that church management software is pretty much indispensable. But if you’re still on the fence, here are a few ways a ChMS can really benefit larger churches.
Advanced Reporting Tools
A large church means a large amount of data. From member information and attendance to finances, it’s a lot to keep up with. A ChMS provides advanced reporting tools to make it easy for you to generate detailed reports on giving trends, member engagement, volunteer hours, and more. Information like this is critical to keep a pulse check on your church’s health and needs.
Facilitating Growth and Engagement
As your church continues to grow, you may find it challenging to engage members. A ChMS makes it easier to ensure each member feels seen and valued with tools like involvement tracking, guest follow-up, and small group management. This personalized attention encourages deeper engagement as your congregation expands.
Streamlined Communication
No church leader wants to hear “I didn’t know about that” from a member. But how can you keep everyone in the loop with so much happening? A ChMS helps large churches send personalized messages to target groups within your congestion – whether it’s service reminders, event announcements, or volunteer updates. This way, the right people get the right information every time.
The Best Church Management Software for Large Churches
There are a lot of amazing management platforms out there for large churches. Here are some of the top ChMS systems for large churches.
Donorbox MinistryMomentum
Donorbox MinistryMomentum isn’t just great for small churches—it’s also a top pick for larger congregations. Specializing in online giving solutions tailored specifically for churches, Donorbox offers a streamlined and user-friendly experience, which is essential for bigger churches. Members can give easily through simple online donation forms, a quick text, or even giving kiosks right from your church foyer.
With a large congregation, keeping track of every donation can be tricky, but Donorbox makes it easier by allowing you to create personalized thank-you notes, ensuring every member feels appreciated. Plus, church members can create their own portal to quickly access recurring giving settings, receipts, and other essentials.
Planning Center
Planning Center grows with your church which makes it another great option for larger churches. With Planning Center, you can create a customizable plan, choosing only the products you need. Choose from tools for managing contact information, events, communication, groups, check-in, services, volunteers, and giving. This flexibility makes it an ideal solution as your church’s needs evolve.
FellowshipOne
FellowshipOne offers a variety of tools to free up your time for ministry. Their management system is a one-size-fits-all solution, helping you with everything from managing member data and groups to scheduling volunteers and events. It’s an efficient way to keep your church organized and focused on what matters most.
Pushpay
While Pushpay is known for their online giving services, they also offer a ChMS to help you connect with your congregation. Members have access to their online portal for accessing communication, events, and information about groups they’re involved in. For church leaders, Pushpay provides a church app called the Lead App, giving you easy access to important information. From tracking attendance and following up with guests to monitoring member engagement, the Lead App helps you handle daily tasks on the go.
Rock RMS
Rock RMS is all about fostering relationships with your people. They provide tools for managing member relationships, ministry data, websites, finances, and more. Rock RMS is a nonprofit, just like many churches, relying on the generosity of others. For larger churches, they suggest a donation of $4.10 per weekly attendee, per year to support their work.
Conclusion
With the right tools, you can automate many of your church’s operational tasks, making it easier to engage with your congregation. A strong ChMS frees up your time so you can focus on what matters most—serving your church members.
We hope this list of church management software gives you a solid starting point for choosing a system that fits your church’s size, needs, and goals.
If you’re looking for a ChMS designed to grow your church, Donorbox MinistryMomentum offers tools and products to help you boost your donations, like giving portals and easy-to-set-up donation forms. Sign up for free to get started today!
For more church management tips, check out our Church Giving blog.
