Churches & congregations · Updated 2026-08-10
The best church management software in 2026
Church management software carries four jobs at once: knowing your people, receiving their giving, scheduling their service and keeping their children safe at check-in. Vendors weight those jobs very differently. We compared the platforms congregations actually use — from free entry tiers to enterprise suites — without paid placements.
The picks at a glance
Pricing is indicative, checked at the date above — plans change; always confirm with the vendor. We have no paid relationship with any editor listed here.
The contenders, in detail
1. Planning Center
Pricing : modular, free entry tier
Churches that want modern, modular software
Planning Center is the modern favourite in church management: services, people, giving and check-ins ship as separate modules you combine as needed. Its free entry tier lets small churches start without a bill.
Strengths
- +Modular — pay only for what you use
- +Free entry tier to get started
- +The modern reference most churches shortlist
Watch out for
- −Costs stack as modules are added
- −US-centric product
2. Breeze (now Tithely Church Management)
Pricing : flat ~$72/month
Small and mid-size churches that value simplicity
Breeze was a simple church management system at a flat price, loved by small and mid-size churches for doing the everyday basics well rather than everything. Tithe.ly acquired it in 2021 and, since August 2025, has fully merged it into its own platform under the Tithely Church Management name.
Strengths
- +Flat, predictable price
- +Simple enough for volunteer administrators
- +Well liked by small and mid-size churches
Watch out for
- −Lighter fit for large multi-site churches
- −Basic reporting
- −No longer a standalone product — now run by Tithe.ly, with some churches reporting slower support since the merger
3. Tithe.ly
Pricing : tiered
Churches where online giving is the priority
Tithe.ly is a giving-first platform that has grown church management tools around its donation engine. It suits churches whose priority is online giving, with ChMS features as the surrounding layer.
Strengths
- +Online giving is the core competency
- +ChMS tools bundled around the giving engine
- +One vendor for giving and member data
Watch out for
- −Breadth over depth across the toolset
- −Regular upsells across the product line
5. ChurchTrac
Pricing : tiered, low entry price
Budget-conscious churches wanting one simple tool
ChurchTrac is a budget-friendly all-rounder covering the ChMS basics at a low entry price. It appeals to churches that want everything modest and affordable in one place.
Strengths
- +Very affordable entry point
- +Covers the all-round basics in one tool
- +Approachable for small teams
Watch out for
- −Plainer interface
- −Smaller vendor than the market leaders
Free shortlist
Not sure which one fits your business?
Tell us about your setup — we compare your case against the market and send you a personalised shortlist within 24 hours. Free, no sales call attached.
How to choose
01Member and visitor follow-up
A first-time visitor who hears nothing for two weeks rarely returns. Look for automated follow-up workflows — who visited, who was contacted, who fell through the cracks — rather than a static member directory.
02Online giving costs per transaction
Giving platforms earn on processing. Compare the effective per-transaction cost across your real donation mix — many small gifts price differently than few large ones — before comparing subscription prices.
03Volunteer scheduling
Sunday runs on volunteers: musicians, greeters, childcare, tech. Scheduling with availability, reminders and swap requests is what keeps rosters from living in group texts.
04Child check-in security
Secure check-in — printed tags, matching pick-up codes, allergy flags — is non-negotiable for families. Test the flow at the pace of an actual Sunday morning rush.
Frequently asked questions
Can a small church start for free?
Planning Center’s free entry tier makes it a genuine no-budget starting point, and ChurchTrac’s low entry price keeps the paid path modest. Costs mainly appear later, through added modules or giving volume.
How should we compare giving fees?
Take a real month of donations and compute the total cost on each platform — subscription plus per-transaction fees. Tithe.ly, Planning Center and Pushpay structure giving economics differently, and the ranking depends on your gift sizes.
What fits a large multi-site church?
At multi-site scale the shortlist usually narrows to Pushpay with Church Community Builder and a fully-equipped Planning Center stack. Breeze and ChurchTrac stay in the running mainly for simpler satellite operations.
Are Breeze and Tithe.ly really the same company now?
Yes. Tithe.ly bought Breeze in 2021 and, as of August 2025, fully merged it into its own platform as “Tithely Church Management” — the two product lines no longer run separately. If simplicity and a single flat price are what you liked about Breeze, evaluate the merged product directly rather than assuming the standalone tool you may have researched still exists unchanged.
How disruptive is migrating from an old system or spreadsheet?
Less than most admins fear if the vendor runs the import for you. Churches moving off Breeze onto Planning Center on r/churchtech consistently describe the migration assistance as smooth once started — the main risk is dragging your feet on a decision, not the technical move itself. Ask any shortlisted vendor exactly what they migrate for you before you sign.