Faith-based SaaS is vital for the proper management of a church or non-profit. With so many things to take care of, it is only natural that you and the staff can get a little overwhelmed. However, there are some excellent platforms that will help make things much easier. Finding the right one that works for your church or faith-based organization can be a game of trial and error. So, here is a list of some of the most popular ChMS tools and the key features they offer.

Unit4 – best for full ERP and financial/HR accounting

When you need a comprehensive cloud-based ERP system, Unit4 stands out as one of the best. With financial management tools designed for non-profits, you can be confident that the platform will deliver exceptional results for donations, grants, and even HR management.

Notable features

• Built-in modules for tracking donations, managing funding sources, and spending.
• Fund and project accounting tools for running multiple initiatives, such as missions.
• HR, volunteer, and staff management tools for time tracking and payroll.

Official website: https://www.unit4.com/industries/nonprofit-erp-accounting-software/faith-based-organizations 

Elvanto – best for growing churches

My sister and brother in-law are church planters, and I’ve discovered how hard to manage the activities of a growing church. These activities that help the church live their identity in Christ, include: ministries, worship services, and volunteer services. With Elvanto, you have a fully cloud-based ChMS that offers a unified platform with a manageable solution without having to work through multiple tools. 

Notable features

• A centralized system for growing group management and private communication.
• Check-in and safety features that allow you to coordinate teams, rosters, and groups.
• Easy solutions for tracking giving and pledges with accurate reporting tools.

Official website: https://www.elvanto.com/ 

Pushpay – best for integrated giving, management, and growth

Pushpay can help streamline essential church services such as giving, engagement, and business operations. With strong donor management tools and integration, Pushpay is appealing to churches of all sizes, from established large ones to churches expecting growth.

Notable features

• Seamless handling of donations, gifts, and pledges in one easy tracking platform.
• Automated workflows that allow easier event registration, scheduling, and booking.
• Engaging communication tools such as SMS, push notifications, and even polls.

Official website: https://pushpay.com/ 

ChurchSuite – best for small churches

Smaller churches might not have the same resources as larger ones. Therefore, things like server maintenance can be out of reach. With ChurchSuite, you have access to modular systems that can be turned on or off, which works well for churches with limited tech.

Notable features

• Membership and attendance tracking for contacts and attendance in one place.
• You can use a central system to plan events, manage toms and handle bookings.
• Easily send emails and SMS to members and groups, reducing admin costs.

Official website: https://churchsuite.com/ 

ChurchTools – best for customizable structure

All good-faith-based SaaS platforms allow for some customization of workflows. When you need to create a daily schedule for church activities during the holidays or manage memberships, ChurchTools stands out as a viable option among many to list, even though it’s not well-known.

Notable features

• Easy tools for building custom groups, assigning roles, and tracking participation.
• Event and resource scheduling is helpful for churches running multiple activities.
• Custom workflows for things like newcomer follow-ups and volunteer onboarding.

Official website: https://churchtools.cc/ 

Planning Center – best for a modular approach

When you need a system suited to larger churches with more complex planning needs, Planning Center is a clear winner. It offers a huge suite of tools for services, giving, group management, and more, all through a robust and powerful modular planning platform.

Notable features

• Detailed tools that allow you to create worship services and manage schedules.
• Safety tools for organizing your programs, volunteer management, and events.
• Use the platform across multiple locations for donations and group organization.

Official website: https://planningcenter.com/ 

Breeze ChMS – best for simple church management

Some SaaS management tools can be overcomplicated and hard for newcomers to use. Breeze ChMS offers a simplified and intuitive interface for small to mid-sized church management. This means you get what churches need, such as member tracking, without the complex overheads.

Notable features

• Member and attendance database management for easier tracking of records.
• Group and volunteer scheduling for churches that rely heavily on volunteers.
• Easy donation tracking makes it easier to manage financial oversight.

Official website: https://breezechms.com/ 

Aplos Software – best for non-profit finance management

The financial side of church management can get complex as the church grows. When your organization heavily relies on donations, you need a tool like Aplos to manage the finances. The capabilities that Aplos offers work well for small to large churches with a need for accounting.

Notable features

• Designed to handle various types of accounts across designated and restricted funds.
• Easier tracking of donor contributions and statements for transparency reasons.
• Can easily integrate into larger HR and payroll systems for churches with paid staff.

Official website: https://aplos.com/ 

FaithTeams – best for giving and attendance tools

Church management often relies on budget-conscious accounting to make the most of donations. It can help to use a single platform that integrates accounting, HR, and scheduling into one, and FaithTeams does just that as an impressive all-in-one ChMS solution.

Notable features

• Basic group management for tracking membership, attendance, and volunteers.
• Easy tools for accepting online donations and recording them for transparency.
• Tools that can help you plan events and coordinate volunteers with limited admin.

Official website: https://faithteams.com/ 

Summary

The top SaaS platforms designed for church management are tailor-made for faith-based services. From full ERP systems for large charities to small local management tools, there is a wide range of cloud-based tools that make the management of any-sized church much easier.

Easy use is a cornerstone of a high-quality faith-based SaaS system. Tools like Unit4 can integrate ERP and HR as well as manage membership. However, you may also need a level of customization.

With ChurchTools you can switch modules on and off as needed. However, simplicity is always an attractive option. With a tool like FaithTeams, you can easily manage memberships, accept online donations, and coordinate church events in one place.