How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- Subsplash is the leader for churches that want a polished custom app with sermon media and streaming.
- Tithe.ly is the budget-friendly all-in-one, with free giving and an All-Access bundle at $119 per month.
- Pushpay's ChurchStaq unifies the app, giving and church management for growing and multi-site churches.
- Small churches should start with free or flat-rate options like Planning Center, Breeze or ChurchTrac before committing to a custom build.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Subsplash | Custom apps with media and streaming | See website | No |
 Tithe.ly | Affordable all-in-one for small to mid churches | $119/month (All-Access) | Free plan |
 Pushpay | Growing and multi-site churches | See website | No |
 Planning Center | Modular church operations | $15/month per module | Free plan |
 Breeze | Simple flat-rate management | $72/month | Free trial |
 Sharefaith | Church media plus app tools | See website | No |
 ChurchTrac | Budget churches under 100 members | See website | Free plan |
 ChMeetings | Affordable all-in-one, global churches | See website | Free plan |
 Custom Church Apps | Done-for-you custom builds | See website | No |
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We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best church app builders
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Subsplash is the name most churches mean when they say "church app." The platform builds a custom-branded iOS and Android app with sermon libraries, livestreaming, event calendars, push notifications and mobile giving. Media handling is the standout: sermons upload once and appear everywhere, formatted for the app, the website and TV apps.
Pricing is quote-based, with third-party reports placing small to mid-size churches at $249 to $600 per month and larger churches higher. Annual contracts are standard. In 2025 Subsplash was acquired by Roper Technologies, a long-term holder of vertical software, which suggests stability. If the app is central to your ministry strategy, Subsplash is the first demo to book.
What we like- Beautiful custom-branded apps
- Excellent sermon media and livestreaming
- Strong giving integration
Watch out for- Quote-based pricing
- Annual contracts common
- Overkill for very small churches
Starting price$119/month (All-Access)
Free planFree plan
Tithe.ly takes the opposite approach from Subsplash: instead of one premium app, it offers a full ecosystem at accessible prices. Online giving is free (you pay only processing fees), and the All-Access bundle at $119 per month adds the church app, website builder, church management, email and text messaging. For a small church, that bundle replaces several subscriptions.
The app itself is template-based rather than fully custom, so it will not look as distinctive as a Subsplash build. Reporting and customization are lighter. But the value is undeniable: a church can run giving, a website, an app and communications for $119 a month. Budget-conscious churches should start here.
What we like- Free online giving
- Broad product suite
- Low entry cost
Watch out for- App customization is lighter than Subsplash
- Some products cost extra
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Pushpay's ChurchStaq platform unifies the mobile app, online giving and church management so data flows without syncing. When someone gives in the app, the database updates immediately. Recurring giving tools are a particular strength, with failed-payment recovery that protects donation revenue. Multi-site churches get centralized management with per-campus flexibility.
Pricing is quote-based and aimed at growing churches; third-party reports place entry around $199 to $399 per month for giving, more for full bundles. Small churches with simple needs will find it heavyweight. For a church outgrowing piecemeal tools, the unified platform justifies the cost.
What we like- App, giving and ChMS on one platform
- Strong recurring giving tools
- Built for multi-site
Watch out for- Quote-based pricing
- More than small churches need
Starting price$15/month per module
Free planFree plan
Planning Center is the operations backbone for thousands of churches. Services plans worship teams, Check-Ins handles kids ministry, Groups manages small groups, Giving processes donations at 2.15% plus $0.30, and each module costs from $15 per month scaled to church size. You buy only what you need, and there is a real free tier.
The modular design is also the limitation: the "app" experience comes from the Church Center app, which is Planning Center branded rather than fully custom, and assembling many modules gets expensive. Churches that live in Planning Center for operations often add Subsplash or Tithe.ly for a custom app. Start with Planning Center when operations, not branding, is the priority.
What we like- Best-in-class service planning
- Pay only for modules you use
- Generous free tier
Watch out for- Costs stack with modules
- App and giving are separate pieces
Starting price$72/month
Free planFree trial
Breeze won small churches with radical simplicity: one flat $72 per month, no contracts, no per-person pricing, and an interface volunteers learn in an afternoon. Contributions, people management, events and basic communications are all covered. Bundled options run around $119 per month.
Breeze was acquired by Tithely, which raises the usual questions about long-term direction, though the product continues to operate. Custom mobile apps and advanced volunteer scheduling are not its strengths. For a small church that wants church management without complexity or surprise bills, Breeze remains appealing.
What we like- Flat $72 monthly rate regardless of size
- Very easy to learn
- Clean giving records
Watch out for- Now owned by Tithely
- Thin on custom apps and volunteer scheduling
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Sharefaith bundles church media with practical tools. Membership includes tens of thousands of worship graphics, videos, bulletins and kids ministry resources alongside a website builder, mobile app tools and giving. For churches that constantly need fresh media for sermons and social, the library alone can justify the cost.
The app builder is functional but not in Subsplash's league for customization. Pricing is membership-based; check current plans on the site. Sharefaith fits churches that want media and basic digital tools from one subscription rather than a best-in-class app.
What we like- Huge library of church media and graphics
- Website and app tools
- Giving included
Watch out for- Membership-style packaging
- App less advanced than specialists
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree plan
ChurchTrac is the budget champion. Churches under 100 members use it free, and paid plans start at just a few dollars per month scaled by member count. Attendance tracking, contributions, basic accounting and member management are all covered. For a small congregation watching every dollar, it does the essential jobs.
The interface looks its age and communication tools are limited. There is no true custom app builder; the value is in affordable management. Small churches that need function over form should try the free tier before paying for anything.
What we like- Free tier for churches under 100 people
- Very low paid prices
- Solid attendance and giving tracking
Watch out for- Dated interface
- Limited communication tools
- North America only
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree plan
ChMeetings is an affordable all-in-one church management platform with unusual international reach: 20 languages and churches in many countries. Member management, events, online giving and communications come at low monthly prices, with a free tier for very small churches.
The mobile app and text messaging cost extra as add-ons. US buyers may know it less well than domestic options, so trial the product before committing. For international churches or multi-language congregations on a budget, ChMeetings is worth evaluating.
What we like- Low prices
- Available in 20 languages
- Member management, events and giving included
Watch out for- App and texting are paid add-ons
- Less US brand recognition
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Custom Church Apps takes the agency approach: they design and build a bespoke app for your church rather than selling a template platform. Sermons, events, giving, push notifications and Bible integration come packaged for ministry. Churches that want something distinctive without managing software get a personal build process.
As with any agency build, pricing is quote-based and you should clarify what updates, app store maintenance and support cost over time. The vendor is smaller than platform competitors, so check references. This route suits churches that want a unique app and prefer a done-for-you relationship.
What we like- Fully custom app built for you
- Church-specific feature set
- Personal service
Watch out for- Quote-based
- Smaller vendor
- Ongoing costs for updates
What to decide before choosing
Start with the app's actual job. If the goal is sermon media and livestreaming in members' pockets, Subsplash leads. If the goal is giving, communication and management on a budget, Tithe.ly or Pushpay fit better. If you mostly need operations, Planning Center plus a simple app may be enough.
Count the real first-year cost. Quote-based platforms often land at several hundred dollars per month on annual contracts. Add giving transaction fees, which run about 2.9% plus $0.30 per gift on most platforms. A $119 per month bundle plus fees is very different from a $500 per month custom app plus fees.
Check who manages it. A custom app needs someone to update content, send push notifications and manage media. Be honest about volunteer capacity; the fanciest app fails if nobody maintains it.
Giving fees, explained
Most church platforms charge around 2.9% plus $0.30 per card gift, on top of any subscription. Planning Center Giving is lower at 2.15% plus $0.30. ACH bank transfers cost less, usually under 1%. Donor-covered fees, where givers optionally pay the processing cost, are offered by several platforms and meaningfully increase net donations. When comparing platforms, model a year of your actual giving volume, not just the subscription price.
Launch plan: getting your congregation on board
Building the app is the easy part. Getting a congregation to download and use it is the real project, and most church apps fail here, not in the app store. The pattern is familiar: the tech team launches with excitement, a few dozen people download it, and six months later the app sits dormant while announcements still go out on paper bulletins. A deliberate launch plan prevents this. Start with the why, communicated from the pulpit, not just the newsletter. When the pastor explains that the app is how the church will share prayer requests, event signups and giving, adoption follows leadership. A mention in the bulletin alone will not move the needle.
Recruit champions before launch, not after. Identify the connected people in each ministry: the small group leaders, the volunteer coordinators, the youth parents who know everyone. Give them early access, train them personally, and ask them to help others at launch. Peer help beats technical support for this audience. Set up a help table in the lobby for the first three Sundays with patient volunteers and large-print instructions. The demographic reality of most congregations includes people who need in-person help installing an app, and planning for that is not condescension; it is hospitality.
Content must be alive from day one. An app with last month's sermon and no upcoming events teaches visitors that nothing happens here. Assign content ownership explicitly: who posts the sermon by Monday, who updates events, who sends the midweek devotional. A content calendar for the app, reviewed monthly, keeps it fresh. Stale content kills apps faster than bad design. Also launch with one killer feature, not twelve mediocre ones. If your congregation's biggest pain is event signups, make signups flawless and promote that. If it is giving, make mobile giving effortless. One beloved feature drives the download; the rest gets discovered later.
Measure what matters and iterate. Track downloads, but more importantly track weekly active users and feature usage. If 300 people downloaded the app but only 40 open it monthly, you have an engagement problem, not a marketing problem. Survey the congregation quarterly: what do you use, what is missing, what confuses you. Act visibly on the feedback; nothing builds adoption like members seeing their suggestion appear in the app. And be patient with the timeline. Real congregational adoption takes six to twelve months. The churches with thriving apps did not get there in a launch weekend; they got there through a year of consistent promotion, fresh content and responsive improvements.
Finally, keep the old channels running during transition. Killing the bulletin the week the app launches strands the people who need the most help. Run parallel for at least six months, gradually shifting emphasis. Announce from the pulpit that the app has the signup, while the bulletin still lists it. Over time, the bulletin shrinks naturally as adoption grows. Forcing the transition breeds resentment; guiding it builds a digital congregation that actually sticks.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a church app cost?
Template-based apps run $0 to $150 per month. Custom-branded apps from Subsplash or Pushpay typically cost $200 to $600+ per month on annual contracts. Add giving transaction fees of about 2.9% plus $0.30 per gift.
Do we need a custom app or is a mobile-friendly website enough?
For most small churches, a mobile-friendly website plus texting covers the need. A custom app earns its cost when you have regular sermon media, push notification use cases like event reminders, and a congregation that will actually install it.
Can church members give through the app?
Yes. All major platforms include mobile giving with Apple Pay, Google Pay, cards and ACH. Recurring giving setup in the app is the feature that most affects donation consistency.
Who updates the app content?
Your staff or volunteers. Platforms provide the tools; the church provides sermon uploads, event entries and announcements. Confirm the content workflow during the demo and assign an owner before launch.
What about data migration from our current system?
Most platforms help migrate member and giving records during onboarding. Ask what is included versus billable, and how long migration typically takes for a church your size.
Are there free church app options?
Tithe.ly offers free giving tools, Planning Center has a free tier, and ChurchTrac is free under 100 members. Fully custom apps are rarely free; the free options cover giving, management and basic mobile presence.
How we chose
We compared the platforms churches actually evaluate for mobile apps, using vendor sites and recent published pricing research. We weighted app quality and customization, giving integration, total cost including transaction fees, and fit for different church sizes. Pricing is quote-based for the leading custom platforms, so we report published figures where available and say so otherwise. No hands-on testing was performed; assessments rest on documentation and public reviews.
Sources we checked (12)
- https://www.subsplash.com/
- https://get.tithe.ly/
- https://pushpay.com/
- https://www.planningcenter.com/
- https://www.breezechms.com/
- https://www.sharefaith.com/
- https://www.churchtrac.com/
- https://www.chmeetings.com/
- https://customchurchapps.com/
- https://pushpay.com/blog/best-church-management-software-for-2026/
- https://get.tithe.ly/blog/best-church-apps?98ecc670_page=13
- http://etkapps.com/what-should-a-church-app-cost-an-honest-guide-for-australian-churches/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.