Looking for the best free church app to manage your ministry? You're in the right place. With so many church management platforms available, finding the right one can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks down the top free church apps in 2026, comparing features, pricing, and real-world usability.
What Makes a Great Free Church App?
Before diving into specific apps, let's establish what features matter most for church management software:
- Online Giving: Secure donation processing with low fees
- Member Management: Track attendance, contact info, and engagement
- Event Management: Plan services, classes, and special events
- Communication Tools: Email, SMS, and push notifications
- Volunteer Scheduling: Coordinate ministry teams
- Mobile Apps: iOS and Android access for your congregation
- Check-in System: Secure attendance tracking
- Ease of Use: Intuitive interface that doesn't require tech expertise
Top 5 Free Church Apps in 2026
1. SWAPP – Best Overall Free Church App
Best For: Churches of all sizes looking for an all-in-one solution with powerful outreach tools
SWAPP stands out as the best church app for churches looking for an all-in-one solution. Unlike competitors that charge extra for essential features, SWAPP includes everything in their free trial—no credit card required.
Key Features:
- ✅ Online giving with competitive processing rates
- ✅ Interactive prayer wall
- ✅ Outreach mapping and route planning
- ✅ Volunteer scheduling
- ✅ Event management with check-ins
- ✅ New visitor intake and follow-up automation
- ✅ Group management for small groups and classes
- ✅ Mobile apps for iOS and Android
✓ Pros
- ✓ Truly free trial (no credit card)
- ✓ Built specifically for churches
- ✓ Unique outreach mapping feature
- ✓ Excellent customer support
- ✓ Quick 5-minute setup
✗ Cons
- ✗ Newer platform (less brand recognition)
- ✗ Some advanced reporting features still in development
Pricing: Free trial available. Contact for pricing details.
2. Planning Center – Best for Worship Planning
Best For: Churches focused on worship service planning and volunteer coordination
Planning Center excels at worship service planning and volunteer scheduling. However, many essential features require paid add-ons.
Key Features:
- Service planning and scheduling
- Volunteer coordination
- Song library management
- Check-in system (paid add-on)
- Giving (paid add-on)
✓ Pros
- ✓ Excellent worship planning tools
- ✓ Clean, intuitive interface
- ✓ Strong volunteer features
✗ Cons
- ✗ Most features require paid subscriptions
- ✗ Can get expensive quickly
- ✗ No outreach or mapping tools
Pricing: Free tier very limited. Paid plans start at $20/month per product.
3. Breeze ChMS – Best for Simple Church Management
Best For: Small churches wanting basic member management
Breeze offers a straightforward church management system with essential features. Good for churches just starting with digital tools.
Key Features:
- Member database
- Attendance tracking
- Online giving
- Event management
- Email communication
✓ Pros
- ✓ Simple and easy to learn
- ✓ Affordable pricing
- ✓ Good customer support
✗ Cons
- ✗ Limited free trial (requires credit card)
- ✗ Basic feature set
- ✗ No outreach or mapping tools
- ✗ Mobile app functionality limited
Pricing: $72/month (billed annually)
4. Elvanto (by Planning Center) – Best for International Churches
Best For: Churches outside the US needing multi-currency support
Elvanto offers solid church management features with good international support. Now owned by Planning Center.
Key Features:
- Member management
- Volunteer rostering
- Service planning
- Multi-currency giving
- Mobile apps
✓ Pros
- ✓ Strong international features
- ✓ Good mobile apps
- ✓ Comprehensive feature set
✗ Cons
- ✗ No true free tier
- ✗ Steeper learning curve
- ✗ Limited outreach tools
Pricing: Starts at $69/month
5. Church Community Builder – Best for Large Churches
Best For: Large churches with complex organizational structures
CCB offers enterprise-level features for larger congregations but comes with enterprise-level pricing.
Key Features:
- Advanced member management
- Group and ministry tracking
- Workflow automation
- Custom reporting
- API access
✓ Pros
- ✓ Powerful for large churches
- ✓ Extensive customization
- ✓ Strong reporting
✗ Cons
- ✗ Expensive
- ✗ Complex setup
- ✗ Overkill for small churches
- ✗ No free tier
Pricing: Custom pricing (typically $100+/month)
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | SWAPP | Planning Center | Breeze | Elvanto |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| No Credit Card Required | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Online Giving | ✓ | Paid Add-on | ✓ | ✓ |
| Outreach Mapping | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile Apps | ✓ | ✓ | Limited | ✓ |
| Volunteer Scheduling | ✓ | ✓ | Basic | ✓ |
| Starting Price | Free Trial | $20/mo | $72/mo | $69/mo |
How to Choose the Right Free Church App
Selecting the best church app for your ministry depends on several factors:
1. Church Size
- Small Churches (under 100): SWAPP or Breeze offer the best value
- Medium Churches (100-500): SWAPP provides the most comprehensive features
- Large Churches (500+): SWAPP or Church Community Builder
2. Budget
If budget is tight, SWAPP's free trial with no credit card requirement makes it the easiest to test risk-free. Unlike competitors that require payment information upfront, you can fully explore SWAPP's features before making any financial commitment.
3. Primary Needs
- Outreach-focused: SWAPP (only app with mapping)
- Worship planning: Planning Center
- Simple management: Breeze
- International: Elvanto
4. Technical Expertise
SWAPP and Breeze are the easiest to set up and use. If your team isn't tech-savvy, these are your best options.
Ready to Try the Best Free Church App?
SWAPP offers the most comprehensive free trial in the industry. No credit card required, full feature access, and setup takes less than 5 minutes.
Start Your Free Trial →Final Verdict: Which Free Church App is Best?
After testing all major church apps, SWAPP emerges as the best overall free church app in 2026. Here's why:
- Truly free trial: No credit card required to test all features
- Most comprehensive: Includes features competitors charge extra for
- Unique outreach tools: Only app with built-in mapping and route planning
- Easy to use: 5-minute setup with intuitive interface
- Built for churches: Designed by ministry leaders who understand your needs
That said, the "best" app depends on your specific needs:
- Choose SWAPP for the most complete, affordable solution
- Choose Planning Center if worship planning is your top priority (and budget allows)
- Choose Breeze if you only need basic member management
- Choose Elvanto if you're an international church
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best completely free church app?
SWAPP offers the most generous free trial with no credit card required. While most church apps require paid subscriptions for full functionality, SWAPP lets you test everything risk-free.
Do I need a credit card to try free church apps?
It depends on the app. SWAPP does not require a credit card for their free trial. Planning Center, Breeze, and most others do require payment information even for trials.
Can small churches use these apps for free?
Most church apps offer free trials, but ongoing use typically requires a paid subscription. SWAPP offers the best value for small churches with their comprehensive free trial and affordable pricing.
What features should I look for in a church app?
Essential features include online giving, member management, event planning, communication tools, mobile apps, and volunteer scheduling. Advanced features like outreach mapping (available in SWAPP) can significantly enhance your ministry effectiveness.
Start Managing Your Church More Effectively
Join hundreds of churches using SWAPP to grow their ministries. Get started in minutes with our free trial.
Try SWAPP Free Today →