RollCall

Overview

RollCall is a self-service arrival, attendance and departure tool for groups and events. It is best suited to churches, youth programmes, clubs and community organisations that need leaders to know who is on site without making check-in a complicated process. The free tier makes it viable for a small group, but its member cap and one-way Planning Center connection can become real constraints.

Key features

Members type their name at a check-in screen, choose a matching entry and confirm arrival; duplicate protection helps prevent repeat check-ins. Leaders see arrivals as they happen, and newcomers can register at the door and join the group's records. This is a focused workflow for recurring sessions and events where a live roster matters more than a broader management system.

Groups can also offer phone-browser check-in through a displayed or printed QR code, or a shared link. Optional sign-out records departure times, shows who remains on site and tracks how long each person stayed. That makes the tool more useful when leaders need to account for departures, though it remains centered on attendance rather than a general-purpose member-management suite.

Brief internet dropouts do not stop the check-in device from working; check-ins sync when the connection returns. The Planning Center integration imports people and check-in history and can add newly registered RollCall members back to that system. RollCall check-ins do not sync back, so groups needing attendance to flow in both directions should choose another workflow.

RollCall stores group data on Google Firebase in Sydney, Australia. It says data is encrypted in transit and at rest, group databases are isolated with security rules, and member data is neither sold nor used for advertising. The service operates from Christchurch, New Zealand, under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020. Free users receive email support; Pro adds priority support, and the founder says support currently comes directly from him.

Pricing

RollCall Free costs nothing and includes one group, up to 30 members and unlimited leaders. It provides full check-in and kiosk mode, optional member sign-out, leader portals and member profiles, session history, CSV import and export, and email support. That is a substantial starting point for a small group, but the one-group and 30-member caps matter. Above 30 members, check-in and registration continue to work while reports and the full member list lock until the group upgrades or returns to 30 active members.

RollCall Pro is billed at $9.99/month at the launch price, with a standard price of $19.99/month; yearly billing is $107.89/year. The plan includes 150 members, then charges $9.99 per extra 50, and allows unlimited groups. It adds full reports and attendance charts, a session planner and activities bank, streak tracking, custom colours and wording, and priority support. Pro is the better fit for growing or multi-group organisations that rely on reporting and planning; the extra-member charge should be factored in as rosters expand.

A 14-day trial gives prospective users a chance to evaluate the paid plan. For a single small group, Free avoids a recurring bill; for larger groups, Pro unlocks the member list and reporting but costs more than the launch rate once standard pricing applies.

Platforms

RollCall runs on Android, iOS and the web. Members can use a phone browser for QR or link check-in, while the check-in screen supports kiosk use. Mobile access is web-based.

Who it's for

RollCall is a sensible choice for churches, youth groups, sports clubs, community organisations and event programmes that need a clear record of arrivals and optional departures. It is less suited to organisations that need a larger free roster, multiple groups on the free plan, or two-way Planning Center attendance sync.

Pros and cons

Pros: Self-service check-in, live attendance, newcomer registration and optional sign-out cover the main arrival-to-departure workflow.

Pros: Brief-offline operation and later syncing reduce disruption when a venue's connection drops.

Pros: Free includes unlimited leaders and core check-in tools for one group of up to 30 members.

Cons: Free groups above 30 members lose access to reports and the full member list until they upgrade or reduce active membership.

Cons: Planning Center check-ins do not sync back, limiting the integration for groups that need a two-way attendance record.

Cons: Pro's $9.99/month launch price is distinct from its $19.99/month standard price, and larger rosters incur extra-member charges.

Alternatives

For a wider comparison, see Small Group Management Software.

ChurchTrac is worth considering for readers who want a paid church platform, with plans at $29 a month for 75 people and $39 a month for 125 people.

Church Central Cloud offers a freemium alternative across Android, iOS and web, with a free plan capped at 10 members and a Foundation plan at $15 a month.

Planning Center may suit groups looking for a broader freemium church platform; its Calendar and People plans are free, and its Services plan is also free for five team members.

TimelyChurch has a free plan for up to 100 people and a Growth plan at $49 a month, making it a candidate for groups prioritising a larger free allowance.

Arbor is another freemium option for readers seeking a mobile group app.

Gathrik provides a web-based free plan for up to 75 members with attendance tracking, events and email messaging.

One Church Software is a paid option with Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows support.

Flock offers a web-based free plan for up to 100 members, with five leader accounts and attendance tracking.

Verdict

Choose RollCall if your group needs self-service check-in, live attendance and a useful record of who has left, especially when brief connectivity interruptions are possible. Its small-group free tier is capable, and Pro adds the reporting and multi-group headroom a growing organisation needs. Look elsewhere if you require a free roster above 30 with full reports, or if Planning Center must receive RollCall attendance automatically.