CampSite vs Stronghold

CampSite is camp management software for camps of different sizes and specialties, available on the web, Android, and iOS. Its registration tools handle enrollment options, forms, waivers, add-ons, payments, and electronic signatures. Families can register, submit forms, and manage payments through a persistent Parent Dashboard. Communication features include email, text messaging, parent-to-camper messages, and myCAMPapp for announcements, events, photos, videos, and push notifications. Back-office functions cover activity scheduling, bunking, staff and medical management, attendance, transportation, events, a camp shop, and camper spending funds. Camps can create reports and payment schedules, invoice parents, and process credit-card or e-check payments in batches. The transportation module uses Google Maps for route mapping. CampSite says it uses AES-256 and TLS 1.2, configurable user permissions, Amazon cloud hosting, and mirrored databases for real-time redundancy; it also states that customers own the data they enter. Pricing is available on request, and the maker promotes a free personalized demo. Text messaging is limited to US and Canadian numbers, and messages cannot contain images or embedded links.

Stronghold is a web-based platform for managing youth and student ministries, kids ministries, camps, conferences, retreats, and mission trips. It combines student and family records with attendance, small groups, discipleship milestones, care notes, volunteer roles, and first-time guest follow-up. Safeguarding tools include guardian pickup codes, background-check gating, consent records, medical and allergy notes, headcounts, and incident reports. Camp workflows cover registrations and payments, forms and waivers, cabin assignments, squads, tournaments, schedules, trip check-ins, and secure pickup. Communication options include leader-visible messaging with keyword safety flagging, texting, email campaigns, announcements, and prayer requests; texting and email activate when a provider is connected. Stronghold also provides a white-label website builder and an installable student and parent app. Shepherd AI flags issues such as a drifting student, an uncleared volunteer, or a camper without a cabin. The maker says minor data is leader-only and not shared between churches. A 14-day trial requires no credit card to start. Youth and Kids each cost $29 a month; the Youth + Kids Bundle costs $49 a month.