ChurchCMS vs ParishSOFT
ChurchCMS
churchcms.appParishSOFT
parishsoft.comSide by side
| Figure | ChurchCMS | ParishSOFT |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $24.17/mo | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 10 | 7 |
| Spec score · Church Directory Software | 9.3 (#1) | 8.2 (#19) |
| Spec score · Church Volunteer Management Software | 9.3 (#1) | 8.4 (#5) |
| Spec score · Church Management Software | 9.3 (#2) | 8.3 (#15) |
| API | The Laravel backend exposes a REST API covering members, giving, attendance, events, sermons and notifications. | ParishSOFT release notes refer to an API for updating family records. |
| Giving | The giving module supports one-time and recurring donations, donor histories, statements, campaigns and multiple funds. | ParishSOFT Giving offers online, mobile, text, QR code, kiosk, and recurring giving, as well as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, PayPal, stock, and cryptocurrency options. |
| Mobile app | The branded Android app offers profiles, events, sermons, giving, messaging, prayer requests and push notifications. | The MinistryOne app offers digital giving, media, event management, prayer requests, group messaging, and push notifications. |
| Security | Official material states SSL support, bcrypt password hashing, managed-hosting backups and security monitoring; it also claims GDPR-oriented data ownership. | The company says ParishSOFT Giving is PCI compliant and uses SSL certificates, encryption, intrusion detection, and transaction security. |
| Support | Support is offered through email and WhatsApp, GitHub discussions/issues and optional installation or managed-hosting services. | ParishSOFT provides a support ticket option and an online help center covering Family Suite, Accounting, diocesan products, websites, and online giving. |
Plans
ChurchCMS
- Self-HostedFree
- Self-Host It YourselfFree
- Managed Hosting$29 a month
- Managed Hosting Monthly$29 a month
- Installation Service$99, paid once
- We Install It For You$99, paid once
- Managed Hosting (annual)$290 a year
- Managed Hosting Annual$290 a year
- Custom Website Template$399, paid once
- Custom DevelopmentPriced on request
ParishSOFT
- ParishSOFT Giving Consulting Plan$250, paid once
- Family Suite Guided Consulting Plan$900, paid once
- Family Suite Basic Consulting Plan$1,700, paid once
- ParishSOFT Accounting Basic Consulting Plan$1,700, paid once
- Family Suite Standard Consulting Plan$3,200, paid once
- ParishSOFT Accounting Standard Consulting Plan$3,200, paid once
- ParishSOFT GivingPriced on request
In their own words
ChurchCMS
ChurchCMS is church management software for member administration, attendance, online giving, events, congregation communications, and a church website. Its CRM stores searchable member profiles, family links, giving and attendance history, messages, and printable QR membership cards. Giving supports one-time and recurring donations, donor records, statements, fundraising campaigns, and Stripe, M-Pesa, Flutterwave, and Paystack. A branded Android app provides sermons, events, giving, member messages, prayer requests, and a church calendar. The product exposes a REST API for core modules and describes payment and third-party integrations through it. Churches can self-host under the MIT license or use managed hosting. Self-hosting is free forever with all six core modules, the Android app, and no usage limits. Managed Hosting costs $29 a month; annual managed hosting costs $290 a year. A one-time installation service costs 99.00 USD. The maker says it serves small and medium churches, with no minimum congregation size.
ParishSOFT
ParishSOFT provides church management software and related tools for Catholic parishes, dioceses, schools, and ministry organizations in the United States and Canada. Families manages household and member details, sacramental records, communications, and reporting. Accounting supports budgets, payroll, purchasing, and financial reporting; the maker describes it as GAAP compliant. Giving handles online and recurring donations, reports, payment forms, and contribution and pledge tracking. Family Suite also supports religious education and ministry scheduling, and connects with several ParishSOFT products. MinistryOne offers digital giving, media, event management, prayer requests, group messaging, and push notifications. The listed platforms include web, Android, iOS, and an API. Pricing for the main products is on request. Separate consulting plans range from $250, paid once for ParishSOFT Giving Consulting to $3,200, paid once for Family Suite or Accounting Standard Consulting. ParishSOFT Giving has a stated free 30-day trial. The maker says its tools are used by more than 185 dioceses and 12,000 parishes across the United States and Canada.