ChurchSuite vs Shepherd’s Staff
ChurchSuite
churchsuite.comShepherd’s Staff
concordiatechnology.orgSide by side
| Figure | ChurchSuite | Shepherd’s Staff |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $15.50/mo | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 4 | 4 |
| Spec score · Church Check-In Software | 9.1 (#2) | 7.7 (#29) |
| Founded | 2012 | 1994 |
| Integrations | Listed integrations include BulkSMS, GoCardless, Mailchimp, PayFast, Planning Center Online, podcast feeds, SAML2 SSO, Stripe and Twilio. | The product supports payroll integration with Paycor and online giving imports through Vanco. |
| Maker | The legal maker is ChurchSuite Ltd, a private English company incorporated on 16 May 2013. | Concordia Technology Solutions is the technology division of Concordia Publishing House, which the company says has served churches since 1869. |
| Purpose | ChurchSuite is a suite of interconnected products that helps organise and manage all aspects of church life. | Shepherd’s Staff is PC-based church management software intended for churches of any size or affiliation. |
| Security | ChurchSuite states that it uses UK AWS data centres, TLS in transit, encryption at rest, separate customer databases, access logging and annual CREST-approved penetration testing. | Users can have access restricted by module or by specific function within a module. |
| Support | Support includes an online article library, email support, training videos, Q&A sessions and optional onsite training. | A support contract includes unlimited phone and email support, and without one CTS charges $65 per issue resolved. |
Plans
ChurchSuite
- Solo$15.50 a month
- Starter$33 a month
- Suite$56 a month
- BespokePriced on request
Shepherd’s Staff
- Small Church Edition$599, paid once
- Small Church Edition with Finance$799, paid once
- Standard Edition$999, paid once
- Standard Edition with Finance$1,199, paid once
In their own words
ChurchSuite
ChurchSuite is a set of connected products for organising church life, spanning contacts, children, bookings, small groups, rotas, calendars, giving, planning, attendance, and networks. Its Address Book module is required, powers the system, and stores adult contacts. Members can use My ChurchSuite to manage their details, sign up for events, join groups, handle rotas, and access church communications. The service is available in web browsers and through free Android and iOS apps. It also provides an API and Embed components with OAuth2 authentication for custom applications, plus integrations including BulkSMS, GoCardless, Mailchimp, PayFast, Planning Center Online, SAML2 SSO, Stripe, and Twilio. Stripe handles online card payments for event tickets, donations, and booking charges; ChurchSuite says it does not retain card details. Listed monthly plans for 0–99 active contacts are $15.50 for Address Book alone, $33.00 for Address Book plus two modules, and $56.00 for all ten modules. Larger-tier pricing is available on request. The monthly cost includes email support and access to support articles. Accounts include 2GB of file storage, with unlimited storage possible.
Shepherd’s Staff
Shepherd’s Staff has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.