Congregate vs MyUCD
Congregate
congregateonline.comMyUCD
ucdir.comSide by side
| Figure | Congregate | MyUCD |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $10/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 10 | 2 |
| Spec score · Church Directory Software | 8.9 (#6) | 8.3 (#17) |
| Founded | The Congregate service was launched in 2009. | 2003 |
| Integrations | Congregate supports embedded or linked live-stream and online-giving providers and offers Google Analytics and Google Maps API settings. | Administrators can add custom buttons linking to church websites, social media, calendars, online giving, video services, and other online tools. |
| Privacy | The privacy policy says collected information is not sold or rented and may be shared with service partners only as needed to provide services. | Universal Church Directories says it uses encryption for sensitive information sent online and limits access to personally identifiable information to employees who need it for their work. |
| Purpose | Congregate is a church management platform combining a church website, member management, and leadership tools. | MyUCD gives church members access to an online directory, family search, events, and push notifications. |
| Rating on Apple App Store | 3.9 out of 5 from 19 ratings | 3.9 out of 5 from 22 ratings. |
| Rating on Google Play | 2.4 out of 5 from 20 reviews | 4.2 out of 5 from 36 reviews. |
| Support | Free technical support is included in every service plan, and the company says it responds to support tickets within 24 hours or less. | Universal Church Directories lists its phone number as 419-522-5011 and its address as 1150 National Parkway, Mansfield, OH 44906. |
| What it does | Congregate combines a public church website, members-only area, and leadership management tools. | MyUCD is a church-member directory and communications app showing current family information, events and push notifications. |
Plans
Congregate
- Virtual Library$10 a month
- Sermon Transcriptions$15 a month
- Economy$20 a month
- Members Only$20 a month
- Text Messaging$25 a month
- Voice Messaging$25 a month
- Classic$45 a month
- Self-Hosted WordPress$55 a month
- Unlimited$55 a month
- Congregate-Hosted WordPress$70 a month
In their own words
Congregate
Congregate is a church management platform that combines a church website, member management, and leadership tools. Member features include a directory, attendance tracking, visitor registration and follow-up, and a leadership CRM. Communications include email, premium SMS, and premium text-to-speech voice messages. Its worship scheduler assigns positions and volunteer tasks, with support for blockout dates, replacements, confirmations, and reminders.
Churches can upload sermon media in formats such as MP3, PowerPoint, PDF, or YouTube links; the platform can create podcast feeds and support social sharing. The native members app is available for iPhone, iPad, and Android, and includes member modules, a directory, Bible, and sermon audio. Congregate says more than 30 modules are included in each service plan. Plans include a public website and mobile app at $20/mo for Economy, while Members Only is also $20/mo and omits the public website and email accounts. Standard plans carry a one-time $499 setup fee, discounted by $50 for churches with fewer than 50 members. Free technical support is included, with ticket responses stated as within 24 hours or less. The site offers a free test drive but gives no duration. The service runs on web, Android, and iOS.
MyUCD
MyUCD is a church directory app for members to find families, view events, and receive push notifications. Churches control access to the app and its content; when a directory is published, listed members receive a login code. Members can browse an alphabetized, searchable family list or a scrollable photo list. Listings can show family photos and names, optional addresses and phone numbers, and a required family email address. Administrators can update family information, send emails and notifications, and create groups for targeted messages. The online directory supports unlimited families, with no hidden charges for large directories. Administrators can disable a family’s access, after which its online directory information is removed the next time that family opens the app. Custom buttons can link to church websites, social media, calendars, online giving, video services, and other tools. MyUCD is available on Android, iOS, and the web. The free plan costs nothing and is available through Universal Church Directories’ directory program.