Free Church Management Software: Top 5 Options Compared
When churches search for "free church management software," they're often met with two types of results: platforms offering a 14- or 30-day free trial (which is not free software), and platforms with a genuine free tier that lasts indefinitely. Understanding the difference matters — especially for church plants, very small congregations, or churches that are simply being good stewards of limited resources.
The "Free" Distinction That Matters
"Free" means a plan that continues indefinitely at no cost — not a trial that expires and prompts you to enter a credit card. We'll be specific about which category each platform falls into.
Top 5 Free Church Management Software Options
#1 — HolyJot Starter (Genuinely Free)
HolyJot's Starter plan is the strongest genuinely free option in the market for small churches. It doesn't expire, doesn't require a credit card to activate, and includes:
- Member database and contact management
- Online giving (Stripe direct — no additional platform fee)
- Discipleship tools and guided devotional content
- AI-assisted journaling prompts for members
- Small group management
- Basic communication tools
Learn more at the free church management software page, or read about the full feature set for small churches.
#2 — ChurchTrac (Free for Very Small Churches)
ChurchTrac offers a free plan for churches with under ~75 members. Basic contact management and simple giving tracking. Works for very small congregations with minimal needs. Not a platform you'll grow with beyond the basics.
#3 — Church Community Builder (Trial, Not Free)
CCB, now part of the Pushpay ecosystem, is sometimes listed in "free church software" roundups. It is not free. It offers a trial period, after which pricing applies.
#4 — Planning Center (Trial Only)
Planning Center is consistently excellent but consistently not free. If you're hoping to run Planning Center for free long-term, it's not a realistic expectation. See our Planning Center vs. HolyJot comparison for the full picture.
#5 — Elvanto / Tithely (Trial, Not Free)
Tithely's ChMS is a trial-based paid product. There is no permanent free tier for the ChMS component.
Comparison Table
| Platform | Truly Free? | Giving Tools | Discipleship | AI Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HolyJot Starter | Yes | Yes (Stripe direct) | Yes | Yes |
| ChurchTrac Free | Yes | Basic | No | No |
| Church Community Builder | No (trial only) | Yes (paid) | No | No |
| Planning Center | Very limited | Yes (paid module) | No | No |
| Elvanto / Tithely | No (trial only) | Yes (paid) | No | No |
The Hidden Cost of Platform Fees on Giving
Many "free" church management platforms charge a platform fee on top of payment processing. On $100,000 in annual giving, an extra 1–1.5% platform fee costs $1,000–$1,500 going to the software company instead of your ministry. HolyJot processes giving directly through Stripe with no additional platform fee.
Our Recommendation
For churches that need genuinely free church management software with real capability — not just a trial — HolyJot's Starter plan is the clear choice in 2026. It's the only free option that includes discipleship tools, AI features, and no-platform-fee giving in a modern interface.
Get Started Free
HolyJot's Starter plan is free for as long as you need it. No credit card required.