7 platforms with genuine free tiers — what's included, what's capped, and which fits your church.
"Free" in church software almost always comes with a catch — a member cap, a feature cap, or a per-transaction fee. This list separates platforms with genuine free tiers (where you can run a real church for $0/month indefinitely) from "free trial" platforms that require payment to stay useful.
For very small churches (under 50–100 members), a free tier can cover everything you need: members, giving, events, basic communications. For mid-size churches, free tiers are usually a runway to a paid plan — useful for testing fit before committing. The right pick depends on which paid tier you'd graduate to, since switching platforms once you're established is a real cost.
This ranking covers the platforms with the most generous free tiers, ranked by what they actually include and what the paid path looks like.
Each platform's free plan was evaluated on member limit, feature breadth, transaction fees on giving, and the upgrade path to paid plans. We excluded "free trial" platforms (e.g., Servant Keeper) where free access is time-limited rather than ongoing. All limits and pricing come from each vendor's public pricing page as of 2026.
All-in-one church management with modern AI tools
MosesTab's Starter plan is free indefinitely and includes the core feature surface — members, giving, events, communications. The paid step-up at $39/month is one of the lowest in the category.
All-in-one church management with member-tier pricing
ChMeetings Free is genuinely free up to 50 members with most modules included. The cap is real — past 50 members you move to the $12+/month tiers — but for small congregations it's hard to beat.
A suite of separate church software apps
Planning Center People has a genuine free tier for member management. Other apps (Giving, Services, Check-Ins) start free with feature caps and become paid as you grow. Useful for churches that only need one or two apps.
A mobile-first giving app for churches
Givelify is free for churches but charges 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction. Not a ChMS, just giving — but if giving is your only need, the no-monthly-fee model works.
Church giving and engagement platform
Tithe.ly Giving is free + standard transaction fees. The paid All-Access ($149/month) adds ChMS, Sites, and Apps if you grow into needing them.
Mobile-first church app by ACS Technologies
MinistryOne offers a free starter tier focused on the church-app surface. Useful if your priority is giving members a branded mobile experience without a full ChMS commitment.
Online giving platform for churches
EasyTithe's free giving tier uses standard processor fees. ACH/eCheck rates are among the lowest in the category, which matters if your donors give by bank transfer rather than card.
The platforms on this list have genuine ongoing free tiers — not 30-day trials. The catches vary: ChMeetings caps at 50 members, Planning Center People is fully free but other apps require payment, MosesTab's Starter is free with full feature breadth at small scale. There's no platform that gives unlimited members with no transaction fees forever.
Free giving platforms (Givelify, Tithe.ly Giving, EasyTithe) charge per-transaction fees — typically 2.5–2.9% + 30¢ on cards, 0.8–1% on ACH. The platform makes money from those fees, so the 'free' tier is genuinely free at the church level. Compare the all-in fee math against your monthly donation volume.
Three triggers: (1) you hit a member cap (e.g., 50 on ChMeetings), (2) you need a feature locked behind paid (worship planning, AI media, advanced check-in), or (3) the platform's transaction fees on giving exceed what a paid ChMS subscription would cost. For most churches, the upgrade trigger is hitting the member cap or wanting a feature behind the paywall.
Yes — every platform on this list supports online giving on the free tier. Standard processor fees apply (2.5–2.9% on cards). Some platforms add a 'platform fee' on top; verify each vendor's fee structure before signing up.