MosesTab vs Church Windows
Church Windows is published by Computer Helper Publishing, founded in 1987, and is used by over 12,000 churches. It uses a modular, one-time-licence pricing model, with a separate Church Windows Web subscription option for cloud access.
Overview: MosesTab vs Church Windows
Church Windows has been around since 1987 and is a familiar name to thousands of treasurers who've used it for decades. The modular, one-time-licence model is genuinely appealing for very small churches that want to buy software once and avoid monthly fees — if you only ever need the Membership module, the math can favour Church Windows.
The model gets less attractive as needs grow. Each module (Membership, Donations, Accounting, Scheduler, Payroll) is a separate purchase. Support tiers (Standard, Deluxe, Elite) are an annual fee. Cloud access (Church Windows Web) is a separate subscription, billed per seat at $50/month. By the time a mid-size church layers on multiple modules + annual support + multiple cloud seats, total cost of ownership is comparable to or higher than a flat-priced cloud ChMS.
MosesTab is web-native from day one. There's no install, no module purchases, no per-seat upcharges, and no separate annual support tier — every feature ships in every paid plan. The trade-off: if you specifically value the one-time-licence model and have stable IT preferences, Church Windows offers something MosesTab doesn't try to replicate.
Key Differences
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
See how MosesTab's 16 features compare to Church Windows. MosesTab provides all features in one integrated platform.
| Feature | MosesTab | Church Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Member Management | ||
| Groups & Ministries | ||
| Church Events | Partial: Scheduler module covers events and room bookings | |
| Church Forms | ||
| Attendance Tracking | ||
| Child Check-In | ||
| Online Giving & Text-to-Give | ||
| Text-to-Give | ||
| Facilities Booking | Partial: Scheduler module handles room/resource booking | |
| Church Accounting & Finance Reports | ||
| AI Media Studio | ||
| Stage Timer | ||
| Worship Planning | ||
| Live Polling | ||
| Social Media Scheduler | ||
| Communications | Partial: Basic mail-merge style communications | |
| Mass Texting & 2-Way SMS | ||
| Workflow Automation | ||
| Virtual Meetings | ||
| Volunteer Management | Partial: Volunteer scheduling via Scheduler module | |
| Visitor Management | ||
| Church CRM | ||
| Church Website Builder | ||
| Church Accounting & Budgeting |
Pricing Comparison
Compare the cost of MosesTab vs Church Windows at different plan levels.
| Plan Level | MosesTab | Church Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Free | ~$149+ upfront (single module)One-time licence per module (e.g. Membership), plus annual support |
| Mid-tier (full suite) | $39/month | ~$399-699 upfrontFull integrated suite (Membership + Donations + Accounting + Scheduler + Payroll), plus annual support tier |
| Cloud / extra users | $99/month (unlimited users) | $50/month per additional Church Windows Web seatWeb seat fees are on top of base licence cost |
Which Platform Is Right for You?
Church Windows is best for:
- Small churches that prefer a one-time-licence over recurring subscriptions
- Churches comfortable with traditional, modular software
- Churches with stable, on-prem IT preferences
- Treasurers used to module-based accounting and payroll
MosesTab is best for:
- Churches that want modern web-first software with no install
- Churches that want every feature included, not gated by module
- Churches needing AI media tools, social scheduling, and automation
- Churches whose volunteers and members expect a mobile experience
Honest Assessment of Church Windows
What Church Windows Does Well
- One-time-licence model can be cheaper for very small, single-module churches
- Long-running product (since 1987) with mature accounting and payroll modules
- Modular structure lets churches buy only what they need
- Strong reputation among treasurers and bookkeepers
- Optional cloud access via Church Windows Web for remote use
Church Windows Limitations
- Desktop-first — full cloud access costs $50/month per seat extra
- Module-based pricing adds up quickly as needs grow
- Annual support tier is an additional ongoing cost
- No AI media tools, social scheduling, or live polling
- No child check-in module
- Mobile experience is limited compared to web-first ChMS
- Updates depend on which support tier you've purchased
Switching from Church Windows?
Migrating to MosesTab is straightforward. Here's what the process looks like:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MosesTab cheaper than Church Windows?
It depends. For a tiny church that only ever needs one Church Windows module and never uses the cloud version, Church Windows' one-time licence can be cheaper over many years. For most mid-size churches running multiple modules + the cloud version + annual support, MosesTab's flat $39 or $99/month is cheaper and includes more features.
Can I move my Church Windows data to MosesTab?
Yes. Church Windows lets you export membership and donation data as CSV, which MosesTab's import tool maps into the new database. The accounting/payroll module data is more bespoke and may need light reformatting before import.
Does MosesTab have payroll like Church Windows?
MosesTab does not include a full payroll module like Church Windows. Most churches that need payroll pair MosesTab with a dedicated payroll provider (Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll). The advantage is donations and member data live in MosesTab while payroll runs through software designed specifically for tax filing.
Why switch from Church Windows to MosesTab?
Common reasons: wanting a modern, web-first interface; needing mobile access for staff and volunteers; wanting AI media + social scheduling included; tired of paying for cloud seats and annual support on top of the original licence; and wanting a single subscription instead of module-by-module purchases.