Aplos vs Grain Ledger

AAplos8.8Visit Grain Ledger7.8Visit

Higher score A Aplos #1 in Church Accounting Software 8.8/10 15-day trial Free trial✓ 1 of 6 features Visit Aplos

vs

Grain Ledger #6 in Church Accounting Software 7.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 6 features Visit Grain Ledger

• Aplos fits best

  Grant-funded churches needing auditability

• Grain Ledger fits best

  Churches wanting broad accounting at low cost

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Side by side

Feature	AAplos 8.8/10 Visit ↗	Grain Ledger 7.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.8	7.8
Ranking	#1 in Church Accounting Software	#6 in Church Accounting Software
Best for	Grant-funded churches needing auditability	Churches wanting broad accounting at low cost
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	—	$70/mo
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	15 days	—
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web
Integrations	2 integrations	8 integrations
Features Aplos 1/6 · Grain Ledger 1/6
Fund accounting	✓	✓
Budget tracking	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Expense management	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Bank reconciliation	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Financial reporting	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Multi-entity support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Fund-level statements support designated and time-restricted funds. Grant tracking, budgeting, and budget-to-actual reporting work together. Audit trails record transactions and system changes.	Double-entry fund accounting supports restricted and unrestricted funds Free Starter plan includes unlimited funds and GAAP reports Giving, payroll, budgeting, reconciliation, and eight listed integrations
Cons	Aplos is available through the web only. There is no free plan. The Advanced plan includes three users.	Starter is limited to one bank connection, three users, and one active budget Growth costs $70 per month before larger-scale requirements Advanced roles and custom reports are reserved for Scale
Our verdict	Aplos is cloud-based software for churches and nonprofits that brings fund accounting, donation tracking, financial reporting, budgeting, donor management, and administrative tools into one system. It is suited to organizations managing… Read the review →	Grain Ledger is cloud-based accounting software for churches and church finance teams. Its scope covers double-entry fund accounting, restricted and unrestricted funds, bank reconciliation, budgeting, accounts payable, donor and giving… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Aplos — where it wins

  • Fund-level statements support designated and time-restricted funds.
  • Grant tracking, budgeting, and budget-to-actual reporting work together.
  • Audit trails record transactions and system changes.

  Where it doesn't

  • Aplos is available through the web only.
  • There is no free plan.
  • The Advanced plan includes three users.

• Grain Ledger — where it wins

  • Double-entry fund accounting supports restricted and unrestricted funds
  • Free Starter plan includes unlimited funds and GAAP reports
  • Giving, payroll, budgeting, reconciliation, and eight listed integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • Starter is limited to one bank connection, three users, and one active budget
  • Growth costs $70 per month before larger-scale requirements
  • Advanced roles and custom reports are reserved for Scale

• AAplos8.8/10 · 15-day trial

  Aplos combines fund accounting, grant tracking, giving, and nonprofit financial management.

  Visit AplosFull verdict →
• Grain Ledger7.8/10 · Free plan

  Broad church accounting coverage with a free entry plan and paid growth tiers.

  Visit Grain LedgerFull verdict →