ChurchCRM
ChurchCRM: A capable free core for churches prepared to manage hosting and administration. Ranked #9 of 38 in Church Management Software by our editors (8.5/10); pricing: Free plan; best for technical churches wanting a free self-hosted core.
At a glance
- Editor score8.5 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forTechnical churches wanting a free self-hosted core
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Child check-inYes
- Founded2013
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free, open-source core supports self-hosted church control.
- Covers records, groups, events, check-in, donations, and volunteers.
- Includes permissions, two-factor authentication, backups, and exports.
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosting makes hosting and operational administration the church's responsibility.
- Plugin-based SMS depends on Vonage and adds setup beyond the core.
- Mobile access centers on web and API rather than a branded mobile app.
Our verdict on ChurchCRM
ChurchCRM is a free, open-source church management system for congregations that want to run their own software. Its scope covers people and family records, relationships, notes, custom properties, ministry groups, recurring and one-time events, attendance, child check-in and check-out, volunteer coordination, donations, pledges, deposits, funds, financial reports, and member self-registration. The web interface, self-hosted deployment model, and public and private APIs suit churches with technical capacity and control over their infrastructure.
The pricing model is straightforward: the core software is free, with no paid tiers described. Self-hosting does create a separate hosting expense, and the church remains responsible for its server environment and administration. That tradeoff may appeal to congregations prioritizing ownership and flexibility over a vendor-hosted service. Data tools include CSV import, exports, and database backup and restore, while role-based permissions and two-factor authentication support administrative control. The published feature set also includes multilingual support and configurable permissions.
ChurchCRM's ecosystem is built around plugins and integrations rather than a single bundled communications suite. Available connections include Mailchimp, Vonage SMS, OpenLP, Gravatar, Google Analytics, and External Backup; SMS is provided through an optional Vonage plugin. The system is a broad fit for churches that need one free core across administration, groups, events, check-in, giving, and volunteers. Churches seeking a vendor-hosted cloud service, a branded mobile app, or less responsibility for deployment and maintenance should consider a different type of church management product.
Your product? Our editors can test ChurchCRM in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
ChurchCRM pricing
ChurchCRM fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Member limit | Not verified |
| Group management | Yes |
| Event registration | Not verified |
| Child check-in | Yes |
| SMS messaging | Yes |
| Mobile app | Not verified |
| Volunteer scheduling | Yes |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web, Linux |
| Compliance & security | 2FA |
| Support | Email, Live chat, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 8 integrations: MailChimp, Vonage SMS, OpenLP, Gravatar, Google Analytics, External Backup … |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | churchcrm.io |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
ChurchCRM integrations
ChurchCRM lists 8 integrations on its own site.
- MailChimp
- Vonage SMS
- OpenLP
- Gravatar
- Google Analytics
- External Backup
- Custom Menu Links
- Holiday Calendar
Alternatives to ChurchCRM
- Planning CenterA modular church suite covering people, groups, events, giving, services, and check-in.9.4
- ChurchRaiseA broad, free web platform covering church administration, communication, giving, and events.9.3
- Rock RMSA broad, extensible church platform for organizations prepared to manage hosting.9.2
See all ChurchCRM alternatives →
Also Ranked In
ChurchCRM is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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