Best Ekkle Alternatives in 2026
The top Ekkle alternatives are Clearstream, Text In Church and Shepherding Connections: 15 church text messaging software our editors would look at instead of Ekkle, in our ranking order.
Ekkle: A broad church platform whose $149.99 monthly plan centers on broadcasts and community tools. Where it falls short: starts at $149.99 per month with no free plan.
Switching from Ekkle? For most church text messaging software buyers the best Ekkle alternative is Clearstream, built for churches needing a mature, full-featured texting platform. On a budget, Connect Saints starts at $7/mo, against $149.99/mo for Ekkle. Shepherding Connections has a free plan, which Ekkle does not. Gloo Communications offers the most included messages (5000 messages/mo).
Why People Look for an Ekkle Alternative
- Starts at $149.99 per month with no free plan
- SMS broadcasts require recipient opt-in
- Messaging is centered on broadcasts, with HELP and STOP replies
- No free plan — 6 of the alternatives below have it
- Paid from $149.99/mo — Connect Saints is $7/mo
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallClearstream9.4
Churches needing a mature, full-featured texting platform
Visit Clearstream - Lowest priceConnect Saints7.9
Paid plans from $7/mo
Visit Connect Saints - Best free optionShepherding Connections9.1
Has a free plan (Ekkle has none)
Visit Shepherding Connections - Most included messagesGloo Communications8.8
5000 messages/mo
Visit Gloo Communications
All 15 Ekkle Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forChurches needing a mature, full-featured texting platform
- Better than Ekkle:
- Paid from: $35/mo vs $149.99/mo
- Editor score 9.4 vs 7.0
A broad church messaging platform with automation, analytics, apps, and integrations.
- Church software integrations
- Recurring messages
- Mobile app
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Clearstream -
Best forChurches needing deep workflows and ChMS connectivity
- Better than Ekkle:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 7.0
A workflow-focused church messaging platform with broad ChMS connectivity.
- Church software integrations
- Recurring messages
- Mobile app
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Text In Church -
Best forBudget-conscious churches wanting automation
- Better than Ekkle:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.1 vs 7.0
A broad church texting toolkit with a free entry point and automation features.
- Church software integrations
- Recurring messages
- Mobile app
9.1/10★★★★★Visit site -
Best forChurches needing integrations and multimedia texting
- Better than Ekkle:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 7.0
A strong church texting option for multimedia messaging and broad integrations.
- Church software integrations
- Recurring messages
- Scheduled messages
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit TextSpot -
Best forChurches wanting high-volume free or low-cost messaging
- Better than Ekkle:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.8 vs 7.0
A church-focused messaging suite with a free tier and a 5,000-credit paid upgrade.
- Church software integrations
- Recurring messages
- Scheduled messages
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Gloo -
Best forChurches focused on events, reminders, and RSVPs
- Better than Ekkle:
- Paid from: $20/mo vs $149.99/mo
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.0
A church-focused web platform for two-way texting, reminders, segmentation, and event RSVPs.
- Recurring messages
- Scheduled messages
- Audience segmentation
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Evant -
Best forSmall churches wanting a free communications hub
- Better than Ekkle:
- Free plan
- Paid from: $29/mo vs $149.99/mo
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.0
A free church communications hub with broad messaging tools but web-only access.
- Scheduled messages
- Audience segmentation
- Two-way messaging
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Vesperbell -
Best forPlanning Center churches needing focused SMS tools
- Better than Ekkle:
- Paid from: $24/mo vs $149.99/mo
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.0
A focused SMS option for Planning Center churches that need scheduling and replies.
- Church software integrations
- Scheduled messages
- Audience segmentation
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Churchflow -
Best forChurches seeking inexpensive general-purpose texting
- Better than Ekkle:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.3 vs 7.0
Affordable church texting with campaigns, automation, and email-marketing integrations.
- Scheduled messages
- Audience segmentation
- Two-way messaging
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Textiful -
Best forChurches wanting usage-based pricing and API access
- Better than Ekkle:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.0
A usage-based SMS platform with two-way messaging, APIs and church-focused integrations.
- Church software integrations
- Recurring messages
- Scheduled messages
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Mobile Message -
Best forChurches needing advanced campaigns and integrations
- Better than Ekkle:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.0
A feature-rich SMS platform for churches that need advanced campaigns and integrations.
- Audience segmentation
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit SlickText -
Best forChurches needing low-cost messaging across devices
- Better than Ekkle:
- Free plan
- Paid from: $9.99/mo vs $149.99/mo
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.0
A low-cost church messaging platform with two-way texts, scheduling, and mobile apps.
- Recurring messages
- Mobile app
- Scheduled messages
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit DialMyCalls -
Best forSmall groups wanting transparent pay-as-you-go texting
- Better than Ekkle:
- Paid from: $7/mo vs $149.99/mo
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.0
A focused church texting service with transparent usage-based pricing and web-only access.
- Scheduled messages
- Audience segmentation
- Two-way messaging
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Connect Saints -
Best forChurches wanting free basic multi-channel messaging
- Better than Ekkle:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.8 vs 7.0
A practical free starting point for churches coordinating multi-channel messages.
- Scheduled messages
- Audience segmentation
7.8/10★★★★☆Try Unity Messaging -
Best forChurches needing messaging tied to ChMS data
- Better than Ekkle:
- Editor score 7.7 vs 7.0
A church-focused messaging module that connects SMS, email, voice, and ChMS data.
- Church software integrations
- Mobile app
- Scheduled messages
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit site
Ekkle Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Ekkle?
Clearstream: #1 in our Church Text Messaging Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad church messaging platform with automation, analytics, apps, and integrations.
Is there a free alternative to Ekkle?
Yes. Shepherding Connections, Gloo Communications, Vesperbell, Textiful and DialMyCalls have a free plan or a free tier (6 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Ekkle?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Connect Saints starts lowest, at $7/mo.
Why do people look for Ekkle alternatives?
Starts at $149.99 per month with no free plan; SMS broadcasts require recipient opt-in; Messaging is centered on broadcasts, with HELP and STOP replies.
Which Ekkle alternative has the most included messages?
Gloo Communications, with 5000 messages/mo.
How do I switch from Ekkle?
Export your data from Ekkle (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Ekkle.
How to Switch from Ekkle
- Export your data from Ekkle (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Ekkle.
Ekkle vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Two-way messaging | Scheduled messages | Recurring messages | Audience segmentation | Included messages | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Ekkle | No | $149.99/mo | Yes | 7.0 | ||||
| 1 | Clearstream | No | $35/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1000 messages/mo | 9.4 |
| 2 | Text In Church | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1250 messages/mo | 9.3 | |
| 3 | Shepherding Connections | Yes | $290/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 4 | TextSpot | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 500 messages/mo | 8.9 | |
| 5 | Gloo Communications | Yes | $499.80/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5000 messages/mo | 8.8 |
| 6 | Evant | No | $20/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 7 | Vesperbell | Yes | $29/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2000 messages/mo | 8.5 | |
| 8 | Churchflow | No | $24/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 400 messages/mo | 8.4 | |
| 9 | Textiful | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 350 messages/mo | 8.3 | ||
| 10 | Mobile Message | No | A$0.02/unit usage-based | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 11 | SlickText | No | Yes | 8.1 | |||||
| 12 | DialMyCalls | Yes | $9.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 150 messages/mo | 8.0 |
| 13 | Connect Saints | No | $7/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | ||
| 14 | Unity Messaging | Yes | $4/unit/yr | Yes | Yes | 7.8 | |||
| 15 | Amplify Communications | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.7 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update