Best Empower ChMS Alternatives in 2026
The top Empower ChMS alternatives are Planning Center, ChurchRaise and Rock RMS: 15 church management software our editors would look at instead of Empower ChMS, in our ranking order.
Empower ChMS: A practical web-based ChMS for small churches needing core administration. Where it falls short: web-only access limits platform flexibility.
Switching from Empower ChMS? For most church management software buyers the best Empower ChMS alternative is Planning Center, built for churches wanting broad value and mobile access. On a budget, ChMeetings starts at $12/mo. ChMeetings offers the most member limit (100 members).
Why People Look for an Empower ChMS Alternative
- Web-only access limits platform flexibility
- PowerChurch Online is the listed integration
- No mobile app or volunteer scheduling is documented
- No free plan — 6 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallPlanning Center9.4
Churches wanting broad value and mobile access
Visit Planning Center - Lowest priceChMeetings8.9
Paid plans from $12/mo
Visit ChMeetings - Best free optionPlanning Center9.4
Has a free plan (Empower ChMS has none)
Visit Planning Center - Most member limitChMeetings8.9
100 members
Visit ChMeetings
All 15 Empower ChMS 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 wanting broad value and mobile access
- Better than Empower ChMS:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.4 vs 6.7
A modular church suite covering people, groups, events, giving, services, and check-in.
- Event registration
- Child check-in
- SMS messaging
9.4/10★★★★★Try Planning Center -
Best forBudget-conscious churches needing an all-in-one system
- Better than Empower ChMS:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.3 vs 6.7
A broad, free web platform covering church administration, communication, giving, and events.
- Event registration
- Child check-in
- SMS messaging
9.3/10★★★★★Visit ChurchRaise -
Best forChurches wanting open-source breadth and extensibility
- Better than Empower ChMS:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.2 vs 6.7
A broad, extensible church platform for organizations prepared to manage hosting.
- Event registration
- Child check-in
- SMS messaging
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Rock RMS -
Best forChurches wanting strong finance and ministry workflows
- Better than Empower ChMS:
- Editor score 9.1 vs 6.7
ChurchTrac combines ministry, finance, giving, and member workflows in one subscription.
- Event registration
- Child check-in
- SMS messaging
9.1/10★★★★★Visit ChurchTrac -
Best forChurches needing comprehensive features at low cost
- Better than Empower ChMS:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.9 vs 6.7
A broad church management suite with a permanent free tier and scalable people limits.
- Event registration
- Child check-in
- SMS messaging
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit ChMeetings -
Best forSmall churches needing affordable ministry operations
- Better than Empower ChMS:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 6.7
An affordable church operations suite with broad ministry coverage and limited integrations.
- Event registration
- Child check-in
- SMS messaging
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit ChurchSuite -
Best forTechnical churches wanting open-source flexibility
- Better than Empower ChMS:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.7 vs 6.7
A flexible church platform for teams that want broad features and deployment control.
- Event registration
- Child check-in
- SMS messaging
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit ChurchCMS -
Best forGrowing churches needing deep operations and integrations
- Better than Empower ChMS:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 6.7
A broad ChMS for churches that need operations, communication, finance, and integrations.
- Event registration
- Child check-in
- SMS messaging
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit ChurchTools -
Best forTechnical churches wanting a free self-hosted core
- Better than Empower ChMS:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.5 vs 6.7
A capable free core for churches prepared to manage hosting and administration.
- Child check-in
- SMS messaging
- Volunteer scheduling
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit ChurchCRM -
Best forLarge churches or dioceses needing customization
- Better than Empower ChMS:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 6.7
A broad, customizable system for churches, parishes, dioceses, and denominational offices.
- Event registration
- Child check-in
- SMS messaging
8.4/10★★★★☆Try MinistryPlatform -
Best forChurches prioritizing communications and workflows
- Better than Empower ChMS:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 6.7
A broad church operations platform with strong communication and workflow coverage.
- Event registration
- Child check-in
- SMS messaging
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit SimpleChurch -
Best forChurches needing giving, worship, and check-in together
- Better than Empower ChMS:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 6.7
A wide church operations suite combining membership, giving, worship, and check-in.
- Event registration
- Child check-in
- SMS messaging
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit FellowshipOne -
Best forOrganizations needing customizable API-led church management
- Better than Empower ChMS:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 6.7
A broad church management platform with records, communications, finance, APIs, and mobile apps.
- Event registration
- Child check-in
- SMS messaging
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit TouchPoint -
Best forEstablished churches needing broad core ChMS features
- Better than Empower ChMS:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 6.7
A broad ChMS covering membership, ministry coordination, communication, giving, and reporting.
- Event registration
- Child check-in
- SMS messaging
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Realm -
Best forChurches wanting a polished paid all-in-one system
- Better than Empower ChMS:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.7
A broad paid church management system with records, ministry workflows, and giving options.
- Event registration
- Child check-in
- SMS messaging
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Tithely
Empower ChMS Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Empower ChMS?
Planning Center: #1 in our Church Management Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A modular church suite covering people, groups, events, giving, services, and check-in.
Is there a free alternative to Empower ChMS?
Yes. Planning Center, ChurchRaise, Rock RMS, ChMeetings and ChurchCMS have a free plan or a free tier (6 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Empower ChMS?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, ChMeetings starts lowest, at $12/mo.
Why do people look for Empower ChMS alternatives?
Web-only access limits platform flexibility; PowerChurch Online is the listed integration; No mobile app or volunteer scheduling is documented.
Which Empower ChMS alternative has the most member limit?
ChMeetings, with 100 members.
How do I switch from Empower ChMS?
Export your data from Empower ChMS (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 Empower ChMS.
How to Switch from Empower ChMS
- Export your data from Empower ChMS (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 Empower ChMS.
Empower ChMS vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Group management | Event registration | Child check-in | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Empower ChMS | No | $499/yr | Yes | 6.7 | ||
| 1 | Planning Center | Yes | $15/unit/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | ChurchRaise | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.3 |
| 3 | Rock RMS | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 4 | ChurchTrac | No | $29/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.1 |
| 5 | ChMeetings | Yes | $12/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 |
| 6 | ChurchSuite | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | ||
| 7 | ChurchCMS | Yes | $290/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 |
| 8 | ChurchTools | No | $39/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 |
| 9 | ChurchCRM | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 10 | MinistryPlatform | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.4 | ||
| 11 | SimpleChurch CRM | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | ||
| 12 | FellowshipOne | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.2 | ||
| 13 | TouchPoint | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 14 | Realm | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.0 | |
| 15 | Tithely Church Management | No | $72/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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