Best Shepherding Connections Alternatives in 2026
The top Shepherding Connections alternatives are Clearstream, Text In Church and TextSpot: 15 church text messaging software our editors would look at instead of Shepherding Connections, in our ranking order.
Shepherding Connections: A broad church texting toolkit with a free entry point and automation features. Where it falls short: free forever excludes SMS messaging.
Switching from Shepherding Connections? For most church text messaging software buyers the best Shepherding Connections alternative is Clearstream, built for churches needing a mature, full-featured texting platform. On a budget, Connect Saints starts at $7/mo. Gloo Communications has a free plan. Gloo Communications offers the most included messages (5000 messages/mo).
Why People Look for a Shepherding Connections Alternative
- Free Forever excludes SMS messaging
- Messaging is limited to United States and Canada numbers
- Connections is currently in beta
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 optionGloo Communications8.8
Has a free plan
Visit Gloo Communications - Most included messagesGloo Communications8.8
5000 messages/mo
Visit Gloo Communications
All 15 Shepherding Connections 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 Shepherding Connections:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 9.1
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 Shepherding Connections:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 9.1
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 forChurches needing integrations and multimedia texting
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
Best forChurch teams wanting collaborative texting apps
A practical choice for teams sharing inboxes, broadcasts, and scheduled texts.
- Mobile app
- Scheduled messages
- Two-way messaging
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Falkon SMS
Shepherding Connections Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Shepherding Connections?
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 Shepherding Connections?
Yes. Gloo Communications, Vesperbell, Textiful, DialMyCalls and Unity Messaging have a free plan or a free tier.
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Shepherding Connections?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Connect Saints starts lowest, at $7/mo.
Why do people look for Shepherding Connections alternatives?
Free Forever excludes SMS messaging; Messaging is limited to United States and Canada numbers; Connections is currently in beta.
Which Shepherding Connections alternative has the most included messages?
Gloo Communications, with 5000 messages/mo.
How do I switch from Shepherding Connections?
Export your data from Shepherding Connections (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 Shepherding Connections.
How to Switch from Shepherding Connections
- Export your data from Shepherding Connections (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 Shepherding Connections.
Shepherding Connections vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Two-way messaging | Scheduled messages | Recurring messages | Audience segmentation | Included messages | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Shepherding Connections | Yes | $290/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 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 | TextSpot | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 500 messages/mo | 8.9 | |
| 4 | Gloo Communications | Yes | $499.80/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5000 messages/mo | 8.8 |
| 5 | Evant | No | $20/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 6 | Vesperbell | Yes | $29/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2000 messages/mo | 8.5 | |
| 7 | Churchflow | No | $24/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 400 messages/mo | 8.4 | |
| 8 | Textiful | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 350 messages/mo | 8.3 | ||
| 9 | Mobile Message | No | A$0.02/unit usage-based | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 10 | SlickText | No | Yes | 8.1 | |||||
| 11 | DialMyCalls | Yes | $9.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 150 messages/mo | 8.0 |
| 12 | Connect Saints | No | $7/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | ||
| 13 | Unity Messaging | Yes | $4/unit/yr | Yes | Yes | 7.8 | |||
| 14 | Amplify Communications | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.7 | ||||
| 15 | Falkon SMS | No | $14.99/user/mo | Yes | Yes | 250 messages/mo | 7.6 |
Head-to-Head
- Shepherding Connections vs Clearstream
- Shepherding Connections vs Text In Church
- Shepherding Connections vs TextSpot
- Shepherding Connections vs Gloo Communications
- Shepherding Connections vs Evant
- Shepherding Connections vs Vesperbell
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update