Did you know some church app builders are completely free, while others don’t require any coding skills?
Plus, many offer advanced features like live streaming and donation management.
Here are the top 8 best church app builders to consider:
Read on to learn about their key features, reviews, and pricing to help you choose the right one.
How To Choose a Church App Builder
A church app builder can help bring your congregation closer together and streamline your church’s day-to-day operations.
However, not all church app builders offer the same features. When choosing the right app builder, look for the following:
- No-code interface: This empowers users with zero coding or technical experience to build apps. Instead of writing lines of code or understanding complex programming, you use a simple drag-and-drop interface. This interface works much like moving files around on your desktop — easy and intuitive.
- Customization: You can start by choosing a template as the foundation for your app. A quality church app builder will let you customize nearly every part of this template. You can change colors, resize images and elements, and add your photos and icons. By the end, your app will be unique, reflecting your church’s personality and needs.
- Advanced functionality: The best church app builders come packed with features that enhance your app’s usefulness. You can enable congregants to sign up for events, make donations via integrated payment platforms, share sermons, and much more.
#1. Adalo
Overview
Adalo is an intuitive no-code platform enabling you to build a custom church app that your congregants can easily download to their phones, enhancing community engagement through features like donations, event sign-ups, and media sharing.
Features
- Not only will your congregants be able to find your app on the web, but they’ll also be able to download it from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. This way, they can access their app whenever they have an internet connection with just a few taps.
- Adalo is packed with thousands of third-party integrations, such as Zapier, Stripe, and YouTube. These allow you to take donations directly from your app, share live videos of past sermons with your congregation, and execute many other tasks.
- Explore Adalo's Component Marketplace, offering various plugins and components, like animated tabs, that help create a more dynamic and engaging app for your congregation.
Pricing
Start using Adalo for free or upgrade to the Starter Plan for $45/month (billed monthly).
#2. Church Base
Overview
Church Base is an all-in-one church software-building platform created by Digital Ministry Scriptures, and it lets you create an app, website, and management tools for your church.
Features
- Church Base provides a customizable platform for creating branded websites and mobile apps, which will help you boost your church's message and accessibility.
- You can manage events and communication with congregants all in one place, simplifying those pesky administrative tasks.
- Because the parent company is a non-profit organization, it prioritizes its mission of spreading the good news over making money, so this church app builder is free.
Pricing
As we said earlier, this church app builder is absolutely free. While it sounds too good to be true, the International Scriptures Ministry (a non-profit) aims to spread the Gospel to everyone on Earth.
Just fill out their survey and start getting set up.
#3. Subsplash
Overview
Subsplash provides a comprehensive platform to optimize how your church engages your congregation and community.
Features
- Subsplash offers live streaming capabilities through its platform, allowing your community to watch sermons live via the app, website, or even directly on TV through integrations with services like Facebook Live and YouTube.
- Subsplash also provides functions to boost your day, such as a group messaging feature so your congregation can connect and a child check-in feature if you have daycare services.
Pricing
Subsplash doesn’t publish pricing plans, but you can contact them to learn pricing info.
#4. Custom Church Apps
Overview
Custom Church Apps provides a cutting-edge technology management system for your church while connecting members through integrated solutions.
Features
- Streamline all your church’s operations with Custom Church Apps’ centralized system. You’ll have all your events, media, congregation information, and financial management tools in one easy-to-access place.
- Custom Church Apps provides a volunteer management system, allowing you to create new events, help volunteers sign up, and conduct background checks.
Pricing
Custom Church Apps doesn’t publicize its pricing tiers, so contact them to set up a demo.
#5. MinistryOne
Overview
Ministry One, part of Ministry Brands, is an app builder that integrates with your existing church management systems, yet it can be customized to match your church’s unique message.
Features
- Ministry One comes with a collection of templates that you can pick from and then tailor to create an app that best reflects your church’s message.
- You’ll have integrations with YouTube, Vimeo, and Clover so your congregation can re-watch your latest sermon.
Pricing
Contact Ministry One for details about pricing.
#6. Jotform
Overview
Jotform is a native mobile app builder that lets you create a church app that focuses on connecting your congregation with your community and each other.
Features
- Jotform has a customizable Church App Template that you can craft to meet the needs of your church.
- Choose from thousands of forms or create your own to give your app more functionality. For example, you can sign up for events, provide feedback about Bible study topics, donate to charities, and more.
- You’ll have access to over 30 payment processing integrations, allowing you to take donations from platforms like Apple Pay, Stripe, Google Pay, and more.
Pricing
You can build a basic church app for free. If you want to build an app that has up to 25 forms and can receive up to 1,000 submissions, try the Bronze version for $39/month (billed monthly).
#7. Sharefaith
Overview
Sharefaith is a church app builder that’s full of resources to help share your message with your congregation, as well as church management tools to improve your operations.
Features
- Sharefaith provides a robust library of resources for kids, such as games, Bible comments, and other tools, so you can ensure the youngest members of your church hear your message, too.
- You’ll also get software tools to manage your staff, church operations, and finances.
Pricing
Pricing starts at $25/month (billed monthly), providing you with loads of digital resources and a graphics editor. For $55/month (billed monthly), you’ll get more digital content and lessons.
#8. Tithe.ly
Overview
Tithe.ly is a popular church app builder that provides all the tools you need to create an app that manages your church’s operations while providing a platform for your congregation.
Features
- Tithe.ly comes with a content management system for organizing your operations, from member management to helping with your financial reporting.
- Your congregants can download your Tithe.ly-made app directly to their phones, so you can send them push notifications about the latest church events.
- Congregants can set up revolving donations to your church or other churches and charities you support.
Pricing
Tithe.ly’s Giving Version is free and allows for publishing to the Apple App and Google Play Store, but you’ll need to pay a fee of around 3% for every monetary transaction made through the app.
Check out Tithe.ly’s All-Access version, which provides events management tools and a point-of-sale system for $119/month (billed monthly).
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Create an App for My Church?
Anyone can create an app for their church using a no-code app-building platform like Adalo. Instead of code, you’ll use a drag-and-drop interface that functions like photo editing software. You don’t need any technical or programming experience to use a no-code app builder.
How Much Does It Cost to Build an App for a Church?
Hiring a development agency to create a simple app usually ranges between $6,000 and $10,000, while a more complex app with advanced features for a large congregation can exceed $100,000. They usually charge by the hour, so the rate can vary greatly based on the complexity of your app.
Alternatively, using a no-code app builder like Adalo costs around $45 per month. You could have a basic app ready in the first month and a fully functional app in a few months. While you’ll need to continue paying this monthly fee, it’s still far more affordable than spending thousands upfront on a custom-built app.
Should My Church Have an App?
Having an app for your church will allow you to engage your congregation better, organize church activities in one place, collect donations, and much more. We highly recommend having an app for your church — it’ll make your life and operations easier.
How Do I Choose the Best Church App Builder?
The app builder you choose depends on your congregation size, budget, and desired features. If you’ve got a growing congregation in the 100s, you’ll need an app that can scale so everyone can get it on their phones.
You’ll also want to consider which features each app builder offers. At the very least, you’ll want one that offers functionalities like taking donations, sharing sermons, a library for Bible passages and other literature, and a scheduler. These functions will streamline your operations and provide insightful resources to your congregation.
How Long Does It Take to Build a Church App?
Building a church app can take around 4 months if you dedicate 4 to 5 days per week using a simple and user-friendly app builder like Adalo.
The exact time may vary depending on your availability and the complexity of the app builder, as some platforms have a steeper learning curve than others.
Do Church App Builders Support Multiple Languages?
Many church app builders support multiple languages, allowing you to create several versions of your app in different languages. For instance, Adalo offers multilingual support.
Next Steps With Adalo
When exploring your options, start by trying out the free versions or demos offered by each church app builder. This will help you determine which platform feels most intuitive and suits your needs best.
Consider starting with Adalo, which offers one of the most generous free versions among all the church app builders on our list.
With Adalo, you can build and release your church app as a web app at no initial cost, allowing your congregation to access it immediately. Its no-code interface makes it ideal for those without technical expertise, and its robust library of third-party integrations — like Zapier, Stripe, and YouTube — enables you to expand your app’s functionality with ease.
Adalo's flexible platform also allows you to scale your app as your congregation grows. It is a versatile solution for churches looking for a user-friendly and cost-effective app builder.
