Launching a new church is no small feat. It takes prayer, boldness, community, and a whole lot of spreadsheets—unless, of course, you’ve got the right church management software (ChMS) on your side.
If you’re planting a church, you’re likely operating with a smaller budget, a lean team, and a whole lot of passion. That means you don’t need the most feature-rich or expensive tools out there—you need affordable, simple, and effective solutions to help you manage your growing ministry.
This guide outlines some of the best ChMS platforms for church plants in 2025. These aren’t “lite” versions of enterprise software—they’re tools that fit the unique needs of smaller, newer churches looking to make a big impact.
What Makes a Great ChMS for Church Plants?
Before diving into the options, let’s look at what matters most when choosing a ChMS as a church planter:
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- Affordability: Every dollar counts. You need tools that don’t break the bank.
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- Simplicity: You don’t have a full-time IT department, so user-friendly software is a must.
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- Scalability: As your church grows, your tools should grow with you.
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- Design: Younger congregations are used to sleek, intuitive digital experiences.
We chose not to rank these and decided to list them alphabetically. Every church is different and so is every ChMS. We’re all about encouraging churches to find the best fit for their mission and ministry. Now, on to the best ChMS options for church plants to consider.
Churchteams
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Starting at: $37/month
Churchteams is a favorite among church planters and smaller congregations for good reason. Its pricing scales with church size, making it an affordable choice as you grow. Churches often praise its intuitive interface, straightforward features, and strong customer support.
It doesn’t try to be everything—it just does what it does well. From check-ins to group management, Churchteams keeps it simple and practical. You can even try it for free to see if it’s the right fit for your team before making a commitment.
Nucleus
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Website + Giving + Media, All in One
From the creators at Pro Church Tools comes Nucleus—a design-forward platform made with younger churches in mind. You can build a beautiful, functional church website and access built-in giving tools with some of the lowest transaction fees in the industry.
It’s not a traditional ChMS in the back-end database sense, but if you’re focusing on engagement, online giving, and design, it might be a perfect fit—especially in the early days of your plant.
Plus, you can request a free trial and test it out for yourself.
Planning Center
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Starting at: Free, with paid modules
If there’s one name that shows up at almost every church staff meeting in America, it’s Planning Center. Worship teams in particular swear by it, and for good reason—the Services module is best-in-class.
Planning Center’s modular approach means you only pay for what you need. Start with free tools (like People), and then add features like giving, check-ins, and registrations as your church grows. It’s also highly integratable, making it easy to fill any gaps with third-party tools.
Think of Planning Center as a “build-your-own” software sandwich—pick the modules that fit your flavor and budget.
Subsplash
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Focus: Media-Forward Engagement + Church Management
If you’re dreaming big from day one, Subsplash might be your launchpad. It’s best known for its beautiful websites, custom church apps, and media-rich platforms that help you create a vibrant digital presence from the get-go.
Subsplash blends form and function, giving you tools to manage your church while providing an impressive front-facing experience for visitors. While it may be a bit more investment than other options, its visual polish and built-in engagement tools can give your church plant a professional edge.
Tithe.ly (with Breeze)
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Affordable All-in-One Option
Tithe.ly’s acquisition of Breeze Church Management Software brought together one of the most user-friendly ChMS platforms with Tithe.ly’s giving tools. That makes this a fantastic all-in-one solution for church plants.
There’s no monthly fee for giving (though there are transaction fees), and their platform includes tools for events, email, messaging, giving, and more. It’s a solid option for planters looking for a centralized hub without a steep learning curve.
Pro tip: If your budget allows, investing in the full Tithe.ly suite can streamline your operations from day one.
Choosing a ChMS as a Church Planter
If you’ve recently stepped out in faith to start a new church, chances are the ChMS you used at a larger, more established congregation isn’t the right tool for your new ministry. That’s okay. Think of it like buying your first home—it may not have everything, but it meets your needs and gives you room to grow.
Each of the platforms listed above offers something unique, whether it’s budget-conscious functionality, sleek media tools, or plug-and-play flexibility. You might even outgrow your ChMS one day—and that’s a good problem to have. But right now, what you need is a simple, reliable tool to help you connect with people, manage ministry, and build momentum.
Pray over the process. Be patient. And equip yourself with the tools to thrive. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your church plant won’t be either—but with God’s guidance (and the right ChMS), you’ll be ready for every step of the journey.
We hope this guide helps you find the right fit for your ministry. May your church plant thrive and invite more people into God’s Kingdom!
