Church Windows

Church Windows is a modular church-management suite for congregations that want membership, scheduling, donations, accounting, and payroll in one product. It suits churches choosing between local installation and remote access, provided they can commit for a year and match their module and seat needs to the plan.

Overview

Computer Helper Publishing says more than 12,000 churches have used its products and services, serving congregations of different sizes and denominations since 1987. The modular structure lets a church start with a limited scope and add functions, although a one-module subscription leaves other administrative work outside the system.

Desktop and Web editions have the same features and functionality. Desktop is installed locally; Web runs through a secure remote desktop connection and is hosted through the company’s hosting partners. The practical choice is therefore about access, infrastructure, and seat requirements rather than capability.

Key features

Membership maintains family records and member involvement. Scheduler tracks calendars, locations, equipment, and event duties, making it useful for coordinating facilities and volunteers. It does not provide event registration, so churches that need attendee sign-ups will need another tool.

Donations records pledges and giving. Accounting uses fund accounting and supports reporting, exporting, and direct imports from Donations and Payroll. That shared workflow can reduce rekeying for churches using several modules, while a single-module plan cannot deliver those cross-module benefits.

Payroll generates checks, reports, and tax forms, keeps federal and state tax tables and forms current, and supports electronic filing through Aatrix. Integrations include Vanco contribution imports, Notebird pastoral care, Constant Contact email and surveys, and KidCheck child safety. Child check-in is supported, as are group management and volunteer scheduling.

Subscriptions include updates and support. Support tiers range from resources and webinars to phone and email assistance, with training and onboarding depending on the tier. Web access uses a secure remote desktop connection; one Web subscription seat permits one user at a time, and each additional concurrent seat costs $50 per month. If Web service ends, the maker says data can be made accessible for historical use.

Pricing

There is no free plan, but a free working trial is offered. The downloadable trial is Windows-compatible; Mac or Web trial access requires calling the company. Every listed subscription is billed monthly with a 12-month contract.

Plan	Price	What it fits
1 module · Standard · Desktop	$19 a month	One function, local installation, standard support
1 module · Deluxe · Desktop	$29 a month	One function with deluxe support
2 modules · Standard · Desktop	$39 a month	Two functions locally
3 modules · Standard · Desktop	$49 a month	Three functions locally
1 module · Elite · Desktop	$59 a month	One function with elite support
1 module · Standard · Web	$69 a month	One remotely accessed function
1 module · Deluxe · Web	$79 a month	One function with deluxe support
2 modules · Standard · Web	$89 a month	Two remotely accessed functions
3 modules · Standard · Web	$99 a month	Three remotely accessed functions
1 module · Elite · Web	$109 a month	One function with elite support

Desktop starts at $19 a month, but requires a 64-bit Windows computer; current and future versions operate only on 64-bit machines. Web costs substantially more at each matching module and support level, and the one-user-at-a-time seat rule can raise the real cost for teams. The 12-month contract also makes these monthly prices a year-long commitment rather than a short-term subscription.

Platforms

Church Windows is offered on macOS, Web, and Windows. The Desktop edition requires 64-bit Windows. Mac users can use the Web edition, but Mac trial access requires contacting the company. Web provides remote access through a secure remote desktop connection, while Desktop keeps installation local.

Who it's for

Churches wanting membership, scheduling, giving, accounting, and payroll in one modular system are the natural audience. It is particularly suitable when fund accounting, payroll tax forms, and imports between Donations, Accounting, and Payroll matter. Churches with remote workers can choose Web, while churches with a compatible local Windows machine can spend less on Desktop. Congregations needing event registration, more than one simultaneous Web user, or a month-to-month commitment should look carefully at the trade-offs.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Broad church administration coverage: Membership, scheduling, donations, accounting, and payroll can be combined as needs grow.
• Useful accounting connections: Direct imports from Donations and Payroll support a more continuous financial workflow.
• Maintained payroll compliance tools: Tax tables, forms, and Aatrix electronic filing address recurring payroll requirements.
• Choice of access model: Identical Web and Desktop functionality lets churches prioritize remote access or local installation.

Cons

• Annual commitment: Every listed plan uses a 12-month contract, limiting flexibility for short-term or uncertain needs.
• Web seat surcharge: The base Web price covers one concurrent user; each additional seat adds $50 per month.
• Desktop hardware constraint: Local installation requires 64-bit Windows, excluding a native Desktop option for Mac users.
• No event registration: Scheduler handles calendars and duties but not attendee registration.

Alternatives

CDM+ is worth considering if Android and iOS access, API support, or a $25 a month Essentials plan for one program and one user is more suitable.

FellowshipOne is a paid, cross-platform church-management option with Web, Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS support.

ParishSOFT is an alternative when a paid system with a free trial and dedicated giving consulting is preferred; its listed consulting plan is 250.00 USD once for two hours.

ACS Facility Scheduler is a narrower choice for Web or Windows facility scheduling.

ADP Workforce Now is the better direction for organizations focused on payroll processing, tax filing, direct deposit, and employee access.

isolved HCM offers a modular platform with customized pricing for organizations of different sizes and industries.

PowerChurch Check In is a focused check-in option, including an $18 a month online subscription that requires PowerChurch Online.

PDS Ledger is another paid Web and Windows option from ACS Technologies.

For category browsing, see Church Payroll Software, Nonprofit Accounting Software, Church Accounting Software, Church Directory Software, and Church Management Software.

Verdict

Choose Church Windows if your church wants selectable modules that cover records, scheduling, giving, accounting, and payroll, with a choice between local Windows installation and remote Web access. Its strongest case is the combination of church-specific administration and connected accounting and payroll workflows. Look elsewhere if you need event registration, flexible cancellation, simultaneous Web access for several users without substantial added cost, or a Desktop edition that runs natively on Mac.