ChurchSoftware Accounting

ChurchSoftware Accounting is church-focused software for tracking funds, transactions and financial reports, with online giving connected to accounting. It suits 501(c)(3) churches that want those capabilities alongside a broad church-management platform. Its strongest case is a free core platform; the main caveat is that eligibility and add-on costs shape the real fit.

Overview

The accounting tools cover designated funds, income and expenses, budget tracking and reporting, while the wider platform includes people and volunteer management, groups, check-in, event registration, forms, a sermon library and a church mobile app. That breadth can reduce the need to assemble separate tools for routine church administration. The free core is limited to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations, however, and services such as payroll or a church website cost extra.

Key features

• Fund accounting: Track designated funds for missions, building projects and benevolence. This is useful when church leaders need to keep earmarked contributions distinct from other money.
• Income and expenses: Record tithes, offerings, donations, bills, payroll and ministry expenses, alongside budget tracking and expense management. Payroll can be part of the workflow, but using the payroll service adds a monthly charge.
• Financial reporting: Generate financial statements, giving reports and custom summaries. These support regular financial oversight beyond a transaction ledger.
• Connected giving: Online giving and donations connect to accounting for automatic recordkeeping, reducing the need to re-enter giving activity.
• Security and support: The company describes the product as secure and says it uses reasonable privacy safeguards, but does not promise absolute security. Contact-form inquiries typically receive a response within 1–2 business days.

Pricing

The Your Church Plan costs free and is billed free forever. It includes the core tools and is available to 501(c)(3) organizations, including churches, parachurch organizations, nonprofits and mission organizations. There is no trial because the core platform has no fees or trials. For an eligible church, this is a substantial starting package; organizations that do not qualify cannot rely on this free offer.

The accounting plan, called Church Plan, has no published price and includes fund accounting, income and expense tracking, financial reporting and integrated giving. The platform also charges for some optional services: a church website is $59/mo, a branded mobile app is $149/mo, or the website and branded app bundle is $199/mo. Background checks cost $10 per check. Payroll costs $25/mo + $9 per employee, and two-way texting costs $29/mo. Churches should account for these charges when deciding whether the free core covers their needs.

Platforms

ChurchSoftware Accounting is available on Android, iOS and the web, giving church staff a choice of mobile or browser access.

Who it's for

The vendor positions the software for churches ranging from church plants to multi-site megachurches. Its free core is most compelling for an eligible church that wants fund and expense tracking together with giving and administrative tools. Churches outside the stated eligibility, or those that need paid add-ons, should weigh the resulting costs before choosing it.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Fund tracking covers designated purposes such as missions and benevolence, helping churches distinguish earmarked money.
• Pro: Giving connects to accounting for automatic recordkeeping, complementing transaction and financial reporting tools.
• Pro: The free-forever core includes a broad set of church-management tools for qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations.
• Con: Eligibility restricts who can use the free core, so other organizations should not treat it as a no-cost option.
• Con: Website, branded app, payroll, background checks and texting can add recurring or per-check expenses.
• Con: The security statement does not specify certifications or compliance standards, which may matter to churches with formal security requirements.

Alternatives

For other church-accounting options, browse Church Accounting Software or Fund Accounting Software.

• CDM+ is a paid option with a free trial and Android, iOS, Mac, web and Windows support; consider it if you want a trial before committing to a paid tool.
• ChurchFinance has a free Starter plan for one team member with transaction tracking and category and fund management, plus a Growth plan at $71 a month billed $853 annually for up to five team members. Choose it if that narrower free tier or its stated team limit better matches your needs.
• ChurchTrac is a paid option with a free trial and plans based on people counts, starting at $29 a month for 75 people. Consider it if you prefer a clearly stated monthly price tied to congregation size.
• Grain Ledger offers a web-based free Starter plan with up to $20k in monthly expenses, one bank connection, three users, unlimited funds and one active budget. It may suit a church that wants those explicit usage limits and does not need mobile access.
• Vestrybooks has a free web plan for recording money in and out, fund tracking, a donor list and online giving with no platform cut where available. Consider it if those functions meet your needs and you want a simpler stated free offering.
• Churchsoft Assist is a paid suite with a free trial and Android, iOS, Mac, web and Windows support; consider it if you want to evaluate a paid suite first.
• FellowshipOne offers a tailored solution for churches; consider it if you want to discuss a custom-fit option.
• IconCMO is a paid option with a free trial and Android, iOS and web support; consider it if you want to evaluate a paid alternative first.

Verdict

ChurchSoftware Accounting is a strong fit for a 501(c)(3) church seeking fund accounting, expense tracking, connected giving and broader administration without a core-platform fee. Its key advantage is that breadth in one free-forever package; its key reason to look elsewhere is that eligibility excludes some organizations and add-ons can raise the total cost.