ChurchTrac

Overview

ChurchTrac is a church management platform for congregations that want administration, worship planning, giving, and member-facing tools in one subscription. It is a strong fit for churches consolidating those jobs; its people caps and add-on costs make plan selection important.

Founded in 2002 and based in Jacksonville, Florida, ChurchTrac serves churches across sizes and denominations. Every tracked individual counts against a plan’s people limit, though archived names do not, so the right tier depends on the records the church actively maintains.

Church Connect adds a website builder, member portal, and mobile app to every subscription. For a broader category view, see Church Management Software.

Key features

Administration and weekly ministry

People and group management, attendance, fund accounting, and giving cover core administrative work. Worship planning, volunteer scheduling, event registration, and child check-in extend the system into service preparation and congregation events. That breadth is useful for churches seeking one platform, but ChurchTrac’s closed API is a drawback for organizations that need to connect it to other software through an open interface.

Giving, messaging, and security

Online giving connects with Stripe, but processing fees apply, so giving volume adds a cost beyond the subscription. Enhanced Messaging costs $7 per month for 250 credits; churches with heavier messaging needs should account for that allowance and charge in their budget.

ChurchTrac says it keeps account data in separate databases, uses TLS encryption for connections, makes regular backups, and does not retain card or bank details. Two-factor authentication is available by email and by SMS or voice call, although SMS-based 2FA is limited to North America.

Check-in and support

Desktop check-in supports Windows 10 or later and macOS 11 or later, with an iPad check-in app also available. ChurchTrac offers one-on-one setup sessions, weekly live training, tutorial videos, and help articles, backed by a Jacksonville-based support team. That support mix should help churches getting started with a wide-ranging system.

Pricing

ChurchTrac is paid software with a 30-day trial and no free plan. Monthly plans are $29 a month for 75 people, $39 a month for 125, $59 a month for 250, $79 a month for 500, $99 a month for 1,000, and $119 a month for unlimited people tracked.

The 75-person tier is the lowest-cost entry point for a small congregation with a modest active directory. The 125- and 250-person tiers offer more room as records grow, while the 500- and 1,000-person plans suit larger directories. Unlimited tracking removes that particular ceiling, at a substantially higher monthly price. Archived records do not count, which can help churches keep historical names without moving to a larger tier.

Annual options are also shown for the 75-, 125-, and 250-person tiers, but have custom pricing. Every subscription includes Church Connect. Enhanced Messaging adds $7 per month for 250 credits, and online giving carries Stripe processing fees; these costs matter for churches that rely heavily on communication or digital donations.

Platforms

ChurchTrac supports Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows. The Church Connect mobile app is included with subscriptions. Check-in has its own desktop requirements: Windows 10 or later, macOS 11 or later, or an iPad check-in app.

Who it's for

ChurchTrac suits churches that want member records, attendance, accounting, giving, worship preparation, volunteer scheduling, registration, and child check-in within one system, with a website and member app included. It can serve a church plant or a larger ministry, provided the selected people tier fits its active records. Churches that need an open API, or that want to avoid extra messaging and payment-processing costs, should weigh those limits before committing.

Pros and cons

• Broad church toolkit: Administration, worship, giving, events, and child check-in are brought together in one platform.
• Church Connect included: Every subscription comes with a website builder, member portal, and mobile app.
• Practical onboarding support: One-on-one setup and weekly live training complement tutorials and help articles.
• People caps shape the price: Each tracked individual counts, so a growing directory may require a higher tier.
• Some costs sit outside the subscription: Enhanced Messaging is $7 per month for 250 credits, and Stripe processing fees apply to online giving.
• Closed API: Churches seeking an open API for integrations should consider another option.

Alternatives

For churches focused mainly on bookkeeping and giving, ChurchSoftware Accounting has a free plan with fund accounting, income and expense tracking, financial reporting, and integrated giving; it is a narrower alternative to ChurchTrac’s broader management scope.

CDM+ is a paid alternative with a free trial and support for Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows. ChurchFinance offers a free Starter plan for transaction tracking, categories, and funds, while its Growth plan is $71 a month, billed $853 annually, for up to five team members. Grain Ledger has a free Starter tier with up to $20k in monthly expenses, one bank connection, three users, unlimited funds, and one active budget; its Growth plan is $70 a month.

Vestrybooks offers a free tier for recording money in and out, fund tracking, a donor list, online giving with no platform cut where available, and year-end statement previews. Churchsoft Assist is a paid alternative with a free trial and an entire suite included in its $40 a month Assist 2022 plan. FellowshipOne is another church management option. IconCMO is paid software with a free trial and Android, iOS, and web support; its Membership & Donation Basic plan is $50 a month.

For readers comparing focused categories, see Church Accounting Software, Nonprofit Text-to-Give Software, Fund Accounting Software, Church Giving Software, and Church Directory Software.

Verdict

ChurchTrac is a compelling choice for churches that want administrative, financial, worship, and member-facing tools bundled together, especially when the included Church Connect site and app can replace separate services. Its main trade-offs are the tracked-person ceiling on most plans, extra messaging and Stripe costs, and a closed API. Choose it when the breadth and included member tools outweigh those constraints; look elsewhere if integration flexibility or predictable all-in costs matter more.