Shepherding Connections
7.2#3 in church text messaging softwareFrom $29 a monthFree planAndroidiOSWeb
VisitShepherding Connections vs Vesperbell
Vesperbell
6.6#13 in church text messaging softwareFrom $29 a monthFree planWeb
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Shepherding Connections | Vesperbell |
|---|---|---|
| Automations | Automations can send SMS or email, create follow-up tasks, assign team members, branch based on replies, and run on a repeating cadence. | Users can describe a follow-up in their own words, and Vesperbell drafts a workflow that stops when the recipient replies. |
| Purpose | Connections is the text messaging side of Shepherding Tools for following up with visitors and other people who are not on the church's rolls. | Vesperbell brings texting, email, and calling into one place for churches to welcome guests, follow up with members, and keep teams aligned. |
| Security | The maker says data is transmitted over HTTPS/TLS, encrypted at rest with AES-256, and isolated by church at the database layer. | The privacy policy says Vesperbell uses reasonable safeguards to protect information and retains it as needed to provide the service and meet legal and compliance obligations. |
| Support | The documentation says support messages receive a reply within one business day. | The pricing page says Vesperbell walks customers through one-time carrier registration forms during setup and offers help choosing a plan when a waitlist spot opens. |
Shepherding Connections plans
- Free ForeverFree
- Small Church$29 a month
- Medium Church$49 a month
- Large Church$99 a month
- Unlimited$199 a month
Vesperbell plans
- FreeFree
- Starter$29 a month
- Growth$79 a month
- Pro$199 a month
Pick Shepherding Connections if…
It suits pastors, elders, and deacons who need to coordinate visitor follow-up by text. Churches should note the geographic limit and that SMS requires a paid plan.
Pick Vesperbell if…
Vesperbell is aimed at churches that need shared texting, email, calling, and follow-up tools for teams. Its listed plans range from a capped free tier to paid options with more contacts, seats, numbers, and messaging capacity.