7 Best Accounting Software for Churches (2024)

Not only do businesses have to keep accurate accounting and track of events; Churches do too. There is a need to keep track of the donations, tithes, Thanksgivings, projects, expenses, and trust between the laymen and the deacons or committee leaders of your church.

While this openness is important, your church can also get mandates from the government to give some form of reports. Hence, it is paramount that you give the best reporting and keep proper bookkeeping of your congregation’s finances. However, while there are lots of accounting software for accounting functionalities, there is a need you use proper Church accounting software for this purpose.

To help you sort out the best accounting option for your church, we have compiled in this post the best accounting software for Churches. Let’s see which software has graced this list.

Upfront Conclusion

The best accounting software for churches right now is Sage and Aplos.

Best Accounting Software for Churches Ranking

Sage – overall best accounting software for Churches.
Aplos – best for cloud feature
Powerchuch – top all-in-one software for Churches.
Shelby’s next financials – great set of features.
Realm – best for large Churches.
Fellowship one – top easy-to-use interface
Flockbase – best software for small and medium-sized churches.

1. Sage

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Churches may easily acquire deep real-time visibility into all the statistics with Sage church accounting software, allowing you to track budgets, spending, reports, accounts, and other indicators by various entities. The hassles of ineffective manual reporting are eliminated by Sage‘s simple, automated tools.

No more compiling spreadsheets and entering information again. Tracking budgets, costs, reports, accounts, and important metrics is as simple as pointing and clicking to view all the numbers—financial, operational, compliance, and outcomes.

Pricing

Accounting Start starts at $10 per month
Accounting starts at $20 per month

Features

Artificial intelligence that simplifies the process of creating your church-related account charts
Features multitude of programs
Order management
Gives clear perspective of the church’s budget for users
Integrate latest technology in your business to simplify operations
Unwavering dependability and safety
Timely reporting

Why Do We Recommend Sage?

For churches, the Sage offers a top-notch accounting and financial platform. You may use this functionality to generate financial reports based on the most recent financial information from your church’s accounts.

Sage assists in reducing bank reconciliations to tackle the problem that larger churches must manage multiple transactions, making it simpler to handle numerous transactions swiftly and efficiently.

Try Sage

2. Aplos

Aplos is a cloud-based non-profit and church accounting software that lets you track donations, memberships, projects, etc. It tops our list as the best accounting software for Churches because of its Cloud feature. It’s great for your church management, accounting and bookkeeping of the church’s funds.

It is also a good accounting software for small churches looking to grow as it will grow with you as the number of your congregation increases.

Pricing

Aplos full suite price starts at $49 per month.
Advanced Accounting price starts at $179 per month.
Aplos offers you a non-obligational 15-fay free trial but does not give a free version.

We recommend you buy the Aplos accounting entry price because it has the basic features any church would be interested in, such as donations tracking, non-profit financial, etc.

Features

It offers you integration with others apps and software such as Gusto, 1099 reporting, etc.
Let’s you manage and track donations.
Syncs with online payment platforms, banks, and fintech and allows you to accept online donations.
Exceptional budgeting reports made easy.
You can also easily create custom reports for different purposes as the need may arise.
Enables easy and faster non-profit reporting
You can track all finances raised by the church as well as expenses involved in projects and events.
It lets you create charts of accounts for deacons and deaconesses.

Why Do We Recommend Aplos?

Being developed by a CPA who was also a pastor, Aplos is the top cloud-based software for Churches, covering everything you may need from management to accounting and bookkeeping. Hence, it has earned first place in our research of the best accounting software for Churches, and we recommend it for this reason.

Even more, Aplos can is the right go-to when you have to deal with true funds accounting and can help you gain access to restricted funds.

3. Powerchurch

The best accounting software for Churches runner-up to Aplos is Powerchurch, a cloud-based and on-premises management software for mainly Churches and other non-profits. While this software is not entirely accounting software, it has accounting as one of its major features.

Powerchurch is for Churches looking for good management software while also staying on top of their finances. If that’s what you’re looking for, Powerchurch is the best accounting software you.

Pricing

You can get Powerchurch accounting through two plans.
Powerchurch plus, which is available for a one-time purchase, starts at $395
Powerchurch online: $39.95 per month/ two users.
Powerchurch doesn’t offer a free trial.

We recommend that you buy the Powerchurch online as it is more flexible for new churches, and you can easily access it with any device from anywhere. It is also a good value for your money.

Features

Powerchurch online, which is the cloud-based version, can be accessed from any device anywhere and time. It is compatible with PCs, Mac, and Linux.
Helps you through your church event management, asset, and payroll management
It automatically processes accounts payable and accounts receivable.
Syncs with your church’s bank to enable bank reconciliation of all transactions.
Excellent for funds accounting and general ledger preparation.
Good for accounting for the church’s project expenses.
It offers exceptional attendance tracking.

Why Do We Recommend Powerchurch?

Even though some might see Powerchurch’s interface as a little bit old, we recommend it because it is the best all-in-one option for Churches that wants to combine total management with excellent accounting. If that is what you are looking for, then Powerchurch is your right stop.

Powerchurch online is also a good option for Churches that are always on the move preaching the Word from one place to another.

4. Shelbynext Financials

This is another Cloud-based accounting software that makes our list. From our research, Shelbynext offers to meet Churches’ accounting and management needs, non-profits, ministries, etc.

having been in the church accounting business for more than 40 years, Shelby accounting offers numerous features. It is FASB 117 and GAAP compliant, making it one of the best accounting software for Churches.

Pricing

Shelbynext financials pricing starts at $60.50 per month.
It also offers you a 60-day free trial.

Features

It helps you sorts all accounts payable and accounts receivable.
Accesses budgeting and forecasting that take the hassle out of your hands
Includes donation management and asset management
Find accounting gets you access to stricter funds.
Includes church activities tracking
Shelbynext financial has its payroll management that helps with payment of the salaries of church-paid employees.
It follows the non-profit net asset accounting standards.
Shelbynext financial features include a smart interface, purchase order, general ledger, and bank reconciliation.

Why Do We Recommend Shelbynext Financials?

We recommend Shelbynext financials because of the wide range of features it offers. It combines your church management and financial management to get the hassle out of your hands.

Well, if you are looking for easy-to-use accounting software that covers a lot of front on management for your church or ministry, then Shelbynext financials is the right option for your church accounting.

5. Realm

Realm is a cloud-based accounting software developed by ACS technologies. It is one of the best user-friendly, easy-to-use accounting software to make our list of the best accounting software for Churches. With several years in the church management industry, ACS technologies have developed Realm to be a top resource in church administration, accounting, and community management.

Pricing

Its Prices depends on the features you want and the size of your church. Plan is;
Realm inform: $31 per month/ 50 members
Realm connect starts at $47 per month/ 50 members.
Realm multiply starts at 209 per month.
It offers a demo and not a lengthy free trial.

We recommend that you buy the Realm multiply plan as there have all the management and accounting features of Realm. It will also serve any number of your congregation.

Features

Your church’s data and information are automatically protected and backed up in the cloud.
It takes the whole hassle of accounting and bookkeeping out of your hands.
You can send specific data to your headquarters with just one-click
It offers you lots of integrations and add-ons to give you a better experience.
Ability to track your church’s contributions.
You will have excellent church payroll management.
Offers you a lot of guides, blog, and videos to help you along.

Why Do We Recommend Realm?

We recommend Realm because it is a good choice for accounting and management for Churches with a large number of the congregation. This is while so many churches have been using it for over 40 years. However, it is good for large churches; it also offers an easy-to-use interface and trust to resolve your management problems.

6. Fellowship One

Next in our list of the best accounting software for Churches is Fellowship one, a true fund accounting software designed for Churches and non-profits. It aims to remove the accounting tasks off your hands and let you focus on the mission of your church.

Fellowship one accounting software is a popular choice Ong American churches because of its easy-to-use and user-friendly interface.

Pricing

You have to call for quotes.
There is no free trial.

Features

It provides you with customizable charts of accounts for stewards, deacons and these accounts are also flexible in structure.
Include a true funds management and accounting system.
It gives you and other church users secure access from anywhere and at any time.
Provides you with integrations and add-ons to give you a great experience.
Provides auto-backups, tax tables, and report updates
Includes project tracking and reporting.
Tracks all donations and expenses
Fellowship one accounting is both GAAP and FASB117 compliant.

Why Do We Recommend Fellowship One Accounting?

We recommend Fellowship One as one of the best accounting software for Churches that you should buy because of the great easy-to-use interface it offers and is known for. From our research, church workers who are not familiar with accounting or bookkeeping will not have any problem trying to understand it or use it.

This feature has made it one of the most popular church accounting software, and you should try it too!

7. Flockbase

Flockbase is a cloud-based and on-premises software that has gained a lot of users over the years. Generally, it is an accounting and management software designed to help small and medium-sized move from Excel-based accounting, recording, and reporting to more efficient Payroll management, accounting, membership management, funds tracking, etc. Its main aim is to make processes simpler and faster for churches and non-profits.

Pricing

Flockbase pricing starts at $16 per month for the cloud basic plan
Cloud plus: $29 per month.
Cloud pro: $59 per month.
Desktop membership: $119
Desktop combined: $229
Desktop accounting: $149
It also offers you a 14-day free trial.

We recommend the desktop on-premises accounting plan for you as it offers all you would need to stay on top of your church’s finances. It is also a great value for your money.

Features

Flockbase accounting tracks the payroll of your church’s employees.
It also tracks an unlimited number of transactions, donations, church’s bank accounts at no extra charge.
It automatically tracks and compares your church’s income and expenses.
Provides Non-profit balance sheets, ledger accounts, as well as profits and loss
Custom prints 1099s for contractors at the end of the financial year.
Offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee
Accelerates online giving budgeting and forecasting

Why Do We Recommend Flockbase?

The reason that we recommend Flockbase is because of its compatibility with small and medium-sized churches. Even when they do not have accounting or bookkeeping knowledge, Flockbase is welcoming, and its interface and processes are simple to understand.

What’s more? The accounting software will easily grow with your small or medium-sized churches as it grows and members increase.

Final Tip

Accounting is now part of the everyday life of any firm, body or organization, and even individuals. We have to take note of our finances, income, expenses, etc., so we could make more rational decisions. Hence, as even churches need to be at the top of their game to make such rational decisions, and with the help of accounting software, Churches could perform better, more, we have listed out the best accounting software for Churches.

We begin with Aplos, which from our research, is the top best accounting software for Churches to Powerchurch, Shelbynext financials, Realm, Fellowship one, and Flockbase, listing out their features and plans. However, most of the prices for accounting software for Churches are stated but depends on the features and functionalities you would want, so in this case, you have to ask for a quote.

Our last tip to you is that while the obvious aim of accounting and bookkeeping is for better tax reporting, review, openness, and accounting of church’s fund to the general congregation, when you’re selecting the best of accounting software for your church, you should select the one that offers more time to work on your mission instead of on only accounting. Christianity speaks of accountability!