Your church has an important mission, and doing your bookkeeping shouldn’t get in the way. Using the right church accounting software helps you get your church bookkeeping done quickly and accurately, so you and your administrative staff can get back to the things that matter most to your ministry. Here's all the info you need to choose the best accounting software option for your church.
Best Church Accounting Software
Product | Promotion | Learn more | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
QuickBooks Online Learn more on QuickBooks Online's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Customizable, straightforward accounting solution | $30/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $60, $90, $200. | 50% off for first three months or free 30-day trial. | Learn more on QuickBooks Online's secure website |
Zoho Books Learn more on Zoho Books' secure website | 4.5/5 Best for Multilingual churches | $0 Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275. | 14-day free trial of the Premium plan. | Learn more on Zoho Books' secure website |
Xero Learn more on Xero's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Easy-to-use software | $15/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $42, $78. | 30-day free trial or monthly discount (terms vary). | Learn more on Xero's secure website |
PowerChurch | Best for Overall church accounting software | $40/month for two users. Additional two users (per month): $25. | N/A | |
Aplos | Best for Relationship management features | $79/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $99, $189. | 15-day free trial | |
Realm | Best for Customer service | N/A Quote-based. | N/A | |
Wave Accounting | 3.5/5 Best for Free church accounting software | $0 Free (Wave makes money via paid money management products). | N/A |
Our pick for
Customizable, straightforward accounting solution
QuickBooks Online
Learn more
on QuickBooks Online's secure website
Starting at
$30/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $60, $90, $200.
Promotion
50% off
for first three months or free 30-day trial.
QuickBooks Online is an industry leader in the accounting field, thanks to its strong feature set, scalability and ability to accommodate small businesses with more complex financial needs. With millions of users worldwide, your accountant will likely be familiar with it.
Pros
- Easy to share information with your accountant and to find QuickBooks experts and online resources if needed.
- More than 750 app integrations, including live, in-house bookkeeping.
- Robust feature set includes thorough record-keeping, comprehensive reporting, excellent invoicing and inventory management, plus a capable mobile app.
- Daily phone support and 24/7 chat support in all plans.
Cons
- Expensive compared with the competition.
- Limited account users with each plan.
Our pick for
Multilingual churches
Zoho Books
Learn more
on Zoho Books' secure website
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.
Promotion
14-day free trial
of the Premium plan.
Zoho Books packs an impressive collection of features and capabilities for an affordable price, and higher-tier plans let users automate workflows and track project profitability. It’s an especially good choice for users that already use the company’s other in-house apps.
Pros
- Less expensive than some competitors; free plan available for businesses with less than $50k in annual revenue.
- Email support in free plan; phone and chat support in paid plans.
- Rich feature set includes excellent invoicing, inventory management, workflow rules and a capable mobile app.
- Add accounting widgets to your phone’s home screen; track time using your Apple Watch.
Cons
- Fewer third-party integrations and reports than some competitors.
- No plan includes more than 15 users (can add additional users for a fee).
Our pick for
Easy-to-use software
Xero
Learn more
on Xero's secure website
Starting at
$15/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $42, $78.
Promotion
30-day free trial
or monthly discount (terms vary).
Xero allows unlimited users at every subscription tier, a valuable feature for businesses where several users may need at least limited access to the system to run reports or analyze performance. In terms of functionality and features, Xero is one of QuickBooks Online’s biggest competitors and has a more customizable dashboard that lets each user rearrange or hide panels.
Pros
- Unlimited users in all pricing plans.
- Integrates with more than 1,000 third-party apps.
- Feature set includes an excellent mobile app and suite of reports, capable invoicing features, plus automated bill and receipt capture through Hubdoc.
- Simple layout and easy to use.
Cons
- No phone number for customer support listed.
- Entry-level plan limits bills and invoices to five and 20 per month, respectively.
Our pick for
Overall church accounting software
PowerChurch
Starting at
$40/month
for two users. Additional two users (per month): $25.
Promotion
N/A
PowerChurch is a complete church accounting software, membership management and recordkeeping system for your growing church. PowerChurch Plus is a locally installed desktop version of the software that’s available for a one-time purchase either by downloading the software (a slightly cheaper option) or ordering a physical disk for installation. PowerChurch Online enables you to access the software from any computer with an internet connection and is available as a monthly subscription. If you opt for annual billing instead of monthly, you can save a marginal amount.
Pros
- Both online and desktop versions of the software are available.
- Designed specifically for church accounting and membership management needs.
- Long list of church-specific features.
- Add-on features for attendance and mass mailings are available.
Cons
- PowerChurch Plus only works on Windows PCs.
- User interface is outdated.
- Learning curve may be steep if you have no prior accounting knowledge.
Our pick for
Relationship management features
Aplos
Starting at
$79/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $99, $189.
Promotion
15-day free trial
Aplos is a nonprofit and church management software solution that allows your organization to easily track finances, manage operations and engage members and donors. The accounting tools help you stay on top of donation restrictions to ensure funds are spent on time and in the correct manner, generate relevant reports and financial statements, create invoices and receive payments and more. In addition to donor database and accounting features, the cloud-based software also includes tools for event management, website building and mass communications.
Pros
- Designed for nonprofits and churches.
- Tools to build and host your website, plus the ability to accept online donations and tithes.
- Donor database collects information like giving history and lets you create groups.
- Fund accounting features for tracking how gifts, grants and donations are used.
Cons
- Accounting features like budgeting and recurring transactions require a plan upgrade.
Our pick for
Customer service
Realm
Starting at
N/A
Quote-based.
Promotion
N/A
Realm is a full church management solution that includes tools not only for church accounting but also for events, communication, giving, worship planning and more. Accounting features include the ability to connect giving funds to your general ledger for accurate tracking and reporting of monetary gifts received, options for segmenting accounts for more detailed tracking and reporting and a tool for logging and printing checks.
Pros
- Software is designed specifically for churches.
- Customer support is available by phone, email and chat.
- 24/7 support available (with additional cost).
- Includes a free mobile app (iOS and Android) for church staff and full congregation.
Cons
- Accounting features are considered an add-on to any plan and come at an additional cost.
- Plan pricing is not listed on the website.
Our pick for
Free church accounting software
Wave Accounting
Starting at
$0
Free (Wave makes money via paid money management products).
Promotion
N/A
Unlike some “freemium” software products, Wave doesn’t put out a bare-bones free product as bait, then load it down with costly upgrades. The free accounting software lets you add unlimited collaborators, along with unlimited bank and credit card connections. It can be a simple solution for small, service-based businesses.
Pros
- Free.
- Unlimited partners, collaborators and accountants.
- Intuitive, customizable invoicing capabilities compete with those of more robust accounting solutions.
Cons
- Lacks features that quickly growing companies need, like audit trails. There are no additional plans to increase functionality.
- Must subscribe to Wave’s paid services (payroll, payments, advisor, etc.) to receive customer support from a human.
- No third-party integrations, mileage tracking feature or ability to accept in-person card payments.
Our picks for best church accounting software
PowerChurch: Best overall church accounting software
Price:
- $39.95 per month (for two users) for PowerChurch Online.
- $25.00 per month (for each additional two users) for PowerChurch Online.
- $395.00 one-time fee to download PowerChurch Plus.
Why we like it: Founded in 1984, PowerChurch is one of the most established church accounting software programs on the market. PowerChurch Plus is a desktop-based church accounting software, but the company also has an online option: PowerChurch Online. Unlike QuickBooks where the desktop and online versions of the software differ considerably, PowerChurch Online is an actual installation of PowerChurch Plus on PowerChurch’s servers and can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.
The PowerChurch user interface isn’t anything fancy, but the software includes many features specific to the accounting and membership management needs of a church. You can create various modules to store contact information, attendance and visitation records for thousands of families within your congregation; record and track pledges and contributions; manage the books with tools for payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable; organize and maintain records of sermons, equipment inventory and library items; and schedule and manage church events.
If you need more functionality than the core program offers, you can purchase add-ons to handle attendance and check-ins or mass mailings, for an additional cost. The software assumes a basic understanding of double-entry accounting, so the learning curve may be a bit steep for someone with no prior accounting knowledge.
QuickBooks Online: Best customizable, straightforward accounting solution
Price:
- $30 per month for the Simple Start plan.
- $60 per month for the Essentials plan.
- $90 per month for the Plus plan.
- $200 per month for the Advanced plan.
Why we like it: With a library of more than 750 app integrations, you may be able to build the full church management system you need around QuickBooks’ reliable and ubiquitous accounting software. If you already have the extras — like church attendance tracking, congregation communications and mass mailing capabilities — covered and just need straightforward accounting software, you can count on QuickBooks to deliver.
Unlike some other options on this list, QuickBooks has not built a specific tool for church accounting and management. Rather, the Plus and Advanced QuickBooks Online plans offer features that would be most relevant to your church accounting needs, including automatic bank account syncing to monitor cash flow, fund tracking, customizable reports and tax compliance features. Read our full QuickBooks Online review.
Aplos: Best for relationship management features
Price:
- $79 per month for the Aplos Lite plan.
- $99 per month for the Aplos Core plan.
- $189 and up per month for the Advanced plan.
Why we like it: Aplos is another product built specifically for churches and nonprofits (it was built by a CPA who is also a pastor), and its software contains features that extend far beyond simple accounting. In addition to helping you manage your church finances with tools for fund tracking, bill paying, check printing, invoicing and online payments and more, Aplos also offers features to enhance the giving process, keep your congregation safe and connected, simplify mass communications, streamline event registration and even build a custom website for your church.
Aplos’ software pricing scales as your church grows, meaning you won’t overpay in your church’s infancy or outgrow the platform as your church matures. An Advanced accounting option for larger churches is available starting at $189 per month, but the team will also work with you to create a custom church accounting software solution, which is quote-based. If you’re looking for church accounting software with payroll, Aplos does not include payroll services in its software, but it does integrate with Gusto for seamless and stress-free payroll management.
Aplos is the only all-in-one software on this list that offers a free trial period, so consider taking advantage of that.
Realm: Best for customer service
Price: Quote-based.
Why we like it: Realm, like a few of the other church accounting software solutions on this list, is a platform designed to help you manage all aspects of your church, from events and communications to accounting and administration. Realm has built a robust tool for online giving and offerings that integrates with the rest of its software features, so you can easily encourage donations, give members the freedom to pay online anytime, track and report on donations and more. More tech-savvy church staff may also appreciate Realm’s mobile app, which enables easy online giving and communications between the ministry and congregation.
One of the company’s standout features, however, is the support and assistance it offers to its customers. From a support team that’s available by email and phone to additional training services and webinars, Realm is committed to helping you make the most of its software.
Xero: Best for easy-to-use software
Price:
- $15 for the Early plan.
- $42 for the Growing plan.
- $78 for the Established plan.
Why we like it: If you’re in search of simple, straightforward accounting software but find QuickBooks’ plans and pricing intimidating, Xero is a strong alternative to QuickBooks. Xero’s pricing plans max out at QuickBooks’ entry point, and all plans include the option to add a payroll integration with Gusto (starting at an additional $40 per month). As for accounting features, Xero’s least expensive plan will enable invoicing, daily bank reconciliation, and cash flow tracking. Upgrading to the highest tier plan will give you additional functionality such as expense management and advanced reporting. Read our full Xero Accounting review.
» MORE: Top alternatives to Xero
Zoho Books: Best for multilingual churches
Price:
- $0 per month for the Free plan.
- $20 per month for the Standard plan.
- $50 per month for the Professional plan.
- $70 per month for the Premium plan.
- $150 per month for the Elite plan.
- $275 per month for the Ultimate plan.
Why we like it: Zoho Books is another recognizable and reliable brand of accounting software and includes benefits like multiple plan tiers so you can scale your software as your church and congregation grow along with a suite of Zoho tools for CRM, people management and more that seamlessly integrate with its accounting tool.
The free plan includes accounting basics such as bank reconciliation, chart of accounts and expense tracking plus helpful invoicing features. In particular, church staff may appreciate the ability to schedule recurring invoices for donors who give regularly and send donation receipts and thank yous.
One of the most noteworthy features of Zoho Books, however, is that you can access the software in 10 different languages, including Chinese, Japanese and Spanish. Churches with multilingual staff and congregations may find this particularly appealing. Read our full Zoho Books review.
Wave Accounting: Best free church accounting software
Price: $0.
Why we like it: If your church is brand new or working to build back a thinning congregation and therefore light on funding, then you may be interested in free accounting software for your church. Wave offers free accounting and invoicing software (and makes its money on paid products for payroll, accepting online payments and bookkeeping support). You’ll likely find Wave Accounting is light on some of the features you’d find in paid software like QuickBooks Online, and it certainly won’t offer the bonus tools and features of a complete church management platform like Realm or Aplos. But if you simply want to cover the accounting basics for your church at no cost, Wave may be the right fit for you. Read our full Wave Accounting review.
Why your church needs a dedicated bookkeeper
Choosing the right church accounting software is important, but it’s only one part of the equation. Nonprofit accounting differs from general business accounting, and so it’s crucial to work with an accountant or bookkeeper who understands nonprofit accounting in general and church accounting in particular.
Even if a member of your congregation is a nonprofit accountant or bookkeeper, engaging a specialist to help with your church’s bookkeeping will likely be a useful investment. But prioritizing this investment can benefit your church in several ways:
- Your church’s leadership team and administrative staff will be able to focus on the church’s mission instead of the church’s bookkeeping.
- You will be able to reassure your congregants that their tithes and donations are being used as intended. When members know their donations are used wisely, they are more likely to continue to donate.
- Your church will be able to manage the accounting tasks associated with programs like preschools and fundraising, ensuring these programs — and your ministry — are a success.
Billie Anne Grigg contributed to an earlier version of this article, which was first published on Fundera, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.
Last updated on November 6, 2023
Methodology
NerdWallet’s accounting software ratings favor products that are easy to use, reasonably priced, have a robust feature set and can grow with your business. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including range of features, cost, ease of use, accounting standards compliance, scalability, ease of sharing with accountants, integrations, customer support, pricing transparency and availability of a free trial period. Learn more about how we rate small-business accounting software.
These ratings are meant to provide clarity in the decision-making process, but what’s best for your business will depend on its size, growth trajectory and which features you need most. We encourage you to research and compare multiple accounting software products before choosing one.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
