Less time updating records. More time connecting with people.
Keeping track of your church family shouldn’t mean chasing spreadsheets, searching through separate systems or wondering whether someone followed up.
Pricing guide
How much does a church app cost?
Church app cost ranges from free platforms to custom native builds. This guide covers typical church app pricing themes, hidden fees, and when free is enough — so boards can budget before vendors pitch.
Cost ranges
Custom apps vs white-label vs free platforms
There is no single sticker price for a “church app.” Church app pricing depends on whether you are buying a custom build, a branded shell, or access to a free platform. Use the ranges below as planning themes — get written quotes for your campuses.
Custom native apps
Often $10k–$100k+ over time
Design, iOS/Android builds, store listings, updates for OS changes, and ongoing maintenance. Quotes vary widely; treat the low end as rare without ongoing fees.
White-label church apps
Often hundreds–thousands / year
Branded shells on a vendor platform. Church app pricing here is usually subscription-based with optional modules for giving, events, or media.
Free platforms
$0 software fee to start
Web or progressive experiences that cover giving, bulletins, and people tools. You may still pay payment processing on gifts — not a separate app license.
Hidden costs
Fees that inflate church app cost
- One-time setup, branding, or “launch package” fees
- Annual redesign or forced upgrade cycles
- Per-campus, per-admin, or per-push pricing
- SMS / email overages bundled into “app” quotes
- Giving processing rates that dwarf the software fee
- Paid support tiers required for weekend emergencies
Ask every vendor for year-one and year-three total cost of ownership — software, messaging, giving processing, and support — not just the monthly “app” line.
Decision
When free is enough
- Members primarily need giving, events, and weekend info on a phone
- Staff already live in a ChMS/platform and just need mobile access
- You cannot staff App Store updates and vendor management
- A custom icon does not clearly improve attendance or giving
ChurchRaise is free to start with phone-friendly features for giving, people, and weekends. Review pricing for plan details — and only budget a custom or white-label app when branding clearly earns its keep.