Top 10 Church Accounting Software [+Tips to Choose]
Accounting software for churches is vastly important when you consider that American congregations alone receive $74.5 billion a year. Churches need a way to adequately track that money coming in so they can be responsible stewards of their church. But with so many options out there, it can be difficult to find the best accounting software for your needs! Don’t worry - we have you covered with a breakdown of our top 10 church accounting software.
Accounting software for churches is vastly important when you consider that American congregations alone receive $74.5 billion a year. Churches need a way to adequately track that money coming in so they can be responsible stewards of their church.
Accounting software can not only make your bookkeeping more efficient – it can also help you understand your tithing and church-giving patterns to boost your overall fundraising.
But with so many options out there, it can be difficult to find the best accounting software for your needs! Don’t worry – we have you covered with a breakdown of our top 10 church accounting software.
Let’s first look at why software for church accounting is so vital.
The Importance of Church Accounting Software
Church accounting or bookkeeping software helps churches understand and manage their financial situation. By tracking things like income, expenses, payroll, and invoices, accounting software helps churches stay financially healthy.
With the right software, churches can also get a sense of where their fundraising is and how to improve it. If donations lag in one quarter, a church can make an educated decision about hosting a fundraising event, increasing calls to action during services, or getting more creative with its fundraising strategy.
In short, accounting software does the hard work that helps churches track their finances and grow their fundraising. However, it can be difficult to choose the right church accounting software. That’s why we curated this list of the top 10 software for church finances so this decision can be easy for you!
Top 10 Church Accounting Software
1. Intuit QuickBooks
QuickBooks is the most popular accounting software for churches because of its multiple users and intuitive tools. QuickBooks offers both online versions and desktop versions.
There’s also a version made especially for Nonprofits with specific tools like grant tracking and annual reporting assistance.
Key features
Automatically syncs with your bank to record all transactions.
Ability to assign every dollar to a membership, committee, worship fund, etc.
Track expenses by the fund.
Schedule payments online for all bills.
Easily create customized financial reports and send them to stakeholders.
Create custom tags to track donations for specific purposes.
Pricing
Intuit partners with TechSoup to offer discounted QuickBooks products to organizations that meet requirements like 501(c)(3) status and an operating budget under $10 million a year. Check eligibility and restrictions here.
Depending on which QuickBooks product you choose, administration fees range from $75 to $178.
Donorbox integration with QuickBooks
Using Zapier or Commerce Sync with Stripe, QuickBooks can easily integrate with Donorbox. This means that the online tithing and other donations you receive via Donorbox will seamlessly show up in QuickBooks!
To connect your Donorbox account with QuickBooks using Zapier, all you have to do is activate the Zapier integration on your Donorbox dashboard. You’ll receive an API key. From there, you can create a Zap on Zapier to link the two apps. Here’s our thorough step-by-step guide to help you get started.
Connecting Stripe (and thus your Donorbox donations!) through Commerce Sync is just as easy. First, you must have your Stripe account linked with Donorbox. Then you should activate the link between Commerce Sync and Stripe. Log in to your QuickBooks account on Commerce Sync and you’ll be able to authorize the connection. Soon your Donorbox donations will be automatically updated in QuickBooks! Find a more detailed step-by-step guide here.
2. Xero
Xero is an affordable, easy software for church accounting.
Key features
Dashboard to monitor cash flow and plan expenses.
Strong analytic tools to review your church’s finances.
Customizable reports to share with stakeholders.
Online payroll to calculate deductions.
Accounting app you can use on your phone or computer.
Pricing
They offer nonprofits and churches 25% off on any of their already low-cost pricing tiers. Even without the discount, their pricing ranges from $13 a month to $70 a month.
However, the more expensive tiers offer attractive tools like support for multiple currencies and more in-depth analytics.
Donorbox integrations with Xero
Yes! You can use Zapier to integrate Donorbox and Xero, too! Simply allow integrations on your Donorbox dashboard to receive an API key that you can use to start a Zap connecting the two apps. This integration will help streamline all your accounting tasks as donation data swiftly flows from Donorbox to your Xero account in near-real time.
3. Sage Accounting
Sage Accounting is a cloud-based financial management system with a special heart for nonprofits.
Key features
Unlimited users.
The ability to send and track invoices automatically.
Connect your bank account to track expenses.
Easily take pictures of invoices to add them.
Pricing
They offer two tiers: Sage Accounting Start, which is $10 a month and best for small churches, and Sage Accounting for $25 a month, which is best for larger churches.
Right now they’re running a special on the higher-tier plan. Get 70% off for 6 months, saving your church $150.
Donorbox integration with Sage Accounting
You can use Zapier to integrate Donorbox and Sage Accounting, too! Simply allow integrations on your Donorbox dashboard to receive an API key that you can use to start a Zap connecting the two apps. Learn about our Zapier integration in the below video and unlock thousands of such integrations for your nonprofit.
Aplos makes accounting tools with churches and nonprofits specifically in mind.
Key features
Easy fund accounting with strong tracking tools.
Payroll with integration with Gusto.
Import transactions from your bank.
Create invoices and receive payments online.
Pricing
APlos offers three pricing tiers. The lowest tier, Aplos Lite, costs $39.50 a month. Aplos Core+ costs $69.50 a month. Their highest-tier plan requires a consultation for pricing.
They’re also currently running a 50% off for 6 months sale when you use the code BuyNow50.
5. PowerChurch
PowerChurch offers many church management products, including accounting software. Their accounting software has both advanced features for churches with a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and more basic features so churches of any size can keep audit-worthy books.
Key features
Use fund accounting with a general ledger.
Manage both contributed and earned income.
Payroll that manages deductions and withholding.
They offer a desktop and an online version. Each has similar features, but the desktop version has more thorough reporting capabilities.
Pricing
PowerChurch Online costs $39.95 a month or $455 a year. This license comes with two concurrent users. Additional user licenses cost $25 a month or $275 a year.
PowerChurch Plus, the desktop version, costs a one-time fee of $395 for a download or $415 for physical media.
6. AccuFund
AccuFund offers cloud-based accounting tools with some helpful church-specific features.
Key features
Accounts payable.
Organization-wide access.
Budget development.
Human resource management.
Grants management.
General ledger.
Streamlined recording of cash receipts.
Financial report writing tool.
Pricing
AccuFund works with certified resellers to help organizations set up their products, so pricing varies by reseller. You can learn more about the implementation here.
7. FreshBooks
FreshBooks is made with churches in mind and thus, has tons of helpful features. They’re also known for their customer service – a huge perk when your small church team needs guidance.
Key features
Fully customizable invoices.
Journal entries to track financial progress.
Secure online payments.
Reporting tools to send reports to key stakeholders.
Pricing
For a limited time, they’re offering 90% off for three months.
Without the discount, their four tiers include Lite for $15 a month; Plus for $30 a month; Premium for $55 a month; and Select, which offers custom pricing based on church needs.
Donorbox integration with FreshBooks
You can connect your Donorbox account with FreshBooks easily using our Zapier integration. All it takes is activating the Zapier add-on on your Donorbox account. Thereafter, you can create triggers and actions on Zapier to easily sync your campaign and donor data in both systems.
The church accounting software is free for basic accounting, invoicing, and banking tools. Their payroll service is $40 a month. They also offer expert bookkeeping support for $149 a month.
10. FlockBase
FlockBase offers a suite of church management tools, including church accounting software. All their features are scalable so they fit the needs of any sized church!
They offer both a cloud-based, online version and a desktop version.
Key features
Fund tracking to steward both contributed and earned income.
Payroll management.
Robust reporting tools.
Prefabricated budgets to model your budgets with.
Pricing
For their online version, they only offer pricing for their whole suite of tools, which includes their accounting software. The online versions range from $24-$59 a month.
The desktop versions allow you to choose Membership for a one-time fee of $139; Accounting for $169; or Combined for $269.
3 Tips to Choose the Right Church Accounting Software
1. Think about pricing
What pricing structure can your church reasonably afford? Choosing a plan that does what you want, offers you the opportunity to grow. Sticking to your church budget is key.
Pro tip: To figure out what pricing will work, meet with all your church leadership and key volunteers to get their opinions.
2. Go with customer service
Customer service is so essential when setting up a new software program. All those road bumps as you figure out how to best use your new tools shouldn’t turn into dead ends!
Go with a company you trust to be there for your church when you have questions or concerns for a smooth road ahead.
3. Choose integrations with powerful tools
The ability to integrate your church accounting software with other apps is vital for streamlining your workflow. Think about it: would you rather manually enter every tithe you receive into your accounting software or simply watch it appear?
That’s why Donorbox integrates with over 2,000 of your favorite apps – including several on this list – through Zapier. Saving time with smart, adaptive tools is so crucial for churches of any size!
Final Thoughts
Church accounting software makes managing church finances a breeze. It can even help churches improve their fundraising strategy, which helps them with long-term growth.
Plus, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit church is required to submit annual financial reports – and those are made possible with robust accounting software.
Churches all over the world trust Donorbox to boost their fundraising through streamlined online and in-person donation tools. Learn more about Donorbox MinistryMatters, a dedicated pillar to offer churches the tools, features, and services they need to keep funds flowing into the church.
Keep exploring Donorbox’s fundraising and donor management features and sign up to fundraise for your church today!
Want more tips and resources specific to church fundraising, stewardship, management, and leadership? Check out Donorbox Nonprofit Blog. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a curated list of our best resources in your inbox every month.
Disclaimer: By sharing this information we do not intend to endorse specific software, provide legal, tax, financial, or accounting advice, or to address specific situations. The above list is curated to educate a broad segment of the public. Please consult with your financial advisor to supplement and verify what you learn here.
Lindsey spent years wearing many hats in the nonprofit world. Whether she was helping arts nonprofits with their messaging and content, planning a fundraising gala, writing an NEA grant proposal, or running a membership program with over 400 members, she learned how to navigate – and appreciate! – the fast-paced world of fundraising. Now, she loves sharing those hard-earned lessons with the Donorbox community.
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