How to Get a FREE App for Your Church

How To Build a Church App for Free

Having an app for your church has so many advantages. Church apps can function as a landing page for your regular attenders and act as a central online hub for your announcements, giving links, sign up forms, registrations and so much more. But — building a custom app is incredibly expensive. And that’s just the upfront cost! The monthly fees alone can be too much for a small church’s budget.

I’ve built custom native android and iphone apps. I’ve outsourced native apps. I’ve gone through the process of submitting apps to both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

It’s an expensive, time consuming, and frustrating process.

If you work at a small church, trust me when I say — you don’t have time for that. And you certainly don’t need to spend money on that!

Web App vs. Native App?

Our church uses ChurchTrac as our ChMS, and part of our plan includes Church Connect, which is a member portal web app. Web apps (or PWAs) are mobile-first websites that can be installed on your phone or tablet, and function very much like a native app. Native apps are apps that are only available in the apps stores — the Play Store or Apple App Store. These are the ones that most people are very familiar with, and generally already know how to use.

Advantages of Web Apps

Web apps are user-friendly, are easily updated, and can be free, with no build fees, app store fees, or monthly hosting fees. They function just like a native app, and most times, the user has no idea that they’re different from a native app.

Disadvantages of Web Apps

There is one BIG disadvantage to web apps: they don’t have traditional push notifications. Yes, there are ways to include browser notifications, but I’ve found this adds a layer of complexity that isn’t worth the time. Users need to opt in to browser notifications, and the vast majority of people never do.

While push notifications are a very nice thing to have, many people turn them off or dismiss them immediately anyway. And, in my opinion, they’re not worth the cost of paying for a native app.

In addition to our church’s web app, we send texts and emails that point people back to the app. This has been a good solution to the absence of push notifications.

Free Church Web App Options

If your website is on WordPress, install a plugin called SuperPWA. This free plugin is easy to set up, and works exactly as it should. The web app version of your website is exactly the same as your website — so when you update your site, your app is also updated. Huge timesaver!

Free Church Native App Options

Okay, so maybe your ChMS doesn’t provide an app, and you don’t run your website on WordPress, and you don’t have the room in your budget to custom build an app. What are your options for a church app?

There are still a few options, although functionality will be a bit limited. But, with a little creativity, these may work for your church family! Each of the following are native apps that can be used for free! The app icon isn’t customizable, but the homescreen is.

SmartChurch.com

SmartChurch.com has free version of their app for churches. Free features include a community wall, events with RSVPs, and a church directory. Users can access the app through the app, or from a computer. Paid features are available, with costs based on the number of users.

ChurchMe

ChurchMe is a free app that features a community wall, groups listing (with a private chat area for each group), a calendar, and private messaging. I’ve spoken with the developer of this app, and he is incredibly helpful. This is a great option for churches looking for a free way to connect their congregation. ChurchMe also provides custom branded apps that are very functional and useful, at a very reasonable price.

Band

Band.us is an app that was designed for musical groups and sports teams, but could easily be adapted for your church. And it’s absolutely free. Create a Band Page for your church, and then use Band Groups for your ministry areas. Pages and Groups in Band work very much like Facebook Pages and Groups, without the disadvantages of using Facebook. There are no ads, no distractions, and no algorithm that decides what to show to your members. Private messaging is included, as well as event RSVPs and push notifications.

Apps are a great tool for churches, but it’s essential to weigh the time and cost against the benefits of maintaining an app. I love using our Church Connect app because it integrates seamlessly with our church database. This means that our people automatically see their own volunteer schedule in our app, their giving history is in the app, and we even have the option to display the church directory there. It’s easy to update, and looks great on any device. We use it in tandem with Band, for discussion amongst our ministry groups.

Does your church have an app? What do you love about it? What would you change about it?