Church App Builder: Connect Your Congregation
Build a custom mobile app for your church or religious organization without coding. Engage members, manage giving, share sermons, and build community—all from one platform.
Founder, Natively
A church app builder empowers religious organizations to create custom mobile applications that deepen congregation engagement, streamline communication, and simplify giving. With 49% of all church donations now made online and 91% of U.S. adults owning smartphones, having a dedicated ministry app has become essential for churches of all sizes.
Key Takeaways
- Digital giving is essential — 49% of church donations happen online, with mobile giving growing annually
- Engagement boost — Churches with apps see 22% higher group participation and 19% more volunteering
- Reach younger generations — Millennials are 2x more likely to join tech-forward churches
- Affordable options exist — Build professional church apps from $5/month without coding
- All-in-one solution — Combine sermons, giving, events, and community in a single branded app
Church Technology in 2026
Sources: Vanco Payments, Pushpay
Why Your Church Needs a Mobile App
The way people engage with their faith communities has fundamentally changed. According to the 2025 State of Church Tech Report, church engagement has shown signs of stabilization for the first time in over a decade—driven largely by Millennials and Gen Z who expect digital-first experiences.
The Digital Ministry Imperative
Stay Connected Beyond Sunday
Over 70% of church giving happens outside of Sunday services. An app keeps your congregation engaged throughout the week.
Reach Younger Generations
41% of Millennials who attend church prefer donating online. They expect the same digital convenience from their church.
Increase Giving Consistency
Recurring digital givers contribute 42% more annually than one-time donors. Mobile apps make recurring giving effortless.
Build Deeper Community
Small group participation surged 22% for churches using integrated digital tools, strengthening bonds within the congregation.
Annual religious giving in the US
Of donations are recurring
Donation increase with online giving
Essential Church App Features
Not all church apps are created equal. According to ChurchTechToday, the most effective ministry apps combine communication, giving, and community features in one seamless experience.
Church App Feature Selector
Select the features your ministry needs. Essential features are pre-selected.
📢Communication
💝Giving & Finance
👥Community
📅Content & Events
7 of 16 features selected
Perfect for getting started
$5
/month with Natively
Communication Features
- ✓Push Notifications — Service reminders, prayer alerts, and event updates
- ✓Sermon Library — Audio, video, and notes for past messages
- ✓Live Streaming — Broadcast services to remote members
- ✓Targeted Messaging — Segment by groups, ministries, or interests
Giving & Administration
- ✓Mobile Giving — One-tap donations with saved payment methods
- ✓Recurring Donations — Set up automatic weekly or monthly gifts
- ✓Event Registration — Sign-ups for services, classes, and activities
- ✓Volunteer Management — Schedule and coordinate ministry teams
Community Building
- ✓Prayer Walls — Submit and respond to prayer requests
- ✓Small Group Hub — Communication and resources for groups
- ✓Member Directory — Connect with fellow congregation members
- ✓Bible Reading Plans — Guided devotional content
Content & Media
- ✓Podcast Integration — Audio sermons and teaching series
- ✓Video Library — On-demand worship and teaching content
- ✓Event Calendar — All church activities in one place
- ✓Resource Library — Documents, forms, and study materials
Church App Builders: Platform Comparison
When choosing a church app builder, consider your budget, congregation size, and technical capabilities. Here is how the major options compare based on The Lead Pastor research and Shoutem analysis.
| Platform | Starting Price | Best For | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| NativelyAI-Powered | $5/month | Churches wanting full customization and code ownership | AI generates custom native apps, full source code export |
| Pushpay | $149/month | Large churches focused on giving optimization | Industry leader for donations, 2-year contracts typical |
| Subsplash | Custom quote | Mid-to-large churches with budget flexibility | Comprehensive suite, higher price point |
| Tithe.ly | $89/month + $149 setup | Churches prioritizing integrated giving | Started as giving platform, expanded to full app |
| Aware3 | $129/month | Medium churches with specific feature needs | Pay-per-feature model, flexible pricing |
| Shoutem (DIY) | $49/month | Tech-savvy churches wanting control | More hands-on setup required |
Dedicated Church Platforms
Platforms like Pushpay and Subsplash are built specifically for churches with pre-built ministry features.
- ✓Church-specific features out of the box
- ✓Optimized giving and donation flows
- ✗Higher monthly costs ($150-500+)
- ✗Limited customization beyond templates
AI-Powered Builders
Modern platforms like Natively use AI to create fully custom apps tailored to your exact needs.
- ✓Completely custom design and features
- ✓Full source code ownership—no lock-in
- ✓Dramatically lower cost (from $5/month)
- ✓Native iOS and Android apps
Church App Cost Analysis
Understanding the true cost of a church app helps you budget effectively. According to High Polar research, costs vary dramatically based on your chosen approach.
Church App Cost Calculator
Compare real costs based on your congregation size
Custom Development
One-time development, ongoing maintenance ~$2,000/month
Pushpay/Subsplash
Enterprise pricing, may require long-term contracts
Tithe.ly/Aware3
Mid-tier church platforms with good feature sets
Natively
Lowest CostAI-powered, full customization, own your code
Note: Custom development costs include initial build plus estimated ongoing maintenance. Actual costs may vary. Transaction fees for giving (typically 2.9% + $0.30) apply to all platforms.
Development Approach Comparison
Total cost over 3 years including setup, monthly fees, and maintenance
Requires ongoing developer costs for updates
Pushpay, Subsplash at $150-500/month
Tithe.ly, Aware3 at $89-150/month
Full native apps from $5/month, own your code
For Budget-Conscious Ministries
Many churches operate on tight budgets, especially smaller congregations and church plants. With AI-powered app builders, you can create a professional church app for less than the cost of a single Sunday bulletin printing run each month. Plus, you maintain full ownership of your app and can move it anywhere—no vendor lock-in.
Building Community Through Your Church App
A church app is more than just technology—it is a tool for discipleship and community building. According to OneEighty Digital research, the most successful church apps focus on fostering connection, not just broadcasting information.
Engagement Strategies That Work
Smart Push Notifications
Push notifications are the modern church bell. Use them wisely for service reminders, prayer alerts, and event changes—without being intrusive.
Interactive Prayer Walls
Allow members to submit requests publicly or privately. The "I prayed" button creates solidarity and encouragement for those going through challenges.
Small Group Integration
Group health is tightly linked to consistent communication. Provide scheduling, study materials, and messaging in one place.
Content That Connects
Weekly Content Calendar
Pro Tip: According to Lifeway research, group engagement is directly tied to communication consistency. Regular, valuable content keeps members coming back to your app.
Getting Started: Build Your Church App
Ready to create your church app? Follow this step-by-step guide to launch your ministry app in days, not months.
Define Your Ministry Needs
Start by listing your top priorities. Do you need to improve giving? Strengthen small groups? Better communicate with members? Focus on 3-5 core features to start.
Choose Your Platform
For maximum flexibility and lowest cost, consider an AI-powered builder. With Natively, simply describe your church app in plain language and watch it generate in minutes.
Example prompt: "Create a church app with sermon library, online giving, event calendar, prayer wall, and push notifications for service reminders."
Customize and Brand
Add your church logo, colors, and branding. Organize content sections, connect your sermon podcast, and integrate your giving processor.
- • Upload church logo and select brand colors
- • Connect streaming platforms (YouTube, Vimeo)
- • Set up giving with Stripe or other processors
- • Import member data if migrating from another system
Test and Launch
Preview on real devices, gather feedback from staff and key volunteers, then deploy to the App Store and Google Play.
Launch Tip: Announce your app during services for 3 consecutive weeks. Offer a simple incentive (like exclusive content) for members who download in the first month.
Start Building Your Church App Today
Create a custom church app for your congregation in minutes, not months. No coding required. Full source code ownership. Starting at just $5/month.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to build a church app?
Church app costs vary widely. Traditional custom development runs $25,000-$75,000+. Dedicated church platforms like Subsplash require custom quotes (often $200+/month). Modern AI-powered builders like Natively start at just $5/month, making professional church apps accessible to congregations of any size with budgets of any level.
What features should a church app have?
Essential church app features include: sermon library (audio/video), push notifications for announcements, online giving and donations, event calendar, prayer request walls, small group communication, member directory, Bible reading plans, and volunteer sign-ups. The specific mix depends on your congregation's needs and size.
Can I build a church app without coding?
Yes, modern no-code and AI-powered platforms make it possible to build professional church apps without any programming knowledge. Platforms like Natively allow you to describe your app in plain language and generate a fully functional native app for iOS and Android, complete with features like giving, events, and community engagement.
Are there free church app builders?
While truly free church apps with full features are rare, several affordable options exist. Some platforms offer free tiers with limitations. Natively offers plans starting at $5/month with full features included. For nonprofit organizations, many platforms also offer discounts or special pricing.
How do church apps improve congregation engagement?
According to Pushpay research, churches using mobile apps see 22% higher group participation and 19% more volunteering year-over-year. Mobile apps keep members connected throughout the week with push notifications, prayer walls, and easy access to sermons. Millennials are twice as likely to join a church that prioritizes technology.
Continue Learning
No-Code App Development for Non-Technical Founders →
Learn how to build professional apps without programming experience.
Mobile App Builder →
Discover how AI-powered app builders create native iOS and Android apps.
How Much Does It Cost to Build an App? →
Complete cost breakdown for different app development approaches.