The Best Tithing App? You Might Already Have It
I come across numerous church leaders who, like you, are anxious about selecting the most suitable tithing app for their congregation.
But the best app for donations may be hiding right under your nose. It's built into your church management software!
I've served at churches that used a separate app and I've had the chance to talk to other church leaders about their experience. This post will cover what I've learned and why it's almost always better to use your existing church software vs a separate app for tithing.
The Pitfalls of Using a Separate Online Giving App
There are BIG reasons why juggling a separate app for donations isn't a great idea. Here's what other pastors have shared with me...
Increased Complexity and Oversight
Another tithing app means another system to manage. This means more logins to remember, more interfaces to learn, and more data to sync. Why add more work to your plate?
I have to mention oversight here. More systems to manage means more accountability is needed to operate them. If any of these platforms slip your attention, they could become prey to scams or theft.
Higher Costs
Many of these apps come with a price tag. That's because the popular P2P apps weren't made with churches in mind.
Sure, CashApp is popular with your members. But their 3% transaction fee hits your church where it really hurts.
In contrast, the tithing app included in your ChMS is often bundled with your existing subscription, making it a more cost-effective solution.
Note: If the church software you're using makes online giving a costly add-on, you may want to consider searching for another one.
Integration Issues
Here's what would really grind my gears when I served at churches that used a separate app: If the ChMS didn't integrate with the donation platform, we were stuck recording the donations manually!
The benefit of online giving is that it's supposed to make donations more convenient, not less. Manually recording donations takes time and introduces opportunities for clerical errors.
What's the point of a digital tool if it still requires analog work?
Less Cohesive User Experience
User experience is critical for a tithing app. If your members don't find it easy to use, they won't use it.
Something I heard from several pastors: Many giving apps that connect to your church's website and app actually take members away from your website to their own. This robs your site of traffic, creates a disjointed user experience, and members often have to create an account on that platform to donate.
If your church already has an app where members have an account, wouldn't it make sense to use that account to donate?
The Integrated Tithing App in Your ChMS is Better
In nearly every case, church leaders who eventually turned to the tithing app included in their church management software wished they had done it sooner. Here's why:
- Streamlined Operations - Church staff managed giving, membership, events, and communication from a single platform. This helped reduce the complexity of the church's tech stack. Also, it became much easier to generate reports, track trends, and make informed decisions.
- Cost-Effective - They eliminated the need for a separate subscription. This saved money and ensured that more of the church's budget was directed toward ministry (not administrative overhead.) Some pastors found that the integrated option through their ChMS came with competitive rates.
- Easy Recording, Fewer Mistakes - Giving data was automatically reported. Some even set up automated follow-ups for first-time givers or triggered custom thank-you emails, all within the same platform. Wow!
- Members Preferred It - For members, the giving process was straightforward and consistent with the rest of their interactions with the church. They gave directly through the church’s website or app, without needing to manage another account.
A Tithing App Made for You
Don't feel overwhelmed by the multitude of tithing apps and platforms. When it comes to online giving, simpler is better. By using the tithing app included in ChurchTrac, you can reduce costs and provide a better experience for your members.
Before you consider adding yet another app to your church’s toolkit, take a closer look at what’s already available in your ChMS. You might find that the perfect solution has been there all along.