I talk to church leaders almost every day. I can't count how many times I've said:

That's because many of them are relying on free tools to manage their church. It's important to steward your resources and be innovative with how you reduce expenses. But I'm going to advocate a different perspective.

I will make the case that you will save money (and time) by ditching free church accounting software and choosing an affordable, all-in-one option.

Limited Functionality

No matter which free church accounting software you choose, it's going to have limited functionality. Most features you need to simplify church accounting will be out of reach unless you pay.

I've seen church accounting software that advertised features like linking bank accounts or easy imports, but church leaders learn those features are paywalled after they sign up. Unfortunately, this is a common practice of these "freemium" church accounting apps.

While a free program may be tempting, you'll quickly realize its shortcomings as your church grows and your needs evolve. Tasks that should be simple (such as generating financial reports or tracking contributions) will be painfully time-consuming.

Lack of Support

No matter how experienced you are at managing church finances, you will inevitably have questions.

Free church bookkeeping software will leave you hanging every time. Most companies only offer support for paying customers. I've seen some church management software companies only offer support for churches on their most expensive plan. Yikes!

The lack of dedicated support is one of the biggest drawbacks of free bookkeeping software for churches. When issues arise or questions arise, you're left to fend for yourself.

It's best to choose software that gives you help from real people who have been in your shoes and know church accounting inside and out.

Free Church Accounting Software = Wasted Time

Time is expensive, and the hours spent struggling with inadequate software can quickly add up, outweighing any initial cost savings.

This is where you will see the biggest savings by paying for a nonprofit accounting program.

I've talked with church leaders tracking donations with a spreadsheet all year. In January, they spend HOURS transferring that data to a word processor to create the giving statements their donors need for their taxes. Talk about time-consuming! And like I said, time is expensive.

Free software solutions may initially appear to save you money, but they often come at the cost of valuable time spent troubleshooting, manually entering data, or attempting to work around limitations.

Risk of Errors

Free accounting software leaves your church vulnerable to errors. Having a support team behind the software that can review your work and help you dig through transactions to find the mistake is worth its weight in gold.

The risks associated with choosing the wrong church finance software can have far-reaching consequences, potentially jeopardizing your church's financial integrity and reputation.

You Get What You Pay For

Here's the breakdown: The money you pay a church employee to log expenses and craft reports by hand will cost your church more each year than a software program that will do it for you. If they're a volunteer, it will cause them so much frustration that you might find yourself looking for another volunteer soon.

While free accounting software for small churches may seem like a cost-effective solution on the surface, investing in comprehensive church management software with accounting features tailored for your church is a much wiser way to steward your resources (and preserve your sanity).

Easy Bookkeeping Software for Your Church

While the allure of free church accounting software may be tempting, the hidden costs often outweigh any benefits. Choose a program that's designed for the needs of churches.

Remember, it's not just about the upfront cost – it's about the long-term value and support that a trusted software provider can offer. Empower your church with the tools you need to thrive, without falling victim to the hidden costs of "free" software.

Matt Church Engagement