10 Best Church Bookkeeping Software for Parishes

The best church bookkeeping software for parishes is accounting software that is made to meet the specific needs of Catholic parishes when it comes to managing their money. These systems assist fund accounting, monitor donations, oversee budgets across several ministries, and guarantee adherence to nonprofit and diocesan reporting requirements, in contrast to typical bookkeeping software. They often work with church management tools and offer features like keeping track of donations, managing restricted funds, and showing how much money the church has. The "best" program is one that is easy to use, safe, cheap, and designed to fit the size and needs of the parish, like ParishSOFT Accounting or Church Windows.

The 10 best church bookkeeping software for parishes are listed below.

• ParishSOFT: ParishSOFT is cloud-based church accounting software made just for Catholic parishes and bishops. It lets you keep track of funds and donations and works with other ParishSOFT church management tools. It makes sure that the diocesan follows the rules and makes it easier for many funds and organizations to report their finances.
• Xero: Xero is open-source cloud accounting software that is great for small to medium-sized businesses because it is easy to use. It's not just for churches, but it's great for nonprofits because it lets them keep track of their money, get their accounts balanced, and make reports that fit their needs.
• Sage Intacct: Sage Intacct is a powerful cloud-based financial management tool made for groups and organizations with more than one entity. It lets churches and dioceses with complicated financial systems use advanced fund accounting, real-time reporting, and the ability to grow.
• Aplos: Aplos is cloud-based accounting software made for churches and nonprofits that lets them keep track of donations and handle donors all in one place. It's meant to make church finances easier to understand and keep small to medium-sized groups honest.
• ChurchTrac: ChurchTrac is all-in-one software for managing churches that includes financial tools made just for churches. It helps with simple budgeting, fund accounting, and keeping track of gifts, which makes it a cheap choice for smaller parishes.
• QuickBooks Online Advanced: QuickBooks Online Advanced is a powerful tool for general accounting that lets users make reports that fit the needs and automates workflow. It is not church-specific, but with extra setup for fund monitoring, it tends to be modified for parish bookkeeping.
• ACS Technologies: ACS Technologies has a full set of tools for managing churches, such as ACS Financials for budgeting, which helps with managing funds, payroll, and contributions. It works for parishes that are bigger and have more complicated cash needs.
• IconCMO: IconCMO is a cloud-based church management and accounting system made just for churches. It has real-time financial reports, fund accounting, and gift tracking. It's easy to use and great for churches of all sizes.
• Shelby Financials: Shelby Financials is accounting software made by Shelby Systems that is specifically for churches. It includes fund accounting, accounts payable and outstanding, and payroll. It works best for dioceses or parishes that are bigger and need more complicated financial controls and integration.
• PowerChurch Plus: PowerChurch Plus is desktop-based software for managing and accounting for churches. It is able to be used to keep track of funds, make budgets, and record contributions. It's a good option for churches that want a cheap, all-in-one answer that they are able to use even when they're not online.

1. ParishSOFT

ParishSOFT is church accounting software made just for Catholic parishes and dioceses. It offers cloud-based fund accounting that makes sure churches follow the rules for diocesan reporting. It has a general ledger, accounts payable, planning, tracking of contributions, and works well with other ParishSOFT modules. True fund accounting, audit records, and multi-parish consolidation are some of the most important features. Users found the software to be well-organized and useful for managing complex parish finances, despite the high learning curve. Assisting customers in ParishSOFT is quick and focuses on the parish needs. Pros include strong diocesan unity, integration with church management, and safe cloud access. Cons include a user interface that isn't as up-to-date and not as many ways to customize it.

2. Xero

Xero is general accounting software that runs in the cloud. It is meant for small to medium-sized businesses, but it is able to be used by churches and nonprofits. Xero provides functions like financial reporting, budgeting, expense monitoring, bank reconciliation, and invoicing. Dashboards that are easy to use, automatic bank feeds, and third-party integrations are some of the most important features. The interface is clean and easy to use on mobile devices, but there are workarounds needed for fund tracking. Support for customers is provided through chat and email, but it is only limited for complicated problems. Pros include being easy to use, having strong automation, and being able to grow. Cons include not having built-in fund accounts and not being able to be customized to meet the needs of a church.

3. Sage Intacct

Sage Intacct is a powerful cloud-based financial management system made for nonprofits and big, complicated organizations like dioceses and parishes. Sage Intacct has modules for automating compliance, fund accounting, accounts payable and outstanding, and reporting to multiple entities. Real-time dashboards, dimensional reporting, and strong internal rules are some of the most important parts. The user interface is powerful, but because it is so complicated, it works best for people who already know a lot about accounting. The customer service is professional, and they offer onboarding services and knowledge tools. Scalability, advanced features, and a focus on nonprofits are some of the pros. The cons are the high cost and a steeper learning curve for church teams that aren't as big.

4. Aplos

Aplos is a cloud-based accounting system that is easy to use and was made just for churches and groups. Aplos offers true fund accounting and integrated donor management. Aplos has a general ledger, planning tools, tracking tools for donations, and management tools for events. Some of the most important features are built-in donation statements, online giving, and financial reporting for each fund. People like how simple it is and how well it works with church-specific tools, which makes it perfect for smaller churches with few staff members. There is helpful customer service, such as live chat, webinars, and lessons. Pros include an easy-to-use interface, all-in-one functionality, and a low price. Cons include a lack of advanced accounting features and deeper reporting for bigger businesses.

5. ChurchTrac

ChurchTrac is software for small to medium-sized churches that helps them run their business and keep track of their money. ChurchTrac has functionality for managing people, keeping track of donations, making budgets, and doing basic accounting for funds. Contribution statements, budgeting tools, and the ability to give online are some of the ChurchTrac most important benefits. It is easy for people who aren't professionals to use because the interface is streamlined and simple. Customers like the customer service, which is available by chat, email, and training tools. Pros include low cost, simplicity, and the ability to do everything at once. Cons include limited accounting features and the inability to grow with larger or more complicated parishes.

6. QuickBooks Online Advanced

QuickBooks Online Advanced is a robust cloud-based accounting program made for expanding companies, but with the right customization, it is able to be used in churches. QuickBooks Online Advanced has advanced budgeting, reporting, multiple user access, and process automation. Key features include customized dashboards, role-based access, and contribution tool integration. The interface is easy to use, especially for people who are already familiar with QuickBooks. However, it takes some work to make it work for fund budgeting. Priority support and training materials are part of customer service. Pros include good reporting, automation, and the ability to grow. Cons include not having built-in fund accounting and costing more than basic versions.

7. ACS Technologies

ACS Technologies makes software for managing and keeping track of money for medium-sized to big churches. ACS Financials handles payroll, fund accounting, accounts payable and receivable, and tracking contributions. It works with ACS's other mission tools and is made to help churches with complicated financial needs. Comprehensive financial controls, reports that are able to be changed, and batch handling are some of the most important features. The user interface is feature-rich, but it feels old and complicated. Customer service is known for having dedicated representatives and good training choices. Pros include a lot of tools and a strong focus on churches. Cons include an old-fashioned interface and a steep learning curve.

8. IconCMO

IconCMO is web-based software for managing and keeping track of money for churches. IconCMO works well for true fund accounting and real-time tracking of money. The general ledger, tracking donations, managing memberships, and payments are some of the IconCMO features. Integrated donor management, real-time reporting, and easy-to-use finance tools are some of the most important features. Users like how easy it is to use and how it caters to the specific needs of churches. Customer service gets high marks for being quick to respond and helpful with training. Pros include being easy to use, being affordable, and being designed with churches in mind. Cons include not being able to change many things and not having as many advanced features as bigger systems.

9. Shelby Financials

Shelby Financials is accounting software made by Shelby Systems that is specifically for churches. Shelby Financials is used to handle funds, bills, fixed assets, and payroll. It's made for bigger churches or regions that need strong financial management. Strong internal rules, financial dashboards, and tracking of multiple funds are some of the most important features. It's easy to use, but new people find it too much to handle. Customer service knows how churches handle their money and helps with training and paperwork. Pros include advanced financial tools and features that are tailored to churches. Cons include higher costs, more complicated setup, and a longer learning curve.

10. PowerChurch Plus

PowerChurch Plus is desktop-based software for managing and budgeting for churches. PowerChurch Plus is used to keep track of funds, memberships, events, and donations. It's made for small to medium-sized groups that like to work offline. Key features include reports that are easy to be changed, tools that work together, and support for payroll. Users like how cheap it is and how many functions it has, but the interface feels old. Phone help and online documentation are both available for quick assistance from customer service. Offline access, a lot of tools, and good value for money are the pros. The cons are an old interface and no cloud functions.

How to choose Church Bookkeeping Software?

To choose the right church bookkeeping software, parishes must think about how complicated their finances are, how big they are, and what rules they have to follow. They must focus on key phrases like fund accounting, gift tracking, ease of use, integration, and scalability. First, check to see if the program is able to do true fund accounting and handle both restricted and unrestricted funds separately. Second, look for features that work together, like managing donors, wages, and keeping track of the budget. Third, make sure it meets the needs of the church's tech skills, offers cloud-based access if needed, and meets the standards of the charity or diocesan organization. Lastly, choosing church accounting software needs checking of the qualty. Check the quality of customer service, security, and long-term affordability to make sure the answer is going to last.

What are the Features of Church Bookkeeping Software?

The features of church bookkeeping software are listed below.

• Fund Accounting: Fund accounting keeps track of different funds for specific purposes, like building and outreach.
• Donation Tracking: Donation tracking keeps track of and reports donations by giver.
• Budgeting: Making a budget lets users plan ahead and see how the income and spending compare.
• Accounts Payable/Receivable: It handles the money that comes in and goes out of the church.
• General Ledger: General ledger is a central place to keep track of all cash transactions.
• Payroll Management: Payroll management takes care of the salaries, taxes, and perks of clergy and staff.
• Financial Reporting: Financial reporting makes reports for funders, boards, and dioceses.
• Integration with Church Management: Tools for events, contact, and attendance are linked

How much does Church Bookkeeping Software cost?

Church bookkeeping software costs anywhere from $20 to $400 or more a month, based on the features, the number of users, and whether the software is installed on a computer or in the cloud. Software like ChurchTrac or Aplos Basic is as cheap as $10 to $50 a month, while more advanced platforms like ParishSOFT or Sage Intacct can cost more than $300 a month for bigger churches or diocesan systems. Things that affect the price are the number of users, the modules that are needed (like payroll and donor management), cloud access, the amount of help, and the ability to grow. Some sellers offer lower prices for nonprofits or licenses that only need to be used once for desktop versions.

What is the importance of Church Bookkeeping Software?

The importance of church bookkeeping software lies in how it makes sure that finances are handled in a way that is correct, clear, and in line with the law. It lets churches do their spiritual work without compromising their finances. It makes it easier to meet nonprofit or church standards, keeps donors accountable, and keeps track of the funds correctly. They make smart choices, keep the trust of their members and donors, and avoid fraud or bad management when parishes keep accurate financial records. Bookkeeping for churches cuts down on mistakes made by hand, saves time, and helps with care by making it clear how resources are being used.

How do Church Bookkeeping Software and Church Accounting Software differ?

Bookkeeping software and church accounting software differ mostly in their scope and functions. Church bookkeeping software keeps track of daily financial activities like payments, donations, and expenses. It helps with basic financial tracking and compliance. Church accounting software, on the other hand, has more tools for managing money, like planning, reporting, managing funds, and getting ready for an audit. Bookkeeping is a part of accounting, but analytics, payroll, and interaction with church management systems are often built into accounting software. Church bookkeeping software vs church accounting software differs in what they do. Bookkeeping software tells about "what happened," while accounting software tells about "what it means and how to report it," giving more financial information and tools for planning.