ChMeetings vs. ChurchBase (now RadioBase)
Finding a Reliable Partner for Your Church
If you’re evaluating church management software, you need a reliable partner; not just a list of features. Recent issues with ChurchBase and a rebrand to RadioBase have left churches scrambling for alternatives. ChMeetings offers a stable, secure, and fully supported solution with free options and affordable paid plans.
Below, we compare ChMeetings and ChurchBase in detail, covering pricing, features, security, and support, so you can make an informed decision. Because this is how most people know this platform at the moment, we will generally continue referring to it as ChurchBase.
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Why Do Churches Compare ChMeetings and ChurchBase / RadioBase?
ChurchBase presents itself as a free, all-in-one platform with four core modules: Connection, Community, Content, and Contributions. It appeals to churches looking for a bundled website, app, and management tool on a low budget. ChMeetings, on the other hand, focuses on simplicity, reliability, and reliable support, as well as on a high-value platform, making it a strong choice for churches that want a powerful yet easy-to-use church management system.
What Makes ChMeetings Stand Out?
Free Migration Support
ChMeetings makes it easy for churches to switch platforms without added cost or hassle. Choose any paid plan and we’ll move your data in for free.
ChurchBase does not offer this service.
Built-in Accounting Tools
ChMeetings supports financial tracking, bank sync, financial reports, budgeting, and more.
ChurchBase lacks this entirely.
Granular User Permissions
With ChMeetings, you have better control over staff and volunteer access levels across the platform. This means better security and minimal risk of fraudulent activity.
Friendly For Churches And Dioceses
While very user-friendly, and affordable for small to medium churches, ChMeetings comes with features tailored to large churches and Dioceses
ChurchBase does not offer such features.
Fast-Paces And Future-Ready
ChMeetings grows fast, releasing product updates every two weeks on average.
ChurchBase has not posted any public updates since 2022.
ChMeetings is the No. 1 Church Management Software on Capterra in 2024.
Here’s how ChMeetings compares to ChurchBsse / RadioBase on Capterra:
ChMeetings vs. ChurchBase / RadioBase Feature Comparison Table
ChMeetings offers technology that you can rely on to support your growth.
| Feature | ChMeetings | ChurchBase |
|---|---|---|
| Free Mobile App | (branded app) | |
| Free Migration | ||
| Customizable People Profiles | ||
| Unlimited Email | ||
| SMS Text Messaging | ||
| Voice Messaging | ||
| Unlimited Mobile Push Notifications | ||
| Member Access | ||
| Member Directory | ||
| Webpage Builder | ||
| Blog | ||
| Calendars | ||
| Events | ||
| Paid Events | ||
| Volunteer Scheduling | ||
| Check-in & Child Check-in With Name Tag Printing | ||
| Service Planning | ||
| Appointments | ||
| In-Person Giving | ||
| Online Giving | ||
| Text Giving | ||
| Giving Statements | ||
| Giving Reports | ||
| Pledges | ||
| Forms | ||
| Follow-Ups | ||
| Accounting | ||
| Elections | ||
| Automated Tasks | ||
| Reports | ||
| Integrations & API | ||
| Granular User Roles and Permissions | ||
| Ministries | ||
| Diocese Accounts | ||
| Branded App | (Extra cost) |
(Included) |
| Multiple Languages |
ChMeetings: Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Free plan for up to 50 people, perfect for small churches
- Free mobile app for both admins and members
- Affordable upgrades that start at just $12/month with all major features included and costs no more than $60/month for unlimited members and features.
- Multilingual interface, ideal for diverse congregations
- Fast and reliable support plus a well-organized help center
- Contributions tracking included even in the free plan.
- Easy data import plus a free import service when switching from other systems to a ChMeetings paid plan
- Lightweight and intuitive interface easy for volunteers and non-tech teams to use
Cons:
- No built-in website builder (unlike ChurchBase’s Connection Module.
- The branded app is available for an extra cost of $50/month or $500/year.
- Text giving is not available.
ChMeetings Exclusive Features
Here is what ChMeetings is offering that churches don’t get with ChurchBase:
- Free Migration Get assistance with importing existing data.
- Unlimited Email to reach everyone anytime. ChurchBase’s email capabilities are unclear or limited.
- Voice Messaging for a more personal touch in communication..
- Check-in & Child Check-in With Name Tag Printing for additional safety during events.
- Appointments for better synced staff and members..
- Follow-Ups to keep in touch with members more closely.
- Accounting to keep your finances in check.
- Elections for larger churches holding such a process.
- Automated Tasks to skip manual repetitive work.
- Granular User Roles and Permissions for increased security and better management.
- Ministries for better organization throughout your church.
- Diocese Accounts, specifically designed for very large churches and dioceses.
- Multiple Languages for diverse congregations.
ChurchBase / RadioBase: Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Completely free
- Includes an app and website within the same platform
Cons:
- Users report unreliable support during significant incidents
- Lack of recent public activity on social platforms or confirmed development
- No built-in multilingual interface
- No built-in Accounting module
ChurchBase / RadioBase Exclusive Features
ChurchBase provides a few features that are not available with ChMeetings:
- Webpage Builder for creating or hosting church sites.
- Included Branded App to personalize church experience at no extra cost..
- Text Giving as an additional fundraising channel..
Pricing & Fees: How Do They Compare?
Monthly Subscription Costs
ChurchBase is known as a free application providing churches with an all-in-one solution including church management features, an app, website, and giving.
ChMeetings provides a free plan for churches managing under 50 members. The plan includes member management, member portal, giving, event management and more, to help small churches boost their growth.
Online Giving Fees
Both ChMeetings and ChurchBase allow churches to accept online giving. At least for churches in the United States are lower, as provided by Stripe. Here’s a quick breakdown of transaction costs for online giving, with each solution:
| Payment Method | ChMeetings Fee | ChurchBase Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Credit/Debit | 2.2% + $0.30 per transaction | 2.69% + $0.30 per transaction |
| ACH (Bank) | 0.8% + $0.30 per transaction | 1% + $0.30 per transaction |
Platform Reliability & Support: Where Can You Get Better Help?
Churches depend on their church management software for communication, donations, and organizing their ministries. Unfortunately, some users have reported serious concerns with ChurchBase, in terms of reliability, support, and security. Additionally, ChurchBase’s last public activity on platforms like Facebook dates back to 2022, raising questions about ongoing support and development.
ChMeetings offers dedicated support with quick response times. Our platform is constantly updated with new features based on church feedback, and our global community of users can attest to our responsiveness and reliability.
Data Import & Migration: Which Solution Is Easier To Transition To?
Switching systems? ChMeetings offers free import of your existing data, like people, contributions, and attendance history. Our support team works directly with you to ensure a smooth transition. The only condition is that you choose any paid plan.
ChurchBase does not clearly advertise data import assistance and has limited documentation available on its migration process.
Scalability: Which Platform Grows With Your Church?
If your church grows and you want to expand your software capabilities, ChMeetings offers one of the most affordable upgrade paths on the market. You won’t need to piece together multiple modules or pay for additional software just to access the features you need when growing. Everything is available under one simple plan, starting at just $12/month and costing no more than $60/month for unlimited members and features.
ChurchBase, while advertising many features, lacks credibility and does not appear to be a sustainable solution for the long term.
Conclusion
In this comparison, ChMeetings stands out as the more comprehensive solution for churches looking for a robust, reliable, all-in-one church management system. With features like free migration, built-in accounting tools, and granular user roles and permissions, ChMeetings offers far more operational support for churches of all sizes. While ChurchBase / RadioBase excels with its branded app and web page builder, making it a potential choice for churches prioritizing web presence and mobile engagement, it falls short when it comes to reliability and security.
For churches looking to seamlessly manage operations in one place, ChMeetings offers superior long-term value, especially as they grow and require more advanced features. Overall, ChMeetings is a more comprehensive, reliable and future-proof choice for most church needs.
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