Is Who's In really free?

Yes. All event management features are free forever — recurring events, waitlists, QR check-in, reminders, custom branding, analytics, and more. The only fee is 2.7% on paid event tickets (no per-ticket fee, no monthly subscription). Free events cost nothing.

How does Who's In compare to Eventbrite?

Eventbrite charges 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket, plus monthly fees for advanced features. Who's In charges just 2.7% flat on paid events with all features included free. That saves organizers 50-70% on fees for a typical 100-person paid event.

Do attendees need to create an account?

No. Attendees can RSVP with one tap — no account, no app download required. They receive a shareable link via WhatsApp, email, or any messaging app and can respond instantly.

How do automated waitlists work?

When an event reaches capacity, new RSVPs are automatically added to a waitlist. If someone cancels, the next person on the waitlist is instantly promoted and notified — no manual management needed.

Can I collect payments for events?

Yes. Who's In integrates with Stripe for secure payment processing. Organizers can set ticket prices, and payments go directly to their bank account. The platform fee is just 2.7% flat — the lowest in the market.

Best Church Group Management Tools in 2026

From weekly small groups to annual community fairs — we tested every major platform for coordinating church groups, events, and community activities.

Last updated: March 2026 · 7 tools reviewed · Pricing verified independently

Two Different Needs

Church management software (ChMS) handles giving, member records, and service rosters — that's Planning Center, Breeze, Realm. Community event tools handle small group scheduling, outreach events, and youth activities — that's where Who's In excels. Many churches use both.

Who's In

Best Value

Best value church group tool for small groups, ministry events, and community activities

Pricing

Free core / $10/mo premium — members always free

Pros

$10/month flat with no per-member fees — works for any group size
Members join via link with no account required — maximum accessibility
QR check-in, Wallet passes, web push notifications, LinkedIn verified badges

Cons

No church-specific features (giving, sermon notes, prayer requests)
Not integrated with church management systems like Planning Center People

Small group ministriesYouth group eventsCommunity outreach eventsFundraising and socials

Verdict: Best value for church small groups and community ministry events. Handles scheduling, RSVP, attendance, and communications beautifully. For full church management, pair with a dedicated ChMS — Who's In covers the community events side.

Planning Center

Comprehensive church management software used by thousands of churches worldwide

Pricing

From free (basic) / $14-99+/month depending on modules (as of March 2026, subject to change)

Pros

Industry-leading service planning and volunteer scheduling tools
Modular pricing — pay for what you need
Strong integration across Planning Center suite (People, Groups, Giving)

Cons

Per-module pricing adds up quickly for full-featured use
Steeper learning curve — designed for church staff, not casual users

Medium to large churchesChurches needing service planningMulti-campus churches

Verdict: The most popular and capable church management platform. The Groups module handles small group management well. Pricing can escalate with multiple modules. Best for medium to large churches with dedicated admin staff.

Realm

Church management and community platform from ACS Technologies

Pricing

Custom pricing — typically from $50-200+/month (as of March 2026, subject to change)

Pros

Strong member directory and giving management features
Good small group tools within the broader church management context
App-based member experience for church community

Cons

Custom pricing with annual contracts can be expensive
Interface is less modern compared to newer platforms

Medium to large churchesChurches wanting integrated giving and groupsDenominations with ACS relationships

Verdict: Comprehensive church management platform with good group features. The integrated giving and member management is a strength. Legacy interface and custom pricing are weaknesses for smaller churches.

Tithe.ly

Church giving platform with ChurchCommunity Builder integration

Pricing

From $0 for giving / $37/month for full ChMS suite (as of March 2026, subject to change)

Pros

Industry-leading digital giving tools
Reasonable pricing for the full suite
Good church app builder for member communication

Cons

Group management features are secondary to giving tools
App development requires additional cost

Churches prioritising digital givingSmall to medium churchesChurches wanting giving + community in one

Verdict: Best in class for church giving and digital stewardship. Group management features are good but not the primary focus. Strong choice for churches where giving management is the priority.

ChurchTrac

Affordable church management software for small and medium churches

Pricing

From $9/month (as of March 2026, subject to change)

Pros

Very affordable at $9-29/month depending on features
Good member database and attendance tracking
Straightforward to use without extensive training

Cons

Less polished interface than newer platforms
Community and group event features are limited

Small churches on tight budgetChurches wanting simple member trackingSingle-campus churches

Verdict: Good affordable option for small churches needing basic member management and giving tools. Group event management features are limited — complement with Who's In for community events.

Breeze

Simple, modern church management software for growing churches

Pricing

From $72/month (as of March 2026, subject to change)

Pros

Modern, clean interface that staff and volunteers find intuitive
Good attendance tracking and follow-up workflow tools
Strong reporting and segment-based communication tools

Cons

$72/month is expensive for smaller churches
Group event management requires the full Breeze subscription

Growing churchesChurches wanting modern UIMulti-staff churches

Verdict: The most modern traditional ChMS on this list. The clean UI reduces training time significantly. At $72/month, it's justified for churches with 100+ active families but expensive for smaller congregations.

Elvanto

Church management platform with strong volunteer rostering

Pricing

From $50/month (as of March 2026, subject to change)

Pros

Excellent volunteer rostering and availability management
Good check-in system for children's ministry
Strong multi-site support

Cons

Less well-known — smaller support community than Planning Center
Group event features less polished than core rostering tools

Churches with complex volunteer rosteringMulti-site churchesChurches using Mac ecosystem

Verdict: Strong choice for churches with complex volunteer rostering needs across multiple ministry areas. Children's ministry check-in is a standout. Less impressive for general group event management.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best tool for managing church small groups in 2026?

Planning Center Groups is the most capable church small group management tool for medium and large churches. For small churches on a budget or for community event coordination, Who's In at $10/month offers excellent value — recurring events, RSVP, attendance tracking, and member communications without complex ChMS overhead. The right choice depends on whether you need full church management or just community event coordination.

Do I need a church management system (ChMS) or just an event tool?

If you need to manage giving records, membership databases, service rosters, and pastoral care workflows, you need a ChMS like Planning Center, Breeze, or ChurchTrac. If you need to coordinate community events, small group meetings, outreach activities, and youth group gatherings, an event management tool like Who's In covers this more affordably and with less complexity. Many churches use both: a ChMS for core operations and Who's In for community events.

How do I manage sign-ups for church events without requiring everyone to create accounts?

Who's In allows members to RSVP via a shared link with no account creation required — just their name. This is particularly valuable for churches where you're reaching out to non-members for community events, Alpha courses, holiday programs, and outreach. Having to create an account creates friction that reduces attendance. For church members, the full platform gives more features; for community outreach, the no-account RSVP is a significant advantage.

Can I collect church event fees and fundraising contributions through these platforms?

Who's In handles event fees (meal nights, retreat deposits, activity costs) via Stripe at 2.7% flat. For church giving and tithe management, Tithe.ly is the specialist tool with lower processing fees for recurring giving. Planning Center also has a giving module. It's worth separating event fees (Who's In) from regular giving (dedicated giving platform) — the user experience and reporting requirements are different.

What's the best tool for youth group event management?

Who's In works well for youth group events — recurring weekly sessions, special events with capacity limits, permission-style attendance management, and parent notifications via web push. The QR check-in feature is popular with youth group leaders for confirming attendance at pick-up time. Planning Center also handles youth ministry with check-in tools. For very large youth ministries, Planning Center's dedicated check-in system is more robust.

How do these tools handle privacy for church member data?

GDPR and data privacy compliance varies significantly. Who's In is GDPR-compliant and allows full data export at any time. Church management systems like Breeze, Planning Center, and Realm also handle sensitive member data with appropriate security. Facebook Groups should be avoided for managing sensitive pastoral or membership data — you have no control over how Facebook uses that information. Always review the privacy policy and data handling of any platform you store member records on.

Simple, Affordable Church Community Events

Small groups, outreach events, youth activities — all coordinated in one place. Members join free, no accounts needed.