Here's a ministry truth nobody taught me in school: nobody reads the church email. I'm only slightly exaggerating. But almost everyone reads a text.
That's why church texting has become one of the most useful tools a small staff can have. A quick reminder about Wednesday night. A welcome text to a first-time guest. A prayer request chain when someone's in the hospital. Here are the main options, with prices from each vendor's pricing page (checked October 22, 2026) and the downsides reviewers actually report.
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The comparison
| Service | Starting price | Our score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text In Church | No base price we could verify | 4.0/5 | Guest follow-up automation |
| Clearstream | $35/mo (1,000 credits) | 4.0/5 | Staff-friendly workflows |
| SimpleTexting | $39/mo (500 credits, billed yearly) | 3.6/5 | General business texting |
| EZ Texting | $25/mo ($20 annual) | Not yet rated | Budget mass texting |
| Textedly | $29/mo (500 messages) | Not yet rated | Simple bulk texts |
| Call Multiplier | $7.99/mo (25 members, unlimited) | Not yet rated | Very small churches |
Already have a ChMS? Check what's included before buying anything. Breeze includes 250 texts a month, then $10 per 500. Churchteams charges 2¢ per text beyond 500. You might already be paying for texting.
Text In Church: built for church follow-up
Text In Church is built specifically for churches, and it shows. It's rated 4.6/5 from 266 reviews, with support at 4.7. The big win is automated guest follow-up workflows, which save small staffs a ton of time. Somebody fills out a connect card and gets a warm text, then a follow-up a few days later, without your admin remembering to send it. Reviewers also praise its Planning Center integration.
The downsides: message allotments and bundles mean upgrading as you grow, app notifications and the shared inbox can be confusing, uploading attachments is clunky (one file at a time), and newer reviews still mention a learning curve. Their calling add-on is $10 per seat per month, but we couldn't verify a base price on their public page, so ask for a quote.
Clearstream: great for staff teams
Clearstream starts at $35/mo for 1,000 credits, and $59/mo for 2,500. It's rated 4.8/5 from about 679 Capterra reviews, and staff say it's easy to use. Workflows, Tap Tags and per-staff inboxes make it nice for churches where different ministries text different groups.
Honest downsides: credits expire monthly, and media or long texts cost extra credits. There are no group threads, so replies only go to staff. The mobile app is limited, and one reviewer called its Planning Center integration "a bit lacking."
SimpleTexting: solid, watch the bill
SimpleTexting starts at $39/mo for 500 credits, billed yearly at $398.40, plus a $4 carrier registration fee. Extra credits are 5.5¢ and extra numbers are $10/mo. It's rated 4.7/5 on Capterra from 249 reviews, with 94% positive and responsive support.
But reviewers report message delays and glitches, plus overage charges and billing or refund complaints. Keep an eye on your usage.
The budget options
EZ Texting starts at $25/mo ($20/mo annual) on its Launch plan. Textedly is $29/mo for 500 messages, $49 for 1,000. Call Multiplier is the cheapest here at $7.99/mo for up to 25 members with unlimited messages, or $29.99 for 100. For a tiny church or a single ministry, that's hard to argue with. These aren't church-specific, so you won't get guest follow-up workflows built for churches, but they'll send a text just fine.
The free route: group chat apps
Don't overlook the free stuff. GroupMe and WhatsApp Communities are both free. For a small group, a youth ministry, or a volunteer team, a group chat might be all you need. The downside is that it's not built for mass announcements, people mute busy groups, and you don't have the tracking a texting service gives you.
Flocknote is free for 0–40 members and handles both email and text, though there are text character limits and its iOS app is rated 2.1/5.
A few practical tips
- Get permission. Only text people who've opted in. It's courtesy, and it's the law.
- Don't over-text. One or two a week is plenty. Make each one count.
- Automate guest follow-up. This is the single highest-value use of church texting. A first-time guest who hears from you within 24 hours is far more likely to come back.
- Check your ChMS first. Don't pay twice for something you already have.
- Watch credits and overages. Most of the complaints about these tools are about surprise bills.
Which one would I pick?
- Guest follow-up is your priority: Text In Church.
- Several staff texting several groups: Clearstream.
- Tiny church, tiny budget: Call Multiplier or a free group app.
- Already on Breeze or Churchteams: Use what's included first.
Browse every texting and communication tool we track, with sourced pros and cons.
A text won't replace a phone call or a hospital visit. But it's a great way to say "we see you" between Sundays.