A ChMeetings Alternative With UK Gift Aid
ChMeetings packs a lot in for a low price, and it has a free plan for up to 50 people. It’s priced in US dollars and your data is held in the US.
Church Member Software keeps your records in the UK, bills in pounds and handles Gift Aid from declaration to claim. Your people’s details stay out of the directory unless they choose to be in it.
Side by side
| Church Member Software | ChMeetings | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | In pounds, including VAT: £12, £22 or £35 a month for up to 75, 200 or 500 adults. Children are free. | In US dollars, with a free plan for up to 50 people |
| Gift Aid | Included in every plan, with declarations, claims and the 4-year deadline checked for you | Its UK page mentions reports to help prepare Gift Aid claims. Its help centre has no articles on Gift Aid or HMRC. |
| Small Donations Scheme | Included, with the £8,000 limit and the 10 times rule worked out | Not mentioned in its help centre |
| Where your data is held | Records stored in the UK | Microsoft Azure in the US |
| Directory | Opt-in: nobody appears until they choose to, and they pick what’s shown | New members are added automatically, and can hide themselves or fields |
| Two-step sign-in | Required for administrators, staff and treasurers | Optional, and an account setting can make it required |
| Data protection requests | Requests tracked against their deadlines, a one-click download of everything about someone, and erasure that keeps what HMRC needs | Deleted people are removed after 30 days. The help centre doesn’t describe a subject access export. |
ChMeetings details are from its own website and help centre, checked October 2026. Things change, so check with ChMeetings too.
When ChMeetings is the better choice
ChMeetings covers ground we don’t. Look at it if you need:
- a free plan for a church of up to 50 people
- two-way text messages that work in the UK
- volunteer scheduling, worship planning and accounting
- a branded app for your church
Bringing your records across from ChMeetings
Export your people from ChMeetings and upload the spreadsheet. We match the columns and keep households together. Groups and giving have their own exports in ChMeetings, and you can import those too.
Questions churches ask
- Where does ChMeetings store data?
- Its help centre says it uses Microsoft Azure in the US. Church Member Software stores your church’s records in the UK.
- Is there a free plan?
- No. Plans start at £12 a month including VAT, for up to 75 adults, and children are free. You can try everything for 30 days first.
- Can I import my groups from ChMeetings?
- Yes. Export your groups separately and import them after your people.
See it with your own records
Try everything free for 30 days, with no card needed. Import a spreadsheet from your current system and see how your church looks.
Sources
ChMeetings is a trademark of its owner. We’re not connected with ChMeetings.