DON'T Get A Church App In 2023 

It’s been about four years since I made a video about church apps. Has my opinion changed? Let’s dive in.

I agree with what you had to say, but I think one advantage of some church apps is that people can chat with others from their lifegroup/church, without having to create a text thread or join another app. Also people can submit prayers publicly so others can be in prayer with one another.

Excellent video. Well thought out and organized. We would also note that the "all-in-one" app solution (with the bolt-on add-ons) generally means you get the minimal implementation of that feature (e.g. signups/events). Which, of course, can be fine for some use-cases, but lacking for others.

Hi Brady...thanks for your insight. We're struggling with the same thing. We've decided to let the congregation decide by putting out a survey of how they would prefer to communicate with the church office, each other, etc. There is also the topic of live streaming, which also is somewhat held hostage by Facebook & RU-vid. But, those can be viewed thru a church app as well without going thru FB or YT...without cost I might add. The survey is not done yet...but we're open to whatever our congregants want.

This feedback is spot on. An additional point is that the time it takes to teach folks how to bookmark a website and drop it on their mobile device to look "app-like" is far lower than the time it takes to teach them how to navigate a native app.

I love subsplash because of the integration between the app and the website. We are a rural church. It took a while for our app to take off but with the new generation coming up it is almost a must.

Hi Brady, truly appreciate your insight! In 2022 we went all in with Planning Center and are using that as our church database, registrations, sermon publication, kids check in, groups, calendar, giving, services (for volunteers) and as such, the publications for all of these are integrated into their church center app. We use their LISTS as well as auto workflows for followup. As a result, our church website has been neglected as we have been pushing the congregation to the Church Center App. We are planning a restructure and redesign of our church website to cater specifically to new people, or people searching for a church in our area with basic information and the ability to Plan a visit, etc. I thought that this ONE platform for the church center app and all of it's integrations with everything we use within the church was a good thing. The one thing that through me off was when you said that when you tried out the PCO Church Center App, when you went to give, it took you to the website - but since we're using PCO giving, we can give right on the app. Is that an incorrect assessment? What are your thoughts on this?

Respect your opinions massively, Brady, and I 100% agree with your points. I also agree that most churches shouldn't waste their time with an app as it's a distraction for both them and their congregation. I've come a long way to join your side... mostly. I still believe there can be a place for apps especially when using the profile side of an app. I think when it comes to kids checkin and small group connection and resource access, an app can be a really good thing. To your point though, church apps are essentially websites dropped into a container in an app just duplicating what already exists and practically taking away some SEO juice to their website. I still hold out hope that church apps can meet a need in the church, but agree with your thesis that in 2023 it's more of a distraction than a value add. Much respect my friend. You're perseverance in this conversation has gone a long way and time has backed your opinion as they seem to have become less valuable rather than more.

Great content… dope outro

If you use planning center's app and try to sign up for an event, and get taken to that church's website, then that church probably isn't using Planning Center to handle registrations. Or they are just really bad at it.

The intersection of wisdom here. Tech and Church. Wow.

Hi Brady, great video! Very insightful. What would you say to churches who are already waist deep in a church app?

This just changed my whole mindset on apps Vs website. Thank you bro, our church is getting on nucleus.

We’re gearing up for a major shift towards Church Center as the hub for all we do, and it’s a good reminder to make sure that your people don’t need to download an app specifically to do some of these things. We’re structuring things so our website will be doing a lot of work on the front end to redirect people to CC and all the PCO backend there, at least until we switch web platforms to something with a PCO integration. While some of the redirecting stuff is annoying, the fact that CC works in a browser almost just as well as it does on a phone is great to have our “bought in” and “just looking” sides separated just enough that you can see everything you need to either way and nothing you don’t.

Brady Shearer come to the ROCK conference in Phoenix this year! Would love to talk all things church technology with you!

My church is looking to solve the great problem of church communication. I agree with having a central hub approach. The struggle I have is that Nucleus is alone on the website approach and it doesn’t allow us to grow into other tools that a ChMS provides. So, if I want those tools I have to manage a website and one or more other platforms. My flows won’t integrate with my check-in software or service planning. If I purchase from the big 3 you mentioned, everything integrates. I also disagree on giving platforms forcing people to cover the fees, but that’s a personal thing.

my church has an app, but i've never downloaded it. the only thing I really want access to is past sermons/podcast, which I would much rather listen to on RU-vid or Spotify

Thank you all at ProChurch Tools for your amazing insight! You’ve made my transition into church media so much easier. I love these points in the video, but need your help. I would love to bring these points up, but I know I’d be countered with fill-in notes. One of the dreams is to stop printing thousands on paper service folders for one on the app. Is there an alternative? Whether be our website or a different resource/web embed?

I know for my church, we really like our app and it's been really helpful for people to use. We have streamlined our website and app though. It's pretty clear that our app is for people that attend the church, our website is for people that are newer. Our app has certain things our website doesn't, chats have become really helpful for people, event sign ups are so easy, giving is quick. I think it just depends on your certain church culture if an app will be helpful or not. Great video, though!

I am thinking about using something like planning center for groups and registrations and Check-Ins - that uses the church center platform. Is it a good thing to use still when not pairing it to an app to download just using it on the website (I know it links you out)?

Also, not everyone wants an app taking up storage space on their phone...

I think our fear is that if our website is one of the biggest front doors to our church, and it is also the "Central Hub," as you've put it before, then it could potentially feel chaotic, messy or clunky for a new person to navigate. In our experience, our website is a "get-to-know us" platform: catch our livestream, check out who we are, see what events are coming up, what we offer, plan your visit, etc. Do you think that's potentially limited thinking?

Thanks, Brady. There are some notable mistakes in your video. Some of what you’re describing about apps isn’t accurate. But on the whole concept, I agree with you.

Interesting video. Just a thought. Soft zooms rather than the snap zooms would be less distracting. Every time the video snapped, it was super distracting from your great content.

THE ONE thing that the app gives our church? There is a logoed button on the phone’s home page that get’s them to our website faster than opening a browser, searching in the browser for the church and then selecting our website from the search results. I’m 100% in agreement with you about investing in the church (or a company’s) website over apps in general. If the app and the website offer the same things, focus on the website.

Brady.....As Larry Cox partner I agree with his position. I also have other comments about your not recommending church apps to churches who have an online presence which is likely the majority of churches today. In response to your position I have a question for you, how many church goers do you think actually own a computer these days? Do you think more do than do not? Of age groups, which group of users are more likely to use a computer to connect with a church over a smart phone or tablet, Gen Z, Gen X, Millennial, or Boomer? Did you know that for Gen Z the most important device they have is the smart phone? Did you know that 25% of Millennials use smart phones as their primary source of content? Did you know that the largest percent of people returning to the church in any fashion be it in person or online is the Millennial age group? Considering these statistics I say you need to revisit your position on this subject. If a church integrates an app with a website and combines contact, content, and church management across both platforms that church will be way ahead of those who do not. On your position for notifications, I agree completely. Notifications from an app are an annoyance for certain, What users view as not annoyances are text messaging and email. Leveraging these communication tools in conjunction with an app and website is more user friendly and way more effective.

Brady, so at the church I work at - we use Planning Center a lot for behind the scenes planning as a staff. Does Nucleus offer something like this feature or can it be adapted to work with Planning Center?

Can you build our church website

After all these reasons its interesting how many churches still want mobile apps lol….just have both the website and app and you wont have to keep comparing😂 Wish he also spoke of android since that can use an APK… If i had a church id want the website to promote the church then the mobile app to assist with daily interactions😂 I develop both websites and mobile apps…just get both and you wont have to keep debating with your self 😅

Thank you so much for this! I am by no means a tech person but I came across a small church with a very outdated website and no one there knew anything about web hosts. I have minimum experience with WordPress so I volunteered my services to update it with current events etc. I began to self-teach and set up a giving page and sermons they can watch. My next interest was an app. I found your video and you saved me tons of time doing something I would have to do. I want you to know that you helped a church save time to focus on other ventures. God bless sir