Hi everyone, welcome to this post where we are going to explain to you the free software options that your Church has to be able to do what it is meant to do. And to carry out the Great Commission, everyone needs help, sometimes you have to spend money, but the world has gotten to a point where you don’t need to spend money on every single tool that you need to run a church. So here I have searched the web and come across some great options for you to try in your local church. Let me know which one you find the most valuable in this list. Let’s go.
1. OpenLP – Free Worship Presentation Software
If your church is using PowerPoint to display worship lyrics or sermon points, I want to introduce you to something better. OpenLP is a free, open-source worship presentation software that works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It allows you to display lyrics, Bible verses, videos, and presentations — all without spending a dime.
You can import your songs, add Scripture from multiple Bible versions, and even control everything remotely with your phone. And no, it’s not one of those clunky free apps. It’s well-built, easy to use, and supported by a global community of churches.
It also integrates with VLC and PowerPoint, in case your media team is already used to those tools. Definitely a game-changer for smaller churches that want to step up their media game without buying expensive software like ProPresenter.
2. ChurchCRM – Free Church Management System
Managing members, follow-ups, events, donations, and volunteer activities can get overwhelming fast. ChurchCRM is a powerful free solution that helps you manage all of that in one place.
You can track attendance, send out emails and SMS messages to members, manage groups, and even handle tithes and offerings securely. It’s browser-based, so your team can access it from anywhere, and it’s open-source — which means your tech team (if you have one) can even customize it.
I love that it brings order to the admin side of ministry without needing a subscription or license fee. Just install it on your web server and go.
3. Audacity – Free Audio Recording & Editing Tool
If your church records sermons or podcasts, Audacity is an absolute must-have. It’s free, open-source, and works on all major operating systems.
Whether you’re recording from a mic or editing a sermon to upload online, Audacity gives you professional-level control — things like noise reduction, volume leveling, trimming, and exporting to MP3. It’s also perfect for worship teams who want to record music or audio clips for services.
Even if you’re not a “techie,” there are plenty of tutorials out there to get you up and running in less than an hour.
4. OBS Studio – Free Livestreaming Software
Churches that want to stream services, Bible studies, or prayer sessions online need to check out OBS Studio. It’s completely free and lets you stream to YouTube, Facebook Live, or wherever your community is gathering online.
OBS supports multiple cameras, screen sharing, overlays, and even audio mixing — all in one place. It’s used by thousands of churches around the world and gives you the tools to produce high-quality livestreams without hiring a video team or paying monthly for software.
Pair this with a decent webcam or smartphone and you’re good to go.
5. Planning Center (Free Tier)
Now, technically Planning Center isn’t fully open-source, but I’m adding it here because it has a free tier that many small churches can start with. Planning Center helps you organize services, schedule volunteers, manage check-ins, and keep your team on the same page.
Their “Services” module, for example, lets your worship team upload setlists and rehearsal files so everyone is ready before Sunday.
So even though the full package is paid, the free version is very usable if you’re just starting out or have a small team.
6. LibreOffice – Free Alternative to Microsoft Office
Every church needs to write letters, put together flyers, prepare sermon outlines, or manage spreadsheets for things like budgets and attendance. If you don’t want to pay for Microsoft Office, LibreOffice is a fantastic free alternative. It’s an open-source office suite that includes tools like Writer (like Word), Calc (like Excel), Impress (like PowerPoint), and more.
It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and is fully compatible with Microsoft file formats. This is a great tool to install on office computers at your church so your admin team can work efficiently without adding software costs.
7. Canva – Free Graphic Design Tool (With Nonprofit Pro Access!)
Canva is one of those tools that almost every modern ministry can benefit from. Whether you’re designing sermon graphics, event flyers, Bible verse posts for Instagram, or even presentation slides — Canva makes it easy. The drag-and-drop interface means anyone can create beautiful visuals without needing a design background.
But here’s the best part: If your church is a registered nonprofit, you can apply for a Canva Pro account for free. That gives you access to premium templates, branding tools, and extra features that normally cost money. This can really elevate your church’s communication and save your design team hours every week.
👉 Apply for Canva for Nonprofits
8. Jitsi Meet – Free Zoom Alternative
Zoom is great, but the free plan has time limits and pricing can add up if you host a lot of meetings. Jitsi Meet is a completely free and open-source video conferencing tool that you can use right from your browser — no downloads required.
It’s secure, simple, and perfect for prayer meetings, Bible study groups, leadership calls, or discipleship sessions. You don’t need an account to start or join a call, and it even lets you record meetings, share your screen, and use chat. For churches that want an easy way to stay connected online, this is a solid choice.
9. GIMP – Free Photoshop Alternative
If your church needs something more advanced than Canva, especially for detailed photo editing or graphic design, then GIMP is the way to go. GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program, and it’s a free, open-source alternative to Adobe Photoshop.
You can do all kinds of editing — from creating social media graphics and thumbnails to designing print materials or even editing photos from your church events. It takes a little getting used to, but once you figure it out, it can do almost everything Photoshop can, without the cost.
10. Church Online Platform – A Free Way to Stream Church Services Online
This one right here is such a blessing. The Church Online Platform is a free tool created by the same people who made the YouVersion Bible App (yes, Life.Church), and it’s designed to help churches like yours host services online in a way that actually feels like church. You can livestream your services, have people join a live chat, request prayer, take sermon notes, and even make a decision to follow Jesus — all in one place. And the best part? No ads, no fees, and nothing weird. It is a clean, easy-to-use platform that helps you take the gospel beyond the walls of your building. If your church is trying to figure out how to be online and still keep it ministry-focused, this is a solid place to start.
👉 Check out Church Online Platform
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, ministry is about people — but the tools we use can help us serve those people more efficiently and creatively. These free tools give you the ability to do more with less and allow your church to grow in excellence without growing your expenses. Whether you’re livestreaming your services, designing flyers for an outreach, managing your congregation, or training up new leaders — there’s something here that can help.
If you’ve tried any of these or have another tool you think churches should know about, drop it in the comments. The Church is better when we share what works.
Keep shining.
Be Light Ministries
