Side by side
ChurchSoftware Accounting vs LineLedger
Both stand on fund accounting software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
ChurchSoftware Accounting combines fund tracking, expense recording, and financial reports with a broader set of church-management tools. Eligible organizations can use the core platform without fees or a trial; several optional services have listed charges.
Visit ChurchSoftware Accounting
Choose LineLedger if you want a free, full-featured accounting system that runs on infrastructure you control, including non-profit fund accounting. It may not suit organizations seeking native US payroll, automated sales-tax filing, or IRS e-file, which are listed as roadmap items.
Visit LineLedgerThe facts
| ChurchSoftware Accounting | LineLedger | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Yes |
| Runs on | Android, iPhone, Web | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Payroll: $25 a month | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 9 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | churchsoftware.com | lineledger.com |
| On fund accounting software | #2 of 70 | #1 of 70 |
ChurchSoftware Accounting: what it does well
- Tracks designated funds and ministry expenses.
- Online giving connects to accounting for automatic recordkeeping.
- Core platform is free for eligible 501(c)(3) organizations.
- Available on Android, iOS, and the web.
What to know first
- Free core platform eligibility is limited to 501(c)(3) organizations.
- Church website costs $59/mo.
- Payroll costs $25/mo + $9 per employee.
LineLedger: what it does well
- Free forever with unlimited companies, users, and transactions
- Includes fund accounting, restricted-fund tracking, and grant tracking
- Imports QuickBooks charts of accounts and multi-file ledger history
- Append-only audit log and portable ZIP backups
- Passkeys, two-factor authentication, and section-level roles
What to know first
- Setup requires Docker and Docker Compose
- Native US payroll, sales-tax filing, and IRS e-file are roadmap items
- The maker says LineLedger is not SOC 2 certified
Alternatives to ChurchSoftware Accounting Alternatives to LineLedger The whole list