7 Church Apps That Help Build Stronger Communities (And Why SocialGlow Is Different)

If you’re a pastor or ministry leader, you know the challenge of keeping your church connected during the week. Sunday is important—but what happens between services is where real discipleship and community growth can happen.

That’s why many churches are turning to community and course platforms designed to bring people together outside of the building. We’ve reviewed 7 popular church apps—and we’ll show you why SocialGlow is the top choice for churches that want engagement, simplicity, and growth… all in one place.

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1. SocialGlow – The #1 All-in-One Gamified Community & Courses App for Churches

SocialGlow is built specifically for leaders who want to turn faith communities into thriving, active hubs of connection, growth, and spiritual momentum—without relying on clunky tools or distractions like Facebook.

Here’s what makes SocialGlow a game-changer for churches:

✅ Unlimited Community & Courses

Create unlimited groups and courses within your church app. Whether it's small groups, youth ministry, new believer classes, or leadership training, everything lives in one seamless experience.

🎯 Built-In Gamification

Encourage participation with points, levels, and leaderboards. Run Bible reading challenges, prayer journaling competitions, or volunteer engagement streaks to drive deeper involvement.

📆 Content Automation

Plan and schedule devotionals, events, and group posts in advance—then let SocialGlow handle the delivery. Perfect for busy pastors and staff who want consistency without extra work.

📹 Fast & Secure Video Hosting

Upload your sermons, class videos, or devotionals directly—or embed from platforms like YouTube or Wistia. Keep everything private and centralized for your church only.

📱 Intuitive Mobile App

Your members get an easy-to-use app with a clean interface that keeps them engaged wherever they are. No logins to juggle. No confusing menus.

📝 Tracking Forms

Track small group attendance, prayer requests, weekly check-ins, or discipleship milestones using customizable forms built right into your groups.

🧠 Powerful Group Templates

Duplicate challenges, pop-up groups, or classes with ease using smart templates. Update links, group names, and content instantly—great for seasonal studies or recurring courses.

🚀 Fanatical Support

Our community experts are just a chat away, with an average response time of under 5 minutes.

“SocialGlow has been a night and day change from Facebook groups. My clients are so happy with it.”
— Jenni A., Fitness Coach & Church Leader

Best for: Pastors and churches that want an all-in-one solution to simplify tech, energize community, and grow discipleship through the week.
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2. Church Center

Church Center, by Planning Center, is a solid admin-focused platform that offers check-ins, giving, group listings, and a directory.

Pros:

  • Seamless if you already use Planning Center
  • Great for event registration and giving

Cons:

  • Limited engagement features
  • No content gamification, automation, or video hosting

Best for: Operational tasks, not daily community engagement

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3. Mighty Networks

Originally for creators, Mighty Networks has been adopted by some churches for its community and course tools.

Pros:

  • Sleek design and flexible structure
  • Courses and group chats included

Cons:

  • Built for business communities, not spiritual ones
  • Expensive and feature overkill for smaller churches

Best for: Tech-savvy churches with large teams and advanced needs

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4. Facebook Groups

The old default. Many churches still use Facebook, but it’s increasingly seen as a noisy and distracting space.

Pros:

  • Free and widely used
  • Easy to post updates

Cons:

  • Posts get buried by Facebook’s algorithm
  • No structure, no progress tracking, no privacy
  • Ads and unrelated content steal focus

Best for: Informal, social connections—until you're ready for something better

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5. Faithlife

Created by the makers of Logos, Faithlife includes sermon sharing, community messaging, and giving tools.

Pros:

  • Great if you use Logos Bible Software
  • Offers Bible study tools and sermon archives

Cons:

  • Complicated setup with many components
  • Lacks modern course or gamification tools

Best for: Churches deep in Logos ecosystem and willing to manage complexity

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6. GroupMe

A basic group texting tool used by many youth ministries and teams.

Pros:

  • Free and simple
  • Familiar for quick communication

Cons:

  • No organization for content
  • Not scalable or structured for broader church community

Best for: Informal groups and youth teams—not church-wide use

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7. WhatsApp

Used globally for quick group communication.

Pros:

  • Fast messaging and group chats
  • Great for international congregations

Cons:

  • Not built for churches
  • Lacks any learning tools, group management, or engagement tracking

Best for: Cross-border teams or short-term trip groups

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The Verdict: Go Beyond Sunday with the Right App

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Your church isn’t just a Sunday gathering—it’s a weeklong community, a discipleship hub, and a place where lives change.

Only SocialGlow brings all the tools you need—community, courses, engagement tracking, automation, and gamification—into one clean, simple app.

If you’re ready to boost engagement, simplify your tech stack, and create a stronger spiritual connection with your congregation, SocialGlow is your next move.

👉 Book your free 15-minute demo and see why pastors everywhere are moving their communities to SocialGlow.

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