Compare / Church Windows
Kinship vs Church Windows
Church Windows is a 35+ year old Windows desktop application used by 13,000+ churches. In 2026, your church management software should work on any device, any browser, any OS — not just Windows. ZERO communication tools. Per-seat web pricing. Kinship is everything Church Windows isn't.
Visit Church Windows' website to compare for yourself.
Kinship
$0–100/mo
Fair-share tiers. Free up to 50 active members.
Church Windows
$50+/mo/seat
Annual savings
$600+/yr
Communication
Church Windows
Zero built-in communication — no bulk email, no SMS, no automation
Kinship
Email, SMS, automation, A/B testing, and per-recipient tracking — all included
Platform
Church Windows
Desktop software locked to Windows PCs — no mobile, no modern web UI
Kinship
Modern web app that works on any device — desktop, tablet, or phone
Pricing
Church Windows
Per-seat pricing — 3 staff on the web version costs $150+/mo
Kinship
$0–100/mo for unlimited users — no per-seat fees
The full comparison
An honest look at what each platform offers. Church Windows excels at accounting and payroll. Kinship excels at everything else — especially communication, which Church Windows lacks entirely.
People & Membership
| Feature | Kinship | Church Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Member database | ||
| Family/household linking | ||
| Custom fields | ||
| Member self-service portal | ||
| Background checks | ||
| Custom forms | ||
| Notes | ||
| Multi-campus |
Communication
| Feature | Kinship | Church Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Email sending (bulk) | Basic (no bulk) | |
| SMS/text messaging | ||
| Rich HTML email editor | ||
| Email templates | ||
| Scheduled sending | ||
| Per-recipient tracking | ||
| Audience segments | Advanced rule-based | |
| Automation / drip sequences | ||
| A/B testing | ||
| SMS conversation threading |
Giving & Finance
| Feature | Kinship | Church Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Online giving | Vanco | |
| Recurring donations | ||
| Fund management | ||
| Giving statements | ||
| Pledge tracking | ||
| Full accounting | Researching | |
| Payroll | Researching |
Events & Attendance
| Feature | Kinship | Church Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Event calendar | ||
| Event registration | ||
| Recurring events | ||
| Room/resource booking | ||
| Attendance tracking | ||
| Check-in kiosk | ||
| Child check-in | ||
| QR code check-in | ||
| Event reminders | ||
| Public event calendar |
Groups
| Feature | Kinship | Church Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Small groups | ||
| Group communication | ||
| Public group finder |
Volunteer Scheduling
| Feature | Kinship | Church Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Serving teams | ||
| Volunteer scheduling | ||
| Blockout dates | ||
| Schedule accept/decline | ||
| Volunteer reminders |
Admin & Platform
| Feature | Kinship | Church Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Granular RBAC (30+ permissions) | Basic roles | |
| Custom permission groups | ||
| Audit logging | ||
| Scoped API keys with usage analytics | ||
| Public REST API | ||
| Webhooks | ||
| Feature flags | ||
| GDPR data export & deletion | ||
| Unlimited users | Per-seat |
Safeguarding & Care
| Feature | Kinship | Church Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Safeguarding system (risk flags, suspensions) | ||
| Accountability partners | ||
| Safeguarding audit trail | ||
| Pastoral care case management | ||
| Background check integration |
Community & Messaging
| Feature | Kinship | Church Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Community feed with reactions | ||
| Real-time member messaging | ||
| Member directory | ||
| Member achievements / badges |
Based on publicly available information as of March 2026. We encourage you to verify directly with Church Windows.
Desktop software in 2026
Church Windows requires a Windows PC. No mobile app, no modern web UI. Kinship works on any device, any browser, any OS — from your phone to your desktop.
Communication-first, not nonexistent
Church Windows has ZERO communication tools. No bulk email, no SMS, no automation. Kinship is communication-first with per-recipient tracking, automation sequences, A/B testing, and SMS threading.
Need accounting? Export to QuickBooks
Church Windows' strength is its built-in accounting and payroll. Kinship doesn't replicate that — instead, export your giving data to QuickBooks and let the right tool handle the job.
Ready to leave Windows behind?
Start free with up to 50 active members. No credit card. No sales call. No contract. Works on any device, any browser — no Windows required.