Is Shepherd Seedling truly free forever?

Yes. Shepherd Seedling (free tier) is free forever for up to 50 members. No credit card required, no hidden fees, no upsell. You only upgrade if your church grows past 50 members and you want additional features like SMS, QR code check-in, or advanced reports.

What happens if my church grows past 50 members?

You have options. You can invite the next tier (Rooted - GHS 99/month for 250 members) when ready, or continue with Seedling and manage members manually. The choice is entirely yours — no automatic upgrades.

Do I have to add all my members at once?

No. You can add members as they come. Start with your leadership team, then add regular attendees, then new believers as they join. Shepherd grows with your church.

Can I download my data if I leave?

Yes. You can download your member list, attendance records, and giving history as a CSV file anytime. Your data belongs to you.

Free Church Management Software for Small Churches in Ghana

Your church has 30–40 faithful members. You meet every Sunday. Your pastor knows everyone by name, and your finance team is probably your pastor's wife and the treasurer. The idea of "church management software" sounds expensive and unnecessary.

But here's the reality: even small churches lose data. A key member moves to Accra. Was she baptized? Did we follow up with her? Your giving records are in someone's notebook. You're not tracking who came last Sunday versus three weeks ago. And when it's time to give a report to the deacons, you're scrambling for paper records that don't exist anymore.

This is where free church management software changes everything. You don't need to pay GHS 99/month or more. You need a tool that's simple, free, and grows with you.

What You Get with Shepherd Seedling (Free)

Shepherd Seedling is our free plan for up to 50 church members. It includes:

✅

Member Database (50 members)

Store names, phone numbers, email, families, groups, and spiritual milestone dates (baptism, conversion, joining).

✅

WhatsApp Check-In

Members text CHECKIN to Shepherd's WhatsApp number. Shepherd confirms and records attendance automatically. No app downloads, no QR scanning.

✅

Attendance Tracking

Automatic attendance records from WhatsApp check-ins. See who attended last Sunday, who's been absent for 3 weeks.

✅

Basic Giving Records

Log tithes and offerings. See total giving per month. Know who's given and how much (for pastoral care and prayer).

✅

Basic Dashboard

One simple page showing total members, Sunday attendance, and giving summary. That's it.

✅

Email & SMS Basics

Send announcements to your members via email. 10 SMS credits/month included for essential notifications.

No Hidden Costs. No Credit Card. Really Free.

We mean it. Seedling is free forever. No credit card required to sign up. No surprise charges after 30 days. No upsell popups telling you "upgrade or lose your data."

We built Seedling because we believe every church — big or small — deserves to organize their people and their mission. Size shouldn't be the barrier.

When Do You Upgrade?

You upgrade when your church outgrows Seedling. For us, that's when you hit around 60–80 members and want features beyond the basics:

Rooted Plan (GHS 99/month) — 250 members, online giving, 50 SMS/month, detailed reports
Growing Plan (GHS 199/month) — 500 members, QR code check-in, custom reports
Flourishing Plan (GHS 399/month) — 2,000 members, advanced features, AI insights

But here's the key: you control when you upgrade. When your church council decides they want Mobile Money giving, you upgrade. When you hit 60 members and WhatsApp-only check-in feels limiting, you upgrade. Not before.

How to Get Started in 5 Minutes

Go to get-shepherd.net and click "Get Started"
Fill in your church name (e.g., "Grace Chapel Accra") and your email. That's it.
Add your members one by one or bulk upload a CSV if you have a list
Send your first WhatsApp check-in this Sunday. See it work.
Invite your team (treasurer, youth leader, admin) to log in and help

Real Churches Using Shepherd Seedling

Churches across Ghana (and now Nigeria) are using Shepherd to organize their members:

✓ A 35-member church in Tema using Seedling to track attendance
✓ A church plant with 22 members running all operations free
✓ A traditional church that upgraded to Rooted when they hit 120 members

None of them had to pay anything to start. All of them have a clear record of their people, their attendance, and their spiritual milestones.

FAQ for Small Churches

Can I use Seedling offline?+

Seedling works online (web-based). If your church doesn't have internet during Sunday service, you can check in members later that day or week — attendance records will still sync once you're online.

What if my pastor doesn't like technology?+

You don't need your pastor's buy-in to start. Your treasurer, youth leader, or admin can manage the system. WhatsApp check-in is so simple that members do it themselves — no training needed.

Will I have to pay later?+

Only if you choose to upgrade for more features. Seedling is free forever. You're never forced to pay.

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