Software profile
Rock RMS
An open-source church system supported by Spark Development Network. It can be hosted by the church or through a partner cloud provider.
30-second answer
What to know before you open the full record
- What it is
- An open-source church system supported by Spark Development Network. It can be hosted by the church or through a partner cloud provider.
- Contexts worth testing
- Churches with technical capacity or an implementation partner, Multi-site organisations needing a configurable platform
- Published starting price
- US$4.45 / year
- Relevant UK checks
- Available more broadly
- Shortlist when
- Technically resourced churches and multi-site organisations
- Check first
- Ask how the chosen hosting route can be evaluated safely
- Evidence date
- Sources checked 25 July 2026
This is an evidence-led starting point, not a ranking or hands-on verdict. Supplier sources establish what they publish; your church should test material workflows and resolve the questions below.
Five-minute assessment
Assess the likely fit and trade-offs
The short version
A fit worth testing against your real workflow.
Rock RMS is a platform choice, not simply a software subscription. Its appeal is configurability and control; its trade-off is that hosting, implementation, security and ongoing technical stewardship become core parts of the decision.
Directory assessment
Rock RMS is not a low-effort free option: its open-source licence shifts significant responsibilities to the church or implementation partner. It can suit technically capable or larger organisations, but should be evaluated with a realistic hosting, support, security and migration budget.
Decision framing
Shortlist when, then check first
- Shortlist when
- Technically resourced churches and multi-site organisations
- Test in a real workflow
- People and groups
- Settle before buying
- Ask how the chosen hosting route can be evaluated safely
Best suited to
- Technically resourced churches and multi-site organisations
- Teams that need substantial configurability and can support an implementation
Evidence-backed strengths
- Open-source platform and flexible hosting paths
- Pricing approach distinguishes supplier support from hosting cost
Limitations and questions
- The reviewed supplier material does not describe a standard trial
- UK data protection, support, payments and Gift Aid require project-specific assessment
What the supplier publishes
- People and groups
- Giving
- Check-in
- Workflows
- Communications
- Service planning
What does the supplier currently publish?
Pricing and trial
Rock RMS itself is open source and describes a suggested annual Spark donation based on average weekend attendance. Self-hosting and partner cloud hosting have separate costs.
| Tier or starting point | Published price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Spark donation | $4.45 per attendee/year | Suggested commitment stated by the supplier; not presented as an invoice |
| Self-hosting | Infrastructure cost varies | Requires a church or partner to operate the hosting environment |
| Partner cloud hosting | See provider | Partner hosting prices and setup arrangements vary |
Free trial: Ask the supplier about an evaluation — The reviewed supplier material does not describe a standard trial; evaluation arrangements depend on the hosting approach.
Who will run and support the live platform?
Cost beyond the code
Rock RMS describes a suggested Spark donation based on average weekend attendance, alongside self-hosting and partner cloud-hosting routes.
Build a multi-year budget including hosting, implementation, data migration, security work, support and staff time. Confirm the terms and data location of any chosen cloud provider before loading church data.
What does external feedback add?
What public reviews and peer discussion do — and do not — show
This profile does not use an independent review score. It is grounded in Rock RMS’s published licensing and pricing approach.
- Hosting and implementation capability are decisive.
- A project plan is needed before product configuration begins.
This profile does not establish suitability for a particular church or any supplier’s UK compliance position.
The questions a shortlist needs to answer
Rock RMS FAQs
Is Rock RMS free?
Rock RMS is open source. The supplier also describes a suggested Spark donation, while infrastructure, implementation and support can carry separate costs.
How is Rock RMS priced?
The supplier states a suggested $4.45 annual donation per average weekend attendee. Self-hosting and cloud-hosting costs vary separately.
Does Rock RMS have a free trial?
Ask the chosen cloud partner about its trial arrangement. The right evaluation path depends on whether the church self-hosts or uses a partner.
Full due diligence
Evidence, operations and source record
Use this full record to test practical details, retain source links and take specific gaps to the supplier.
Published operations and support details
- Support
- Support varies by hosting and partner arrangement
Sources reviewed
Sources support only the fields named beneath each link. Supplier material is not independent testing; external review material is included as a limited signal rather than a verdict.
- Rock RMS pricing
Reviewed 25 July 2026 · Supports: Open-source model, Suggested donation, Hosting paths - Rock Cloud pricing
Reviewed 25 July 2026 · Supports: Partner cloud-hosting cost context, Setup and support context
