What Text In Church does

Text In Church is a privately held US SaaS company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Parkville (Liberty), Missouri. The company provides a unified communication platform purpose-built for churches, combining SMS texting, email messaging, and voice calling into a single product. The platform is delivered as a web application with native iOS and Android apps, hosted on AWS infrastructure with Twilio handling SMS and voice carrier services. AI features are powered by third-party Anthropic Claude and are used for automated data extraction, communication assistance, and workflow optimization. The product is differentiated by church-specific templates and workflows (Connect Cards, Plan A Visit, prayer request flows, volunteer recruitment), local phone numbers, and deep integrations with major church management systems (Planning Center, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Tithely, Elvanto) plus Zapier and an open API.

The business operates on a tiered subscription model (US Minimum $15/mo, Basic $49/mo, Pro $79/mo, Premium $149/mo) with metered SMS usage, a Calling Plus add-on at $10/seat/month, and a Concierge Account Setup professional service starting at $249. The company has been recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America for four consecutive years (2020-2023) and as an Inc. Best Workplace in 2020, 2021, and 2023. The customer base includes 35,000+ church leaders, primarily in the United States and Canada, with newer entry into Australia. Customer segments span community churches (under 2,000 weekly attendance), church plants (offered 6 free months), large multi-campus churches, and nonprofits.

Text In Church is bootstrapped (no disclosed funding rounds), founder-led by Tyler Smith, and has expanded through acquisitions: PastorsLine (church-focused SMS/calling, November 2024) and the First Impressions Conference (church hospitality training and First Impressions Academy, March 2025). The company is a Missouri LLC (Text In Church, L.C.), operates in a vertically specialized niche, and combines PLG self-serve onboarding (14-day trial, no contracts, monthly billing) with inside sales motion via scheduled live demos and a Member Experience Team.

Name

Text In Church

Legal name

Text In Church, L.C.

Website

https://textinchurch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Text In Church is a privately held SaaS company that provides a unified SMS, email, and voice calling platform purpose-built for churches. It serves more than 35,000 church leaders primarily across the United States and Canada via tiered subscriptions, deep church-management-system integrations, and church-specific automated workflows.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Church Communication Software

NAICS

Telecommunications (517), All Other Telecommunications (517810)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Community/Group Chat Platforms (BPAMACAH)

Keywords

• Church communication software
• SMS messaging platform
• Church texting service
• Guest follow-up automation
• Church management integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Liberty

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Subscription - Core Messaging Plans: Monthly or annual subscription tiers (Minimum, Basic, Pro, Premium) that include a designated number of SMS messages per month. Additional messages beyond plan limits charged at 3 cents per message on pay-as-you-go basis. Plans include unlimited email sending, keywords, users, and contacts.
2. Calling Plus Add-on: Optional add-on at $10/month/seat providing automated text replies, digital receptionist, automated greetings, direct extensions, call forwarding, and smart voicemail features.
3. Concierge Account Setup: One-time setup service starting at $249 for personalized onboarding including goal discovery calls, advanced strategy coaching, customized groups and messaging setup, and 90-day account review.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Text In Church provides a unified church communication SaaS platform that combines SMS text messaging, email, and voice calling into a single system designed specifically for churches and faith-based organizations. The platform enables two-way texting, automated follow-up workflows, digital connect cards for guest information capture, keyword-based opt-ins, video messaging, and local phone number management. A Calling add-on provides digital receptionist functionality, automated greetings, smart voicemail transcription, and direct extensions. The platform integrates with church management systems and uses AI (Anthropic Claude) to assist with communication tasks.

Product overview

Text In Church is a church communication platform offering a unified system combining SMS texting, email messaging, and voice calling. The core product is the Messaging platform, with Two-Way Texting, Automated Workflows, Connect Cards, Text A Keyword, Video Messaging, Email Sending, Local Phone Numbers, and Messaging Templates as key feature modules. The Calling add-on provides voice communication capabilities through features including Digital Receptionist, Automated Text, Automated Greetings, Call Forwarding, Direct Extensions, and Smart Voicemails. The company has expanded through acquisitions including PastorsLine (church-focused SMS and calling, November 2024) and the First Impressions Conference (church hospitality training, March 2025). The platform integrates with church management systems including Planning Center, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Tithely, and Elvanto, plus Zapier for automation and offers an Open API for custom integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• First Impressions: Church hospitality training brand acquired by Text In Church, including the First Impressions Conference and First Impressions Academy for ongoing education.

Products and services

• Messaging The core SMS/texting platform enabling churches to send personalized texts, automated follow-ups, and timely reminders to connect with their community. Includes Two-Way Texting, Automated Workflows, Connect Cards, Text A Keyword, Email Sending, Video Messaging, Local Phone Numbers, and Messaging Templates. Designed for church leaders to manage communication with members and guests.
• Calling Voice calling add-on with built-in calling and digital receptionist that routes calls automatically, allowing church leaders to make and receive calls from their church number while keeping personal numbers private. Includes Automated Text replies, Automated Greetings, Call Forwarding, Digital Receptionist, Direct Extensions, and Smart Voicemails with transcription. Priced at $10/month per seat.
• Concierge Account Setup One-time setup service starting at $249 for personalized onboarding including goal discovery calls, advanced strategy coaching, customized groups and messaging setup, and 90-day account review. Provides hands-on implementation support for churches that need guided onboarding.
• PastorsLine Church-focused SMS and calling solutions provider acquired by Text In Church in November 2024 as part of expansion strategy for church communication offerings. Now operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Text In Church.
• First Impressions Conference Training organization focused on church hospitality acquired by Text In Church in March 2025, expanding impact through new programs, conferences, and the First Impressions Academy ongoing education platform. Now operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Text In Church.

Quantifiable outcome

• 67% of guest families taking next steps to become regular attenders
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PastorsLinecoreTechnology or Integration · 12 November 2024Acquired November 2024. Church-focused SMS and calling solutions provider. Part of Text In Church's strategy to expand communication offerings for churches. Second major acquisition of 2024 following previous acquisitions.
• Planning CentercoreTechnology or IntegrationReal-time sync integration between Planning Center and Text In Church ensuring messages reach the most up-to-date contact lists. Two-way synchronization keeps church data aligned across platforms.
• ZapiercoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Zapier enables Text In Church to send data to 1,000+ connected platforms and applications, extending functionality through workflow automation.
• Church Community BuildercoreTechnology or IntegrationTwo-way sync integration that automatically sends messages to Church Community Builder contact lists. Built lists are maintained with simple follow-up through Text In Church.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Twilio: Underlying communications platform provider that powers Text In Church's SMS and voice services via carrier APIs. Not a direct competitor, but a critical infrastructure dependency and adjacent peer whose pricing and product changes directly affect TIC's economics.

Broad incumbents

• Subsplash: Church engagement platform offering mobile apps, giving, media, and communication tools used by thousands of churches. Competes with Text In Church in the communications layer while offering a broader engagement and content stack.
• Pushpay: Large, publicly-listed provider of church giving, engagement, and mobile/app solutions, increasingly bundling communication and texting into its broader church platform. Competes for the same large-church and multi-campus buyers with a much wider product suite.
• Tithe.ly: Church giving, app, and engagement platform with integrated text and email communication tools for pastors and church staff. Also a current Text In Church integration partner, with overlapping communications capabilities that position it as a partial competitor.

Direct peers

• Clearstream: Church texting and communication software built for church staff and volunteers, offering two-way SMS, automated workflows, keyword campaigns, and integrations with church management systems. Directly competes with Text In Church and is listed as a comparison competitor on TIC's site.
• Flocknote: Church-focused email and text messaging platform serving parishes and ministries with member communication, groups, and mass texting. Closely comparable product and target customer to Text In Church, named as an explicit competitor on TIC's comparison pages.
• Gloo: Church engagement and communication platform providing messaging, content, and connection tools to churches and faith-based organizations. Listed as an explicit competitor on Text In Church's comparison pages and operates in the same vertical with overlapping communications features.
• PastorsLine: Church-focused SMS and calling solutions provider acquired by Text In Church in November 2024; previously operated as a direct competitor in church texting. Highly comparable pre-acquisition product, now consolidated under TIC's brand.

Emerging players

• Breeze ChMS: Church management system with built-in text and email communication features, popular with small and mid-size churches. Overlaps with Text In Church on texting/email and is a partial competitor when buyers look for an all-in-one ChMS plus communications bundle.
• Planning Center: Leading suite of church management tools (People, Services, Giving, etc.) with growing communication features. Currently a core integration partner of Text In Church, but expanding functionality could turn it into a competing communications channel for shared customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TextInChurch
• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/textinchurch
• Instagraminstagram.com/textinchurch
• TikToktiktok.com/@textinchurch
• Xx.com/textinchurch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/text-in-church

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Text In Church