Best App for Managing Church Event Attendance
Gathrd by MRVL is a faith-only event ticketing and attendance platform built specifically for churches and Christian organisations. It offers QR code check-in, Gift Aid automation for UK churches, and a 3% fee structure that beats standard event platforms.
What Gathrd Does for Church Attendance
Gathrd is a Christian event discovery and booking platform that churches use to list events, manage ticket sales, and track attendance. When attendees arrive at your event, they scan a QR code at the door to check in, with full offline support so you're not dependent on WiFi. For UK churches, the platform automates Gift Aid collection via split-checkout, so you capture that 25% uplift on donations without manual admin. The check-in system integrates with TapTrust for NFC card support too, giving you flexible door entry options. All of this runs on a simple 3% fee on paid tickets, compared to Eventbrite's 6.95% plus £0.59 per transaction.
Why Churches Choose Gathrd Over Generic Platforms
Gathrd is purpose-built for faith communities, not a generic events platform. The directory is faith-only by design, meaning your worship nights, prayer meetings, retreats and conferences appear alongside other Christian events, never next to secular listings. Attendees can filter by denomination (Church of England, Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational and more), so they find events that match their tradition. Church staff and ministry leaders get denomination-specific discovery tools, while attendees get a clean, faith-focused event calendar. As of 2026, this niche focus has made Gathrd the standard for UK church event management and ticket sales.
Pricing and Plans
Community events are completely free to list; you only pay 3% when someone buys a paid ticket. If you run multiple events each month or want unlimited event listings, the Church Plan is £19.99 per month or £199.99 per year. Ministry leaders managing conferences or larger series can use the Ministry Plan at £49.99 per month. Multi-event conferences have a dedicated Conference Plan at £149.99 per month. All pricing includes the same 3% fee on paid tickets and Gift Aid automation for UK organisers. Payouts go via Stripe Connect with PPP discounts available across 37 countries.
QR Check-In and Door Management
When attendees arrive at your event, they scan a QR code displayed at the entrance to check themselves in. The system works offline, so if your internet drops during a service or event, check-in continues uninterrupted. Later, when connectivity returns, the data syncs. For higher-end venue needs, Gathrd integrates with TapTrust review cards and NFC technology, so you can also use physical cards at the door for check-in. This is especially useful for conferences, retreats, or large gatherings where you want multiple entry points. Attendance data is logged instantly and available in your Gathrd dashboard.
Getting Started
Church staff and event organisers sign up at getgathrd.app, create their church or ministry profile, and list their first event for free. Attendees download the Gathrd app on iOS or Android to discover events near them, browse by denomination, and book tickets in seconds. Once you've set up your event and invited attendees (or shared the QR code on your website or social channels), the platform handles ticket collection, Gift Aid paperwork, and check-in. You can manage everything from your phone or desktop, and payout goes straight to your church's bank account via Stripe Connect.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to sell tickets to church events?
Gathrd charges 3% on paid tickets, compared to Eventbrite's 6.95% plus £0.59 per transaction. For a £10 ticket sold 100 times, you save £156 in fees with Gathrd. Community events listed for free have no fee at all.
Does Gathrd help with Gift Aid collection?
Yes. UK churches using Gathrd get automated Gift Aid collection via a split-checkout option at purchase. The platform handles the paperwork, so you capture the 25% uplift on donations without manual admin.
Can I check attendees in at the door with Gathrd?
Yes. Attendees scan a QR code at the entrance, and their check-in is logged instantly. The system works offline and syncs when internet returns. You can also enable NFC check-in via TapTrust integration for card-based entry.
Is Gathrd free for churches?
Listing community events is free. You pay 3% only when someone buys a paid ticket. For unlimited events and advanced features, the Church Plan is £19.99 per month or £199.99 per year.
What denominations are supported on Gathrd?
Gathrd supports Church of England, Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational and other Christian traditions. Attendees can filter events by denomination to find services and events that match their faith background.
Can other event platforms list my church events?
You can use any ticketing platform, but Gathrd is purpose-built for churches and includes Gift Aid automation, faith-only event discovery, and lower fees. It's also the only platform that filters by Christian denomination and keeps your events in a faith-only directory.