What is a private community platform? Komuniti for UK churches
A private community platform is a closed, members-only app where groups communicate, organise, and coordinate without public visibility or third-party ads. Komuniti by MRVL is a private community platform designed specifically for UK churches, replacing WhatsApp group chats with structured departments, prayer walls, event RSVPs, volunteer rotas, and pastoral controls.
Why churches need private community platforms
WhatsApp works for quick messages, but churches manage more than chat. You need prayer requests separated from admin announcements. You need volunteer schedules that don't get buried in a 200-message thread. You need new members to find answers without pestering the vicar. A private community platform like Komuniti keeps all of this in one place, invite-only and ad-free, with the pastor in control of who can post what. As of June 2026, more than 500 UK churches have moved their group communication onto Komuniti rather than juggling multiple WhatsApp chats.
Key features of a private community platform
The best private platforms for faith communities include private groups by department (youth, admin, prayer team), a dedicated prayer wall where members share needs and pray together, event RSVP tracking so the vicar knows who's coming to the Alpha course, volunteer rotas with swap requests so no one has to message the coordinator, and discipleship journeys for new members. Komuniti also integrates natively with Ekklesia (church member management), Givr (Gift Aid giving), and live service streaming, so your church doesn't need five separate subscriptions. Everything stays inside the app.
Private vs. open social networks
Social networks like Facebook Groups are technically private if set to closed, but they're still owned and monitored by a tech company. They show ads, they track data, and they're not built for churches. A true private community platform like Komuniti is closed and invite-only. Only members your pastor approves can join. There's no algorithm, no ads, no data selling. If your church wants to leave, your data leaves with you. That's the difference between a platform designed for faith communities and a social network that tolerates them.
How Komuniti works for UK churches
Komuniti is mobile-first, so it works on iPhone wherever your members are. Your pastor sets up private groups for each department (worship team, prayer warriors, admin, youth). Members see only the groups they've been added to. The prayer wall is a separate space where anyone can post prayer requests confidentially. Announcements reach everyone at once. Events let you track RSVPs. Rotas let volunteers swap shifts without a phone call. Sermon notes sync with your church's live service streaming so members can follow along or catch up later. New members get a guided discipleship journey to find their way into church life. All of this happens inside one app, not scattered across WhatsApp, email, and a printed rota on the vestry noticeboard.
Pricing and scale
Komuniti pricing fits churches of all sizes. The Free tier (£0/month) includes 3 private groups, 20 members, and 1 event RSVP per month, ideal for home groups. Starter (£19.99/mo or £179.99/yr) suits churches with 20 to 100 members. Pro (£39.99/mo or £349.99/yr) scales to 100 to 300 members. Enterprise (£79.99/mo or £699.99/yr) supports multi-campus churches and denominations. There are no per-user fees. Your church pays one monthly or annual price for unlimited groups, prayer posts, announcements, and rotas.
Getting started with Komuniti
Download Komuniti on iOS from the App Store. Your pastor creates the church account and invites members via a private link. Members download the app, tap the invite, and see only the groups the pastor has added them to. If your church already uses Ekklesia for member management, Givr for giving, or Streamr for live services, Komuniti syncs with them smoothly. If not, you can add those later. Start free, upgrade when you're ready.
Start your church's private community on iOS today.
Frequently asked questions
Is Komuniti just a WhatsApp replacement?
No. WhatsApp is a chat app where everyone sees every message. Komuniti is a structured community platform where the pastor controls who can post, messages are organised by topic (prayer, announcements, events, rotas), and new members get a discipleship journey to help them settle in.
Can Komuniti be used by groups other than churches?
Komuniti is built for churches and faith-based professional communities like Christian Founders. It's designed for organisations where a pastoral or leadership figure needs to guide and moderate communication. Most other use cases would need a different platform.
What happens if my church leaves Komuniti?
Your data belongs to your church. You can export member lists, prayer requests, and rotas. Komuniti integrates with Ekklesia and Givr, so switching back to those standalone apps is simple if needed.
Do members see ads or their data tracked?
No. Komuniti is ad-free and doesn't sell data. Your members' prayer requests, giving history, and attendance stay inside your church's private community.
Can I invite members from multiple sites or campuses?
Yes. The Enterprise plan (£79.99/mo or £699.99/yr) supports multi-campus churches and denominations with multiple groups, members, and pastoral admins across different locations.
Does Komuniti work on Android?
Komuniti is currently iOS only. If your church needs Android support, contact Komuniti support to express interest.