Your own app, instead of a hosted platform
If you want your community's app on your own server, under your own name, with no ads and no algorithm, Madefor is an alternative to hosted church and community platforms. Madefor is a custom, privately hosted social app for churches, clubs, schools and community groups. Each page below explains the difference fairly — including when another tool may suit you better.
Two ways to run your community's app
A hosted platform and your own private app solve the same problem in different ways.
A hosted platform
- Runs on the provider's servers, alongside many other organizations
- Your members' data lives in the provider's systems, under its policies
- The provider sets the product, its roadmap and its terms
- Can bundle other tools — such as giving or church management — in one service
Your own app with Madefor
- Runs on a server you own, or one hosted privately for you alone
- Native iPhone and Android apps under your name, logo and colors
- A private social feed, groups, chat and events at the center
- No ads, no algorithm, no data selling
- You decide who can see, post and manage each page
Compare approaches
Your church's own place to gather online
Move your church's conversations into your own app: a private feed, groups, prayer requests and events, under your church's name and on your own server.
Madefor: an alternative to Subsplash
Looking for a Subsplash alternative? Madefor gives your church its own private social app — your name, your server, no ads, no algorithm.
Madefor: an alternative to Tithe.ly
Looking for a Tithe.ly app alternative? Madefor is a private, branded social app for your church on your own server — with giving via Apple Pay, no ads and no algorithm.
Madefor: an alternative to Pushpay
Looking for a Pushpay app alternative? Madefor gives your church a private social app under your own name, on your own server — no ads, no algorithm.
Madefor: an alternative to Planning Center's Church Center app
Looking for an alternative to the Church Center app? Madefor is a private social app for your congregation — your name, your server, you decide who sees what.
Madefor: an alternative to ChurchTrac
Looking for a ChurchTrac app alternative? Madefor gives your church a private, branded social app on your own server — no ads, no algorithm.
An alternative to running your community on group chats
Outgrowing group chats? Madefor gives your church, club or team its own private app: groups, events, announcements and a feed — under your name, on your server.
When another platform may fit better
We would rather you choose the right tool than the wrong one.
- You mainly need church management — donor records, accounting, child check-in, volunteer scheduling — in one system. A dedicated church management system is built for that; Madefor focuses on the community app.
- You rely on a large marketplace of integrations or plugins.
- Your community is small and informal — a group chat may be all you need.
Questions
What is Madefor?
Madefor is a custom, privately hosted social app for churches, clubs, schools and community groups: a feed, groups, chat, events and announcements in native apps under your own name.
How is a private app different from a hosted platform?
A hosted platform runs your app on the provider's servers alongside other organizations. A private app runs on a server you own, or one hosted for you alone, and you set the rules.
Are these pages fair to other products?
We describe our own approach and avoid claims about other products' features or prices. Check each provider's website for current details.
How do we get started?
Send a request. We reply personally, talk through what your community needs, and build your app under your name.
Your community's own app.
Tell us about your community and we'll talk it through. No obligation.
Request your app