Mobile app guide
Everything you need to know about the ChurchLinker iOS and Android app, for both administrators and members.
How members download the app
Option 1: Use your church's QR code poster
Go to Settings → Member App → Invite Members in your ChurchLinker dashboard and download the ready-made poster (A4 or A5). Print it and put it up at the back of your church. When members scan the QR code, they're taken to the App Store or Google Play and your church is pre-selected for them; no searching required.
Option 2: Share your church link directly
From the same settings page, copy your church's direct link (e.g. https://app.churchlinker.com/join/kcc) and share it via email, WhatsApp or your church website. Tapping the link on a phone opens the store page or the app directly.
Option 3: Search in the app
Members can download the ChurchLinker app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android), open it and search for your church by name. They tap your church, tap Join and sign in or create an account.
What members can do in the app
View & RSVP to events
Members see a list of upcoming events for your church. They can tap to read the details and register their attendance, with no more separate booking forms.
Browse the sermon library
All sermons you upload to ChurchLinker appear in the app. Members can listen to audio, watch video and read summaries, and on Kingdom plan ask questions about individual sermons using the AI Q&A chat.
Give online
Members can make a one-off or recurring donation directly from the app. They choose a fund and amount and are taken to a secure Stripe Checkout page (card, Apple Pay or Google Pay). The charge runs on the church's own Stripe account (admins connect this from Settings → Giving & Stripe), so donations flow straight into the church's bank balance. ChurchLinker takes 0% of any gift. All giving is Gift Aid eligible if the member has submitted a declaration.
Update their contact details
Members can view and update their own phone number, address and other contact details, keeping your records accurate without requiring admin effort.
Browse their groups and resource links
Members tap Groups in the app to see every group and ministry team they belong to, along with any public groups. Tapping a group shows the meeting details and a Resources section with any links the admin has added: how-to videos, Google Drive documents, cheat sheets or any URL. Private groups are only visible to members of that group.
Receive push notifications
Members receive push notifications for event reminders, announcements and rota assignments (if they're on a rota). They can control which types of notifications they receive from their profile settings.
Sending push notifications
Sending a notification
From your ChurchLinker dashboard, go to Communications → Push Notification → New Notification. Write your message (keep it under 100 characters for best display), choose your audience (all members, a specific group or a custom tag) and tap Send. Notifications arrive on members' phones even when the app is not open.
Scheduling notifications
You can schedule a notification to send at a specific date and time, useful for Sunday morning service reminders sent on Saturday evening, or event reminders the day before.
Notification analytics
After sending, you can see how many devices received the notification and how many members tapped it. This helps you understand what your congregation engages with.
Members who haven't enabled notifications
Notifications only reach members who have the app installed and have allowed notifications on their device. To reach all members, use email or SMS as a fallback.
White-label app (Kingdom & Enterprise)
What is a white-label app?
A white-label app is a version of ChurchLinker published in the App Store and Google Play under your church's own name, icon and colours. From a member's perspective, it looks like your church's app, for example 'Kingsway Community Church' on the App Store rather than 'ChurchLinker'. Everything works the same way, but the branding is entirely yours.
What you need
You'll need an Apple Developer account (£79/year) and/or a Google Play Developer account (£20 one-off fee). If you don't have these, we can walk you through setting them up. We handle the build and submission to the stores; you just need to approve the listing.
How long does it take?
Once we have your logo, brand colour and developer account access, building and submitting usually takes one to two weeks. Apple's review process typically takes 2 to 5 working days; Google Play is usually 1 to 3 days. We keep you updated throughout.
App Store Optimization (ASO)
We write your app listing, including the name, description, keywords and screenshots, to help members find your church's app in the store. You review and approve everything before submission.
Updates
When ChurchLinker releases new features or fixes, your white-label app is updated automatically. You don't need to manage app updates yourself.
💡 Tip: promote the app at a Sunday service
The fastest way to get members on the app is a 2-minute announcement from the front, combined with a QR code poster at the back. Explain what they can do: view events, give online, listen to sermons. Then show them the poster. Aim to get 20 to 30% adoption in the first month; the rest will follow naturally.