Realm Software

Realm checks all the boxes for me when running a small church and needing confidence in the financial documentation.

Pros

Great financial controls, easy searching, great data collection, and top-notch reports.

Cons

Some of the financial strengths of ACS software were removed in an attempt to make the software more user-friendly. ACS used to be known for great customer service and sales, now the interaction is sub-par at best. Churches that need check-in and worship service management would still need additional software.

The biggest benefit to Realm was that we were able to get away from mobile kiosks for members to pay their monthly tithes and go to an online device. It simplified the process and also consolidated collections for our church.

Pros

Our church implemented Realm as a social media alternative that linked together all of the individual classrooms, groups, volunteers, and members. What I LOVE about Realm is that it's secure and we can use it to make payments for activities, send in our tithe, sign up for activities, utilize it for email, and many other features. It's very user friendly and easy to navigate. I like that you can opt in and out of connectedness and receive as much or as little notifications from the app as you'd like.

Cons

If you aren't careful, you can choose to be notified about all postings, which will send your mobile device into a buzzing frenzy if you have an active church that posts a lot within the app... Otherwise, there isn't much I dislike about the app.

Pros

To me, the most important feature of Realm is the multitude of ways it can be used for church management and record keeping. I can do mailings, emails, attendance, group tracking, contributions and pledge campaigns, reporting and many, many other features. It is very versatile and is easy and intuitive. This is a great program for any small to medium-sized church.

Cons

There are a few pre-set reports that I cannot edit. That is a feature I would like to see added.

Performs the functions that we need. Wish it would do everything that a church needs all in one program.

Pros

Able to keep up with all membership information

Cons

Reports are sometimes hard to get exactly what you are looking for.

We use this for everything... group messaging, pushing announcements, contributions, event calendar, church directory, etc

Pros

We use Realm for everything at our church – group messaging, pushing announcements, contributions, event calendar, church directory... the list goes on! It's pretty user-friendly, and customer service is alway super helpful. Our staff love it and our members rave about it!

Cons

Although the desktop site is great, the app needs some work. Also, it works better on Chrome than on Safari which is just weird.

We needed a way to manage membership and do it from the cloud for multiple staff in different locations and on the road

Pros

This is really intuitive and easy to use. Love having access from any internet connected computer. Also, the app is helpful. The ability to create your own data fields and customize others is great to tailor it your needs. Custom created reports are done easily!

Cons

The ability to add new info fields and set answer for all users at once would be great.

What we had before ACS/Realm did not group families together and Realm does.
So looking up a child with a different last name has changed so much for us.
That made a big difference for a lot of things. We are using more and more of the features all the time.

Pros

I like the ease in which information is entered and edited.
I like that you can search for a report and then when you have the results you are looking for you can save it and use it over and over. Editing the parameters of the search is also understandable.

Cons

That we don't have Finances on it yet. Will be glad when we do.

Software has addressed every issue we have.

Pros

Ease of use, easy to teach to someone else.

Cons

We have no found any issues to date. Everything is working according to our needs.

No problems!

Pros

Its easy to use and the customer service reps are always available, knowledgeable and understand my problem or request.

Cons

That a couple of times I havent been able to pull a report I thought I needed.

Realm provides us with one place to track biographical information, engagement in our community, pledging, as well as information on our vendors, tools to generate reports and harvest data; all in one intuitive platform that I can access equally well from my desktop or my cell phone.

Pros

Realm is simple, intuitive, and powerful

Cons

. . . . nothing. I cannot think of anything about Realm or Realm customer service that I would change.

Pros

We have used ACS products for nearly 10 years and are so happy to leave behind the painful inhouse and shrinkwrapped systems we used to use. Our Realm Consultant is super knowledgeable and helped us determine the best processes,practices and scope for our ministry needs. Support is always available and super helpful. ACS is a true pleasure to work with.

Cons

The Realm team is working on a couple of functions that are important to our operations. They have released weekly enhancements and are quick with workaround solutions. They release enhancements weekly and seamlessly.

Pros

Intuitive. A step up from the City in features. Easy to use. Solid offering for the price but it does not function well on the web.

Cons

Several critical errors. The website version of Realm is divided into two platforms: backend admin and community. Backend stays persistent and responsive even when you navigate away or do not use it for a while. The Community side dies if you move away and takes minutes, if ever, to load pages upon your return. You will notice this on Messages and Events (Community side) but not on Groups and Giving (Admin side). Realm tech support says this is a known issue and WILL NOT be resolved. This leaves the software fundamentally unusable throughout the day. If you can log out or clear your cache, you may get it to start back up but the problem WILL ALWAYS repeat itself. Being told that the problem is what it is - is terrible support and they should not market a product that does not function that they will not fix.

Pros

The cost of Realm is a definite factor. I like that it's the same as ACS, which I've used since 1998.

Cons

My one dislike about Realm is that deposits can't be made to expense accounts on the Chart of Accounts, which I was able to do in OnDemand Accounting.

Overall our church and it's members enjoy using Realm. We just got it in 2017 so don't have a lot of experience with it. I do think the communication functions will be a big help to us. Your support staff has always been very professional and friendly. I think in 5 years we will be using it as our main communications tool.

Pros

The cost is probably the best feature for us as a small church. It also allows our members and friends to donate an online gift and have it immediately posted to the member's statement. It is also very user friendly.

Cons

When creating the photo directory with family information, there is no "refer to" for couples who have different last names (i.e., Bob Warren and Karen Fisher, Nathan Kotecki and Garrett Southerland). Access ACS had that feature.
When creating a .pdf file of the directory, there is no way to password protect it without running it through a different program. Access ACS had that feature.
In the photo directory, there is no way to flag various people (like ordained minister, staff, non-member friend, etc.)
The .pdf document created is static, not dynamic (in other words, you can't click on an email address and go straight to an email, nor can you cut and paste phone numbers, addresses, etc.)
The mobile app for Realm Connect opens automatically to the "news" feed. Since we don't use the news feed, people who are using the app to get contact information do not easily find that information. It would help if we could choose which feature Realm Connect opens with.

Wonderful program - Great support - AMAZED at what all it can do for our church.

Pros

That they constantly update the program based on our recommendations

Cons

If set up wrong in the beginning, it seems hard to change/correct our errors. It's too interconnected which is a great thing.

Realm has been amazing in organizing and accessing our information quickly. When I do have an issue or a question Realm support is the absolute best service ever. They always are polite and seek to resolve my issue very quickly and if they need more time to research the issue I always receive a phone call back or an email with a solution.

Pros

I really like the ease of organizing our overall organization in specific categories and being able to run specific reports and easily look up individual profiles and the groups they participate in.
As of yet, we haven't begun using all the features offered, such as giving.

Cons

As administrator I wish the software allowed me to go in to remove old messages or items on the newsfeed. Mostly to just clean up and make it look more up-to-date.

Support Staff is amazing to assist you with any questions, concerns or problems you may encounter.

Pros

There is not enough room to address what I love most about this soft ware!

Cons

I wish the reports had more options and easier to create maybe it is just the administrator (myself) that needs more training. :)

Overall it has been a good experience. I believe ACS is intent on making a quality product. Their customer service is excellent.

Pros

The dashboard and pathways functions. Dashboard allows me to see statistics at a quick glance. Pathways allows us to streamline and view processes and procedures.

Cons

Waiting for new functionality to become available.

We are using Realm for both Accounting and the data management of our parish. I've appreciated how user-friendly it is to use and I especially appreciate that I can call and get a quick answer if I'm stumped when trying to do something. As a Parish Administrator it truly supports my ability to do my job - and I'm grateful for its continued excellence.

Pros

Ease of Use
Fabulous support by phone
Integrated online giving
Continuous build out and enhancement
Relevant to our work in the church
Extremely beneficial User Conference annually

Cons

Unlike our use of the ACS On Demand software, it doesn't differentiate between pledge payments and general giving when we post the contributions to the GL. This is an enhancement I will be grateful for when and if it is done.

Pros

Easy to navigate. Easy to check-in, take attendance, and give online. The online directory works well.

Cons

Would like more flexibility in personalizing reports in accounting and giving. Can't run all the reports I would like.