The youth ministry app built around students
Roots is a youth ministry app for the people who actually know your students: your leaders and volunteers. It keeps every conversation, check-in and prayer request in one place, so no student slips through the cracks between Sundays.
What Roots does
Leaders log what they talked about, how deep it went, and any prayer request. It stays on the student’s profile for the whole team.
Tap students in at youth group, small group or an event. Attendance builds up on each student without anyone keeping a spreadsheet.
Each small group opens to its roster and who’s here today, and group leaders see the groups they lead.
Post once and your team gets it in the app, by email, and as a text for leaders who opt in. Students are never texted.
Set a reminder to check in with a student weekly or monthly, and Roots nudges the leader when it’s time.
Record salvations, baptisms and other milestones so the next leader knows where a student is in their faith.
How a week looks with Roots
Sunday or Wednesday night: leaders check students in as they arrive, then log the conversations that mattered before they forget them on the drive home.
During the week: a reminder tells a small group leader it’s been a while since they caught up with a student. The student’s profile shows what was said last time, by whom.
Before the next event: the youth pastor posts an announcement once. Leaders see it in the app, get it by email, and get a text if they turned texts on.
Built for youth ministry teams
- Students never get accounts. Roots is for the adults who care for them. Student information is seen only by leaders the owner approves into the workspace.
- Volunteers can use it from day one. It runs on the phones they already carry, on iPhone and Android, and in any web browser.
- Every leader sees the right amount. Owners and co-leaders see everything; group leaders see the groups they lead.
- It works alongside your church database. Roots doesn’t replace Planning Center or giving software. It covers the part they don’t: the relationship with each student. See Roots vs Planning Center.
What it costs
Free forever: one workspace and up to 15 students. No card needed.
$19 a month, flat: unlimited students and up to 20 team members.
$49 a month: up to 5 workspaces and unlimited team members.
One price for the whole team, not per person. Full plan details.
Keep reading
Youth group check-in Student ministry software Youth volunteer communication Guides for youth leadersTry Roots with your team
Start free on Seed, no card needed. Move to Grove when your volunteers join.
Questions leaders ask
Is there a free youth ministry app?
Yes. Roots’ Seed plan is free forever for one workspace and up to 15 students, with no card needed. Grove ($19 a month) adds unlimited students and up to 20 team members.
Do students need to download the app?
No. Students never get accounts. Roots is for youth pastors, leaders and volunteers.
Does Roots work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Roots is on the App Store and Google Play, and it also works in any web browser.
Can we bring in attendance we already have?
Yes. On Grove and Forest you can import check-ins from a spreadsheet, so your history comes with you.
Who can see student information?
Only leaders the workspace owner approves. Group leaders see the groups they lead, and owners and co-leaders see everything.