SignUpGenius vs Unison for Church Volunteer Sign-Ups

For many church events, volunteer sign-ups start out simple.
A coffee hour here. A food drive there. A youth event once a month.

Often, churches create a SignUpGenius — a familiar replacement for paper sheets and email chains.

But then come the reminders… the follow-ups… the last-minute changes… the ads… the overlapping events.

At some point, many church leaders start wondering:

What sign-up software is recommended for church events?

SignUpGenius is widely used, and many assume it’s the only option available.

Unison is a modern SignUpGenius alternative for churches looking for a simpler, ad-free way to manage volunteer events.

Both collect volunteer responses online — but they offer very different experiences for leaders and volunteers.

This guide explains how each works and which may be the better fit for your church’s event planning needs.

What Churches Actually Need from Volunteer Signup Software

Coordinating church events isn’t the same as corporate event management.

Churches often have:

• Recurring volunteer shifts
• Families signing up together
• Volunteers serving in more than one role
• Last-minute cancellations
• A wide range of comfort levels with technology

Good signup software doesn’t just record who signed up — it helps everything run smoothly without extra emails and follow-up.

Churches need a signup tool that:

• Makes it easy for volunteers to respond
• Minimizes distractions during signup
• Sends reminders automatically
• Allows easy substitutions when conflicts arise
• Keeps all information organized in one place
• Feels appropriate for a church setting

The goal isn’t just filling a signup sheet.

It’s creating a smooth, welcoming process that makes it easier for people to volunteer.

With that in mind, let’s compare SignUpGenius to Unison.

The Core Difference at a Glance

Both tools collect volunteer sign-ups.

The difference is how they’re structured as your needs grow.

SignUpGenius
Structured around individual signup pages. Organization-level portal experiences are available at the Enterprise tier.

Unison
Designed to scale from signups to volunteer management coordination. All plans are ad-free. Team plans and above add Directory pages to house multiple signups in one place.

SignUpGenius: Familiar and Flexible

SignUpGenius has been around for years, which makes it recognizable to many volunteers.

Churches often use it for:

• Potlucks
• Holiday events
• Youth group activities
• Fundraisers
• Basic event registrations

Many churches began using SignUpGenius because it allowed them to move away from paper signup sheets.

Where SignUpGenius Works Well

• Volunteers already recognize it
• Free plan available
• Paid plans offer customization and payment processing

For occasional, one-time use cases, it can be a practical solution.

Where Churches Sometimes Feel Friction with SignUpGenius

As events become more frequent or complex, some churches notice:

• Setup can feel cluttered
• Ads appear on free volunteer signup pages
• Multiple links must be managed across ministries
• Shared logins create confusion about updates
• Manual follow-up is required when volunteer shifts open

For churches looking for a tool designed specifically with their unique needs in mind, those tradeoffs start to matter more.

Unison: A Church-Focused Alternative for Signups

Unison was created specifically for event-based volunteer coordination in churches and schools.

Rather than trying to serve every industry, Unison focuses on the kinds of volunteer sign-ups churches manage throughout the year — beyond Sunday worship services — from special events to ongoing outreach.

Unison is popular for:

• Fundraisers
• Retreats
• Service projects
• Parish festivals
• School programs
• Soup kitchens
• Small groups

Where many tools stop at sign-up forms, Unison goes beyond basic features to support communication and coordination.

1. Ad-Free Volunteer Pages

Unison is completely ad-free.

When volunteers open a signup page, they see:

• Clear roles
• Available time slots
• Simple navigation
• No third-party advertisements

The signup experience feels cleaner, easier, and more appropriate for a church setting.

2. Built-In Reminders and Sub Requests

Instead of chasing down volunteers at the last minute, Unison includes:

• Automatic email reminders
• Optional SMS reminders (Team and higher plans)
• Easy substitute requests

For churches coordinating recurring volunteer activities, these features significantly reduce stress.

3. Organized Event Management in One Place

Rather than juggling multiple signup sheets or links, Unison allows churches to publish a directory page to:

• Manage volunteer opportunities in one place
• Duplicate events quickly
• Add custom questions
• Track volunteer participation centrally

Instead of a generic signup sheet, Unison provides a clear system that works for both a single event and recurring volunteer needs.

The Real Difference: Focus

The biggest difference isn’t just features.

It’s focus.

SignUpGenius is a general-purpose sign-up platform used across many industries.

Unison was intentionally built for churches and schools coordinating volunteers.

That focus shows up in:

• Easier volunteer experiences
• Cleaner signup pages
• Less administrative follow-up
• Fewer distractions
• Faster setup

Volunteer coordination isn’t just logistics — it’s stewardship. The system people encounter first shapes whether they volunteer again.

When signups are cluttered or confusing, participation slows down.
When they’re simple, volunteers say yes more quickly — and more often.

So, Which Is the Better Option?

Choose SignUpGenius if:

• You only need to collect names
• Your volunteers strongly prefer it
• Ads don’t feel disruptive to your community
• You need advanced payment processing

Choose Unison if:

• You want ad-free sign-ups from the start
• You want substitute requests handled automatically
• You prefer a cleaner, easier volunteer experience
• You want setup to take minutes, not hours
• You need a tool that grows with your ministries

For many churches, the decision comes down to simplicity.
Often, it’s not about adding more features. It’s about removing friction.

A Note on Using Multiple Systems

Many churches use:

• One system for Sunday ministry scheduling
• Another tool for event-based volunteer coordination

Keeping those volunteer needs separate allows each system to do what it does best.

If your church already uses software, like Ministry Scheduler Pro, for Sunday liturgical ministry scheduling, you may also want to see how Unison complements it for events beyond Sunday.

👉 Read: From Sanctuary to Social Hall — Why MSP Users Need Unison

See How Unison Works for Your Next Event

If you’re looking for the easiest way to manage volunteer sign-ups for your upcoming fundraiser, school activity, service day, or parish event:

See how Unison simplifies church event coordination.

Before your next signup sheet goes out, try creating it in Unison.

Create an event.
Share the link.
See how it feels.

No ads.
No clutter.
No unnecessary steps.

Just a focused way to keep the attention where it belongs — on serving your community.