If you're looking at Gloo, I'm guessing the free plan caught your eye. Makes sense. Free is hard to argue with.

But free plans have a way of turning into "please upgrade." And this year, Gloo made some big changes to what you get when you pay.

So here's Evant vs Gloo, side by side. Pricing, texting, calls, RSVPs, giving. I'll be straight about where Gloo does well too.

Pricing and features checked November 2026. These change often, so double-check on each company's site before you sign up.

The short version

Pick Gloo if you want a free starting point, a ministry-style inbox for prayer requests, and you're already using the wider Gloo platform.

Pick Evant if you need people to actually do something when they get your text. Reply, RSVP, show up, give. And you want texting, voice calls, and a donation page in one place without worrying about credits shrinking next year.

	Evant	Gloo
Starting price	From $20/month	Free plan; Gloo+ is $49/month
Paid texting allowance	Based on your plan	5,000 credits/month on Gloo+ (down from 15,000)
Extra texts	Upgrade your plan	Powerpack: $75/month for 5,000 credits (was $50)
Two-way texting	Yes	Yes
Voice calls	Yes, every plan (1.5¢/min)	Not a focus
Text-to-RSVP	Yes, built in	Via keyword workflows
Donation page	Included free (Stripe)	Separate Gloo tools
Picture messages	Yes	Yes, 3 credits each
Free trial	Yes, no credit card	Free plan

Gloo pricing: the credit cuts matter

Here's the part most comparison posts skip.

According to Gloo's own help center, Gloo+ members are moving from 15,000 messaging credits a month to 5,000. The Messaging Powerpack, which adds 5,000 credits, went from $50 to $75 a month.

That's a third of the credits. And 50% more for the add-on.

If you text a list of 500 people once a week, that's around 2,000 credits a month. Fine. But add a reminder before every event, a few picture messages (those cost 3 credits each), and a volunteer blast or two? You're bumping into that ceiling fast.

Evant plans start at $20/month. You pick a plan that fits how much you text, and you're not budgeting around a credit allowance that might change at renewal.

Texting and two-way conversations

Both platforms let people text you back. That's the baseline now. If your platform can't do two-way, it's a megaphone, not a conversation.

Gloo's inbox is built with ministry in mind. Prayer requests, visitor follow-up, keyword menus. If that's your main use, it's good at it.

Evant is built around getting a response. Someone gets a text, replies YES, and they're on the list. Here's why I think that matters more than features.

Voice calls

Not everyone reads texts. Older members especially.

Evant does voice calls alongside SMS from the same platform. Every plan, 1.5¢ a minute. Gloo's numbers are built mainly for texting. Voice just isn't where they've put their energy.

If you have a congregation with a lot of landlines or basic phones, this one matters.

RSVPs and events

This is where Evant was born.

Send a text: "Fall Festival Saturday at 4. Reply YES to RSVP." People reply. You get a headcount. No form. No link. No login.

You can build something similar in Gloo with keyword workflows. It works, but you're setting it up yourself. In Evant it's the default. More on text-to-RSVP for churches.

Donations

Every Evant customer gets a customizable Stripe donation page. No extra charge.

Send a text. They tap the link. They give. Done.

You can even collect donations and RSVPs in the same text.

The app experience

Gloo has a mobile app, which is nice when you're replying on the go. Worth knowing though: it averages around 2.3 stars on the App Store, per a recent review of Gloo Communications. Complaints are mostly about reliability and notifications.

Evant runs in your browser on any device. No app for you, and no app for your members. They just get a text.

What Gloo does better

There's a free plan. If you're tiny and texting rarely, that's real.
The prayer request flow is thoughtful.
If you're already using other Gloo tools, keeping everything in one ecosystem has value.

What Evant does better

Predictable pricing. No surprise credit cuts.
Voice calls on every plan, 1.5¢ a minute.
Text-to-RSVP out of the box.
Free donation page for every customer.
Works on every phone, including basic and kosher phones.
A2P 10DLC registration handled for you. Here's what that is and why it matters.

So, is Evant a good Gloo alternative?

Gloo is a solid starting point. But if you're paying for Gloo+ and watching your credits drop from 15,000 to 5,000, it's worth asking what you're getting for the money.

If your goal is getting people to show up, reply, and give, try Evant. It takes about 10 minutes to set up.

👉 Start your free trial. No credit card.

FAQ

Is Gloo free for churches?

Gloo has a free plan with a limited monthly texting allowance. Gloo+ costs $49/month and now includes 5,000 messaging credits a month for new and renewing members.

Did Gloo change its pricing in 2026?

Yes. Gloo's help center says Gloo+ credits dropped from 15,000 to 5,000 per month, and the Messaging Powerpack went from $50 to $75 a month.

Does Gloo support voice calls?

Voice is not a core part of Gloo Communications. Its numbers are built primarily for texting. Evant offers voice calls on every plan at 1.5¢ a minute.

What is the best Gloo alternative for churches?

It depends on what you need. For two-way texting plus voice calls, text-to-RSVP, and a free donation page in one place, Evant is a strong fit. See our full list of church texting platforms.