EvangelOS supports three check-in modes. This guide helps you choose the right one for each use case in your church. For detailed setup instructions for any mode, see How to Set Up an Event Check-In Station.
| Standard | Self-Service | Kids Check-In | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who operates it? | Staff or Check-In Volunteer | The attendee themselves | Staff member |
| How do people check in? | Greeter searches by name or scans QR code | Attendee searches own name or scans portal QR | Staff searches family name and selects children |
| Labels printed? | Optional name tag | Optional name tag | Required (child + guardian pickup code) |
| Guardian pickup code? | No | No | Yes — secure child release verification |
| Allergy alerts shown? | Optional | No | Yes — prominently on screen and printed |
| Guest check-in supported? | Yes — staff can add new visitor records | Limited (kiosk guest flow) | Yes — quick family creation at station |
| Best for? | Main service, large events, high-traffic entry points | Small groups, midweek, low-staff environments | Children's ministry, nursery, VBS |
| Plan required | Growth+ | Growth+ | Complete |
Standard mode is ideal when you have a dedicated greeter or check-in volunteer at the door. It gives your team full control over who is checked in and allows them to handle edge cases (new visitors, name corrections, etc.) in real time.
Best for: Sunday morning services, large events like Easter or Christmas, any event where you want a personal, human touch at the entrance.
Self-Service (kiosk) mode removes the need for a dedicated operator. Attendees check themselves in by typing their name or scanning a QR code from their Member Portal profile. The device should be mounted on a stand in a visible location.
Best for: Small group gatherings, midweek events, conferences, or any event where staffing a check-in station is not practical.
Tip: Enable Kiosk Lock Mode so attendees cannot exit the check-in interface and access other content on the device.
Kids Check-In mode is specifically designed for children's ministry. The key feature is the matching guardian pickup code — a security measure that ensures only authorized guardians can pick up children. It also prominently displays allergy and medical alerts for staff awareness, and assigns children to rooms that print on their label.
Best for: Sunday school, nursery, VBS, any event where children are separated from their parents/guardians and will need to be released individually at the end.
You can run more than one check-in mode for the same event at the same time. A common configuration for a Sunday service:
Each station is opened independently on its own device. All check-ins from all stations are recorded together in the event's attendance log.