Planning Center vs Tithe.ly: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
Planning Center
8.8(4,200 reviews)
Modular church management platform with per-app pricing for worship, groups, giving, check-in, and people management.
Tithe.ly
8.0(2,800 reviews)
Church giving platform with free ChMS, online donations, church app, website builder, and streaming tools for modern churches.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Planning Center | Tithe.ly |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Churches of any size wanting modular, pay-for-what-you-use software | Churches where online giving is the primary technology need |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | WEB, IOS, ANDROID |
| Rating | 8.8/10 | 8.0/10 |
Pros & Cons
Planning Center
Pros
- Modular pricing means you only pay for the apps you actually use
- Church Center member app is the best-designed church app on any platform
- Worship planning in Services is unmatched — scheduling, music, rehearsal management
- Free tier supports small churches with up to 75 profiles at zero cost
- Over 70,000 churches use it — massive community for support and best practices
Cons
- Per-app pricing adds up for churches using all modules — $140+/month for full suite
- Giving transaction fees (2.6% + $0.30) are standard but not the lowest available
- Limited customization for reports — can be frustrating for data-driven church admins
- No built-in accounting or finance management beyond giving tracking
- Less suitable for non-English-speaking churches — limited language support
Tithe.ly
Pros
- Free ChMS is genuinely usable — not a stripped-down demo or trial
- Giving platform supports text-to-give, online, kiosk, and recurring donations
- Integrated ecosystem means giving, ChMS, app, and website all work together
- Transaction fees (2.9% + $0.30) are competitive with industry standard
- Modern interface that younger church staff appreciate
Cons
- Free ChMS is strategically tied to Tithe.ly Giving — vendor lock-in risk
- Advanced features (app, website, streaming) add up to $199+/month total
- Giving transaction fees take 2.9% + $0.30 from every donation
- Worship planning lacks the depth of Planning Center Services
- ChMS reporting is less customizable than Realm or Planning Center
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Planning Center | freemium | Free0 |
| Tithe.ly | freemium | Free0 |
Our Verdict
Choose Planning Center if...
Churches of any size wanting modular, pay-for-what-you-use software
Choose Tithe.ly if...
Churches where online giving is the primary technology need
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.