Pushpay vs Realm: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
Pushpay
Premium church giving and engagement platform with app builder, donor management, and integration with Church Community Builder.
Realm
Modern church management system from ACS Technologies with integrated giving, groups, accounting, and a polished mobile app.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Pushpay | Realm |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Large churches with 500+ weekly attendance wanting premium giving tools | Mid-sized churches wanting ChMS with integrated fund accounting |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $199/mo | $80/mo |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | WEB, IOS, ANDROID |
| Rating | 7.6/10 | 7.4/10 |
Pros & Cons
Pushpay
Pros
- One-tap mobile giving consistently increases digital donations 15-30% in year one
- CCB integration provides a complete ChMS + giving ecosystem
- Church app builder creates custom-branded apps with your identity
- Multi-campus giving with fund accounting handles complex church structures
- Premium donor analytics help optimize giving campaigns and stewardship
Cons
- Expensive — $199-$999+/month puts it out of reach for smaller churches
- CCB interface feels dated compared to Planning Center
- Long-term contracts are common — limited flexibility to cancel or downgrade
- Transaction fees are in addition to the monthly subscription
- Overkill for churches under 300 weekly attendance
Realm
Pros
- Integrated church accounting eliminates need for separate QuickBooks or financial software
- Realm Connect app creates social-media-style community engagement between services
- 45+ years of church expertise means financial reporting and compliance are rock-solid
- Migration path from legacy ACS products is well-documented and supported
- Fund accounting handles designated giving, restricted funds, and denominational reporting
Cons
- Accounting module adds complexity — overkill for churches that just need basic giving tracking
- Interface is improved but still not as polished as Planning Center
- Pricing at $80-$300/month is mid-to-high range for the features offered
- Learning curve for the accounting features requires some bookkeeping knowledge
- Customer support quality varies — some users report slow response times
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Pushpay | subscription | $199/mo |
| Realm | subscription | $80/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose Pushpay if...
Large churches with 500+ weekly attendance wanting premium giving tools
Choose Realm if...
Mid-sized churches wanting ChMS with integrated fund accounting
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.