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Pushpay vs Shelby Systems: Complete Comparison 2026

An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.

Pushpay logo

Pushpay

7.6(1,800 reviews)

Premium church giving and engagement platform with app builder, donor management, and integration with Church Community Builder.

Shelby Systems logo

Shelby Systems

6.8(640 reviews)

Church and nonprofit management software with financial management, membership, and giving tools for established congregations.

Quick Comparison

AspectPushpayShelby Systems
Best ForLarge churches with 500+ weekly attendance wanting premium giving toolsEstablished churches with complex nonprofit accounting needs
Pricing ModelSubscriptionContact Sales
Starting Price$199/mo$75/mo
Deploymentcloudcloud
PlatformsWEB, IOS, ANDROIDWEB, IOS, ANDROID
Rating7.6/106.8/10

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 β€” $199-$999+/month puts it out of reach for smaller churches
  • CCB interface feels dated compared to Planning Center
  • Long-term contracts are common β€” limited flexibility to cancel or downgrade
  • Transaction fees are in addition to the monthly subscription
  • Overkill for churches under 300 weekly attendance

Shelby Systems

Pros

  • Enterprise-grade nonprofit accounting handles the most complex church financial structures
  • 48 years of church experience means edge cases in church finance are well-understood
  • Full payroll processing built in β€” eliminates need for ADP or Gusto
  • Denominational reporting templates for major denominations
  • Migration tools available for churches on legacy Shelby desktop software

Cons

  • Interface still feels enterprise-heavy despite ShelbyNext modernization
  • Overkill for churches under 200 members with simple financial needs
  • Pricing requires contacting sales β€” not fully transparent
  • Learning curve for the financial modules is steep for non-bookkeepers
  • Mobile experience trails Planning Center and Breeze

Pricing Comparison

ProductPricing ModelStarting Price
Pushpaysubscription$199/mo
Shelby Systemscontact sales$75/mo

Our Verdict

Choose Pushpay if...

Large churches with 500+ weekly attendance wanting premium giving tools

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Choose Shelby Systems if...

Established churches with complex nonprofit accounting needs

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Still Not Sure?

Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.