Realm vs Pushpay: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
Realm
Modern church management system from ACS Technologies with integrated giving, groups, accounting, and a polished mobile app.
Pushpay
Premium church giving and engagement platform with app builder, donor management, and integration with Church Community Builder.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Realm | Pushpay |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Mid-sized churches wanting ChMS with integrated fund accounting | Large churches with 500+ weekly attendance wanting premium giving tools |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $80/mo | $199/mo |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | WEB, IOS, ANDROID |
| Rating | 7.4/10 | 7.6/10 |
Pros & Cons
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
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
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Realm | subscription | $80/mo |
| Pushpay | subscription | $199/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose Realm if...
Mid-sized churches wanting ChMS with integrated fund accounting
Choose Pushpay if...
Large churches with 500+ weekly attendance wanting premium giving tools
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.