Shelby Systems vs Pushpay: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
Shelby Systems
6.8(640 reviews)
Church and nonprofit management software with financial management, membership, and giving tools for established congregations.
Pushpay
Premium church giving and engagement platform with app builder, donor management, and integration with Church Community Builder.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Shelby Systems | Pushpay |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Established churches with complex nonprofit accounting needs | Large churches with 500+ weekly attendance wanting premium giving tools |
| Pricing Model | Contact Sales | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $75/mo | $199/mo |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | WEB, IOS, ANDROID |
| Rating | 6.8/10 | 7.6/10 |
Pros & Cons
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 — 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 — not fully transparent
- Learning curve for the financial modules is steep for non-bookkeepers
- Mobile experience trails Planning Center and Breeze
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Shelby Systems | contact sales | $75/mo |
| Pushpay | subscription | $199/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose Shelby Systems if...
Established churches with complex nonprofit accounting needs
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.