Tithe.ly vs TouchPoint: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
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.
TouchPoint
Open-source church management software with free self-hosted option and cloud hosting for tech-savvy churches.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Tithe.ly | TouchPoint |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Churches where online giving is the primary technology need | Churches with developer volunteers who want free, full-featured ChMS |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Open Source |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud, self hosted |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | WEB, IOS, ANDROID |
| Rating | 8.0/10 | 7.0/10 |
Pros & Cons
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
TouchPoint
Pros
- Genuinely free self-hosted option with full source code on GitHub
- Cloud hosting at $75/month is among the cheapest ChMS options
- Full customization possible with access to source code
- No vendor lock-in — you own your data and can modify the software
- Feature set competes with platforms charging 2-4x more
Cons
- Self-hosting requires .NET developer skills — not for non-technical churches
- Community is smaller than Planning Center or Tithe.ly — less peer support
- Interface design is functional but dated compared to modern ChMS platforms
- Mobile experience is web-based, not a dedicated native app
- Documentation could be more comprehensive for non-developers
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tithe.ly | freemium | Free0 |
| TouchPoint | open source | Free0 |
Our Verdict
Choose Tithe.ly if...
Churches where online giving is the primary technology need
Choose TouchPoint if...
Churches with developer volunteers who want free, full-featured ChMS
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.