Choosing the right church management software (ChMS) is one of the most important decisions your church can make. You need more than just attendance tracking or event planning tools—you need a solution that helps manage people, streamline admin tasks, track giving, organize volunteers, and improve communication.In this guide, we’ll compare three top ChMS platforms—Fellowship One, Planning Center, and Tithely—so you can find the best fit for your ministry.
(Editor’s Note: We believe strongly in Tithely, and we’re committed to sharing accurate, helpful comparisons. If you spot anything that needs correction, let us know here, and we’ll update it.)
A great ChMS gives you:
Whether you’re a small church or a large multisite congregation, church management software can help you run more smoothly, stay connected with your people, and free up time for ministry—not spreadsheets.
The best ChMS for your church will:
To help you decide, we’ve compared Fellowship One, Planning Center, and Tithely across key areas:
Let’s break them down.
Tithely ChMS is an affordable, all-in-one church management system designed for churches of every size.
Key highlights:
How Tithely Works:
Tithely gives churches a full suite of tools for just $72/month, with no hidden fees or feature upcharges. It integrates easily with your website and other Tithely products (like Giving, Messaging, and Apps), giving you a complete church management solution.
Fellowship One is a long-standing ChMS offering features like giving, accounting, website tools, and volunteer management.
Key highlights:
How Fellowship One Works:
Fellowship One’s Core Plan starts at $129/month, with additional fees for features like giving ($29/month), streaming ($39/month), and background checks ($29/month).
Planning Center offers modular tools you can mix and match for your church’s needs.
Key highlights:
How Planning Center Works:
You pay per tool. For example, their Check-Ins tool costs $149/month for 200 daily check-ins. As you add more tools or grow, costs rise quickly.
Fellowship One works best for mid- to large-sized churches with dedicated admin teams and a budget to handle $129/month + add-ons. It offers strong features, but the price adds up fast.
Planning Center is ideal for churches that want modular tools and are willing to manage multiple subscriptions. Be prepared, though: costs can escalate sharply as your needs grow.
Tithely is perfect for churches looking for an affordable, all-in-one system that simplifies admin work, giving, volunteer management, and communication—all for just $119/month.
Choosing a church management software is a major decision, but it doesn’t have to be stressful.
✅ Tithely delivers a powerful, budget-friendly solution.
✅ Fellowship One serves larger churches with dedicated IT staff.
✅ Planning Center offers flexibility, but be mindful of rising costs.
Want to see why thousands of churches trust Tithely?
