Choosing the right church management software (ChMS) can dramatically improve how your church engages members, manages events, and grows its ministry. In this detailed comparison, we’ll explore two of the most popular tools on the market: Tithely and Planning Center.
Whether you lead a small church or a multi-campus ministry, this side-by-side review will help you decide which solution fits your church’s needs and budget.
Planning Center is a suite of software tools designed to help churches manage online giving, worship services, volunteers, and member communications. It’s widely used across denominations and church sizes.
Important limitation: Planning Center does not offer built-in giving solutions, so you’ll need additional tools to handle online giving.
Planning Center operates on a modular, subscription-based pricing model. You pay a monthly fee based on which tools you use and the size of your church. While it’s affordable for small churches, costs increase sharply as your attendance, events, and volunteer numbers grow.
For very small churches, Planning Center can be budget-friendly. But as you scale, the combined costs of its tools can exceed $1,000 per month — a major burden for growing churches.
To avoid rising costs as your church expands, look for an all-in-one Church Management Solution with flat-rate pricing. This ensures your software costs stay predictable as your ministry flourishes.
Tithely is an affordable, all-in-one Church Management Solution that offers everything Planning Center provides — and more — without unpredictable costs.
Tithely bundles all features — from giving to worship planning — into one simple price. You get every tool you need without worrying about surprise fees.
Unlike Planning Center, which charges more as your ministry grows, Tithely offers unlimited event registrations and check-ins at no extra cost.
Tithely provides unlimited support via phone, live chat, and email — no extra fees or contracts required.
With servers in the US, Europe, and Australia, Tithely delivers faster performance and enhanced data privacy. It’s fully GDPR compliant, which is critical for churches with international reach.
Planning Center is an option for:
However, be prepared for rising costs as your congregation grows.
Tithely is ideal for:
Tithely also offers training videos, resources, and dedicated support to make your software transition smooth.
“I can see both a high-level view of the church and drill down to individual members. As a pastor, that’s invaluable.” — Doug
“Scheduling teams became effortless, and making last-minute changes was easy. Tithely saved me so much time.” — Alyson
Planning Center is a respected tool, but it’s not right for every church, especially as costs rise with growth. Tithely offers a powerful, affordable alternative designed to help churches thrive without financial strain.
Make sure you explore all your options and choose the ChMS that best supports your mission.