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.
What Is Planning Center?
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.
Key Planning Center Features
- Online giving and donation management
- Event registration and check-in (including children’s check-in)
- Volunteer scheduling and team management
- Attendance tracking
- Worship service planning
- Group communication tools
- Website publishing platform
- Optional church app builder
Important limitation: Planning Center does not offer built-in giving solutions, so you’ll need additional tools to handle online giving.
How Planning Center Works
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.
Why Consider a Planning Center Alternative?
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.
Meet Tithely: The Best Planning Center Alternative
Tithely is an affordable, all-in-one Church Management Solution that offers everything Planning Center provides — and more — without unpredictable costs.
What Makes Tithely Different?
- Flat pricing: $119/month covers everything
- 30 day FREE trial: Get started with zero contracts or risk
- Advanced tools: Includes church app, website builder, and service planning
- Scalable: Supports churches of all sizes without add-on fees
Tithely vs. Planning Center: Feature Comparison
| Feature |
Planning Center |
| Monthly Price |
Free for giving tools; $119/mo for All Access |
~$1,000+ at scale (modular pricing) |
| Setup Fee |
$0 |
Not publicly listed |
| Online Giving |
Included, low fees |
Included, with additional fees |
| Website Builder |
Included with All Access |
Included, with additional fees |
| Mobile Giving App |
Included |
Optional add-on |
| Event & Volunteer Tools |
Unlimited events and check-ins |
Charged by usage level |
| Worship/Service Planning |
Included with All Access |
Included |
| Customer Support |
Unlimited, free |
Limited free support, paid upgrades |
| Data Privacy & Servers |
Global servers (US, Europe, Australia), GDPR compliant |
Primarily US-based servers, GDPR unclear |
Why Choose Tithely Over Planning Center?
1. All-in-One Solution With Flat Pricing
Tithely bundles all features — from giving to worship planning — into one simple price. You get every tool you need without worrying about surprise fees.
2. Unlimited Events and Check-Ins
Unlike Planning Center, which charges more as your ministry grows, Tithely offers unlimited event registrations and check-ins at no extra cost.
3. Outstanding Free Customer Support
Tithely provides unlimited support via phone, live chat, and email — no extra fees or contracts required.
4. Stronger Privacy and Global Data Protection
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.
Worship Planning With Tithely: What’s New
- Integrated music storage with the Breeze Song Library
- Worship App for easy setlist creation and team coordination
- SongSelect integration to import lyrics and chord charts directly into service plans
Who Should Use Planning Center?
Planning Center is an option for:
- Small churches (under 25 members) needing a few basic tools
- Churches already heavily invested in their ecosystem
However, be prepared for rising costs as your congregation grows.
Who Should Use Tithely?
Tithely is ideal for:
- Churches wanting predictable pricing
- Ministries that want an all-in-one church management solution with robust tools
- Teams seeking exceptional customer support and easy onboarding
Tithely also offers training videos, resources, and dedicated support to make your software transition smooth.
Planning Center vs. Tithely Pricing Summary
| Software |
Starting Cost |
Cost at Scale |
| Planning Center |
~$14–$199/module |
$1,000+/month for full suite |
| Tithely |
$119/month (All Access) |
$119/month (unlimited growth) |
For churches looking to control software expenses without sacrificing features, Tithely is the clear winner.
What Churches Are Saying About Tithely
“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
Final Thoughts
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.
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