<div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/FAQPage"> <div itemprop="mainEntity" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Question"> <h2 itemprop="name">Who Should Use Pushpay?</h2> <div itemprop="acceptedAnswer" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Answer"> <p itemprop="text">Churches with money to burn should use Pushpay. It's a great tool...but it's very expensive. Plus, many customers have had issues with Pushpay's customer service, making it difficult to resolve serious problems. <a href="https://get.tithe.ly/">Visit Tithe.ly</a></p> </div> </div> <div itemprop="mainEntity" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Question"> <h2 itemprop="name">Who Should Use PayPal for Churches?</h2> <div itemprop="acceptedAnswer" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Answer"> <p itemprop="text">PayPal isn't designed for churches. For that reason, we don't recommend that any church–regardless of size or budget–uses PayPal. <a href="https://get.tithe.ly/">Visit Tithe.ly</a></p> </div> </div> <div itemprop="mainEntity" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Question"> <h2 itemprop="name">Who Should Use Tithely?</h2> <div itemprop="acceptedAnswer" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Answer"> <p itemprop="text">Tithely is a great choice for small- to medium-sized churches that are looking for a free, quality tool to help them increase generosity. Tithely can help any church member give a recurring or one-time gift securely and safely–with the payment method of their choice, on the device of their choice. Plus, Tithely has an incredible customer success team that's committed to helping every user succeed. <a href="https://get.tithe.ly/">Visit Tithe.ly</a></p> </div> </div> </div>

Pushpay vs PayPal for Churches vs Tithely

Pushpay vs PayPal for Churches vs Tithely: Which Online Giving Platform is the Best?

Compare Pushpay, PayPal for Churches, and Tithely to find the best online giving platform for your church. Discover pricing, features, and why Tithely leads as the affordable all-in-one church solution.
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Pushpay vs PayPal for Churches vs Tithely: Which Online Giving Platform is the Best?

If your church is exploring online giving options, chances are you’ve come across three popular platforms: Pushpay, PayPal for Churches, and Tithely.

All three let donors give digitally, offer receipts, and handle multiple payment methods. But when you dig deeper, they differ significantly in pricing, flexibility, simplicity, and features.

In this guide, we break down the pros, cons, and ideal use cases for each, so you can choose the best giving platform for your church.

*(Editor’s note: We’re obviously biased toward Tithely, but we strive to be fair and factual. If you spot anything inaccurate, let us know!)

Why Does Your Church Need an Online Giving Platform?

Think of an online giving platform as the modern-day offering plate.

With most of your members spending time online, offering convenient ways to give from phones, tablets, or computers is no longer optional — it’s essential.

Online platforms make it easy to:

  • Accept one-time and recurring gifts
  • Improve giving consistency
  • Reach younger, mobile-first donors
  • Simplify administration and reporting

Which Online Giving Platform Is Best?

The best solution will:

  • Offer flexible giving methods
  • Provide excellent customer service
  • Fit your church’s budget
  • Scale as your church grows

While we’re partial to Tithely, this guide gives you an honest look at all three platforms to help you make an informed decision.

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How to Choose the Right Giving Platform

When comparing online giving platforms, focus on:

  • Low monthly cost and minimal add-on fees
  • Simple, intuitive donor experience
  • Custom branding options
  • Support for text giving, mobile giving, and recurring gifts
  • Tools that don’t penalize growth as your church expands

Platform Overviews

Tithely Giving Overview

Key giving options:

  • Mobile app
  • Website integration
  • Text-to-give
  • Kiosk giving
  • Cryptocurrency

Cost: Tithely Giving is free to use (standard 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction); paid plans available for All Access features.

With Tithely All Access, churches also get tools for event management, church websites, apps, volunteer scheduling, email/text messaging, and more.

Pushpay Overview

Pushpay is a robust online giving platform used by large churches and nonprofits.

Key giving options:

  • Website giving
  • Mobile app
  • ACH, debit, and credit cards

Pushpay offers tools for donor management, campaigns, events, apps, and volunteer coordination, though many come as add-ons through its ChurchStaq suite.

Cost: Starts at $149/month; scales based on church size.

PayPal for Churches Overview

PayPal is one of the oldest online payment providers, originally built for e-commerce.

Key giving options:

  • “Donate Now” button
  • Debit/credit card or PayPal account
  • Recurring giving

However, PayPal lacks custom branding, church-focused tools, and administrative features, making it more of a generic payment processor.

Cost: No monthly fee; transaction fees of ~1.99% + $0.49 per gift.

Flexibility Comparison

  • Tithely Giving: Highly flexible — multiple payment methods, integrates with your site, text-to-give, kiosk, and mobile app.
  • Pushpay: Flexible for large churches with custom integrations, but requires add-ons for full functionality.
  • PayPal: Limited flexibility, no church-specific features, and no customizable donation pages.

Simplicity Comparison

  • Tithely Giving: Seamless setup with guided onboarding and customer support.
  • Pushpay: Smooth donor experience, but admin setup can be complex and time-consuming.
  • PayPal: User-friendly for donors, but clunky admin setup (11 steps just to install a donate button) and limited support.

Pricing Comparison

Platform Monthly Cost Transaction Fees
Tithely Free for giving tools; $119/mo for All Access 2.9% + $0.30; discounted with volume
Pushpay $149+/month ~2.9% + fees; varies by contract
PayPal $0/month 1.99% + $0.49 per transaction

Winner: Tithely offers the most affordable entry point for online giving with made-for-churches features. PayPal is functional, but lacks church-specific tools. Pushpay is premium-priced for large churches.

Feature Comparison

Feature Tithely Pushpay PayPal
Online Giving
Recurring Donations
Text-to-Give
Mobile App
Kiosk Giving
Donor Management
Website Builder
Admin Tools (ChMS) (requires add-ons)
Custom Branding

Who Should Use Each Platform?

  • Pushpay: Large churches with big budgets that want advanced features and are comfortable with long-term contracts.
  • PayPal: Small nonprofits or churches that just need a basic donation button — but beware of its limitations.
  • Tithely: Churches that want a full-featured, scalable, and affordable solution designed specifically for church needs.

What Real Churches Say About Tithely

“We were live in hours, and giving increased dramatically. Tithely was the best decision for our church.” — Josh
“Easy to integrate, user-friendly for our members, and excellent support. Highly recommend!” — Steven
“The best bang for your buck, period. We love the platform and the team behind it.” — Russ C.

Final Thoughts

Not all giving platforms are created equal.

If your church wants to:

  • Maximize generosity
  • Minimize admin hassle
  • Avoid costly contracts
  • Get tools beyond just donations

…then Tithely is the clear winner.

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