TL;DR: Tithe.ly offers the best free giving tier for US churches. Planning Center Giving has the lowest transaction fees with free ACH. Givelify is the easiest zero-commitment option. For churches outside North America, Paystack and M-Pesa are more practical than any US platform.
Why This Guide Exists
Search “best church giving platform” and you’ll find lists written entirely for American churches with American bank accounts. They compare Tithe.ly, Pushpay, and Planning Center, declare a winner, and call it a day.
That’s helpful if you’re in Tennessee. Less so if you’re pastoring in Lagos, Nairobi, or London.
The reality: over 2 billion Christians live outside North America. The fastest-growing churches are in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Most US giving platforms don’t support mobile money, multi-currency donations, or regional payment processors. If your members pay for everything with M-Pesa, a platform that only accepts Visa isn’t going to cut it.
This guide covers giving platforms that work for churches everywhere.
What to Look for in a Church Giving Platform
Before we review individual platforms, here’s what actually matters when choosing one.
Transaction Fees
This is the biggest ongoing cost. Every platform takes a cut of every donation.
- Credit/debit card fees typically run 2.3-2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- ACH/bank transfer fees are cheaper, usually 1.0% or less
- “Cover the fees” feature lets donors absorb the processing cost (huge if your platform supports it)
Do the math. A church processing $10,000/month in card donations at 2.9% + $0.30 pays roughly $320/month in fees alone. That’s $3,840/year. Even small differences in rates matter at scale.
Monthly Platform Cost
Some platforms charge a monthly subscription on top of transaction fees. Others are free (transaction-fee-only). A “free” platform with higher transaction fees can cost more than a paid platform with lower rates, depending on your giving volume.
Recurring Giving
This is the single most impactful feature for church finances. Members set up automatic weekly or monthly gifts, and the money arrives consistently whether they’re in the pew or on vacation. According to vendor case studies, churches that enable recurring giving typically see 20-30% increases in annual revenue within the first year, though results vary by congregation size, prior digital giving adoption, and how the transition was communicated.
Ease of Use
If your giving page takes more than three taps to complete a donation, people will abandon it. Look for mobile-optimized giving, guest giving (no account required), and text-to-give options.
Reporting and Tax Receipts
Your finance team needs clear reporting by fund, by date range, and by donor. Automatic year-end tax statements save dozens of hours during tax season.
Payment Method Support
This depends entirely on where your church operates.
| Region | Payment Methods That Matter |
|---|---|
| US / Canada | Credit cards, debit cards, ACH bank transfers |
| UK / Europe | Bank transfers, Direct Debit, cards |
| East Africa | M-Pesa, Airtel Money, bank USSD |
| West Africa | Card payments via Paystack/Flutterwave, MTN MoMo, bank transfers |
| Latin America | Boleto (Brazil), OXXO (Mexico), local cards, PIX |
If your platform doesn’t support the payment methods your congregation actually uses, nothing else matters.
The Best Church Giving Platforms, Reviewed
1. Tithe.ly
Best for: US churches wanting free giving or an all-in-one bundle.
Tithe.ly launched as a giving-first platform, and giving is still their strongest product. The free tier lets any church accept online donations with zero monthly cost. You only pay transaction fees.
The giving experience is clean. Members can give through the app, your website, text-to-give, or an in-person card reader. The “Cover the Fees” option lets donors absorb transaction costs, and Tithe.ly reports about 60% of donors opt in. That alone can save your church thousands annually.
Pricing:
| Plan | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Free Giving | $0 |
| Church Management + Giving | $72/month |
| All-Access (giving, ChMS, app, website) | $119/month |
Transaction Fees:
| Method | Fee |
|---|---|
| Credit/Debit | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| ACH | 1.0% + $0.30 |
| American Express | 3.5% + $0.30 |
Strengths: Free tier, strong mobile giving, recurring giving, Cover the Fees option, All-Access bundle is great value.
Weaknesses: US-centric, no mobile money support, no WhatsApp, transaction fees are slightly above average.
Our take: If you’re a US church and just need giving, the free tier is the lowest-barrier entry point in the space. The All-Access plan at $119/month is compelling if you also need a ChMS and church app.
2. Planning Center Giving
Best for: Churches already using Planning Center, or anyone who wants the lowest fees.
Planning Center Giving is the quiet winner on fees. ACH/bank transfers are completely free. No percentage, no per-transaction charge. That’s unheard of in this space. Card transactions are 2.1% + $0.30, which is also lower than most competitors.
The giving tools are solid but not flashy. Online giving pages, recurring donations, fund management, and donor reporting all work well. Text-to-give is not included natively.
Pricing:
| Feature | Cost |
|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 (standalone) |
| Card transactions | 2.1% + $0.30 |
| ACH transactions | Free |
Strengths: Lowest transaction fees in the space, free ACH, integrates seamlessly with other Planning Center apps, excellent reporting.
Weaknesses: No text-to-give, limited to US payment methods, no mobile money, the giving page design is functional but not the most modern.
Our take: If your church processes a lot of ACH donations, Planning Center Giving will save you the most money on processing fees. A church doing $10,000/month in ACH pays $0 in fees here versus $130+ elsewhere.
3. Pushpay
Best for: Large US churches with high giving volume and budget.
Pushpay is the premium player. After acquiring Church Community Builder (CCB) in 2019 and going private under Sixth Street Partners and BGH Capital in 2023, it’s an enterprise-grade giving and engagement platform designed for mid-to-large churches.
The giving tools are polished, with strong donor analytics, high adoption rates, and a smooth mobile experience. Pushpay’s marketing materials cite giving increases of 30% or more for churches switching to their platform, though results vary by congregation size and context. The pricing reflects the premium positioning.
Pricing:
| Plan | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Pushpay Giving | ~$199-$399/month |
| Pushpay + Church App | ~$399-$799/month |
| Pushpay + CCB (full suite) | ~$500-$1,500+/month |
Transaction Fees:
| Method | Fee |
|---|---|
| Credit/Debit | ~2.9% + $0.30 |
| ACH | ~1.0% + $0.30 |
Strengths: Strong giving analytics, high donor adoption rates, strong for multi-site churches, polished mobile experience.
Weaknesses: Most expensive platform on this list, quote-based pricing with annual contracts, no international payment methods, zero support outside North America.
Our take: Pushpay makes sense for churches processing $50,000+/month in digital giving, where the analytics and adoption tools justify the cost. For everyone else, there are better options.
4. Subsplash Giving
Best for: Churches that want giving integrated with a branded church app.
Subsplash is best known for building the most polished custom church apps on the market. Their giving platform rides alongside that strength. If your church already uses a Subsplash app, adding giving is seamless.
The GrowCurve tiered pricing is interesting. Your transaction fees decrease as your giving volume increases, with card rates dropping as low as 1.9% for high-volume churches.
Pricing:
| Feature | Cost |
|---|---|
| Subsplash Giving (standalone) | $0/month |
| Card transactions | 2.9% + $0.30 (standard), as low as 2.3% (partner rate) |
| ACH | 1.0% + $0.00 |
| GrowCurve best rate | 1.9% cards, 0.5% ACH |
Strengths: No monthly fee for giving, GrowCurve rates reward volume, gorgeous in-app giving experience, strong church app integration.
Weaknesses: Quote-based pricing for the full platform, US-centric, no mobile money or regional payment methods.
Our take: If you’re already using Subsplash for your church app, adding giving is a no-brainer. As a standalone giving platform, the rates are competitive but the reporting isn’t as deep as Tithe.ly or Pushpay.
5. Givelify
Best for: Small churches wanting zero monthly cost and zero commitment.
Givelify is pure simplicity. No monthly fees. No contracts. No setup costs. You pay transaction fees and that’s it.
The giving experience is built around a mobile app. Donors download the Givelify app, search for your church, and give. It takes about 30 seconds. There’s no website embed or text-to-give, which limits how you promote giving, but the frictionless mobile experience is hard to beat.
Pricing:
| Feature | Cost |
|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| Card transactions | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| ACH | Not available |
Strengths: Zero monthly cost, zero commitment, straightforward setup, beautiful mobile app.
Weaknesses: No ACH support (meaning higher fees on every donation), no website embed, donors must use the Givelify app, limited reporting compared to purpose-built church platforms.
Our take: Givelify is great for small churches that want online giving with zero upfront risk. The lack of ACH is a drawback for larger churches, since every donation gets hit with the full card processing rate.
6. Church Center (by Planning Center)
Best for: Churches using Planning Center who want a member-facing giving experience.
Church Center is Planning Center’s member-facing app. It’s where your congregation goes to register for events, join groups, and give. It’s not a separate giving platform; it’s the front end for Planning Center Giving.
Why it’s worth mentioning separately: The Church Center app provides a branded, mobile-first giving experience that sits alongside event registration and group life. For churches already in the Planning Center ecosystem, this is the natural choice.
Pricing: Same as Planning Center Giving (2.1% + $0.30 cards, free ACH).
7. Donorbox
Best for: Churches or nonprofits wanting embeddable giving forms with strong customization.
Donorbox isn’t church-specific, but many churches use it because of its flexibility. The embeddable donation forms work on any website, and the platform supports multiple currencies, multiple payment gateways, and recurring giving.
Pricing:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Transaction Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Free (Standard) | $0 | Platform fee: 1.5% on top of processor fees |
| Pro | $139/month | Platform fee: 0.75% |
| Premium | $399/month | Platform fee: 0.5% |
Plus standard Stripe/PayPal processing fees (2.9% + $0.30).
Strengths: Multi-currency support, works globally wherever Stripe or PayPal operates, highly customizable forms, peer-to-peer fundraising, strong for campaign-based giving.
Weaknesses: Not built for churches specifically (no fund management, no church-specific reporting), the platform fee stacks on top of processor fees (making it more expensive than it appears), no text-to-give.
Our take: Donorbox is a decent option for churches that operate internationally and need multi-currency support today. But watch the total cost: a 1.5% platform fee on top of 2.9% processing means you’re paying 4.4% + $0.30 on the free plan. That adds up fast.
8. PayPal and Stripe (DIY)
Best for: Tech-savvy churches that want full control.
Some churches skip dedicated giving platforms entirely and use PayPal or Stripe directly. PayPal offers donation buttons you can embed on your website. Stripe requires more technical setup but gives you lower fees and more control.
Pricing:
| Platform | Card Fee | ACH Fee | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal | 2.89% + $0.49 | N/A | $0 |
| PayPal (charity rate) | 1.99% + $0.49 | N/A | $0 |
| Stripe | 2.9% + $0.30 | 0.8% (max $5) | $0 |
Strengths: No monthly fees, wide international availability, full control over the experience (Stripe), PayPal’s charity rate is competitive.
Weaknesses: No church-specific features (fund management, tax receipts, pledge tracking), no recurring giving management dashboard, no text-to-give, requires technical knowledge (Stripe), PayPal’s per-transaction fee ($0.49) is higher than most church platforms.
Our take: If you have a developer on your team and want maximum control, Stripe with a custom giving page works well. For most churches, a purpose-built giving platform saves enough administrative time to justify the cost.
9. Paystack (Africa)
Best for: Churches in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Kenya.
Paystack isn’t a church giving platform. It’s a payment processor built for African businesses, and it’s one of the best options for African churches that need to accept digital payments.
Paystack supports local cards, bank transfers, USSD payments, and mobile money across Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Kenya. The fees are reasonable, and the integration is straightforward for anyone with basic technical ability.
Pricing:
| Market | Fee |
|---|---|
| Nigeria (local) | 1.5% + NGN 100 (capped at NGN 2,000) |
| Ghana (local) | 1.95% |
| South Africa (local) | 2.9% |
| International cards | 3.9% + NGN 100 |
Strengths: Built for African markets, supports local payment methods, reasonable fees, strong API for custom integrations, backed by Stripe.
Weaknesses: Not a church platform (no fund management, tax receipts, or donor tracking), requires some technical setup, no recurring giving dashboard for donors.
Our take: If your church is in Nigeria or Ghana and you need to accept digital donations today, Paystack is the most reliable option. Pair it with a spreadsheet or ChMS for tracking and you’re in business.
10. M-Pesa (East Africa)
Best for: Churches in Kenya, Tanzania, DRC, and Mozambique.
M-Pesa isn’t a giving platform. It’s the financial infrastructure of East Africa. Over 30 million Kenyans use it for everything from paying rent to buying groceries. For churches in these markets, M-Pesa isn’t an option. It’s a necessity.
Churches register a Paybill number or Till number through Safaricom, and members send money directly from their phones using USSD codes. No app download needed. No smartphone required.
Pricing:
| Feature | Cost |
|---|---|
| Paybill registration | Varies (often KES 1,000-5,000) |
| Transaction fees | ~0.5-1% |
| Monthly fee | Typically none |
Strengths: 96% household penetration in Kenya, works on basic phones, members already know how to use it, lowest fees of any option on this list.
Weaknesses: Manual reconciliation (no automatic fund tracking), no integrated donor management, limited to M-Pesa markets, no recurring giving feature.
Our take: If you’re pastoring in East Africa, M-Pesa giving isn’t optional. The challenge is tracking and reconciliation. For a deeper dive, read our guide on how M-Pesa is changing tithing in East Africa.
Master Comparison Table
Here’s every platform side by side.
| Platform | Monthly Cost | Card Fee | ACH/Bank Fee | Text-to-Give | Recurring Giving | Mobile App | Global Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tithe.ly | $0-$119 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 1.0% + $0.30 | Yes | Yes | Yes | US only |
| Planning Center | $0 | 2.1% + $0.30 | Free | No | Yes | Yes (Church Center) | US only |
| Pushpay | ~$199-$799 | ~2.9% + $0.30 | ~1.0% + $0.30 | Yes | Yes | Yes | US only |
| Subsplash | $0 (giving) | 2.3-2.9% + $0.30 | 1.0% | Yes | Yes | Yes | US only |
| Givelify | $0 | 2.9% + $0.30 | N/A | No | Yes | Yes (required) | US only |
| Donorbox | $0-$399 | 2.9% + $0.30 + platform fee | Varies | No | Yes | No | Multi-currency |
| PayPal | $0 | 1.99-2.89% + $0.49 | N/A | No | Limited | No | Global |
| Stripe (DIY) | $0 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 0.8% (max $5) | No | Via custom code | No | Global |
| Paystack | $0 | 1.5-3.9% | Varies | No | Via API | No | Africa |
| M-Pesa | $0 | N/A | ~0.5-1% | No (USSD) | No | No (USSD) | East Africa |
Best Platform for Each Scenario
Best Free Option
Tithe.ly (Free Giving). Zero monthly cost, full giving features, Cover the Fees option, and a solid mobile app. Hard to beat for US churches on a budget.
Best Value
Planning Center Giving. Free ACH transactions and the lowest card rates (2.1%) make it the cheapest option at scale. A church processing $15,000/month in ACH donations saves $1,800/year compared to Tithe.ly.
Best for Large Churches
Pushpay. The analytics, donor management, and adoption tools justify the premium pricing when you’re processing six figures monthly. Read our full Pushpay review for details.
Best for Small Churches
Givelify or Tithe.ly Free. Zero monthly cost, minimal setup, and no long-term commitment. Givelify if you want the simplest possible experience. Tithe.ly if you want more features and might grow into their paid plans.
Best for International Churches
Paystack (Africa), M-Pesa (East Africa), or Donorbox (multi-currency). No US church giving platform genuinely serves international churches. You need region-specific tools.
Best All-in-One
Tithe.ly All-Access at $119/month. Giving, ChMS, church app, website builder, and worship tools in one package. Compare that to paying $300+/month for separate tools.
The Hidden Cost of “Free” Platforms
“Free” giving platforms aren’t free. They make money on transaction fees, and those fees compound quickly.
Let’s compare the real annual cost for a church processing $10,000/month in donations (70% card, 30% ACH):
| Platform | Monthly Fee | Annual Card Fees | Annual ACH Fees | Total Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planning Center | $0 | $1,814 | $0 | $1,814 |
| Tithe.ly Free | $0 | $2,772 | $492 | $3,264 |
| Givelify | $0 | $3,768 (no ACH) | N/A | $3,768 |
| Donorbox Free | $0 | $4,392 (incl. platform fee) | Varies | $4,392+ |
Planning Center saves nearly $2,000/year over Givelify on the same giving volume, entirely because of lower card rates and free ACH. That’s money that goes back to ministry.
The takeaway: always calculate total cost (monthly fees + transaction fees), not just the subscription price.
Global Giving: What Most Articles Won’t Tell You
Here’s the uncomfortable truth. Every US church giving platform on this list is designed for churches where members have credit cards and bank accounts. That covers North America and parts of Europe. It leaves out most of the world.
Mobile Money Is Not a Nice-to-Have
In East Africa, more people have M-Pesa accounts than bank accounts. In West Africa, MTN Mobile Money and OPay are how people move money. In Latin America, PIX (Brazil) and OXXO (Mexico) dominate consumer payments.
A giving platform that only accepts Visa and Mastercard is excluding the majority of your congregation in these regions. It’s like putting up a sign that says “cash only” in a world that runs on mobile payments.
Multi-Currency Matters for Diaspora Churches
If you’re a Nigerian church in London, your members might want to support both the UK congregation and the home church in Lagos. That requires a platform that handles GBP and NGN. Most US platforms only process USD.
The Gap in the Market
The honest assessment: there is no single platform today that handles church giving well for both US and international churches. US platforms dominate in features but fail globally. Regional tools like Paystack and M-Pesa work locally but lack church-specific features.
This gap represents one of the biggest unmet needs in the church technology space.
Our Top 3 Picks
1. Planning Center Giving (Best Overall Value)
For churches that want the lowest total cost, Planning Center Giving wins. Free ACH, 2.1% card rates, and strong integration with the broader Planning Center ecosystem make it the most cost-effective option at any giving volume. The main limitation is that it’s US-only and lacks text-to-give.
2. Tithe.ly Free (Best for Getting Started)
If your church has never done digital giving before, start here. Zero monthly cost, a polished mobile experience, and the Cover the Fees feature make it the easiest on-ramp. When you’re ready to grow, the All-Access bundle at $119/month adds a ChMS, church app, and website.
3. Paystack + M-Pesa (Best for African Churches)
For churches in Africa, skip the US platforms entirely. Use Paystack for card and bank payments, M-Pesa (or MTN MoMo) for mobile money, and pair them with a ChMS that can track giving across both channels. It’s not a single-vendor solution, but it works with payment methods your congregation actually uses.
FAQ
What is the average transaction fee for church giving platforms?
Most platforms charge 2.9% + $0.30 per credit card transaction. ACH fees range from 0% (Planning Center) to 1.0% + $0.30 (Tithe.ly). Always factor in both card and ACH rates when comparing platforms.
Can donors cover the transaction fees?
Yes, most church giving platforms offer a “Cover the Fees” or “Donor Covers Fees” option. Tithe.ly reports about 60% of donors opt in. This can save your church 2-3% on every donation.
Is text-to-give worth it?
It depends on your congregation. Text-to-give is great for in-service prompts and events, but most regular giving happens through apps and websites. Tithe.ly, Pushpay, and Subsplash all offer text-to-give. If your congregation skews older or less tech-savvy, it can increase adoption.
What about PayPal for church donations?
PayPal works but isn’t ideal. The per-transaction fee ($0.49) is higher than most church platforms, there’s no fund management, and you don’t get automatic tax receipts. The charity rate (1.99%) is competitive on the percentage side, but the flat fee makes small donations expensive. A $10 donation loses nearly 7% to fees.
Which platform works best outside the US?
No single US platform works well internationally. For Africa, use Paystack, Flutterwave, or M-Pesa. For global multi-currency, Donorbox works but is expensive. See our regional guides for Nigeria and Kenya for more specific recommendations.
How do I switch giving platforms without losing donors?
Run both platforms in parallel for 60-90 days. Announce the new platform, set it as the default on your website and app, but keep the old one active until recurring donors have migrated. Export your donor data from the old platform and import it into the new one. Most platforms offer CSV export.
What percentage of church giving should go to platform fees?
Aim for under 3% of total giving going to fees. If you’re paying more than that, you’re likely on a platform with high card rates and no ACH option. Switching to Planning Center Giving or encouraging ACH donations can cut your fees significantly.
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