TL;DR: Setting up online giving for your church takes about 30 minutes with the right platform. Choose a provider that fits your church’s size, budget, and region. Connect your bank account, customize your giving page, add a “Give” button to your website, and announce it to your congregation. Most US platforms charge 2.9% + $0.30 per card transaction. Churches outside North America should look for platforms that support M-Pesa, mobile money, or local payment processors like Paystack.
Why Your Church Needs Online Giving
Cash in the offering basket isn’t going away. But it’s no longer enough.
The average church loses 10-15% of potential giving simply because members forget to bring cash or a checkbook. Online giving removes that friction. Members can give during service, on the drive home, or at 2 AM when they’re reminded of a pledge they made.
The numbers back this up. According to giving platform vendor case studies, churches that add digital giving report 20-30% increases in overall giving within the first year, though results vary by congregation size, prior digital giving adoption, and how the transition was communicated. Recurring giving, where members set up automatic monthly donations, is even more impactful. It smooths out the peaks and valleys of weekly collections and gives your finance team predictable revenue to plan around.
If you haven’t set up online giving yet, you’re leaving money on the table. Here’s how to do it right.
Step 1: Choose an Online Giving Platform
This is the most important decision you’ll make. The platform you choose determines your transaction fees, the giving experience for your members, and what payment methods you can accept.
Here’s a comparison of the most popular options:
US and Canada Focused Platforms
| Platform | Monthly Cost | Card Fee | ACH Fee | Free Plan? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tithe.ly | $0-$119/mo | 2.9% + $0.30 | 1.0% + $0.30 | Yes | Churches wanting free giving or an all-in-one suite |
| Pushpay | ~$199-$799/mo | ~2.9% + $0.30 | ~1.0% + $0.30 | No | Large churches with high giving volume |
| Givelify | $0/mo | 2.9% + $0.30 | N/A | Yes (fees only) | Small churches wanting zero monthly cost |
| Planning Center Giving | $0/mo (standalone) | 2.1% + $0.30 (ACH: free) | Free | Yes | Churches already using Planning Center |
| Subsplash Giving | Custom pricing | ~2.9% + $0.30 | ~1.0% + $0.30 | No | Churches wanting a branded app + giving combo |
| Stripe (DIY) | $0/mo | 2.9% + $0.30 | 0.8% (max $5) | Yes (fees only) | Tech-savvy churches building their own giving page |
Global and Emerging Market Options
| Platform/Method | Where It Works | Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paystack | Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya | 1.5% + NGN 100 (local) | African churches needing local card + bank payments |
| Flutterwave | 34 African countries | Varies by method | Pan-African churches, multi-country |
| M-Pesa (Paybill/Till) | Kenya, Tanzania, DRC, Mozambique, others | ~0.5-1% | East African churches (most members already use it) |
| Pesapal | Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda | Varies | East African churches wanting card + mobile money in one |
| MTN Mobile Money | Ghana, Uganda, Cameroon, others | ~1% | West and Central African churches |
The key question: Where are your members? If your church is in the US, any of the major platforms will work. If your members are in Kenya, they need M-Pesa. If you’re a diaspora church in London with members who still support family churches in Nigeria, you need something that handles multiple currencies and payment methods. Most US platforms simply don’t do this.
For a deeper look at mobile money giving, read our guide on how M-Pesa is changing tithing in East Africa.
Step 2: Set Up Your Account
Once you’ve chosen a platform, setup typically takes 15-30 minutes. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Church legal name and EIN/tax ID (or equivalent in your country)
- Church bank account details for receiving deposits
- A church email address for the admin account
- Your church’s physical address
- A voided check or bank letter (some platforms require this for verification)
The Setup Process (Most Platforms Follow This Pattern)
- Create your account. Sign up with your church email. Most platforms have a church-specific signup flow.
- Verify your identity. You’ll enter your church’s legal information and tax ID. This is required for payment processing compliance (KYC regulations).
- Connect your bank account. This is where donations will be deposited. Expect 1-3 business days for micro-deposit verification, though some platforms use instant bank verification.
- Customize your giving page. Add your church logo, set up giving categories (tithes, offerings, building fund, missions), and choose your default amounts.
- Set up recurring giving. Enable the option for members to give weekly, biweekly, or monthly on autopilot. This is the single most impactful feature for church giving. Don’t skip it.
- Enable “Cover the Fees.” Most platforms let donors opt to cover the transaction fee themselves. Tithe.ly reports about 60% of donors opt in, which can save your church thousands over the course of a year.
- Test it. Make a small donation yourself to confirm everything works. Check that the confirmation email is sent and that the funds arrive in your bank account.
Step 3: Add Online Giving to Your Website
Your giving page needs to be easy to find. If members have to click more than twice to give, you’ll lose them.
Here’s where to put it:
- Main navigation bar. Add a “Give” or “Donate” button in your top menu. Make it a different color so it stands out.
- Homepage. Include a giving section or banner with a direct link.
- Embedded giving form. Most platforms provide an embed code so members can give directly on your website without being redirected to another domain.
- Footer. Add a secondary link in your site footer for members who scroll down looking for it.
Pro tip: Use a short, memorable URL like yourchurch.com/give that redirects to your giving page. This is easy to share from the pulpit, in bulletins, and in text messages.
Step 4: Set Up Mobile and Text-to-Give
Your members have their phones in hand during every service. Meet them there.
Mobile Giving
Most platforms offer a mobile app or a mobile-optimized giving page. At minimum, make sure your giving page looks and works well on a phone. If your platform offers a dedicated app (Tithe.ly, Pushpay, Subsplash, and others all do), encourage members to download it.
For churches in Africa and emerging markets, mobile giving looks different. It’s not about downloading an app. It’s about sending money via M-Pesa Paybill, USSD codes, or mobile money. These work on basic feature phones with no internet required. If your congregation primarily uses mobile money, set up a church Paybill or Till number and display it prominently during service.
Text-to-Give
Some platforms offer text-to-give, where members send a text to a specific number with their donation amount. This is popular in US churches because it’s fast and simple. Platforms that support it include Tithe.ly, Pushpay, and Subsplash.
How it works: The church gets a dedicated phone number. Members text an amount (e.g., “50”) to that number. First-time givers get a link to enter their payment details. After that, they can give again by simply texting the amount.
Giving Kiosks
For members who don’t give online but also don’t carry cash, a giving kiosk in your lobby is a solid middle ground. These are typically tablets mounted on stands running your giving platform’s app. Members can swipe a card and give in seconds.
Cost considerations: Kiosks require hardware (a tablet and stand, roughly $300-$600) plus any card reader fees. But they can be especially effective in churches with older demographics who are comfortable with card payments but haven’t adopted phone-based giving.
Step 5: Promote Online Giving to Your Congregation
This is where most churches stumble. They set everything up and then mention it once from the pulpit. That’s not enough.
Adoption takes consistent, multi-channel communication over 4-6 weeks. Here’s a rollout plan:
Week 1: Announce from the Pulpit
Have the senior pastor introduce online giving during the service. Explain why you’re doing it (convenience, security, consistency). Show a live demo if possible. Hand out printed cards with the giving URL and QR code.
Week 2: Email Campaign
Send a dedicated email with step-by-step instructions. Include screenshots. Link directly to the giving page. Send a follow-up email mid-week for anyone who missed it.
Week 3: Social Media + Small Groups
Post about it on your church’s social media. Ask small group leaders to walk their groups through the setup. Peer encouragement is more effective than announcements.
Week 4: Highlight Recurring Giving
Once people have tried one-time giving, push recurring donations. Explain the benefits: “You never have to think about it again. Your tithe goes out automatically, just like your Netflix subscription.”
Ongoing
- Display the giving URL/QR code on screen during every service
- Include it in your weekly bulletin or newsletter
- Mention it naturally, not as a sales pitch, but as a reminder that the option exists
The goal is to make online giving the default, not an alternative. Within 3-6 months, the majority of your regular givers should be using digital methods.
Understanding Transaction Fees
Every online giving platform charges transaction fees. This is non-negotiable because payment processors (Visa, Mastercard, bank networks) charge the platform, and the platform passes those costs to you.
Here’s what to expect:
| Payment Method | Typical Fee | Example ($100 donation) | Your Church Receives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit/Debit Card | 2.9% + $0.30 | $3.20 fee | $96.80 |
| ACH / Bank Transfer | 1.0% + $0.30 | $1.30 fee | $98.70 |
| M-Pesa | ~0.5-1.0% | ~$0.75 fee | ~$99.25 |
| Paystack (local card) | 1.5% + flat fee | ~$1.60 fee | ~$98.40 |
Key takeaways on fees:
- ACH/bank transfers are always cheaper than cards. Encourage your US members to give via bank transfer when possible.
- “Cover the Fees” is your best friend. Enable it and most donors will absorb the cost willingly.
- Mobile money fees are typically lower than card fees. This is one of the advantages for churches in Africa and emerging markets.
- Watch out for hidden costs. Some platforms charge monthly fees on top of transaction fees, or have minimum contract lengths. Read the fine print.
For a complete guide to managing church finances, including budgeting around transaction fees, check out our Church Financial Management Guide.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Choosing a platform based only on fees. A platform that charges 0.5% less but has a terrible user experience will cost you more in lost donations than you save on fees.
2. Not enabling recurring giving. One-time gifts are good. Recurring gifts are transformational. Make recurring giving prominent and easy to set up.
3. Hiding the giving page. If your “Give” button isn’t visible in your main navigation within 3 seconds, you need to fix your website.
4. Only promoting it once. People need to hear about a new system 5-7 times before they act. Plan a sustained rollout, not a single announcement.
5. Ignoring mobile users. Over 60% of online giving happens on mobile devices. If your giving page doesn’t work flawlessly on a phone, you’re losing donations.
6. Using a US-only platform for a global church. If you have members in Africa, Latin America, or Asia, make sure your platform supports their payment methods. Credit cards aren’t the default everywhere. For more on this, see our article on why US church software doesn’t always work for global churches.
FAQ
How long does it take to set up online giving?
Most platforms can be set up in 30 minutes to an hour. Bank verification may take 1-3 business days, but you can start accepting donations as soon as your account is approved.
Is online giving safe?
Yes. Reputable platforms use bank-level encryption (256-bit SSL) and are PCI-compliant, meaning they meet the highest security standards for handling credit card data. Your members’ financial information is safer than writing a check.
Can we still accept cash and checks?
Absolutely. Online giving doesn’t replace physical giving. It adds another option. Many churches run both systems side by side. You should still have an offering moment during services for members who prefer giving in person.
What percentage of giving should we expect online?
According to giving platform vendors, churches that actively promote digital giving typically see 50-70% of total giving come through online channels within the first year. Some tech-forward churches report 80%+ online giving, though these figures vary widely based on congregation demographics and how actively the transition is promoted.
How do we handle designated giving (building fund, missions, etc.)?
Most platforms let you create multiple funds or categories. Members choose which fund to give to when they make a donation. This keeps your bookkeeping clean and your donors confident their money goes where they intend.
What about tax receipts?
All major giving platforms automatically generate year-end giving statements for tax purposes. In the US, these are essential for donors claiming charitable deductions. Make sure your platform can produce IRS-compliant giving statements.
Can we accept international donations?
This depends on your platform. Most US-based platforms (Tithe.ly, Pushpay, Givelify) only process payments in USD through US payment processors. If you need to accept donations in multiple currencies or from members using M-Pesa, mobile money, or regional payment gateways, you’ll need a platform built for global churches.
Choosing the Right Platform for Your Church
There’s no single best platform for every church. Here’s a quick decision framework:
- Small US church, tight budget? Start with Tithe.ly’s free plan or Givelify. Zero monthly cost, just transaction fees.
- Mid-size US church wanting all-in-one? Tithe.ly All-Access or Planning Center with Giving gives you church management and giving in one package.
- Large US church with high giving volume? Pushpay’s donor tools and app experience are hard to beat if the budget fits.
- Church in Africa? Set up M-Pesa Paybill or use Paystack/Flutterwave for card payments. Read our M-Pesa church giving guide for detailed setup steps.
- Diaspora or international church? You need a platform that handles multiple currencies and payment methods natively.
For a comprehensive comparison of church management platforms (not just giving), see our Best Church Management Software in 2026 guide.
Start Accepting Online Giving This Week
Setting up online giving isn’t a months-long project. Pick a platform today, set up your account tonight, and introduce it to your congregation this Sunday. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see the impact on your church’s financial health.
The best time to set up online giving was five years ago. The second best time is this week.
Looking for church management software that works beyond North America? Look for a platform built for churches worldwide, with WhatsApp messaging, mobile money giving, and pricing that reflects your local economy.