TL;DR: Tithe.ly wins on bundled value and online giving. Planning Center wins on worship planning, check-ins, and feature depth. Tithe.ly’s All-Access plan ($119/month) gives you everything in one package. Planning Center’s modular pricing ($0-$239+/month depending on apps) lets you pay only for what you need. If worship planning is essential, pick Planning Center. If you want everything bundled at one predictable price, pick Tithe.ly. If you’re outside North America, neither supports WhatsApp or mobile money, so you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Two of the Biggest Names in Church Tech
If you’re comparing Tithe.ly vs Planning Center, you’re looking at two of the most popular church management platforms in 2026. Both are well-established, both serve thousands of churches, and both have strong reputations.
But they take fundamentally different approaches to solving the same problem. Planning Center is a suite of specialized apps you can mix and match. Tithe.ly is an all-in-one bundle that grew out of its industry-leading giving platform.
This comparison breaks down every major category so you can make the right call for your church. No affiliate links, no fluff.
(For individual deep dives, see our full Tithe.ly review and Planning Center review.)
Quick Comparison at a Glance
| Category | Tithe.ly | Planning Center |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 | 2006 |
| Pricing model | Bundled (All-Access) or a la carte | Modular, per-app, per-tier |
| All-in cost (typical) | $119/month (All-Access) | $100-200+/month (3-5 apps) |
| Free tier | Yes (giving only) | Yes (People + basic tiers) |
| Best at | Online giving, bundled value | Worship planning, check-ins |
| Ease of use | Easy | Moderate |
| Setup time | 1-3 days | 1-2 weeks |
| Custom church app | Included in All-Access | Publishing app (limited) |
| Church website | Included in All-Access | No |
| Member database | Good | Excellent |
| Worship planning | Basic | Best in class |
| Online giving | Best in class | Good |
| Check-ins | Good | Best in class |
| Communication | Email, SMS, push | Email, limited SMS |
| Integrations | Moderate | Extensive (30+) |
| Multi-campus | Basic | Strong |
| No | No | |
| Mobile money (M-Pesa) | No | No |
| International payments | Limited | No |
Pricing: Different Models, Different Math
This is where the Tithe.ly vs Planning Center decision often starts. The two platforms price their products in completely different ways, and the best deal depends on your church’s size and needs.
Tithe.ly Pricing
| Plan | Monthly Cost | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Free Giving | $0/month | Online giving, mobile app, recurring gifts, pledge campaigns |
| Church Management | $72/month | Free Giving + member database, volunteer tools, email/text messaging |
| All-Access | $119/month | Everything above + custom church app, website builder, worship tools |
| Custom App (standalone) | $89/month | Branded mobile app only |
| Website (standalone) | $19/month | Drag-and-drop website builder |
| Enterprise | Custom | 2,000+ attendees, negotiated rates |
Tithe.ly’s pitch is simplicity. One plan, one price, everything included. The All-Access bundle at $119/month would cost $228/month if you bought each piece separately.
Planning Center Pricing
Planning Center uses modular, per-app pricing. Each app has its own tiers based on usage volume:
| App | Free Tier | Paid Starting At |
|---|---|---|
| People | Free (core database) | $15/month (larger lists) |
| Services | 5 team members, 100MB storage | $15/month |
| Giving | 10 monthly donations | $15/month |
| Groups | 15 group members | $15/month |
| Check-Ins | 10 daily check-ins | $15/month |
| Registrations | 5 attendees | $15/month |
| Calendar | 1 room | $15/month |
| Publishing | Basic home page | $15/month |
Planning Center’s pitch is flexibility. Only pay for the apps you actually use. A church that only needs People + Services + Giving might pay $30-60/month. A church using six apps could pay $150-250+/month.
What Your Church Actually Pays
| Church Size | Tithe.ly (All-Access) | Planning Center (4-5 apps) |
|---|---|---|
| 50 members | $119/month | $0-45/month |
| 150 members | $119/month | $50-90/month |
| 300 members | $119/month | $80-150/month |
| 500 members | $119/month | $120-200/month |
| 1,000 members | $119/month | $180-250+/month |
Key insight: For very small churches (under 100 members), Planning Center’s free tiers can be significantly cheaper. For larger churches using multiple features, Tithe.ly’s flat $119 becomes the better deal. The crossover point is typically around 150-200 members.
Winner: It depends. Small churches with basic needs save money on Planning Center. Growing churches (200+) that want bundled features save on Tithe.ly. If predictable billing matters to you, Tithe.ly wins.
Online Giving: Tithe.ly’s Home Turf
This is Tithe.ly’s home turf. The company was built on giving, and it shows.
| Feature | Tithe.ly | Planning Center |
|---|---|---|
| Credit/debit cards | Yes | Yes |
| ACH bank transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring giving | Yes | Yes |
| Text-to-give | Yes | Yes ($5/month) |
| Giving kiosk | Yes | Yes |
| Pledge campaigns | Yes | Limited |
| Custom church app giving | Yes (branded app) | Yes (Church Center app) |
| Cover the Fees (donor absorbs) | Yes | No |
| Card reader (in-person) | Yes | No |
| Card processing fee | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.15% + $0.30 |
| ACH processing fee | 1% + $0.30 | 0% + $0.30 |
| AMEX fee | 3.5% + $0.30 | 2.15% + $0.30 |
| Mobile money (M-Pesa) | No | No |
| International currencies | Limited (select countries) | No |
Tithe.ly advantages: Text-to-give, “Cover the Fees” (about 60% of donors opt in), in-person card readers, and the smoothest mobile giving experience in the industry. Tithe.ly’s marketing materials cite churches seeing online giving increase by 30-35% after switching to their platform, though results vary by congregation size, prior digital giving adoption, and how the transition was communicated.
Planning Center advantages: Lower transaction fees across the board. At 2.15% + $0.30 for cards (vs. Tithe.ly’s 2.9% + $0.30), Planning Center saves your church real money on every transaction. On $10,000/month in giving, that’s roughly $75/month in savings on card processing alone. ACH at 0% + $0.30 is even more dramatic compared to Tithe.ly’s 1% + $0.30.
Winner: Tithe.ly for features and ease of setup. Planning Center for processing costs. If your church processes significant giving volume, those lower fees add up fast.
Worship Planning: Planning Center’s Strongest Category
This is where the comparison gets lopsided.
Planning Center Services is the most established tool for worship planning. It’s the reason many churches choose Planning Center in the first place.
- Detailed service plans with timing, songs, media cues, and notes
- Team scheduling with automated conflict detection
- Song database with chord charts, lyrics, and multiple arrangements
- CCLI reporting built in
- Rehearsal mode so musicians can practice at home
- Integration with ProPresenter, EasyWorship, and other projection software
- Multi-service planning (8am acoustic vs. 11am full band)
Tithe.ly’s worship tools are included in the All-Access plan but they’re basic by comparison. You get service planning and team scheduling, but the depth, integrations, and polish of Planning Center Services aren’t there yet.
Edge: Planning Center. If your church has a worship team, a production crew, or multiple service styles, Planning Center Services is the most established tool in this space. Tithe.ly’s worship tools are not yet a substitute for that level of depth.
Member Management: Planning Center Has More Depth
Both platforms handle the essentials: member profiles, households, custom fields, search, and filtering.
| Feature | Tithe.ly | Planning Center |
|---|---|---|
| Member profiles | Yes | Yes |
| Household grouping | Yes | Yes |
| Custom fields | Yes | Yes |
| Tags | Yes | Yes |
| Dynamic lists | No | Yes |
| Automated workflows | No | Yes (multi-step) |
| Duplicate merging | Basic | Advanced |
| Activity timeline | Good | Excellent |
| Volunteer scheduling | Good | Good |
| Background checks | No | Integration available |
Planning Center’s workflows are a standout feature. You can build automated sequences like: “When a visitor is added, wait 2 days, send a welcome email, wait 5 days, assign a follow-up task to the hospitality team.” Tithe.ly doesn’t offer this level of automation.
Tithe.ly’s member management (formerly Breeze) is clean, simple, and easy to learn. The tag-based system is flexible for smaller teams that prefer manual organization over automated workflows. Read our Breeze review for more background on the Breeze-to-Tithe.ly transition.
Winner: Planning Center for depth and automation. Tithe.ly for simplicity and ease of use. The right choice depends on whether your church wants powerful automation or an interface anyone can learn in a day.
Communication: Both Are Weak
Honestly, neither platform excels here.
| Feature | Tithe.ly | Planning Center |
|---|---|---|
| Yes (drag-and-drop editor) | Yes | |
| SMS/Text messaging | Yes (US only) | Limited (US/Canada, credits-based) |
| Push notifications | Yes (via church app) | Yes (via Church Center) |
| Email automation | No | No |
| Email analytics | Basic | Basic |
| No | No | |
| International SMS | No | No |
| In-app messaging | Yes | No |
Tithe.ly has a slight edge because its All-Access plan includes a branded church app with push notifications and in-app messaging. It also includes text messaging in the ChMS product.
Planning Center’s communication is more limited. Email works fine. SMS is available through Church Center but requires credits and is restricted to the US and Canada.
Neither platform supports WhatsApp. For churches in Africa, Latin America, Asia, or the UK diaspora, this is a critical gap. WhatsApp has 98% open rates compared to roughly 20% for email. If your congregation communicates primarily through WhatsApp, both platforms leave you without your most effective communication channel. See our guide on why WhatsApp matters for church communication for more context.
Winner: Tithe.ly by a small margin, thanks to the custom app and built-in text messaging. But both platforms are underwhelming for communication. Most churches will supplement with Mailchimp, a WhatsApp group, or another tool.
Check-Ins: Planning Center Is More Polished
Both platforms offer children’s check-in with security features. Planning Center’s is more mature and configurable.
Planning Center Check-Ins strengths:
- Advanced label customization
- Room and capacity management
- Detailed allergy and medical alert handling
- Smooth self-service kiosk experience
- Headcount reporting by room, service, and date
Tithe.ly Check-Ins covers the essentials: name tags, security codes, allergy alerts, and kiosk mode. For most small-to-medium churches, it gets the job done.
Winner: Planning Center. The gap is most noticeable for larger churches with complex children’s ministry operations. Smaller churches may not notice a meaningful difference.
Apps, Websites, and Extras: Tithe.ly’s Bundled Value
This is where Tithe.ly’s all-in-one approach really shines.
| Feature | Tithe.ly (All-Access) | Planning Center |
|---|---|---|
| Custom branded church app | Included ($89 value) | No (Church Center is generic) |
| Church website builder | Included ($19 value) | No |
| Sermon media hosting | Yes (in app) | No |
| Prayer wall | Yes (in app) | No |
| Live stream integration | Yes | No |
Tithe.ly’s custom church app is a genuine differentiator. For $119/month total, your church gets a branded app in the App Store and Google Play with your name, logo, and colors. It includes mobile giving, sermon media, push notifications, and group communication. Building a comparable app independently would cost thousands.
Planning Center offers Church Center, a shared app where your church gets a profile. It works well for check-ins and giving, but it’s not a standalone branded experience. There’s no custom app with your church’s name in the app store.
Winner: Tithe.ly. The custom app and website builder included in the All-Access plan are genuine extras that Planning Center doesn’t match at any price tier.
Integrations: Planning Center Has a Significant Lead
If your church uses other software tools, this matters.
Planning Center integrates with 30+ tools:
- ProPresenter, EasyWorship (worship presentation)
- CCLI SongSelect (song licensing)
- Mailchimp (email marketing)
- QuickBooks (accounting)
- Zapier (connect to 5,000+ apps)
- Extensive developer API
Tithe.ly integrates with:
- Zapier
- Mailchimp
- A smaller set of direct integrations
Planning Center’s developer API is well-documented and widely used. Many third-party church tools are built to plug into Planning Center first. Tithe.ly’s integration ecosystem is growing but still trails considerably.
Winner: Planning Center. For tech-forward churches that rely on multiple software tools working together, the integration gap is significant.
Multi-Campus Support: Planning Center Has the Edge
If your church has multiple locations, Planning Center handles it natively. Separate campuses share one database but can have independent service plans, check-in stations, event calendars, and reports.
Tithe.ly offers basic multi-campus functionality, but it’s not as deeply integrated across all features.
Winner: Planning Center. For churches with 2+ campuses, this is a meaningful advantage.
The Global Church Perspective
Here’s what neither company talks about in their marketing.
Both Tithe.ly and Planning Center are built for US churches. The giving assumes credit cards and bank accounts. The communication assumes email and SMS. The pricing assumes US dollars and US church budgets.
For the global church, the gaps are significant:
| Need | Tithe.ly | Planning Center |
|---|---|---|
| M-Pesa giving | No | No |
| MTN Mobile Money | No | No |
| Paystack/Flutterwave | No | No |
| WhatsApp messaging | No | No |
| USSD payments | No | No |
| Regional pricing | No | No |
| Offline/low-bandwidth support | No | No |
| Multilingual admin | No | No |
If your church is in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, or anywhere that relies on mobile money for transactions, neither platform can process your members’ gifts. If your congregation communicates through WhatsApp (which is most of the world outside the US), neither platform can reach them on their primary channel.
This isn’t a knock on either product. They were built for the market they serve. But if you’re a church in Africa, Latin America, or a UK diaspora congregation, choosing between Tithe.ly and Planning Center is choosing between two tools that weren’t designed for your context. Read our piece on why US church software doesn’t work for African churches for a deeper look.
For churches in these contexts, see our guide to choosing church management software for region-specific recommendations.
Who Should Choose Tithe.ly
Tithe.ly is the better choice if:
- Online giving is your top priority. Tithe.ly’s giving platform is the best in the business, with text-to-give, Cover the Fees, and card readers.
- You want everything in one bundle. One vendor, one bill, one login. Giving, ChMS, app, website, worship tools, all for $119/month.
- You’re budget-conscious at 200+ members. The flat rate beats Planning Center’s modular costs at scale.
- You want a branded church app. It’s included in All-Access. Planning Center doesn’t offer an equivalent.
- You’re a church plant launching your digital presence. One signup gets you a website, app, giving, and member management.
Who Should Choose Planning Center
Planning Center is the better choice if:
- You have a worship team. Planning Center Services alone may justify the entire platform. No other tool offers comparable depth.
- You need automation. Workflows save hours on visitor follow-up, volunteer onboarding, and re-engagement campaigns.
- You’re multi-campus. Planning Center handles multiple locations natively and comprehensively.
- You use ProPresenter or other production software. The integrations are seamless.
- You only need a few features. The modular model means a small church using People + Giving + Services could pay $30-60/month, less than Tithe.ly’s All-Access plan.
- You’re a larger church (300+). The depth and configurability become more valuable as complexity grows.
Who Should Choose Neither
Look elsewhere if:
- You’re outside North America. Both platforms are US-centric. No mobile money, no WhatsApp, no regional pricing. Check out platforms built for the global church instead.
- WhatsApp is your primary communication channel. Neither supports it. If your congregation lives on WhatsApp, you need a platform with native integration.
- Your members give via mobile money. M-Pesa, MTN MoMo, Paystack. If that’s how your church receives offerings, neither Tithe.ly nor Planning Center can help.
- You need offline capability. Both require a reliable internet connection. Churches in areas with inconsistent connectivity will hit walls every Sunday.
The Verdict
| If You Value… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Online giving features | Tithe.ly |
| Worship planning | Planning Center |
| Bundled pricing | Tithe.ly |
| Pay-only-for-what-you-use | Planning Center |
| Custom church app | Tithe.ly |
| Integrations | Planning Center |
| Ease of setup | Tithe.ly |
| Automation and workflows | Planning Center |
| Multi-campus | Planning Center |
| Budget (200+ members) | Tithe.ly |
| Budget (under 100 members) | Planning Center (free tiers) |
| WhatsApp and mobile money | Neither |
Both are strong platforms. The Tithe.ly vs Planning Center decision ultimately comes down to what your church prioritizes most: bundled simplicity or modular depth.
And if your church sits outside North America? Neither was built with your context in mind. See our guide to choosing church management software for region-specific recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Tithe.ly and Planning Center together?
Yes, and some churches do. A common setup is Tithe.ly for giving alongside Planning Center Services for worship planning. There’s no direct integration between them, so you’ll manage two platforms and two logins. But if giving and worship planning are both critical, this combination gets you the best of both worlds.
Which has lower transaction fees for giving?
Planning Center. Card processing is 2.15% + $0.30 per transaction vs. Tithe.ly’s 2.9% + $0.30. ACH is 0% + $0.30 vs. Tithe.ly’s 1% + $0.30. On significant giving volume, Planning Center saves your church hundreds per year. However, Tithe.ly’s “Cover the Fees” feature lets donors absorb the cost, which about 60% of donors choose to do.
Which is easier to set up?
Tithe.ly. The giving platform can be running in under 30 minutes. The full ChMS takes a few hours. Planning Center requires more upfront decisions (which apps, which tiers) and a longer setup process, typically 1-2 weeks to be fully configured.
What happened to Breeze ChMS?
Tithe.ly acquired Breeze in 2021 and has fully integrated it into “Tithely Church Management.” The Breeze brand still exists, but new signups are directed to Tithe.ly. If you’re comparing Breeze to Planning Center specifically, see our Planning Center vs Breeze breakdown.
Do either work for churches outside the US?
Both are primarily US-focused. Tithe.ly supports giving in a handful of countries (Australia, UK, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand) via credit/debit cards. Planning Center’s giving is US-only. Neither supports mobile money, WhatsApp, or regional pricing for emerging markets.
Which is better for a small church (under 100 members)?
Planning Center, if you can get by with free tiers. People is free, and several apps offer free basic plans. You could pay $0-30/month. Tithe.ly’s cheapest option with ChMS is $72/month, or $119 for All-Access. If you only need giving, Tithe.ly’s free giving plan is a strong option.
Which is better for a large church (500+ members)?
It depends on your priorities. Planning Center if worship planning, check-ins, and integrations matter most. Tithe.ly if you want bundled value, a branded app, and strong online giving. Many large churches use both: Tithe.ly for giving and Tithe.ly’s app, Planning Center for worship and operations.
Can I switch from one to the other later?
Yes, but it takes work. Both support CSV export of member data and giving records. The main pain points are rebuilding workflows (Planning Center), losing worship planning history (Planning Center Services), and reconfiguring integrations. Plan for 2-4 weeks of transition time.