Online giving has become a cornerstone of healthy church finances. It meets people where they are—on smartphones and devices—and makes generosity easy and recurring. But with so many options, how do you choose the right platform for your church?

This guide compares Tithely, Pushpay, and Planning Center so you can make an informed decision that supports your mission, your budget, and your congregation.

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Why a Dedicated Giving Platform Matters

Churches that offer reliable online giving see benefits like:

• Convenient recurring giving

• Higher donation consistency

• Fewer missed offerings when people are out of town

• Better tracking and reporting for leadership

Online giving isn’t just a “nice to have”—it’s now expected by many givers and helps strengthen your church’s financial stability and stewardship culture.

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Quick Overview: How the Platforms Differ

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1. Tithely — Affordable and Flexible Option

What It Offers

• Mobile, online, text, kiosk, and admin giving

• Recurring donations

• Custom donor management

• Optional church website and app tools

• No required long-term contracts Tithe.ly

Why Many Churches Choose It

• Cost-effective: Free giving option with standard processing fees and a flat monthly rate for full tools. Tithe.ly

• All-in-one: Beyond giving, it includes CRM, event tools, volunteer scheduling, messaging, and more—all in one platform. Tithe.ly

• Easy setup: Churches can launch quickly without needing dedicated tech staff. Tithe.ly

Ideal For

• Small to mid-size congregations

• Churches wanting giving plus management tools

• Teams with limited IT support

Pros

• Free or low entry cost

• No contracts

• Multiple giving options (text, web, app)

Cons

• Some advanced features may feel basic compared to enterprise solutions

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2. Pushpay — Premium Giving and Engagement Tools

What It Offers

• Comprehensive online giving with Everygift suite

• Mobile, online, text giving, and QR code support

• Donor insights and development analytics

• Multi-campus and multi-language support Pushpay

Why Churches Invest in Pushpay

• Designed for generosity growth: Pushpay often markets its ability to increase giving with machine learning and donor-focused features like recurring suggestions. Pushpay

• Engagement tools: Built-in app features, branded notifications, and donor insights help keep people connected. Pushpay

Ideal For

• Larger churches with dedicated giving initiatives

• Churches using proprietary apps and internal branding

• Ministries with multi-campus needs

Pros

• Strong donor engagement and analytics

• Fast funds processing in some plans

• Scalable for large churches

Cons

• Higher cost (often $149+/month and can scale higher with add-ons and multiple campuses) Tithe.ly

• Often requires contracts to secure best pricing

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3. Planning Center — Integrated Management with Giving

What It Offers

• Modular system for giving, check-ins, events, groups, attendance, and more

• Transparent pricing with no surprise fees

• Good support and responsive customer service Planning Center

Why Consider Planning Center

Planning Center isn’t just a giving tool—it’s a full church management system (ChMS). It enables workflows across your ministry, with giving as a part of that ecosystem.

Planning Center Giving focuses on secure, transparent donation processing with straightforward fees and no long-term contracts. Planning Center

Ideal For

• Churches that want tight integration between giving, attendance, events, and volunteer management

• Teams that prioritize organized workflows

Pros

• Transparent pricing and support

• Strong management tools across ministry functions

Cons

• Can become expensive as you add modules

• Giving features are tied into a larger system (so it may be more than a church needs if you only want giving tools)

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Feature Comparison

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5 Practical Tips Before You Choose

Whether you’re a small church or a multi-campus ministry, here are key questions to ask:

1. Budget and Pricing:
   Do you need flat pricing or are modular fees acceptable? Tithely offers flat plans, while Planning Center grows in cost as you add modules. Pushpay typically has higher entry costs. Tithe.ly+1

2. Technical Support:
   Do you have someone to manage the platform? Some platforms require more setup and admin time.

3. Integration Needs:
   Will the giving platform need to sync with your ChMS, website, or app? Pulling data together makes reporting and follow-up easier.

4. Donor Experience:
   Is it important that donors give without creating accounts? Some tools streamline giving more than others.

5. Growth Plans:
   Do you plan to scale your giving strategies with recurring gifts, fundraising campaigns, or multiple campuses?

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Final Recommendation

• Best for value-conscious churches: Tithely — strong features at an affordable price and no contracts. Tithe.ly

• Best for engagement-focused churches: Pushpay — robust giving experience with premium donor tools. Pushpay

• Best for integrated church management: Planning Center — great if you want giving tightly woven with broader ministry management. Planning Center

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Choosing the right giving platform doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Focus on your church’s priorities—affordability, donor experience, integration, and growth—and you’ll select a platform that supports generosity and ministry for years to come.