Text-to-give removes friction from giving. A member sees a need during the sermon, pulls out their phone, texts a keyword, and the gift is processed in seconds. No app to download, no website to find, no check to write. For churches that want to make giving as easy as possible, text-to-give is the fastest on-ramp.
We compared the top text-to-give platforms on setup ease, processing fees, and how well they integrate with your church’s existing systems.
Quick Comparison
| Platform | Best For | Processing Fees | Text-to-Give Setup | Recurring Giving | ChMS Integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tithe.ly | Churches wanting an all-in-one giving solution | 2.9% + $0.30 | Text keyword → form | Yes | Yes (own ChMS, Planning Center, CCB) |
| Pushpay | Large churches wanting mobile-first giving | 2.99% + $0.39 | Text keyword → app | Yes | Yes (wide ChMS integration) |
| Vanco | Churches wanting lowest ACH fees | 2.75% + $0.25 (card); 0.95% + $0.25 (ACH) | Text keyword → form | Yes | Yes (Realm, Shelby, Servant Keeper) |
| Planning Center Giving | Churches already using Planning Center | 2.9% + $0.30 | Text keyword → form | Yes | Native |
| Regpack | Event-based giving and registrations | 2.9% + $0.30 | Text keyword → form | No | Limited |
1. Tithe.ly — Best All-in-One Text-to-Give
Tithe.ly offers text-to-give as part of its complete giving platform, which also includes online giving pages, kiosk mode, and a church app. If you want text-to-give plus everything else in one subscription, Tithe.ly is the most complete option.
Pros:
- Text-to-give, online giving, kiosk, and church app in one platform
- Simple setup: text a keyword → receive a link → complete the gift
- First-time donors fill out a short form; repeat donors can give with one text
- Recurring giving via text (text “give 50 monthly” to set up)
- Good ChMS integration (Planning Center, CCB, ChurchTrac, Breeze)
- Dashboard shows giving trends, top donors, and fund breakdowns
- No setup fees
Cons:
- Processing fees are slightly higher than Vanco for ACH
- Text-to-give sends a link to a form — not a pure text-based transaction
- ChMS integration requires Tithe.ly’s own ChMS or paid integrations for some platforms
- Giving platform is newer than dedicated giving platforms like Pushpay
Pricing: Free to use; processing 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction; Tithe.ly+ reduces fees with a monthly subscription
Best for: Churches that want text-to-give as part of a complete giving suite, especially if they’re considering Tithe.ly’s ChMS or church app.
2. Pushpay — Best Mobile-First Giving Experience
Pushpay built its reputation on making mobile giving as fast as possible. Their text-to-give flow sends donors to the Pushpay app (or a mobile-optimized web form) where repeat donors can give in under 10 seconds. For churches where mobile giving speed matters, Pushpay is the gold standard.
Pros:
- Fastest repeat giving experience (under 10 seconds after initial setup)
- Pushpay app provides a persistent giving presence on donors’ phones
- Excellent recurring giving management
- Text keyword triggers the giving flow
- Strong ChMS integration library
- Good analytics and reporting
- Church app available
- Reliable, well-tested platform used by 14,000+ churches
Cons:
- Higher processing fees than most competitors
- Requires sales call for pricing (not transparent)
- Contract commitments may apply
- Overkill for churches under 200 in attendance
- Text-to-give funnels to Pushpay’s ecosystem (not a neutral form)
- Higher-tier features cost extra
Pricing: Processing 2.99% + $0.39 per transaction; platform fee varies by church size (requires demo)
Best for: Mid-to-large churches (300+ attendance) where mobile giving speed and recurring donations are the priority.
3. Vanco — Best for ACH/Direct Debit Giving
Vanco has been serving churches for 20+ years, and their text-to-give is part of a broader giving platform that excels at ACH/direct debit transactions. If you want to encourage bank-based giving (which has much lower fees than credit cards), Vanco is the leader.
Pros:
- Lowest ACH processing fees in the category (0.95% + $0.25)
- 20+ years serving churches and faith-based organizations
- Text-to-give, online giving, and eGive (direct debit) in one platform
- Strong ChMS integration (Realm, ShelbyNext, Servant Keeper)
- Good compliance and security track record
- Custom giving forms with your branding
- Recurring giving via ACH saves money on processing fees
Cons:
- Credit card processing fees are average
- Interface feels dated compared to Pushpay or Tithe.ly
- Text-to-give sends a link to a form (not a pure text transaction)
- Setup can take longer than newer platforms
- Less emphasis on mobile-first experience
- Pricing requires a call for full platform
Pricing: Credit card 2.75% + $0.25; ACH 0.95% + $0.25; platform fees vary
Best for: Churches that want to promote ACH/bank-based giving (lowest fees) and those using Realm or ShelbyNext for ChMS.
4. Planning Center Giving — Best for Planning Center Users
If your church already uses Planning Center for services, people, or check-ins, adding the Giving module keeps everything in one ecosystem. Text-to-give works through Planning Center’s system, and all giving data flows directly into your Planning Center People database.
Pros:
- Seamless integration with Planning Center ecosystem
- Text keyword triggers a giving form
- Recurring giving support
- Good fund-specific giving options
- Free for small churches on the basic tier
- Offline giving entry for cash and check
- Giving data syncs with People profiles automatically
- No long-term contracts
Cons:
- Only makes sense if you’re already using Planning Center
- Text-to-give is functional but less polished than Pushpay
- No dedicated church app (uses Church Center app)
- Giving module is newer and less mature than dedicated platforms
- Processing fees are standard (not the lowest)
- No text-to-give for first-time donors without going through the form
Pricing: Processing 2.9% + $0.30; platform fee based on church size (free for small churches)
Best for: Churches already using Planning Center that want giving in the same system without adding another vendor.
How to Choose
1. What ChMS do you use?
Planning Center → Planning Center Giving. Realm/Shelby → Vanco. ChurchTrac/Breeze → Tithe.ly. None yet → Tithe.ly or Vanco.
2. What’s your church size?
Under 200 → Planning Center or Tithe.ly. 200-1,000 → Tithe.ly or Vanco. 1,000+ → Pushpay.
3. What matters most: speed or fees?
Fastest mobile giving → Pushpay. Lowest processing fees (especially ACH) → Vanco. All-in-one platform → Tithe.ly. Already in Planning Center → Planning Center Giving.
Our Top Pick
For most small to mid-size churches, Tithe.ly offers the best balance of features, fees, and ease of use. If you’re already in the Planning Center ecosystem, Planning Center Giving keeps everything together. For large churches focused on mobile giving speed, Pushpay is worth the premium.
SoftDecide helps churches, nonprofits, and small organizations find the right software. Our comparisons are independently researched. We may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page — at no extra cost to you.