Your church’s giving platform determines how easily people give, how much they give (recurring donors give 2-3x more), and how seamlessly giving data flows into your church management system. The wrong platform means friction, lost donations, and admin work.
This is the complete comparison of the top church giving platforms — covering fees, features, ChMS integration, and which churches each one serves best.
Quick Comparison
| Platform | Processing Fees | Monthly Fee | Recurring Giving | ChMS Integration | Text-to-Give |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tithe.ly | 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 (free) | Yes | Multiple | Yes |
| Pushpay | 2.99% + $0.39 | Custom | Yes | Multiple | Yes |
| Planning Center Giving | 2.9% + $0.30 | Free (basic) | Yes | Native | Yes |
| Vanco | 2.75% + $0.25 (card); 0.95% + $0.25 (ACH) | Custom | Yes | Multiple | Yes |
| Stripe | 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 | Via setup | Custom | Custom |
1. Tithe.ly — Best All-in-One Giving Platform
Tithe.ly offers online giving, text-to-give, church apps, and a full ChMS — all in one platform. For churches that want giving and church management together without piecing together multiple tools, Tithe.ly is the most complete option.
Pros:
- Online giving + text-to-give + church app + ChMS in one platform
- No monthly platform fee (just processing fees)
- Recurring giving with donor self-management
- Text-to-give with keywords
- Customizable giving forms and pages
- Church app with giving built in
- Good ChMS integrations (Breeze, Planning Center, CCB, ChurchTrac)
- Dashboard with giving analytics
- Multi-fund giving (donors choose where their gift goes)
- Pledge tracking
- Camp and event registration
- Kiosk mode for in-person giving
Cons:
- ChMS features are newer and less mature than dedicated tools
- Processing fees are slightly higher than Vanco for ACH
- Text-to-give sends a link to a form (not a pure text transaction)
- Giving platform is separate from accounting (pair with Aplos or ChurchTrac)
- No fund accounting built in
- Customer support can be slow during peak seasons
Pricing: Free platform; processing 2.9% + $0.30; Tithe.ly+ reduces fees with monthly subscription
Best for: Churches that want giving, text-to-give, and church management in one platform without monthly fees.
2. Pushpay — Best Mobile-First Giving Experience
Pushpay’s giving experience is the fastest in the industry. Repeat donors can give in under 10 seconds. If your church prioritizes mobile giving speed and recurring donations, Pushpay is the gold standard — and priced accordingly.
Pros:
- Fastest repeat giving experience (under 10 seconds)
- Pushpay app provides persistent giving presence on donors’ phones
- Excellent recurring giving management
- Text-to-give with keyword triggers
- Strong ChMS integration library
- Good analytics and reporting
- Used by 14,000+ churches
- Reliable, well-tested platform
- Church app available
Cons:
- Highest processing fees on this list (2.99% + $0.39)
- Requires sales call for pricing (not transparent)
- Contract commitments may apply
- Overkill for churches under 200 in attendance
- Higher-tier features cost extra
- Funnels donors into Pushpay’s ecosystem
Pricing: Processing 2.99% + $0.39; platform fee varies (requires demo)
Best for: Mid-to-large churches (300+ attendance) where mobile giving speed and recurring donations are the priority.
3. Planning Center Giving — Best for Planning Center Users
If your church uses Planning Center for services, people, or check-ins, the Giving module keeps everything in one system. Donations sync with People profiles automatically. It’s the most integrated giving experience for the Planning Center ecosystem.
Pros:
- Seamless integration with Planning Center ecosystem
- Donations sync with People profiles automatically
- No long-term contracts
- Free for small churches on the basic tier
- Multi-fund giving
- Recurring giving
- Offline giving entry (cash and checks)
- Dashboard with giving trends
- Good for churches already in Planning Center
- Text-to-give with keyword triggers
Cons:
- Only makes sense if you’re already using Planning Center
- Less polished giving experience than Pushpay or Tithe.ly
- No dedicated church app (uses Church Center app)
- Giving module is newer than dedicated giving platforms
- Processing fees are standard (not the lowest)
- No kiosk mode
- No built-in pledge campaign management
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.
4. Vanco — Best for ACH and Direct Debit Giving
Vanco has been serving churches for 20+ years and excels at ACH/direct debit transactions. If you want to encourage bank-based giving (which has much lower processing fees), Vanco is the leader.
Pros:
- Lowest ACH processing fees (0.95% + $0.25)
- 20+ years serving churches and faith-based organizations
- Text-to-give, online giving, and direct debit in one platform
- Strong ChMS integration (Realm, ShelbyNext, Servant Keeper)
- Custom giving forms
- Good compliance and security track record
- Recurring giving via ACH saves on processing fees
- Direct debit (eGive) for automatic bank withdrawals
Cons:
- Credit card processing fees are average
- Interface feels dated compared to Pushpay or Tithe.ly
- Setup can take longer than newer platforms
- Pricing requires a call for full platform
- Less emphasis on mobile-first experience
- No church app
- Not the fastest giving experience for repeat donors
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.
How Processing Fees Really Work
Here’s what a $100 donation actually costs your church:
| Platform | Credit Card Fee | Net to Church | ACH Fee | Net to Church |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tithe.ly | $3.20 | $96.80 | $3.20 | $96.80 |
| Pushpay | $3.38 | $96.62 | $3.38 | $96.62 |
| Planning Center | $3.20 | $96.80 | $3.20 | $96.80 |
| Vanco | $3.00 | $97.00 | $1.20 | $98.80 |
| Stripe | $3.20 | $96.80 | $3.20 | $96.80 |
For every $100,000 in annual giving:
- Vanco ACH saves $2,000+ compared to credit card processing
- Pushpay costs $180 more than Tithe.ly or Planning Center
- The difference between platforms is meaningful but not dramatic for credit cards
Tip: Encourage ACH/bank-based giving. It saves 1-2% on every transaction, which adds up to thousands per year.
How to Choose
1. What ChMS do you use?
Planning Center → Planning Center Giving. Breeze/CCB/ChurchTrac → Tithe.ly. Realm/Shelby → Vanco. 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 giving experience → Pushpay. Lowest ACH fees → Vanco. All-in-one platform → Tithe.ly. Already in Planning Center → Planning Center Giving.
Our Top Pick
For most churches, Tithe.ly is the best balance of features, fees, and no monthly cost. If you’re already in Planning Center, Giving keeps everything together. For large churches focused on mobile giving speed, Pushpay is worth the premium. And for churches that want to promote ACH giving, Vanco saves the most on processing fees.
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.