Managing a church without proper tools is like doing a potluck without knowing who’s bringing...
Your Ultimate Guide to Church Giving Platforms: Which One’s Right for You?
Hey there, church leaders! If you’re on the hunt for the perfect giving platform to help your congregation give easily and support your mission, you’re in the right place. With so many options out there, it can feel a bit overwhelming to choose the best one. Don’t worry—we’ve done the heavy lifting for you! Let’s compare some of the top church giving platforms, looking at pricing, features, ease of use, security, and support, so you can find the one that fits your church like a glove. Spoiler alert: we’ve got a favorite we think you’ll love too!
1. B1.Church (ChurchApps)
Pricing: Free—no monthly fees, no platform fees! You just negotiate your own rates with Stripe (typically around 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, but you can often get it down to 1.9% + $0.20 by showing you’re a 501(c)(3) and mentioning debit card usage).
Features: B1.Church is a free mobile app for iOS and Android, offering online giving with one-time and recurring donations, plus the ability to give to different funds like youth programs or building projects. It also includes physical donation tracking (like cash and checks), live streaming with chat, a member directory, attendance reporting, and even a Bible for quick reference. It integrates seamlessly with Chums, your free ChMS if you’re using B1, donors get an online portal to manage their giving and view receipts.
Ease of Use: Super simple! You configure the features you want, and your congregation just downloads the app and searches for your church. Setting up online giving is a breeze, and the admin dashboard makes tracking donations (digital and physical) a snap.
Security: B1.Church uses Stripe, which is top-notch with the highest level of PCI DSS compliance (Level 1) and robust encryption to keep data safe.
Support: ChurchApps offers great support with tutorials, and their team of ministers and volunteers is ready to help via call or email. They even provide resources for setting up your Stripe account.
Why We Love It: It’s free, flexible, and packed with features that go beyond giving—like live streaming and member directories. Plus, it’s built by folks who genuinely care about helping churches grow, not profiting off them.
2. Subsplash Giving
Pricing: No monthly or setup fees, but processing fees start at 2.3% (drops with higher giving volume) and ACH at 0.5-1%.
Features: Subsplash Giving offers mobile, web, and text-to-give options, with guest giving (no account needed), recurring donations, and custom funds for specific projects. It integrates with popular ChMS platforms like Rock RMS and Breeze, and supports in-livestream giving for hybrid services.
Ease of Use: Known for a beautiful user experience, Subsplash makes giving quick and enjoyable, with a focus on mobile giving (great for younger donors). Customization with your church’s branding is a big plus.
Security: Subsplash uses industry-standard security measures, though specific details like PCI compliance level aren’t always highlighted in their marketing.
Support: Subsplash has a strong reputation for support, serving over 16,000 churches with a focus on engagement and tech solutions.
What to Know: It’s a solid choice for churches wanting a polished mobile experience, but the processing fees might add up compared to negotiating your own rates with B1.Church.
3. Pushpay
Pricing: Custom pricing, often starting at $149/month and going into the thousands for larger churches, plus processing fees around 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
Features: Pushpay offers mobile app, web, text-to-give, and in-person giving options, with pre-populated forms, recurring donation suggestions, and multi-site support. It integrates with ChurchStaq for a full church management solution, including streaming and donor management.
Ease of Use: Pushpay is flexible and easy for donors, with a branded giving experience. However, the setup and pricing complexity might be a hurdle for smaller churches.
Security: Pushpay is PCI compliant and uses SSL encryption, ensuring donor data is secure.
Support: Pushpay provides robust support, with options for donor management and campaign creation assistance.
What to Know: Great for larger churches with complex needs, but the high cost and contract terms (1-3 years) might not suit smaller congregations.
4. Tithe.ly
Pricing: Free for the Giving standalone (no monthly fees), with processing fees at 2.9% + $0.30 for credit/debit and 1% + $0.30 for ACH. The All-Access plan (including ChMS features) is $119/month.
Features: Tithe.ly offers mobile, text, online, kiosk, and offline giving, with recurring donation management, customizable funds, and email receipts. It supports multi-campus setups and integrates with some ChMS platforms.
Ease of Use: Donors can give in just a few taps, and the admin side is straightforward, though some users report occasional bugs with integrations.
Security: Tithe.ly is secure, with PCI compliance and encryption, though specific levels aren’t always detailed.
Support: Tithe.ly provides support, but some users note it can be slower compared to smaller, more hands-on teams.
What to Know: A good free option for giving, but if you need more features, the All-Access plan adds a monthly cost. Integration issues might be a concern for some.
5. RebelGive
Pricing: $29-$199/month (tiered plans), with no transaction fees—they cover processing at 1.9% for credit/debit and $0.25 for ACH.
Features: RebelGive offers GivingFlows for a step-by-step donor experience, mobile and web giving, and real-time tracking. Customization is limited to a logo and color choice.
Ease of Use: Simple for donors, but the lack of deep customization might feel restrictive for churches wanting a branded experience.
Security: RebelGive uses secure payment processing, though specific compliance details aren’t widely advertised.
Support: Support is available, but it’s not as personalized as some other platforms.
What to Know: The flat fee structure is predictable, but the limited customization and monthly cost might not appeal to everyone.
6. Breeze ChMS (Online Giving)
Pricing: $25-$72/month (includes ChMS features), with processing fees at 2.9% + $0.30.
Features: Breeze offers online and text giving, integrated with their ChMS for seamless donation tracking, automatic matching, and financial reporting. It’s part of a bundle with Tithe.ly tools for $119/month.
Ease of Use: Very user-friendly, with a clean interface for both donors and admins. Over 11,000 churches praise its simplicity.
Security: Breeze uses Stripe for secure processing, ensuring PCI compliance and encryption.
Support: Excellent support, with fast responses and a focus on simplifying church administration.
What to Know: A great all-in-one solution, but the monthly fee might be a consideration for churches only needing giving features.
7. Donorbox
Pricing: No monthly fees for the standard plan, with a 2.95% platform fee plus processing fees. Additional features (like event ticketing) are 3.95%. Donors can cover fees.
Features: Customizable donation forms, recurring donations, and in-depth reporting. It integrates with WordPress sites and supports multiple payment methods (credit card, PayPal, ACH, Apple/Google Pay).
Ease of Use: Quick setup (four steps!) and easy for donors to use, with options to allocate gifts to specific funds.
Security: Donorbox is PCI compliant with encryption, ensuring donor data safety.
Support: Support is available, but it’s more self-service with tutorials rather than hands-on help.
What to Know: A versatile option for churches with WordPress sites, but the platform fee adds to the cost unless donors cover it.
8. Givelify
Pricing: No monthly fees, with processing fees (not specified, but typically around 2.9% + $0.30 based on industry standards).
Features: Mobile-focused giving with a three-tap donation process, real-time tracking, and financial reporting. It offers ChMS integration but lacks Apple Pay or text-to-give.
Ease of Use: Super simple for mobile users—75% of donors complete their gift once started, compared to 25% on other platforms.
Security: Givelify uses secure payment processing, though specific compliance details aren’t always highlighted.
Support: Support is available, with a focus on mobile giving solutions.
What to Know: Perfect for mobile-first churches, but the lack of text-to-give and limited integrations might be a drawback.
9. Planning Center Giving
Pricing: Starts at $14/month for smaller churches (up to 20 team members, 2GB storage), scaling to $199/month for larger ones (400 team members, 30GB storage). Processing fees via Stripe are around 2.15% + $0.30 per transaction, with additional fees for failed ACH ($.30) and chargebacks ($15).
Features: Planning Center Giving offers online donations through the Church Center app or web, with one-time and recurring gifts, custom funds, and donor management. It integrates with other Planning Center tools like Services and Check-Ins, and includes real-time tracking, giving statements, and CSV exports for financial software.
Ease of Use: Super user-friendly! Donors can give in a few taps via the Church Center app (iOS and Android), and admins get a clean interface to manage donations and reports. Some users note occasional mobile app bugs, like syncing issues, but overall, it’s a breeze to use.
Security: Planning Center uses Stripe, which is PCI DSS Level 1 compliant with robust encryption, keeping donor data safe. Permission levels also help secure your church’s info.
Support: Planning Center shines with support—responses in about an hour (Monday-Friday, plus Sunday mornings), plus awesome resources like video tutorials and Getting Started guides.
What to Know: A great all-in-one solution if you’re already using Planning Center tools.
Why B1.Church Stands Out
After comparing these platforms, B1.Church (from ChurchApps) really shines for a few key reasons. It’s completely free—no monthly or platform fees, just the processing fees you negotiate with Stripe. That means more of your donations go straight to your mission. It’s packed with features beyond giving, like live streaming and member directories, all in a free mobile app that’s easy for your congregation to use. Security is top-notch with Stripe’s PCI Level 1 compliance, and the ChurchApps team offers hands-on support to help you every step of the way. Whether you’re a small startup church or a growing congregation, B1.Church gives you the tools to connect, engage, and grow—without breaking the bank.