The Best Giving Platforms for Churches in 2024 (Unbiased Review)
As a former pastor and a current tither, I believe it’s important to be a good steward of your resources and rightly handle finances in the Christian church. It’s essential for church leaders to choose the right giving platform to manage tithes and donations effectively.
Unfortunately, when you research the options, many of the comparison articles out there are biased, as they are written by one of the players in the market. This article aims to provide an unbiased review of the most popular church giving platforms, with a focus on their pricing structures and fees, to help church leaders make informed decisions.
1. The Boring & Basic Option: Tithe.ly
Tithe.ly provides secure digital giving solutions via a mobile app or website, making it easy for donors to give. They also offer tools like event registration and custom mobile apps, adding value to their service.
Pricing: No monthly fee, 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for credit cards, 1% + $0.30 for ACH/Bank.
2. Dave Ramsey’s Nightmare: Givelify
Givelify is an online and mobile giving platform known for its user-friendly “three-tap” donation process and customizable features. This platform supports nonprofits and churches with robust reporting and integration tools. Unfortunately, they don’t allow ACH bank transactions so 100% of your giving will be done through credit cards (sorry, Dave).
Pricing: No monthly fee, 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for credit cards. ACH not available.
3. All-In-One Solution: Subsplash
Subsplash combines donation, fundraising, and engagement tools in a single platform, with additional features like media and live-streaming. This all-in-one solution is designed to streamline church management and engagement, as well as provide app functionality for churches.
Pricing: No monthly fee, 2.99% + $0.30 per transaction for credit/debit cards, 1% flat rate for ACH.
4. The Swiss Army Knife: Planning Center
Planning Center started as a way to schedule services and volunteers but has since evolved into an all-in-one church management system, including donation processing. It’s designed by church ministry employees to support comprehensive church management.
Pricing: Monthly fee starting at $99 (1,000 donations per month), 2.15% + $0.30 per transaction for credit/debit cards, 0% + $0.30 per ACH donation.
5. Plain & Simple: easyTithe
easyTithe is part of MinistryBrands, a Christian software company owned by private equity. They support online giving, church management, and a church mobile app, providing centralized data and real-time monitoring. It offers both an online giving platform and a comprehensive church management solution.
Pricing: $49 per month, 2.6% + $0.42 per transaction for credit/debit cards, 1% + $0.42 for ACH.
6. Security First: Vanco Payment Solutions
Vanco is an established player and specializes in credit card processing for faith-based organizations, with tailored products for schools and nonprofits. This platform focuses on providing secure and efficient payment solutions.
Pricing: $49 per month, 2.65% + $0.39 per transaction for credit cards, 0.90% + $0.39 for ACH.
7. The Newcomer: Nucleus Giving
Nucleus Giving offers low processing rates and encourages bank account donations to minimize fees. This platform stands out with its innovative approach to reducing transaction costs for churches.
Pricing: 1.9% for credit cards (opt-out option), $0.25 per transaction for bank accounts, effective rate of 0.63%.
8. The Rolls Royce of Giving: Pushpay
Pushpay is known for its robust suite of tools aimed at increasing generosity. They provide a comprehensive church giving solution but require a consultation for pricing (that’s how you know it’s going to be expensive). This platform is popular among some of the largest churches and ministries. (Note: They are owned by private equity)
Pricing: $150 per month, 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for credit cards, 1% + $0.30 for ACH.
Summary of Pricing Comparison
To provide a clear picture, let’s assume a church receives $50,000 in donations each month, split evenly between credit card and ACH transactions. Here’s how the monthly costs for each platform would break down:
The actual costs may vary depending on the specific mix of credit card and ACH transactions your church experiences. Additionally, each platform offers different services and features that may better fit your church’s unique needs, so consider those factors when making your decision.
When choosing a giving platform, consider the transaction fees and monthly costs to find the most cost-effective solution for your church. Being a good steward of resources means selecting a platform that maximizes the impact of every donation.
