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Best Church Online Giving Software (2025)

Digital giving is now the primary giving channel for most congregations. We ranked the top church giving platforms on mobile experience, transaction fees, features, and total cost.

Updated February 2025 · 3 platforms ranked

35%
Average giving increase after going digital
63%
Church donors prefer giving via mobile app
2.9%
Typical card processing fee

Transaction Fee Comparison

PlatformCard FeeACH/Bank FeeMonthly Fee
Tithe.ly2.9% + $0.301% + $0.30Free
Pushpay~2% (negotiated)Negotiated$300+/mo custom
Planning Center2.3% + $0.30Not statedFree
Breeze2.9% + $0.30Available$72/mo (all features)
#1
Tithe.lyBest Online Giving Platform
4.7
Monthly fee:Free (giving only)
Transaction fee:2.9% + $0.30 (card); 1% + $0.30 (ACH)
  • Best mobile giving experience — highest conversion rates
  • Text-to-give with automated follow-up
  • Kiosk giving (iPad integration)
  • Custom church app option ($99/month)
  • Donor-covered fee prompting
  • Recurring gifts with flexible scheduling
#2
PushpayBest for Large Churches
4.4
Monthly fee:Custom ($300–$1,000+)
Transaction fee:~2–2.5% (negotiated)
  • Enterprise-grade giving infrastructure
  • Fully branded custom mobile app (included)
  • Advanced generosity analytics and donor insights
  • Multi-campus giving management
  • Dedicated account manager
  • Giving campaign tools and pledge tracking
#3
Planning Center GivingBest Free Giving Option
4.3
Monthly fee:Free (transaction fees only)
Transaction fee:2.3% + $0.30 (card)
  • Free to use — no monthly platform fee
  • Lowest published card transaction rate (2.3%)
  • Integrates seamlessly with Planning Center People
  • Recurring gifts, fund management, giving statements
  • Pledge campaigns and goal tracking

Key Features to Look for in Church Giving Software

  • Mobile giving — Your donors give from their phones. The mobile experience must be fast and frictionless
  • Recurring donations — Recurring giving stabilizes church finances and grows total giving by 20–40%
  • Text-to-give — Particularly effective during service for first-time digital givers
  • Donor-covered fees — Most platforms let donors optionally cover transaction fees. Studies show 60–80% of donors choose to cover fees when prompted
  • Giving statements — Year-end tax statements should be automatic and customizable
  • Fund management — Designate gifts to specific funds (general, missions, building fund)

How to Calculate the Real Cost of Giving Software

Don't just compare monthly fees — calculate total cost including transaction fees based on your giving volume:

Formula: (Monthly giving volume × transaction rate) + monthly platform fee = true monthly cost

Example: $20,000/month in card giving at 2.9% + $0.30/transaction (assume 200 transactions) = $580 in fees + $0 platform fee = $580/month total for Tithe.ly.

Our Recommendation

For most churches: Start with Tithe.ly's free giving tier. There's no monthly fee, setup is fast, and the mobile giving experience is best-in-class. After 3 months, evaluate whether you want to add the ChMS ($14/month) or custom app ($99/month) features.

For large churches processing $500K+ annually: Request a Pushpay demo. Negotiated transaction rates at volume can offset the platform fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best online giving platform for churches?
Tithe.ly is our top pick for most churches. It offers the best mobile giving experience, free giving tools with no monthly fee, text-to-give, and optional custom church apps. For large churches (500+ members), Pushpay is worth evaluating for its enterprise features and negotiated transaction rates.
What transaction fees do church giving platforms charge?
Typical card transaction fees range from 2.3% to 2.9% + $0.30. Planning Center Giving (2.3%) and Pushpay (negotiated, typically 2-2.5%) are often slightly lower than Tithe.ly (2.9%). ACH/bank transfer fees are typically 1% with a cap. Most platforms allow donors to optionally cover fees.
Does online giving actually increase church donations?
Yes — churches that implement digital giving typically see 10–30% increases in total giving. Online and mobile giving removes friction, enables recurring gifts, and captures giving from people who don't carry cash or checks.
What is text-to-give for churches?
Text-to-give lets members donate by texting a dollar amount to a church's dedicated phone number. The system prompts them to complete the gift online. It's particularly effective during services for first-time digital givers. Tithe.ly, Pushpay, and Planning Center Giving all offer text-to-give.