Tithe.ly Review 2025

What Is Tithe.ly?

Tithe.ly is a church technology platform founded in 2012 by Neil Ahlsten. Initially built purely as an online giving tool, it has expanded into a full church management suite covering member databases, communication tools, event management, volunteer coordination, and even a custom-branded church mobile app.

Today, Tithe.ly powers giving for more than 12,000 churches and processes over $2 billion in donations annually. It's particularly dominant among churches aged 100–1,000 members who want best-in-class giving without enterprise complexity.

Tithe.ly Pricing (2025)

Transaction fees apply to all giving: 2.9% + $0.30 for card payments, 1% + $0.30 for ACH transfers. Donors can optionally cover fees, which most do when prompted.

Key Features

Online Giving (⭐ Best in Class)

Tithe.ly's giving tools are the most comprehensive on the market. Churches get mobile giving, text-to-give, scheduled giving, kiosk giving (via iPad), QR code giving, and a seamless weekly giving flow. The UI is polished and conversion-optimized — donors can give in under 30 seconds.

Custom Church App

For $99/month, Tithe.ly builds your church a fully branded iOS and Android app. This includes sermon audio/video, event calendars, group messaging, push notifications, and integrated giving. No competitor at this price point offers this feature.

Member Management (ChMS)

Tithe.ly's ChMS module includes a member directory with custom fields, household management, check-in for children's ministry, group management, and attendance tracking. It's solid but not as deep as dedicated ChMS platforms like Breeze or Planning Center.

Communication Tools

Send emails and SMS messages to groups or the entire congregation. Open rates and click tracking are included. The drag-and-drop email builder is easy for non-technical staff.

Pros and Cons

✅ What We Love

• Best-in-class mobile giving experience with highest conversion rates
• Custom church app at an accessible price point ($99/mo)
• Generous giving-only free tier — no monthly fee
• Donor-covered fee option increases net giving significantly
• Excellent onboarding with live support
• Intuitive enough for non-technical admins

❌ Watch Out For

• ChMS features are less deep than dedicated platforms like Planning Center
• Volunteer scheduling is basic compared to competitors
• Reporting could be more robust for complex financial analysis
• Transaction fees add up — do the math for your giving volume

Who Is Tithe.ly Best For?

Tithe.ly is the ideal choice for churches that:

• Want to significantly grow online and mobile giving
• Are 100–1,500 members and need simple-but-complete ChMS features
• Want a custom church app without hiring a developer ($99/mo is exceptional value)
• Have donors who prefer mobile giving over checks
• Are transitioning from paper plates or basic giving tools

Our Verdict

Tithe.ly earns its spot as our top pick for online giving. The giving platform alone justifies the cost for most congregations — churches typically see a 20–30% increase in digital giving after switching. The ChMS features, while not class-leading, are more than sufficient for churches under 1,000 members.

If your church's primary pain point is growing generosity and digitizing donations, Tithe.ly should be your first call. For churches where volunteer scheduling and service planning are the priority, pair Tithe.ly giving with Planning Center Services.

Frequently Asked Questions