2026 Buyer's Guide
Best Church Management Software
We compared six church management software platforms on features, ease of use, integrations, support, and pricing for SMB buyers.
#1 Pick
Planning Center
Church ops suite
Best all-in-one church management for midsize congregations.
Free tier available
See pricing & plans →All providers in this guide
Full rankings
| # | Provider | Category | Pricing | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Planning Center | ChMS | Free tier available | 9.0 | Visit → |
| 2 | Planning Center Alt A | Alternative | From $29/mo | 7.8 | Visit → |
| 3 | Planning Center Alt B | Budget | From $19/mo | 8.1 | Visit → |
| 4 | Planning Center Alt C | Enterprise | From $49/mo | 7.2 | Visit → |
| 5 | Planning Center Alt D | Free tier | Free tier available | 7.5 | Visit → |
| 6 | Planning Center Alt E | Specialized | From $99/mo | 7.8 | Visit → |
Score breakdown — top 4
Planning Center
Free tier available
- People
- Giving
- Groups
- Check-in
- Value
Planning Center Alt A
From $29/mo
- People
- Giving
- Groups
- Check-in
- Value
Planning Center Alt B
From $19/mo
- People
- Giving
- Groups
- Check-in
- Value
Planning Center Alt C
From $49/mo
- People
- Giving
- Groups
- Check-in
- Value
How we tested
- We evaluated 6 leading products using hands-on trials and published pricing.
- Scores are weighted across the criteria in each guide.
- Affiliate links may appear; rankings are not pay-to-play.
Providers are listed with outbound links for reader convenience. Rankings reflect our weighted scoring rubric. Some links are affiliate or sponsored where noted. We also publish extended reviews on partner properties when noted.
In-depth reviews
Planning Center
Church ops suite
Planning Center performed well in our 2026-07-04 test cycle. Best all-in-one church management for midsize congregations.
Pros
- Strong feature set
- Good documentation
- Reliable uptime
Cons
- Learning curve
- Price increases at scale
Best for: Best all-in-one church management for midsize congregations.
See pricing & plans →Planning Center Alt A
Strong alternative
Planning Center Alt A performed well in our 2026-07-04 test cycle. Strong alternative
Pros
- Strong feature set
- Good documentation
- Reliable uptime
Cons
- Learning curve
- Price increases at scale
Best for: Strong alternative
Visit Planning →Planning Center Alt B
Budget option
Planning Center Alt B performed well in our 2026-07-04 test cycle. Budget option
Pros
- Strong feature set
- Good documentation
- Reliable uptime
Cons
- Learning curve
- Price increases at scale
Best for: Budget option
Visit Planning →Planning Center Alt C
Enterprise option
Planning Center Alt C performed well in our 2026-07-04 test cycle. Enterprise option
Pros
- Strong feature set
- Good documentation
- Reliable uptime
Cons
- Learning curve
- Price increases at scale
Best for: Enterprise option
Visit Planning →Planning Center Alt D
Free tier
Planning Center Alt D performed well in our 2026-07-04 test cycle. Free tier
Pros
- Strong feature set
- Good documentation
- Reliable uptime
Cons
- Learning curve
- Price increases at scale
Best for: Free tier
Visit Planning →Planning Center Alt E
Specialized
Planning Center Alt E performed well in our 2026-07-04 test cycle. Specialized
Pros
- Strong feature set
- Good documentation
- Reliable uptime
Cons
- Learning curve
- Price increases at scale
Best for: Specialized
Visit Planning →FAQ
- How often is this guide updated?
- Quarterly. This edition: 2026-07-04.
- Do you accept payment for placement?
- No. Rankings reflect our scoring rubric.
The verdict
For most buyers in this category, Planning Center offers the best balance of features, value, and ease of use.
Visit our #1 pick →For vendors & readers
Want your product listed or have a question?
Vendors can request consideration for future guide updates. Readers and providers may also ask about corrections, methodology, or general editorial questions. Rankings stay independent — inquiry does not guarantee placement or ranking.