The honest answer on price
Quick answer
In 2026, church management software costs roughly 0 to 100 dollars a month for most churches, with enterprise platforms running 500 to 1,000-plus a month. Free tiers exist (Relius, ChurchTrac, ChurchCRM). The cost most pricing pages bury is payment processing — about 2.9% plus 30 cents per donation — which for a church taking 200,000 dollars a year online can be about 6,000 dollars a year.
Every vendor structures pricing differently — per person, per module, flat, or contact sales — which makes comparison painful. Here is a straight answer.
The three pricing models
- Flat monthly (for example Breeze, around 72 dollars a month) — one price regardless of size. Predictable; you pay the same at 50 or 500 people.
- Per-person or tiered by size (for example ChurchTrac, from about 9 to 24 dollars a month) — scales with how many people you track. Great for small churches.
- Per-module (for example Planning Center) — free base, then pay for each product like Giving, Check-Ins, or Services. Flexible, but the total climbs fast.
What the major platforms cost (2026)
- Relius — free to start; Ministry Pro 60 dollars a month; Ministry AI 150 dollars a month. Full church management and giving are free; paid tiers add pastoral care and AI.
- ChurchTrac — about 9 to 24 dollars a month, per-person, includes accounting.
- Breeze (Tithely) — about 72 dollars a month, flat, no free plan.
- Tithe.ly — 0 to 79 dollars a month, giving-first with add-on modules.
- Planning Center — free base, often 50 to 100 dollars a month once you add modules.
- Pushpay and Subsplash — 500 to 1,000-plus a month, enterprise.
- ChurchCRM — free and open source (you host and maintain it).
Prices change often — confirm on each vendor site before deciding. Figures reflect public pricing as of 2026.
The cost everyone forgets: processing fees
Online and text giving carry payment-processing fees of about 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction, sometimes plus a small platform fee. That is usually the biggest line item:
- 50,000 dollars a year online is about 1,500-plus in fees
- 200,000 dollars a year online is about 6,000-plus in fees
Two things to check: the platform fee on top of the processor, and whether donors can cover the fees. Many platforms, including Relius, let givers add the fee so 100% reaches the church.
So what should a church budget?
- Under 200 people or tight budget: a free tier or ChurchTrac — 0 to 25 dollars a month plus processing.
- 200 to 1,000, want all-in-one plus AI: Relius free or Ministry Pro and AI, or Breeze — 0 to 150 dollars a month plus processing.
- 1,000-plus or enterprise giving: a Pushpay or Subsplash tier — 500-plus a month plus processing.
Add it up the honest way: subscription plus per-module fees plus processing fees, then weigh that against the hours your staff and volunteers will save.
Frequently asked questions
How much does church management software cost per month?
Most churches pay 0 to 100 dollars a month. Free tiers exist; mid-tier flat plans run about 72 dollars a month; per-person plans start around 9 to 24 dollars a month; enterprise platforms run 500 to 1,000-plus a month.
Is there free church management software?
Yes. Relius and ChurchTrac offer free tiers, and ChurchCRM is free and open source and self-hosted. Free plans usually trade away support, AI features, or some modules.
What are church giving processing fees?
Roughly 2.9% plus 30 cents per online or text donation, sometimes plus a small platform fee. Many platforms let donors choose to cover the fee.
Why is church software pricing so hard to compare?
Vendors use different models — flat, per-person, or per-module — and often quote a base price while charging extra for giving, check-in, or texting. Always total subscription plus modules plus processing.
See transparent Relius pricing
Free to start, with clear paid tiers and no per-module surprises.
View pricing