Planning Center for Churches
4.8/ 5
Our Take
Planning Center is the gold standard in church management software. Its modular approach means you only pay for what you need — People, Giving, Services, Groups, Check-Ins, Registrations, and Calendar are each separate modules. The volunteer scheduling (Services module) is used by tens of thousands of churches and is genuinely best-in-class.
Pros for Churches
- +Modular pricing — only pay for the features your church actually uses
- +Volunteer scheduling (Services) is the best in the industry, period
- +Free tier on the People module for small churches
- +30-day free trial with full access to all modules
- +Modern, clean interface that volunteers and staff actually enjoy using
Cons for Churches
- −Costs add up when you subscribe to multiple modules
- −No built-in accounting — you'll need separate bookkeeping software
- −Each module is a separate app, which can feel fragmented
- −Giving module transaction fees on top of subscription cost
- −Steeper learning curve than simpler tools like Breeze
Best For
Mid-to-large churches that want best-in-class volunteer scheduling and the flexibility to pick only the modules they need.
Skip If
You're a small church that wants everything in one simple package — Breeze ChMS is simpler and more affordable.
Pricing
People module: free (small churches). Paid modules: $14-99/mo each depending on church size. 30-day free trial for all modules.