PayFWDs vs ChurchSoftware Payroll

PayFWDs9.2Visit ChurchSoftware Payroll7.7Visit

Higher score PayFWDs #1 in Nonprofit Payroll Software 9.2/10 Pricing on request ✓ 5 of 5 features Visit PayFWDs

vs

ChurchSoftware Payroll #6 in Nonprofit Payroll Software 7.7/10 Paid ✓ 2 of 5 features Visit ChurchSoftware

• PayFWDs fits best

  Nonprofits allocating payroll to grants and programs

• ChurchSoftware Payroll fits best

  Churches needing straightforward payroll

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Side by side

Feature	PayFWDs 9.2/10 Visit ↗	ChurchSoftware Payroll 7.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	7.7
Ranking	#1 in Nonprofit Payroll Software	#6 in Nonprofit Payroll Software
Best for	Nonprofits allocating payroll to grants and programs	Churches needing straightforward payroll
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	Pricing on request	$25/mo
Free plan	Not checked yet	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Email, Phone, Tickets	Email
Built for	Small business, Mid-market	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features PayFWDs 5/5 · ChurchSoftware Payroll 2/5
Tax filing included	✓	✓
Nonprofit tax support	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Multi-state payroll	✓	✓
Contractor payments	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Time tracking	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Employee limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Allocates labor costs across grants, funds, programs, and projects Supports federal, state, and local tax filing across multiple states Combines payroll, time tracking, HR, reporting, and contractor payments	Payroll processing in all 50 states Direct deposit with automated payroll withholdings Tax filings, reporting, and local and federal tax compliance handling
Cons	Pricing is customized and requires contact with sales The platform is web-based rather than offered across multiple platform types Organizations seeking payroll-only software may find its wider scope unnecessary	Web access only Narrow focus within the ChurchSoftware ecosystem No free payroll plan
Our verdict	PayFWDs is a cloud-based payroll and HR platform for small to midsize nonprofits and other growing organizations. Its nonprofit focus centers on assigning labor costs to grants, funds, programs, and projects, while covering payroll… Read the review →	ChurchSoftware Payroll is a paid payroll add-on for churches, ministries, and other 501(c)(3) organizations. It handles payroll processing in all 50 U.S. states and includes direct deposit, automated withholdings, tax filings, reporting,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• PayFWDs — where it wins

  • Allocates labor costs across grants, funds, programs, and projects
  • Supports federal, state, and local tax filing across multiple states
  • Combines payroll, time tracking, HR, reporting, and contractor payments

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing is customized and requires contact with sales
  • The platform is web-based rather than offered across multiple platform types
  • Organizations seeking payroll-only software may find its wider scope unnecessary

• ChurchSoftware Payroll — where it wins

  • Payroll processing in all 50 states
  • Direct deposit with automated payroll withholdings
  • Tax filings, reporting, and local and federal tax compliance handling

  Where it doesn't

  • Web access only
  • Narrow focus within the ChurchSoftware ecosystem
  • No free payroll plan

• PayFWDs9.2/10 · Pricing on request

  A nonprofit-focused payroll platform built for grant allocation and multi-state compliance.

  Visit PayFWDsFull verdict →
• ChurchSoftware Payroll7.7/10 · Paid

  A focused church payroll add-on with nationwide processing and core tax features.

  Visit ChurchSoftwareFull verdict →