Planning Center vs ChurchTrac

Planning Center9.4Visit ChurchTrac9.1Visit

Higher score Planning Center #1 in Church Management Software 9.4/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 5 of 5 features Try Planning Center

vs

ChurchTrac #4 in Church Management Software 9.1/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit ChurchTrac

• Planning Center fits best

  Churches wanting broad value and mobile access

• ChurchTrac fits best

  Churches wanting strong finance and ministry workflows

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Side by side

Feature	Planning Center 9.4/10 Visit ↗	ChurchTrac 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	9.1
Ranking	#1 in Church Management Software	#4 in Church Management Software
Best for	Churches wanting broad value and mobile access	Churches wanting strong finance and ministry workflows
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	$15/unit/mo	$29/mo
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	30 days	30 days
Free trial length	30 days	30 days · no card needed
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile, Browser extension	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Phone, Live chat, Community, Docs	Email, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs
Compliance	SOC 2, GDPR, 2FA	PCI DSS, 2FA
Integrations	6 integrations	4 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Planning Center 5/5 · ChurchTrac 5/5
Group management	✓	✓
Event registration	✓	✓
Child check-in	✓	✓
SMS messaging	✓	✓
Volunteer scheduling	✓	✓
Specs
Member limit	75 members	75 members
Mobile app	Vendor	Vendor
Our review
Pros	Free plan includes people records, reporting, and Church Center access Covers groups, events, check-in, scheduling, messaging, giving, and facilities Supports web, iOS, Android, and congregation-facing Church Center experiences	Fund accounting, budgets, bank syncing, giving, and contribution statements Secure child check-in with labels, pickup tags, allergies, and attendance Member, group, event, worship, volunteer, messaging, and automation tools
Cons	À la carte pricing requires choosing and paying for individual products Paid product plans have different usage limits by module May be more than needed for churches seeking one narrow-purpose tool	There is no free plan Monthly pricing increases with the number of tracked names The listed integrations are limited to four platforms
Our verdict	Planning Center is an à la carte church management suite for churches and ministry organizations. Its connected products support membership records, group engagement, event registration, attendance, child and family check-in, giving,… Read the review →	ChurchTrac is church management software for churches of every size and denomination. It brings people management, groups, attendance, event registration, child check-in, worship planning, volunteer scheduling, messaging, giving,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Planning Center — where it wins

  • Free plan includes people records, reporting, and Church Center access
  • Covers groups, events, check-in, scheduling, messaging, giving, and facilities
  • Supports web, iOS, Android, and congregation-facing Church Center experiences

  Where it doesn't

  • À la carte pricing requires choosing and paying for individual products
  • Paid product plans have different usage limits by module
  • May be more than needed for churches seeking one narrow-purpose tool

• ChurchTrac — where it wins

  • Fund accounting, budgets, bank syncing, giving, and contribution statements
  • Secure child check-in with labels, pickup tags, allergies, and attendance
  • Member, group, event, worship, volunteer, messaging, and automation tools

  Where it doesn't

  • There is no free plan
  • Monthly pricing increases with the number of tracked names
  • The listed integrations are limited to four platforms

• Planning Center9.4/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A modular church suite covering people, groups, events, giving, services, and check-in.

  Try Planning CenterFull verdict →
• ChurchTrac9.1/10 · 30-day trial

  ChurchTrac combines ministry, finance, giving, and member workflows in one subscription.

  Visit ChurchTracFull verdict →