Head-to-head · Church Web Hosting
Shepherd Sites vs Nucleus
Shepherd Sites leads on 2 checks, Nucleus on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreShepherd Sites · 9.2/10
- Lowest starting priceShepherd Sites · $19/mo
- Free planonly Shepherd Sites
- Free trialonly Nucleus
- Most featuresShepherd Sites · 4 of 4
Shepherd Sites scores higher on our rubric for church web hosting: 9.2 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #7.
Shepherd Sites offers free plan; Nucleus doesn't. Shepherd Sites is cheaper to start at $19/mo against $65/mo.
Shepherd Sites is the better fit for churches prioritizing sermons, events, and giving. Nucleus is the better fit for growing churches needing advanced communications.
- Shepherd Sites fits best
Churches prioritizing sermons, events, and giving
- Nucleus fits best
Growing churches needing advanced communications
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Side by side
| Feature | Shepherd Sites 9.2/10 Visit ↗ | Nucleus 8.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.2 | 8.6 |
| Ranking | #2 in Church Web Hosting | #7 in Church Web Hosting |
| Best for | Churches prioritizing sermons, events, and giving | Growing churches needing advanced communications |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Starting price | $19/mo (best) | $65/mo |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | 15 days |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Compliance | PCI DSS | PCI DSS |
| Integrations | 6 integrations | 6 integrations |
| Built for | Small business | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Shepherd Sites 4/4 · Nucleus 1/4 | ||
| Church templates | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Donation tools | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Event tools | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Custom domain | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Sermon media hosting | Both | Not checked yet |
| Storage limit | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Shepherd Sites is a web-based website platform for churches and ministries that need a focused home for sermons, events, giving, and ministry content. Its templates are designed for church websites, while the visual content editor is… Read the review → |
Nucleus is a church website and communications platform for church staff, volunteers, and ministry teams. Its website tools cover customizable pages, navigation, templates, custom domains, hosting, SSL, redirects, HTTPS, permissions, and… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Shepherd Sites — where it wins
- Searchable sermon publishing with notes and audio or video embeds
- Recurring events, registrations, and RSVPs support ministry scheduling
- Pro includes custom domains, giving integration, and advanced analytics
Where it doesn't
- Starter is limited to a single-page website and one template
- Custom domains are limited to Pro and Premium plans
- Premium is required for all giving integrations and campaign pages
Nucleus — where it wins
- Combines website, sermons, forms, calendars, giving, and communications tools
- Includes custom domains, hosting, SSL, redirects, and HTTPS
- Connects with Planning Center, Zapier, and major calendar formats
Where it doesn't
- Starts at $65 per month with no permanent free plan
- Nucleus Giving is available only to churches in the U.S.
- The platform is available on the web only
- Shepherd Sites9.2/10 · Free plan
A focused church website platform with a free start and strong ministry tools.
Visit Shepherd SitesFull verdict → - Nucleus8.6/10 · 15-day trial
A feature-rich church communications platform with a high monthly starting price.
Visit NucleusFull verdict →
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All church web hosting comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update