The church software landscape is crowded. Here's an honest look at the top platforms — what they do well, where they fall short, and how Pews offers a different path.
$300–500+/mo (pay per module)
Pros: Established platform with a large user base. Strong service planning and volunteer tools. Extensive integrations.
Cons: Per-module pricing adds up fast. Per-seat charges punish growing churches. SMS costs extra. Complex setup.
How Pews compares: Pews includes all modules for $100/mo flat — no per-seat charges, no per-module upsells. SMS is included, setup takes minutes, and you can self-host with Docker. Read the full comparison →
$72–300+/mo
Pros: Simple interface, easy to learn. Good for smaller churches that need basics.
Cons: Limited feature depth — no service planning, no song library, no check-in kiosks. Outgrown quickly by mid-size churches. Giving module is basic.
How Pews compares: Pews offers the same simplicity as Breeze but with significantly more depth. Service planning, a full song library with CCLI integration, check-ins, and communication tools are all included at $100/mo.
Enterprise pricing (custom quotes, typically $200–800+/mo)
Pros: Comprehensive feature set. Strong giving platform (Pushpay integration). Good for large churches.
Cons: Enterprise-level complexity and pricing. Long onboarding process. Contracts required. Interface feels dated.
How Pews compares: Pews delivers modern UX without the enterprise overhead. No contracts, no consultants, no months-long implementation. Transparent $100/mo pricing with no surprises.
Free tier available (paid plans $49–149+/mo)
Pros: Free tier for basic giving. Church app builder. Good mobile experience.
Cons: Giving-focused — ChMS features feel bolted on. Free tier is very limited. Advanced features require paid tiers that add up. Not a true all-in-one platform.
How Pews compares: While Tithe.ly started as a giving tool and expanded outward, Pews was built from the ground up as a complete church management platform. Every module is integrated, not added as an afterthought.
Most church management platforms started simple and bolted on features over the years, creating a patchwork of tools with inconsistent UX and escalating pricing. Pews is built differently:
Join the waitlist and be the first to know when Pews launches. Early access members get priority onboarding and a locked-in founding rate.