Planning Center vs. Subsplash:
How we compare on features, pricing, and fit
Planning Center offers specialized tools for every ministry, with transparent pricing and no strings attached.
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Admin tools for every ministry, combined into a single system and connected to a free mobile app you can set up and personalize on your own.
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A media solution for content management and a custom-branded app that you pay to build and maintain, with some admin tools for reporting, scheduling, and worship planning.
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MOBILE CHURCH APP
A fully connected church app, not a custom media platform
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Church Center connects with the entire Planning Center system to help people participate in their church through event signups, giving, volunteering, small groups, and more. Any admin at any church can build and publish their mobile app within minutes.
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Subsplash offers more customization but requires a developer account with Apple or Google, approval processes, and can take weeks to launch. Pricing and timelines are not publicly stated.
CHURCH SOFTWARE PRICING
Upfront pricing, not ‘Talk to sales’
Everything you need to know about our pricing is available on our pricing page. Here’s the really important stuff:
30-day free trials
A free tier for any product
Choose only the products your church needs
Cancel, pause, downgrade, or upgrade anytime with no fees or hassle
Subsplash doesn’t list their pricing publicly, so you have to talk to their sales team.
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A SUBSPLASH ALTERNATIVE
See how we stack up against Subsplash
Here’s a breakdown of our differences at a glance.
Features | Planning Center | Subsplash logo |
|---|---|---|
AI sermon writing | ||
AI list builder | ||
Member database | (Ours is free!) | |
Video and live stream hosting You can link directly to a livestream within Church Center. | ||
Media library (audio, podcasts, embedded video) | ||
File and content storage | ||
Church app for members | ||
Branded app and site domain | ||
Custom themes, colors, and pages | ||
In-app Bible | ||
Volunteer scheduling | ||
Custom check-in labels | ||
Confidential groups | ||
Facilities management | ||
New customer onboarding Subsplash offers onboarding as a premium service for a fee. | ||
Mass communication (email, text, push notification, chat) | ||
Event signups (free or paid) | 2.15% | 3.5% |
Intl. giving support for AUS/NZ | ||
Service planning Services has been the standard for church planning tools since its creation in 2006. | ||
Musician rehearsal tools | ||
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | ||
NFC tap-to-give options | ||
Digital giving and donation management | 2.15% | 2.3–2.99%
(plus volume
discounts) |
ACH (bank transfer) for event payments |
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*This is based on information on Subsplash’s website.
OWNERSHIP
Privately held, not publicly traded
Planning Center is privately owned by
Jeff Berg, our Founder, CEO, and CTO.
There are no investors, and we’ll never be for sale. That means our product development is always customer-focused, and we can invest in our team to make it all possible.Subsplash was acquired for $800 million in June 2025 by Roper Technologies, a publicly traded company on NASDAQ.
I firmly believe that the reason we can prioritize our love for the church is because we do not have the pressures of venture capitalists or corporate sales. I am committed to keeping Planning Center independent so we can continue in our mission.
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CHURCH GIVING FEES
Lower, flat processing fees, not tied to giving volume
We process online donations at 2.15% + $0.30 per transaction for credit card donations, and 0% + $0.30 per transaction for ACH bank transfer donations.
Subsplash’s rate starts at 2.99% + $0.30 per transaction for credit card donations, and 1% + $0 per transaction for ACH bank transfer donations. Rates can go down to 2.3%, but only after you agree to their Exclusive Partnership agreement. Subsplash will also offer lower rates for churches that receive more donations, but the formula by which those discounts are calculated is not shared publicly.
Bottom line: We help you save more money that can go right back into your ministry. Calculate your church’s savings here.
Planning Center Giving has saved us over $26,000 a year in processing fees since we left our contracts!
NO CONTRACTS
Free to choose, not forced to stay
Planning Center is a subscription-based service without any contracts. This means you’re not tied down to us, even if your needs change. You can cancel your subscription at any time without fees, hassle, or headaches.
Subsplash may offer a subscription discount if you pay for a year upfront, but they keep churches in 1–2 year contracts and charge a cancellation fee if you leave. You can read more about that in their Terms of Service.
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CHURCH MEMBERSHIP SOFTWARE
A dedicated people database, not a bundled feature
Our free member database, People, helps you centralize information about your people and ministry in one place. You can track donations, manage event attendance, send mass communications, and much more.
We pulled out all of the stops for this one—including the $0 price tag—so you can keep up with your people and find ways to continue caring for them.
Subsplash offers a database, but it’s bundled into their “Subsplash One” platform. Our people database is a standalone offering and purpose-built.
FREE SUPPORT
1-hour response time, not 48 hours
Our customer support is completely free and available to anyone—whether you’re a seasoned admin, a volunteer at your church, or just exploring Planning Center.
Subsplash offers support, but only after you become a customer. Their standard support gets you a response within 48 hours, or you can pay $89/mo. to upgrade and hear back within 2 hours.
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Frequently asked questions about Planning Center
You can also reach out to our support team or check out our demos for more info about the product.
Will Planning Center help me migrate over from Subsplash?
We can help you get started with your account and switch over; however, we can’t import your donation history. You’ll need to use a third-party application.
What does onboarding with Planning Center look like?
Our support team is always available to help you as you get familiar with our products. We also recommend watching Planning Center University, detailed walkthroughs that teach you all about our products. If you’re trying to do something specific, our Getting Started articles are a great place to find answers.
Does Planning Center have all-in-one pricing?
No, our pricing is customizable to meet your church's specific needs. We don’t want you to pay for anything you won't use! Select only the products you need, adjust your plan level whenever, and cancel anytime.
Is there a free version of Planning Center?
Yes! We offer a free tier for every product with no time limits; however, some features and usage may require an upgrade. Our people database, People, is completely free, no upgrades ever required.
How much does Subsplash cost per month?
Subsplash doesn’t publish their pricing publicly. You have to contact their sales team for a quote.
Does Planning Center have a custom app and website builder?
Church Center is a free, customizable app and web experience that is fully integrated with the rest of Planning Center. It’s easy to personalize your church’s mobile app and web presence so people can engage with your content and get involved in your ministries.
Want to learn more? Watch a system demo!
Here’s a 45-minute overview of our entire system. We also have individual product demos if you want to dive in even deeper.
Talk to support
Anyone can ask questions, even if you’re not a customer (yet 
). Our current response time is 1 business hour.
See the latest update
We are constantly improving our products. Check out the most recent update to see what’s new!