ChurchTrac vs Planning Center: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for ChurchTrac and Planning Center side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
ChurchTrac
Comprehensive church management software for streamlined operations and community engagement.
Best for you if:
- • You want comprehensive feature set for church administration
Planning Center
Integrated church management software designed to streamline operations and enhance congregant engagement.
Best for you if:
- • You want modular pricing allows churches to pay only for what they need
| At a Glance | ChurchTrac | Planning Center |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan | Free plan |
Category | Nonprofit Tools CRM | Nonprofit Tools CRM |
Rating | 4.8/5 G2 4.8 12 reviews | 4.6/5 Capterra 4.7 · G2 4.7 · SourceForge 4.3 1,551 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Music Stand is a $5 add-on |
Choose ChurchTrac or Planning Center?
Choose ChurchTrac if
- You want comprehensive feature set for church administration
- You want offers a free plan for smaller churches
Choose Planning Center if
- You want modular pricing allows churches to pay only for what they need
- You want core 'People' database is always free
In-Depth Analysis
ChurchTrac
Comprehensive church management software for streamlined operations and community engagement.
Strengths
- Pro: Comprehensive feature set for church administration
- Pro: Offers a free plan for smaller churches
- Pro: Integrated financial and people management
- Pro: User-friendly interface for various tasks
- Pro: Good for managing volunteers and events
Weaknesses
- Con: Some advanced features may require a paid plan
- Con: Learning curve for new users due to breadth of features
- Con: Mobile app functionality might be less robust than desktop
Key features
Planning Center
Integrated church management software designed to streamline operations and enhance congregant engagement.
Planning Center offers an incredibly generous pricing model, with most core functionalities starting at $0 and scaling based on usage metrics rather than fixed tiers.
Watch out
Music Stand is a $5 add-on
Strengths
- Pro: Modular pricing allows churches to pay only for what they need.
- Pro: Core 'People' database is always free.
- Pro: Seamless integration between all products prevents information siloing.
- Pro: Offers a free mobile app and website for congregant engagement.
- Pro: Provides free and responsive support and training.
Weaknesses
- Con: Payment processing for donations and registrations incurs additional fees from Stripe.
- Con: Pricing for some modules scales with usage (e.g., number of rooms, check-ins, donations, group members, event attendees, team members), which could become costly for larger churches.
- Con: Requires integration with multiple modules to achieve full functionality, potentially increasing complexity.
Key features
Plans and prices: ChurchTrac vs Planning Center
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ChurchTrac | No plan prices on file | churchtrac.com |
| Planning Center |
| planningcenter.com/pricing read Oct 4, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on ChurchTrac pricing and Planning Center pricing.
Key Takeaways
ChurchTrac
- Choose if you want comprehensive church management software for streamlined operations and community engagement
Planning Center
- Choose if you want integrated church management software designed to streamline operations and enhance congregant engagement
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.8/5 from 12 reviews for ChurchTrac, 4.6/5 from 1,551 reviews for Planning Center; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do ChurchTrac and Planning Center compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.8/5 from 12 reviews for ChurchTrac, 4.6/5 from 1,551 reviews for Planning Center; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Both have a free plan.
What are ChurchTrac and Planning Center used for?
ChurchTrac: Comprehensive church management software for streamlined operations and community engagement. Planning Center: Integrated church management software designed to streamline operations and enhance congregant engagement.
What does ChurchTrac cost vs Planning Center?
ChurchTrac has no public paid-plan price on file. Planning Center has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 4, 2026.
What's the main difference between ChurchTrac and Planning Center?
ChurchTrac's main strength: comprehensive feature set for church administration. Planning Center's main strength: modular pricing allows churches to pay only for what they need.