A close look at pricing, modules, and real-world fit — based on how churches actually use it day to day, not just the marketing page.
Last updated 17 July 2026 · Pricing independently verified against official sources
The most capable church management platform available, and still the easiest to recommend for mid-sized and large churches with active worship teams. The People module is free for unlimited users; other modules are priced separately by usage, so total cost depends heavily on which combination you need.
Planning Center is not one piece of software — it is a family of modules that share a single member database and can be combined as needed. People is the core member directory. Services handles worship planning, song libraries, and volunteer scheduling. Giving manages online and in-person donations. Groups organises small groups and community life. Check-Ins covers child check-in and security. Registrations handles event sign-ups and payments. A church can run on just one module or all six, and the pricing scales with whichever combination is chosen.
This modularity is the platform's defining characteristic, and it is the reason Planning Center is used by such a wide range of churches — from a 150-person plant running only People and Giving, to a multi-campus church of several thousand running every module at once.
Each module is priced independently. Some scale with the number of people using them, others with usage volume. Figures below are taken directly from Planning Center's official pricing pages as of June 2026.
| Module | Free tier | Paid pricing |
|---|---|---|
| People | Free for unlimited users | No paid tier — always free |
| Services | Free for 5 team members | $32/mo for 50 team members, $69/mo for 150 |
| Giving | None listed | Priced by number of donations processed per month |
| Check-Ins | None listed | Priced by unique check-ins on your busiest day |
| Calendar | None listed | Priced by number of rooms managed |
| Registrations | None listed | Included; payment processing at 2.15% + $0.30 |
In practice, a mid-sized church running People (free) and Services for a 50-person volunteer team pays around $32/month for that combination. Adding Giving and Check-Ins increases the total, but those modules are priced by usage volume rather than a flat fee, so the exact figure depends on your donation volume and Sunday attendance. Source: Planning Center's official pricing documentation, accessed June 2026.
Run an active worship team that rotates volunteers weekly
Have 200+ members and multiple ministries to coordinate
Want one system that can grow as your church grows
Are a small church under 150 members on a tight budget
Just need a simple member directory and nothing else
Want one flat monthly price with no module complexity
Check the full side-by-side comparison against Breeze, ChMeetings, and four other platforms.
View the comparison table →For mid-sized and large churches running an active worship team and multiple ministries, yes. The modular pricing means you only pay for what you use, and the time saved coordinating volunteers and services typically outweighs the subscription cost within the first few months of proper use.
The People module is free for unlimited users — there is no paid tier. Other modules are priced separately: Services starts free for 5 team members and costs $32/month for 50 team members or $69/month for 150. Giving, Check-Ins, and Calendar are priced by usage volume (donations processed, daily check-ins, or rooms managed) rather than a flat fee, so total cost depends on your specific combination of modules and church size.
Yes. Paid modules offer a free trial period, and the People module is free permanently for unlimited users — useful for very small church plants getting started with just a member directory.