church.software vs. Pushpay
A modern, relationship-first church platform with optional safe AI and self-hosted freedom — without enterprise contract traps.
Pushpay
$300 – $600+ / mo
High monthly software fees + expensive transaction processing rates + long-term contracts
church.software
From $45 / mo
Transparent flat monthly pricing + integrated giving + optional safe AI + self-hosted deployment options
Why Churches Choose church.software Over Pushpay
A detailed breakdown of key distinctions, safe and completely optional AI, self-hosted deployment, and shepherding capabilities.
1. Transparent, Low Monthly Cost Without Contract Traps
Pushpay charges high monthly software fees on top of credit card processing fees, often requiring 12 to 36-month locked contracts.
church.software provides a full shepherding platform starting at just $45/month on a month-to-month basis with zero contract locks.
2. Safe, Biblically Grounded AI (100% Disableable) & Self-Hosted Option
Pushpay has no integrated AI for service planning or call summaries.
church.software delivers responsible, biblically grounded AI:
- ✓Completely Disableable: Should your leadership choose not to utilize AI, it can be shut off entirely across the system.
- ✓PII De-Identification: Personal details are stripped before model execution.
- ✓Biblically Aligned Guardrails: Checked against configurable ministry guidelines.
- ✓Self-Hosted Freedom: Run the system in your own private cloud and point to your own controlled LLM models (or none at all).
📖 Read our complete commitment on our AI Principles Page.
3. Shepherding & Liturgy First, Transactions Second
Pushpay originated as a financial giving processor. church.software was engineered ground-up for intentional shepherding: Sunday liturgy timing, volunteer conflict guards, audio pastoral call transcription, phone trees, and 20+ multi-language community feeds.
Side-by-Side Feature Matrix
| Feature / Capability | church.software | Pushpay |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Starting Price | $45 / mo | $300 - $600+ / mo |
| Safe, Biblically Grounded AI Tools | ✓ Built-In + PII Guardrails (100% Disableable) | ❌ Not Available |
| Self-Hosted / BYO-LLM Deployment | ✓ Kingdom Self-Hosted Tier | ❌ Cloud-Only Lock-In |
| Contract Commitment | Month-to-Month (Cancel Anytime) | 12 to 36 Month Standard Contracts |
| Order of Service & Worship Planner | ✓ Included + Liturgy Tools | ❌ Not Available |
| AI Pastoral Care Softphone & Phone Tree | ✓ WebRTC & IVR Built-In | ❌ Not Available |
| Native Mobile Apps (iOS & Android) | ✓ Included Free | ✓ High Monthly Add-on |
Ready to upgrade your church tools?
Schedule a 15-minute live tour with our ministry team, or request a free database import from Pushpay.
Book a 15-Minute Live Demo
Pick a time that fits your schedule. A ministry specialist will walk you through a tailored 1-on-1 walkthrough of the platform.
✓ Live demo tailored to your congregation/team
✓ Free legacy data migration assessment
✓ No pressure, no credit card required
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Ask a Question or Request Info
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