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Church Office Online vs Planning Center People Comparison

Last updated:

Church Office Online

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Church Office Online is a web-based solution that will revolutionize the way the church manages its members, finances and resources. It is an affordable, powerful and easy to use tool that enables your church to unleash…

Planning Center People

4.7(60 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Planning Center People is church management software for church. It contains the functionality user need to track people and groups, manage offerings, acknowledge attendance, and more. Planning Center People can even hel…

Planning Center People leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 60 reviews.

Church Office Online vs Planning Center People — at a glance

FeatureChurch Office OnlinePlanning Center People
Rating4.7 / 5
Reviews60
Starting priceContact for pricingContact for pricing
Free trial Yes No
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryChurch Management SoftwareChurch Management Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
APIAvailable
Support modesOnlineOnline
Certifications
Data residencyUSUS

Key differences between Church Office Online and Planning Center People

  • Free trial: Church Office Online offers a free trial; Planning Center People does not.
  • Deployment: Church Office Online supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Planning Center People supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.

Church Office Online vs Planning Center People — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Church Management Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Church Office Online - Church Management Software
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Free PDF comparison

Download this Church Office Online vs Planning Center People comparison

Get the full side-by-side as a PDF — these picks plus the top Church Management Software tools, with verified ratings, pricing and features.

  • Side-by-side on pricing, features & ratings
  • Plus the category top 10, scored & ranked
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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Church Office Online

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Planning Center People

Best for comprehensive church member and group management with seamless integration.

Choose if
  • You need to track people, groups, and attendance efficiently within a church setting.
  • You want to manage offerings and acknowledge contributions seamlessly.
  • You require integrated scheduling and field service route planning for ministry teams.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a non-church organization needing general CRM or event management tools.
  • You need highly customizable or industry-specific features outside church administration.

Church Office Online typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Planning Center People tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

Church Office Online is a web-based solution that will revolutionize the way the church manages its members, finances and resources. It is an affordable, powerful and easy to use tool that ... Read More about Church Office Online

Planning Center People is church management software for church. It contains the functionality user need to track people and groups, manage offerings, acknowledge attendance, and more. ... Read More about Planning Center People

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available
  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

8.6/10

8.7/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.7

(60)
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Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

Church Office Online has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

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How do Church Office Online and Planning Center People Compare on Features?

Total Features

15 Features

12 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare Church Office Online and Planning Center People on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      Church Office Online pricing

      Pricing information not available

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Large Enterprises
      • Freelancers
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Large Enterprises
      • Freelancers

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Not Available
      • Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🇺🇸 US

      Church Office Online User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      No reviews available for the product

      Rating Distribution

      0

      1

      0

      0

      0

      40

      6

      1

      0

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      What buyers like

      • Web-based solution
      • Affordable pricing
      • User-friendly design

      Common complaints

      • Limited advanced features
      • May not support large congregations
      • Basic reporting capabilities

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is very strong across 47 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

      What buyers like

      • Provides a comprehensive suite with features like scheduling, event coordination, automating tasks, and data management.
      • Ease of communication with members through automated emailing features.
      • Integration with other Planning Center modules and seamless workflows across the platform.

      Common complaints

      • The process of adding a new person can be cumbersome.
      • Limited customization options in reports.
      • Difficulty in creating custom lists, especially for specific group categorization.

      Pros and Cons

      • Affordable and accessible for small churches

      • Designed for ease of use without IT knowledge

      • Comprehensive management tools for various church needs

      • May not scale well for larger churches

      • Limited advanced features compared to competitors

      • Comprehensive member tracking enhances organization.

      • Flexible reporting aids in decision-making.

      • Integration capabilities improve overall functionality.

      • Learning curve may deter some users.

      • Limited mobile functionality could hinder access.

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      List of Customers

      Customers

      No Customers information available.

      Stonegate

      Stonegate

      Fellowship Church

      Fellowship Church

      The River Church

      The River Church

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      Mass emails to everyone

      4 Screenshots

      Videos

      No videos available.

      video-0

      3 Videos

      Top Alternatives to Church Office Online and Planning Center People in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, Church Office Online or Planning Center People?
      Planning Center People edges out the other on user ratings (4.7 vs -1.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Church Office Online and Planning Center People offer a free trial?
      Church Office Online offers a free trial. Planning Center People does not.
      What is the starting price of Church Office Online vs Planning Center People?
      Church Office Online starts at Contact for pricing. Planning Center People starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to Church Office Online?
      Top alternatives to Church Office Online include Church Community Builder, Pushpay, ChurchTools, Church Windows, Connecting Members.
      What are the top alternatives to Planning Center People?
      Top alternatives to Planning Center People include Church Community Builder, Pushpay, ChurchTools, Church Windows, One Church Software.

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