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Planning Center People vs Shelby Systems Comparison

Last updated:

Planning Center People

4.8(47 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…

Shelby Systems

2.9(15 reviews)

Starting at $39 /Month

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Shelby is a web-based church management software. Shelby comes with a task and contact manager, donation and tithe tracking, and a searchable database to help user find member information quickly. It also has a comprehen…

Planning Center People leads on user satisfaction with a 4.8-star rating across 47 reviews.

Planning Center People vs Shelby Systems — at a glance

FeaturePlanning Center PeopleShelby Systems
Rating4.8 / 52.9 / 5
Reviews4715
Starting priceContact for pricing$39 /Month
Free trial No 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 modesOnlineBusiness Hours, Online
Certifications
Data residencyUSUS

Key differences between Planning Center People and Shelby Systems

  • Pricing: Shelby Systems starts at $39 /Month. Planning Center People pricing is not publicly listed.
  • User satisfaction: Planning Center People scores higher with a 4.8-star average.
  • Deployment: Planning Center People supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Shelby Systems supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.

Planning Center People vs Shelby Systems — 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.

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Shelby Systems - Church Management Software
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Planning Center People vs Shelby Systems: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

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.

Shelby Systems

Best for medium to large churches needing integrated management and detailed reporting.

Choose if
  • You require seamless integration of multiple church management modules.
  • You need comprehensive tracking of member info, attendance, and donations.
  • You want customizable reports to analyze church data effectively.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a small church seeking a simple, easy-to-use solution.
  • You need extensive third-party app integrations and a modern app ecosystem.

Planning Center People: Best for comprehensive church member and group management with seamless integration. Shelby Systems: Best for medium to large churches needing integrated management and detailed reporting.

Description

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

Shelby is a web-based church management software. Shelby comes with a task and contact manager, donation and tithe tracking, and a searchable database to help user find member information ... Read More about Shelby Systems

Entry Level Pricing

  • Not Available
  • Starts from $39

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

8.7/10

9.1/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.78

(47)

2.9

(15)

Best Company Size

Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises
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Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

Shelby Systems has not given any software demo yet

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How do Planning Center People and Shelby Systems Compare on Features?

Total Features

12 Features

15 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Compare Planning Center People and Shelby Systems 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

      Starting From

      • Not Available
      • $39

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      Pricing information not available

      Shelby Systems pricing

      Planning Center People vs Shelby Systems: 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

      • Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Planning Center People vs Shelby Systems 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

      Planning Center People User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      40

      6

      1

      0

      0

      1

      5

      6

      2

      2

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

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

      What buyers like

      • Provides a 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 smooth 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.

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyers appreciate Shelby Systems for its integrated features and strong customer support but note challenges with complexity and limited app integrations.

      What buyers like

      • Integrated modules
      • Customizable reporting
      • Customer service

      Common complaints

      • Complexity for new users
      • Limited marketplace apps

      Pros and Cons

      • 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.

      • Integrated modules that work together effectively with customizable reporting

      • User-friendly interface supported by excellent customer service

      • Comprehensive tracking of member information, attendance, and giving

      • Complex features and customizations can be challenging for new users

      • Limited availability of additional apps and connectors in the marketplace

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Negative Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used Planning Center People or Shelby Systems? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Planning Center People and Shelby Systems Customers

      Customers

      Stonegate

      Stonegate

      Fellowship Church

      Fellowship Church

      The River Church

      The River Church

      Salem

      Salem

      Catholic Diocese of Memphis

      Catholic Diocese of Memphis

      Jesus Exalted   Word Explained

      Jesus Exalted Word Explained

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Mass emails to everyone

      4 Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      Videos

      video-0

      3 Videos

      No videos available.

      Top Alternatives to Planning Center People and Shelby Systems 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, Planning Center People or Shelby Systems?
      Planning Center People edges out the other on user ratings (4.8 vs 2.9). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Planning Center People and Shelby Systems offer a free trial?
      Neither Planning Center People nor Shelby Systems currently lists a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Planning Center People vs Shelby Systems?
      Planning Center People starts at Contact for pricing. Shelby Systems starts at $39 /Month.
      What are the top alternatives to Planning Center People?
      Top alternatives to Planning Center People include grplife, Church Community Builder, Breeze, Pushpay, Parish Data System.
      What are the top alternatives to Shelby Systems?
      Top alternatives to Shelby Systems include Elexio Community, Church Windows, TouchPoint Church Management Software, CDM+, ChurchSuite.