Planning Center Church Management Software Review for 2025
Planning Center is a church management software designed to help churches stay organized, communicate clearly, and manage people, events, and resources without getting bogged down in busywork. Whether you lead a growing congregation or coordinate volunteers every week, it brings structure to the day-to-day so you can stay focused on the mission.
In this Planning Center review, I’ll walk through its key features, pricing, and where Planning Center Services shines—and where it might not. If your team needs help staying organized and freeing up time for ministry, this will give you a clearer picture of whether planningcenter.com is a good fit for your church.
Planning Center Evaluation Summary
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Planning Center Overview
pros
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Mobile-Friendly: Solid mobile apps for both staff and congregants.
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Worship Planning: Helps teams build out song lists, plan services, and assign roles.
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Volunteer Management: Strong tools for scheduling, reminders, and communication.
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User-Friendly Interface: Clean, modern design that’s easy for staff and volunteers to learn.
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Modular System: Choose the tools you need—People, Services, Giving, Check-Ins, and more.
cons
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No Built-In CRM for Major Donors: Not designed for advanced fundraising efforts.
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Learning Curve for Customization: Some setup steps take time to configure well.
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Not Ideal for Complex Donor Programs: Focuses more on engagement than development.
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Limited Financial Features: Not built for full accounting or fund management.
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Separate Pricing Per Module: Can add up if you use multiple tools.
Core Features
Event Management: Planning Center makes it easy to schedule and manage your church events—from Sunday services to midweek gatherings. You can assign rooms, coordinate volunteers, and communicate with attendees, all from one place.
People Management: Keep everything you need to know about your congregation in one spot. Track attendance, organize small groups, and follow up with members easily so no one falls through the cracks.
Volunteer Scheduling: Coordinating volunteers doesn’t have to be a headache. With Planning Center, you can build schedules, send reminders, and keep everyone informed about where they’re serving and when.
Check-In System: Whether it’s kids’ ministry or large events, the check-in system helps keep things safe and organized. It gives your team a clear picture of who’s in the building and who might need follow-up.
Online Giving: Planning Center’s giving tools make it easy for people to give and for your team to track contributions. You’ll have clear, accurate records—and your congregation can give anytime, from anywhere.
Communication Tool: You can send texts, emails, and push notifications right from the platform. Whether you're reminding volunteers or updating your church on an upcoming event, it keeps everyone in the loop.
Ease of Use
One of Planning Center’s biggest strengths is how easy it is to use. The layout is clean and simple, with drag-and-drop scheduling and intuitive navigation. Even if your team isn’t tech-savvy, they’ll pick it up quickly and get back to focusing on ministry—not troubleshooting software.
Planning Center Specs
- API
- External Integrations
Alternatives to Planning Center
Planning Center FAQs
What's Next?
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