Church Center (Planning Center) logo — AppBuild vs Church Center (Planning Center) app builder comparison

AppBuild vs Church Center (Planning Center)

Looking for a Church Center (Planning Center) alternative? Church Center (Planning Center) is a church management suite with member app. Compare its published pricing, branded apps, fees and capabilities with AppBuild.diy.

Church Center (Planning Center) is best for churches businesses that want church management suite with member app (People, Giving, Check-Ins, Groups, Calendar, Services, Registrations).

AppBuild is best for churches businesses that want their own branded app with ready-made ordering, booking, loyalty and push notifications, starting free with 0% AppBuild commission on paid plans.

Your business. Your own app.

A look inside AppBuild: church home, sermons and podcasts, prayer requests and giving, community and live streams.

See churches apps
AppBuild app example showing church home — AppBuild vs Church Center (Planning Center) app builder comparison
Church home
AppBuild app example showing sermons and podcasts — AppBuild vs Church Center (Planning Center) app builder comparison
Sermons and podcasts
AppBuild app example showing prayer requests and giving — AppBuild vs Church Center (Planning Center) app builder comparison
Prayer requests and giving
AppBuild app example showing community and live streams — AppBuild vs Church Center (Planning Center) app builder comparison
Community and live streams

Church Center (Planning Center) vs AppBuild for churches

ConsiderationAppBuild.diy logo — AppBuild vs Church Center (Planning Center) app builder comparisonAppBuild.diyChurch Center (Planning Center) logo — AppBuild vs Church Center (Planning Center) app builder comparisonChurch Center (Planning Center)
TypeBranded business-app builder with ready-made pages and capabilitiesChurch management suite with member app
Published pricingFree: up to 10 users; Business: $49/month or $299/year; Business Pro: $99/month or $499/yearChurch Center app essentials free; Publishing Plus $15/mo (custom pages and themes); Premium $32/mo (audio/video channels, sermon notes)
Your own branded appApp Store, Google Play and installable web app; store setup and approval requiredShared (one "Church Center" app on iOS/Android)
Fees0% AppBuild commission on paid plans; payment processing and third-party fees may applyGiving: 2.15% + $0.30 cards; 0% + $0.30 ACH (US)
Contract / trialFree plan; monthly or annual paid plansNo contracts, cancellation fees or setup fees
CapabilitiesSupported ordering, bookings, loyalty, push notifications and content pages; check the features your business requiresPeople, Giving, Check-Ins, Groups, Calendar, Services, Registrations
MarketAvailable worldwide, subject to store and payment-service availabilityUS + global

Sources: planningcenter.com, planningcenter.com. Figures recorded 7 October 2026; currencies, billing periods and packages differ. Confirm current terms with the provider.

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AppBuild pricing

PlanPriceWhat you get
Free$0/monthUp to 10 app users. Your own app on iPhone, Android and the web.
Business$49/month or $299/yearUp to 1,000 app users. 0% AppBuild commission on orders.
Business Pro$99/month or $499/yearUnlimited app users. 0% AppBuild commission on orders.

Card processing fees are charged by Stripe on top of any plan and are not set by AppBuild. Full details on the pricing page.

Choose Church Center (Planning Center) if…

  • you want church management suite with member app.
  • you need what it highlights: People, Giving, Check-Ins, Groups, Calendar, Services, Registrations.
  • its terms suit you: No contracts, cancellation fees or setup fees.
  • you don't need an app under your own brand (own branded app with Church Center (Planning Center): Shared (one "Church Center" app on iOS/Android)).

Choose AppBuild if…

  • you want a published flat price: free for up to 10 users, then $49 or $99/month (Church Center (Planning Center): Church Center app essentials free; Publishing Plus $15/mo (custom pages and themes); Premium $32/mo (audio/video channels, sermon notes)).
  • you want 0% AppBuild commission on paid plans (Church Center (Planning Center) fees: Giving: 2.15% + $0.30 cards; 0% + $0.30 ACH (US)).
  • you want your own branded app on the App Store, Google Play and the web.

Key differences from Church Center (Planning Center)

  • Church Center is one shared app congregants download; AppBuild gives the church its own app listing under its own name.

Questions

AppBuild.diy is an alternative to Church Center (Planning Center) for churches businesses that want church management suite with member app (People, Giving, Check-Ins, Groups, Calendar, Services, Registrations) who would rather have their own branded app on the App Store, Google Play and the web. AppBuild starts free for up to 10 users, then $49 or $99 a month. Other options compared here include Subsplash, Tithe.ly (Tithely), Pushpay, ChurchSuite.

Church Center (Planning Center)'s published pricing, checked 7 October 2026: Church Center app essentials free; Publishing Plus $15/mo (custom pages and themes); Premium $32/mo (audio/video channels, sermon notes). AppBuild: Free for up to 10 users, Business $49/month or $299/year, Business Pro $99/month or $499/year, with 0% AppBuild commission on paid plans.

It depends on what you need. Choose Church Center (Planning Center) if you want church management suite with member app. Choose AppBuild if you want your own branded app on the App Store, Google Play and the web.

Other alternatives to Church Center (Planning Center)

Last checked 7 October 2026. Competitor prices come from their own public pages, linked below each table. Where a price isn't published we say so. Spotted something out of date? Tell us via support.