Ready to add online giving as a way for your church members to support your ministry? Or, is it time to revisit your online giving platform to ensure it is the best option for your church?
Below are some of the best available options. For each, I will list transaction costs, setup fees, and monthly fees, along with whether they offer ACH/eCheck Payments, text to give, kiosks, recurring giving, mobile wallet use, or a mobile app. I will also list additional features and any notes.
What about online giving for larger churches?
I decided to focus on smaller churches for this post for a couple of reasons. First of all, I don’t know of many larger churches that don’t already have robust online giving platforms. I do know of smaller churches that are still trying to figure this out. Second, many larger churches have ChMS (Church Management Systems) and many of these have integrated online giving systems. If there is enough demand, I may write another post for larger churches.
Before you choose your online giving solution…
Click here for some eGiving definitions that will make this information a little clearer. https://pastorwill.net/2018/02/20/adding-online-giving-getting-started-3/
I will share as much information as I can, but I recommend looking more closely at options you are considering. Here are some things you might want to keep in mind:
Transaction Costs: Transaction costs listed sometimes only apply to Mastercard and Visa. American Express often has a higher rate.
Chargebacks and Refunds: Each service has different policies and charges for refunds and chargebacks. If someone makes an error or decides they want a refund, you may or may not be charged a refund fee. If there is a fraudulent charge, a cost may be associated with refunding it.
Integration: You may also need to investigate how different platforms integrate with your church’s accounting software.
Limits: Some providers have different pricing if you exceed a certain amount of dollars or transactions. Some have monthly charges that kick in if you fall below a certain amount.
Before getting started with any of the services, I would recommend having someone smart read all the fine print.
Church-Specific Giving Platforms
- Transaction Cost: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- Setup Fee: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
- ACH: 1% + $0.30
- Text to Give: Yes, $19/month
- Kiosk: Not specified
- Recurring Giving: Yes
- App: Yes
- Mobile Wallet: Yes
- Additional Features: Custom church app, event registration, sermon media integration
- Notes: Affordable for smaller churches with scalable features as your congregation grows.
- Transaction Cost: 2.75% + $0.45 per transaction (credit/debit); ACH: 0.80% + $0.45
- Setup Fee: $0
- Monthly Fee: Starts at $10/month (depending on the plan)
- ACH: Yes, 0.80% + $0.45
- Text to Give: Yes, included in some plans
- Kiosk: Yes, optional with additional hardware fees
- Recurring Giving: Yes
- App: Yes (includes integration with Vanco Mobile)
- Mobile Wallet: Yes (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- Additional Features: Event registration, custom donation forms, integrations with church management software (ChMS), and school payment solutions.
- Notes: Vanco is well-suited for churches and faith-based organizations looking for comprehensive giving and member engagement tools. It also provides tools for schools, making it versatile for multisector organizations.
- Transaction Cost: 2.6% + $0.39 per transaction
- Setup Fee: $0
- Monthly Fee: Plans starting at $0/month
- ACH: 0.75% + $0.39
- Text to Give: Yes (additional fees may apply)
- Kiosk: Yes (additional fees may apply)
- Recurring Giving: Yes
- App: Yes
- Mobile Wallet: Yes
- Additional Features: Event registration, custom giving pages, donor-covered fees option
- Transaction Cost: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- Setup Fee: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
- ACH: Not specified
- Text to Give: No
- Kiosk: No
- Recurring Giving: Yes
- App: Yes
- Mobile Wallet: Yes
- Additional Features: Mobile app focus with GPS-based giving, quick setup
- Notes: Known for its ease of use and simplicity for mobile donations.
- Transaction Cost: 2.5% + $0.30 per transaction
- Setup Fee: $0
- Monthly Fee: Starts at $49/month
- ACH: 1% + $0.30
- Text to Give: Yes
- Kiosk: Yes
- Recurring Giving: Yes
- App: Yes
- Mobile Wallet: Yes
- Additional Features: Comprehensive giving solutions, including kiosks, mobile, and text giving
- Notes: Designed for churches prioritizing diverse giving channels, including physical kiosks.
- Transaction Cost: 1.75% platform fee plus payment processing fees (Stripe/PayPal fees apply)
- Setup Fee: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0; optional add-ons available at additional cost
- ACH: Yes
- Text to Give: Yes
- Kiosk: No
- Recurring Giving: Yes
- App: No
- Mobile Wallet: Yes (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- Additional Features: Customizable donation forms, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer fundraising, event ticketing, donor management, and multi-currency support.
- Notes: Donorbox offers a comprehensive suite of fundraising tools suitable for churches seeking versatile donation methods.
General Payment Platforms Suitable for Churches
- Transaction Cost: 2.2% + $0.30 per transaction (for nonprofits)
- Setup Fee: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
- ACH: No
- Text to Give: No
- Kiosk: No
- Recurring Giving: Yes
- App: Yes
- Mobile Wallet: Yes
- Additional Features: Donation buttons, website integration
- Notes: A widely trusted platform, but less customizable for church-specific needs.
- Transaction Cost: 1.9% + $0.10 per transaction
- Setup Fee: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
- ACH: No
- Text to Give: No
- Kiosk: No
- Recurring Giving: No
- App: Yes
- Mobile Wallet: Yes
- Additional Features: Easy peer-to-peer transfers, donor social interaction
- Notes: Best for informal donations or younger congregations already using Venmo.