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Faithlife vs Planning Center

Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.

Church management and Bible study.

Modular church management software.

The verdict

Both Faithlife and Planning Center are credible faith tech tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.

Choose Faithlife if you want broader platform coverage. Church management and Bible study.

Choose Planning Center if you'd rather have a higher overall rating (4.7/5). Modular church management software.

Faithlife vs Planning Center: side by side

DimensionFaithlifePlanning Center
Starting priceFreeFree – $14/mo
Free planYesYes
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Best forChurches, PastorsChurches, Worship Teams
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, MacWinnerWeb, Ios, Android
Rating4.2/54.7/5Winner

Faithlife key facts

Vendor
Faithlife
Pricing
Freemium — Free
Free tier
Yes
Platforms
Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac
Best for
Churches, Pastors
Editor rating
4.2 / 5
Founded
1992
Headquarters
Bellingham, WA, USA

Planning Center key facts

Vendor
Planning Center
Pricing
Freemium — Free – $14/mo
Free tier
Yes
Platforms
Web, Ios, Android
Best for
Churches, Worship Teams
Editor rating
4.7 / 5
Founded
2006
Headquarters
Carlsbad, CA, USA

Frequently asked questions

Is Faithlife better than Planning Center?

Neither is universally better — Planning Center edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.

Is Faithlife or Planning Center cheaper?

Faithlife is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free. Faithlife starts at free; Planning Center starts at free – $14/mo.

Can Faithlife replace Planning Center?

Yes for most teams — both are faith tech tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.