Church Giving Platform Fees: What Tithely, Planning Center and Others Really Cost
By Mike Krieg · Updated October 17, 2026
On $100,000 a year of card giving in $100 gifts, a church pays about $2,450 to $3,200 in processing fees on mainstream giving platforms, and $0 on Zeffy, which is funded by optional donor tips. The biggest levers are not which platform you pick but how many givers use ACH (bank transfer) and how large the average gift is.
Every rate below was read on the vendor's own page as of October 2026. Platforms that don't publish their fees are noted, not estimated.
Published fee structures
| Platform | Monthly fee | Card | ACH / bank | Amex | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tithely (free giving plan) | $0 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 1% + $0.30 | 3.5% + $0.30 | Tithely pricing |
| Planning Center Giving | Free up to 10 donations/mo; paid tiers not shown in page text | 2.15% + $0.30 | $0.30 | Not listed (US) | Planning Center fees |
| Givebutter (tips on) | $0 | 0% to the org | 0% to the org | n/a | Givebutter pricing |
| Givebutter (tips off) | $0 | 3% platform + 2.9% + $0.30 | 3% platform + 1.9% + $0.30 | n/a | Givebutter pricing |
| Zeffy | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | Zeffy pricing |
| PayPal (Confirmed Charity rate) | $0 | 1.99% + $0.49 | n/a | n/a | PayPal fees |
| PayPal Donate button (standard) | $0 | 2.89% + $0.49 | n/a | n/a | PayPal fees |
| Stripe (standard) | $0 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 0.8%, capped at $5 | n/a | Stripe pricing |
| Square (free plan, online) | $0 | 3.3% + $0.30 | n/a | n/a | Square fees |
| Pushpay | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Pushpay pricing |
A few notes on the table:
- Tithely says giving has no monthly or setup fees and no contracts. Its paid plans (church management, app, website) are separate.
- Planning Center says there are no setup fees, monthly minimums or cancellation fees, and the free Giving plan covers 10 donations a month. A church above that pays a monthly Giving subscription, but the price is in an interactive calculator we couldn't read. Check planningcenter.com/pricing for your volume. International cards add 1.5%.
- Givebutter with tips enabled charges the church nothing and asks donors for an optional tip. With tips disabled, a 3% platform fee applies on top of processing.
- Zeffy states that it "covers all transaction & credit card fees" and relies on optional donor tips. US organizations need an EIN; 501(c)(3) status isn't required.
- PayPal's charity rate requires an application and pre-approval. International gifts add 1.50%.
- Stripe offers eligible nonprofits a discounted rate on request, but Stripe's help article doesn't publish it. Partner Fundraise Up reports 2.2% + $0.30. At least 80% of volume must be tax-deductible donations.
- Pushpay asks churches to contact sales. The only price on its page is check scanning from $0.29 per check.
Worked example: $100,000 a year, all card, $100 average gift
That is 1,000 gifts. Fee per gift = ($100 × rate) + fixed fee.
| Platform | Fee per $100 gift | × 1,000 gifts | Church keeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zeffy | $0.00 | $0 | $100,000 |
| Givebutter (tips on) | $0.00 | $0 | $100,000 |
| Planning Center | $2.15 + $0.30 = $2.45 | $2,450* | $97,550 |
| PayPal charity rate | $1.99 + $0.49 = $2.48 | $2,480 | $97,520 |
| Stripe nonprofit (reported) | $2.20 + $0.30 = $2.50 | $2,500 | $97,500 |
| Tithely | $2.90 + $0.30 = $3.20 | $3,200 | $96,800 |
| Stripe standard | $2.90 + $0.30 = $3.20 | $3,200 | $96,800 |
| PayPal Donate (standard) | $2.89 + $0.49 = $3.38 | $3,380 | $96,620 |
| Square online | $3.30 + $0.30 = $3.60 | $3,600 | $96,400 |
| Givebutter (tips off) | $3.00 + $2.90 + $0.30 = $6.20 | $6,200 | $93,800 |
*Plus Planning Center's monthly Giving subscription at this volume, which isn't included because we couldn't confirm the price.
The same $100,000 with 40% given by ACH
Many churches move recurring givers to bank transfer. Here, $60,000 comes in 600 card gifts and $40,000 in 400 ACH gifts, all $100.
- Tithely: 600 × $3.20 = $1,920; 400 × ($1.00 + $0.30) = $520. Total $2,440 (vs $3,200 all card).
- Planning Center: 600 × $2.45 = $1,470; 400 × $0.30 = $120. Total $1,590 plus subscription.
- Stripe standard: 600 × $3.20 = $1,920; 400 × $0.80 = $320. Total $2,240.
- Givebutter (tips off): 600 × $6.20 = $3,720; 400 × ($3.00 + $1.90 + $0.30) = $2,080. Total $5,800.
On Tithely, shifting 40% of giving to ACH saves $3,200 − $2,440 = $760 a year.
Why gift size matters
Fixed per-gift fees hit small gifts hardest. Take the same $100,000 in $25 gifts (4,000 gifts):
- Tithely card: ($0.725 + $0.30) × 4,000 = $4,100
- PayPal charity rate: ($0.4975 + $0.49) × 4,000 = $3,950
- Planning Center card: ($0.5375 + $0.30) × 4,000 = $3,350
PayPal's charity rate beats Tithely on $100 gifts by $0.72 each but only by about $0.04 on $25 gifts, because its fixed fee is $0.49 rather than $0.30. If your church has many small gifts, compare platforms on your real average, not the headline percentage.
What the fee table doesn't show
- Donor-covered fees and tips. Platforms that rely on tips (Zeffy, Givebutter with tips on) cost the church nothing, but donors see a tip prompt at checkout. Some churches are uncomfortable with that. Zeffy says about 2 of 3 donors tip.
- Bundled software. A platform that is also your church management system or app may be worth a higher rate if it replaces other subscriptions. Count the whole bundle.
- Bookkeeping time. Platforms deposit net amounts. Each deposit needs to be recorded as gross giving plus a fee expense, and that work scales with the number of deposits. Exports that match deposits to individual gifts save real time. See church accounting software pricing.
- Contracts. Tithely states its giving plan has no contracts. For any platform that quotes privately, ask about term length and cancellation before you sign.
How to lower your giving costs this year
- Find your real numbers. Pull last year's total giving, number of gifts and card vs ACH split from your platform.
- Promote ACH for recurring gifts. It is the cheapest rail on every platform above that lists it.
- Apply for nonprofit rates if you use PayPal or Stripe directly. Neither applies automatically. See the PayPal and Stripe pages.
- Price a fee-free option. If tip prompts are acceptable, Zeffy removes fees entirely.
- Get written quotes from any platform that doesn't publish rates.
For processing fees beyond church giving, see nonprofit payment processing fees. For other programs churches can use, see church software discounts. The free audit estimates your processing costs alongside your software spend.
Frequently asked questions
What are Tithely's giving fees?
As of October 2026, Tithely's pricing page lists 2.9% + $0.30 for credit and debit cards, 1% + $0.30 for ACH bank transfers and 3.5% + $0.30 for Amex. The giving plan itself has no monthly fee and no contract.
Does Pushpay publish its fees?
No. Pushpay's pricing page asks churches to contact sales for plan pricing and processing rates. The only price it publishes is check scanning from $0.29 per check.
What is the cheapest way for a church to accept online giving?
Zeffy charges churches no platform or processing fees and is funded by optional donor tips. Among fee-charging platforms, encouraging ACH giving cuts costs most, for example Planning Center lists $0.30 per ACH gift.
How much does a church lose to giving fees on $100,000 a year?
It depends on the platform, card vs ACH mix and average gift. With all card gifts averaging $100, fees range from $0 on Zeffy to $3,200 on Tithely at standard rates, and $6,200 on Givebutter if tips are turned off.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Prices change; see each linked source. Report a correction.