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The easiest credit card processing setup for a church depends on where it takes gifts. Church giving platforms handle online and recurring donations, often with fund tracking and donor records; an in-person point-of-sale (POS) system handles cards at events and merchandise tables. Some churches need both. Compare subscription and add-on fees alongside transaction rates, and check integrations and donor-history migration before switching.
For published U.S. pricing, Tithely, Planning Center, and Vanco provide useful starting points. Pushpay and Givelify are also worth evaluating, but the available public information does not establish current comparable rates. Square is a separate POS option to consider for in-person sales and event payments.
What churches should compare before choosing a processor
A low percentage is not automatically the lowest-cost or simplest choice. Estimate costs using your typical gift size, monthly transaction count, card-versus-bank-transfer mix, subscription, and any paid features. A platform that bundles giving forms, recurring gifts, fund designation, statements, reports, and church-management integrations may reduce administrative work compared with a general-purpose processor—but confirm that it fits your workflow.
- Ways to give: Check whether you need web, mobile, recurring, text, or kiosk giving.
- In-person payments: Ask separately about POS hardware, compatibility, and whether donations can be recorded as tax-deductible gifts rather than sales.
- Software fit: Verify integration with your current church-management system and ask how donor histories and recurring schedules can be transferred.
- Full cost: Include transaction charges, monthly subscriptions, optional features, and the effect of average gift size on per-transaction fees.
- Donor experience: Review the donation flow and the options donors have to cover processing fees, if offered.
Six options to evaluate
This is a shortlist, not a universal ranking. The right fit depends on your existing software, staff capacity, donation volume and channels, and whether you also accept cards in person.
#1 Best Overall
- Secure Lock: To ensure confidentiality, our church offering box is outfitted with secure lock. Two keys are included for quick and easy access inside. Church offering box features wide slot to accommodate ballots, mail, money or checks with ease
- Church Offering Box: Amcortn wood collection donation charity, suggestion, fundraising box Looks great in any location. Perfect for churches, schools, hotels... to collect feedback, suggestions or tithes and offerings. Side pockets conveniently holds input cards or donation envelopes. Lock and 2 keys are included. If you purchase multiple units, locks are keyed alike
- Versatile Use: Our wood church offering box is great for donation and charity events. Place collection bin in office for employees to contribute for local cause or at entrance of fundraising events. It is also great bin for ballot collection in school
- Ideal Size: Amcortn wooden tithing offering box measures 6.3"L x 6.3"W x 9.8"H. This wooden prayer box two ways to display, Comes with wall mount block and hardware. Wall block keeps your box slightly off the wall and allows lid to open with ease; It can also be freestanding on desk or other flat surface
- High-quality Material: Our wooden donation box with lock is made out of wood. Laser etched cross in front. It is resistant enough to stand up against everyday use
1. Tithely Giving
Tithely describes Giving as an online, mobile, kiosk, and recurring-giving platform with integrations. Its U.S. pricing page, updated February 6, 2026, lists no setup or monthly fee for Giving, with transaction charges of 2.9% + $0.30 per successful charge for listed cards, 3.5% + $0.30 for American Express, and 1% + $0.30 for ACH or bank transfer. Optional products, including text giving and church management, have separate fees. Check the Tithely fees and subscription pricing and Giving product details for current terms.
2. Planning Center Giving
Planning Center lists U.S. processing at 2.15% + $0.30 per card donation and 0% + $0.30 per ACH donation, alongside a monthly subscription based on donations per month. Its page says processing has no setup fee, monthly minimum, or cancellation fee, and donor-covered fees are optional. The vendor’s April 6, 2026 announcement said new customers could manage payment setup and reporting in Planning Center while Stripe processed payments in the background; it also said existing customers retained their existing Stripe and Planning Center accounts at that time. Check the Giving pricing page and the April 2026 announcement for current pricing and rollout details.
Rank #2
- Secure Lock with 2 Keys for Confidentiality: Our wooden prayer request box is equipped with a secure lock and 2 keys to protect privacy and ensure confidentiality. The wide top slot easily accommodates prayer cards, envelopes, cash, checks, and ballots, making it the perfect church offering box for tithes, donations, and prayer intentions.
- Wall Mount or Freestanding Display: This versatile wooden donation box offers two display options mount it on the wall with the included hardware, or place it freestanding on any desk, counter, or tabletop. The wall mount block keeps the box slightly off the wall so the hinged lid opens smoothly every time.
- Premium Solid Wood Construction: Crafted from high-quality wood with a smooth finish, this lockable offering box features a beautifully laser-etched cross on the front. Built to withstand daily use in churches, schools, and offices, it resists scratches and maintains its elegant appearance for years.
- Convenient Side Pocket for Cards & Envelopes: Our charity donation box includes a built-in side pocket that holds prayer cards, suggestion forms, or donation envelopes — keeping everything your congregation or guests need in one place. A complete solution for prayer requests, feedback, and fundraising.
- Multi-Purpose for Every Setting: Beyond being a church offering box, this wood collection bin works perfectly as a suggestion box for offices, a ballot box for schools, a wedding well for receptions, or a fundraising box for charity events. Ideal size at 6" L x 6" W x 9.8" H — fits beautifully anywhere your community gathers.
3. Vanco eGiving
Vanco’s pricing page lists Grow at $0 per month and Thrive at $54 per month, with transaction rates that vary by plan and additional features that may carry separate fees. Vanco says its eGiving product integrates with more than 60 church-management software providers. Because the package and add-on structure affects the total, check the Vanco pricing page and request current terms for your requirements. Product information is also available on Vanco eGiving.
4. Pushpay
Pushpay is a church-giving platform to evaluate if your church is also considering broader church-management capabilities. Its September 2026 comparison discusses giving platforms, but the available material does not establish a public Pushpay rate schedule. Request a current quote and compare it against your expected transaction volume and required features. See Pushpay’s church-giving platform comparison.
Rank #3
- Church Shape Donation Box: Designed to shape like church. Steeple is screwed on top to box, can be removed. Door and window details as well as cross are laser engraved. Warm color brings out wonderful sense of belonging
- Ideal Size: Amcortn wooden tithing offering box measures 9"L x 6.7"W x 11.8"H. This wooden prayer box two ways to display, there have two holes on the back so you can wall mounting it in wall; It can also be freestanding on desk or other flat surface
- Secure Lock: To ensure confidentiality, our church offering box is outfitted with secure lock. Two keys are included for quick and easy access inside. Church offering box features wide slot to accommodate ballots, mail, money or checks with ease
- High-quality Material: Our wooden donation box with lock is made out of wood. It is resistant enough to stand up against everyday use
- Versatile Use: Our wood church offering box is great for donation and charity events. Place collection bin in office for employees to contribute for local cause or at entrance of fundraising events. It is also great bin for ballot collection in school
5. Square
Square is worth considering for in-person card acceptance at events or merchandise tables, rather than as a substitute for church-specific online giving software. Tithely’s support page, which announced that Tithely Pay would sunset on May 11, 2026, recommended Square or Clover for in-person POS. The announced date has passed; confirm your current options and whether the specific Square hardware and account setup meet your needs before buying a reader. The cited material does not establish a current Square church or nonprofit rate or reader compatibility. Review the Tithely Pay sunset FAQ and check Square’s current official pricing and hardware requirements.
6. Givelify
Givelify is a church and nonprofit donation-app option. Its available pricing support article is dated June 10, 2022, so its fee information should not be treated as current for 2026. Ask Givelify to confirm today’s terms before comparing costs. See Givelify’s pricing and terms support page.
Rank #4
- Secure Lock: To ensure confidentiality, our church offering box is outfitted with secure lock. Two keys are included for quick and easy access inside. Church offering box features wide slot to accommodate ballots, mail, money or checks with ease
- Church Offering Box: Amcortn wood collection donation charity, suggestion, fundraising box Looks great in any location. Perfect for churches, schools, hotels... to collect feedback, suggestions or tithes and offerings. Side pockets conveniently holds input cards or donation envelopes. Lock and 2 keys are included. If you purchase multiple units, locks are keyed alike
- Ideal Size: Amcortn wooden tithing offering box measures 6.3"L x 6.3"W x 9.8"H. This wooden prayer box two ways to display, Comes with wall mount block and hardware. Wall block keeps your box slightly off the wall and allows lid to open with ease; It can also be freestanding on desk or other flat surface
- High-quality Material: Our wooden donation box with lock is made out of wood. Laser etched cross in front. It is resistant enough to stand up against everyday use
- Versatile Use: Our wood church offering box is great for donation and charity events. Place collection bin in office for employees to contribute for local cause or at entrance of fundraising events. It is also great bin for ballot collection in school
How to compare published prices fairly
These are vendor-published figures, not an independent market survey. They apply to the stated U.S. services and may not include every add-on or circumstance. Pricing and terms can change, so verify the provider’s current page or quote before deciding.
| Provider | Published price information | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Tithely Giving | U.S. pricing page updated February 6, 2026: 2.9% + $0.30 per successful charge for listed cards; 3.5% + $0.30 for American Express; 1% + $0.30 for ACH or bank transfer. No setup or monthly fee for Giving. | Optional product fees, including text giving and church management; current rates and terms. |
| Planning Center Giving | Pricing page retrieved October 2026: 2.15% + $0.30 per U.S. card donation; 0% + $0.30 per U.S. ACH donation. Monthly subscription depends on donations per month. | Subscription amount for your volume and whether the current payment-management rollout applies to your account. |
| Vanco eGiving | Pricing page retrieved October 2026: Grow is $0/month and Thrive is $54/month; transaction charges vary by plan. | Rates for your selected package and any fees for optional features. |
| Pushpay | A comparable public rate schedule is not stated in the cited September 2026 vendor comparison. | Request a current quote. |
| Square | A current church or nonprofit rate is not stated in the cited Tithely POS recommendation. | Check Square’s current official pricing, account terms, and hardware requirements. |
| Givelify | The cited pricing support article is dated June 10, 2022; it does not establish a current 2026 rate. | Ask Givelify for current terms. |
Rates alone cannot determine which option costs least for your church. A fixed per-transaction charge weighs more heavily on smaller gifts, while an ACH-heavy donor mix can produce a different estimate from a card-heavy mix. Add any monthly subscription and paid features to a calculation based on your own gift amounts and transaction counts. Planning Center’s pricing page uses a lowest-rate claim for its own offer; that is not an independently verified market-wide ranking.
Best Value
- Stable and Durable: Heavy duty construction and heavy base ensure stability on surfaces. Dual support poles keep the donation boxes positioned at the perfect height
- Large Storage Space: The spacious interior (11.4" W x 5.1" D x 15" H) holds a large number of ballots, envelopes, or keys. It means less frequent emptying, ideal for high-traffic donations or votes
- Privacy and Convenience: Features a secure lock on the side door ( 2 keys are provided).The box remains closed without a key. Protect the privacy and security of all items
- Custom Acrylic Sign Holder: Nice looking collection box for church. Equipped with a acrylic display panel(8.1" x 11.4") for posters or instructions, Perfect for fundraising, voting, and events
- Side Slot Design: A left-side 5.1"L x 4.7"W slot designed to hold notetaking essentials like sticky notes and pens, making it easy for users to jot down ideas as they make suggestions
Set up a new platform with fewer surprises
Use this sequence whether you are opening a new account or replacing an existing system. It is a practical checklist, not a claim that every provider follows the same onboarding process.
- Gather account details. Confirm which legal entity will apply, and prepare the church and bank information the provider requests.
- Inventory funds and schedules. List active funds, recurring donations, and the donor records or statements you need to retain. Ask the provider how it handles imports before committing to a migration.
- Confirm software integration. Check that the platform works with your church-management system and determine what donor and transaction data will sync.
- Choose payment methods and channels. Decide whether you will enable cards, ACH or bank transfers, online forms, mobile, recurring, text, or kiosk giving. Enable only the channels you can support.
- Test the complete transaction path. Make a small test gift, confirm that it appears under the intended fund and donor record, and verify how to issue a refund or correct an entry.
- Tell donors before switching. Explain any change to the giving link, recurring-donation setup, or payment method before closing the old account. Give recurring donors a clear way to update their schedules.
Planning Center’s April 6, 2026 announcement described payment setup and reporting within Planning Center for new customers, with Stripe processing in the background. Because that announcement also distinguished existing customers’ accounts at the time, confirm the current arrangement for your specific account with Planning Center’s announcement.
Choose a separate route for in-person payments
Online giving and POS solve different problems. If you accept cards for merchandise or event purchases, ask about a general-purpose POS, its current processing terms, and compatible hardware. If you collect donations in person, confirm that the system records the transaction as a donation and supports the records your church needs.
Tithely’s support material announced a May 11, 2026 sunset for Tithely Pay, recommended Square or Clover for POS, and directed churches seeking tax-deductible in-person donations to Tithely Kiosk. Since the announced sunset date has passed, do not assume Tithely Pay or any existing reader still works: check your account, current product options, and hardware compatibility. See the sunset FAQ and Tithely Pay app overview.
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Start with the system your church already uses, if it meets your giving and reporting needs. Familiar software can reduce setup and staff training, while a migration may require extra work to preserve donor histories and recurring schedules. If you are choosing from scratch, compare Tithely, Planning Center, and Vanco using a cost estimate built from your church’s card and ACH mix, subscription requirements, and desired channels. Evaluate Pushpay and Givelify after obtaining current direct pricing. Add Square only if you also need in-person POS, and verify the current hardware and terms directly.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
