Affordable Donation Platforms for Small Churches
- Nisha Shetty
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Small churches today need easy, modern ways for members to give—on their phones, by text, or via recurring online gifts. The right platform can simplify mobile giving, text-to-give, and recurring donation management without draining tight budgets.
This guide compares several U.S.-based donation platforms that blend affordability with rich features. We detail pricing tiers (free plans and nonprofit discounts), highlight key features (mobile apps, text giving, recurring support, admin dashboards), and list pros/cons. A comparison table and robust FAQ address fees, contracts, support, migration, and other common concerns. Our objective analysis (not a sales pitch) will help church leaders choose wisely.
Top Donation Platforms
1. Txt2Give
A text-focused giving app with flat-rate pricing.
Txt2Give is free to use ($0/month) with a 2.5% platform fee on each gift (plus standard credit card fees).
Key features include text-to-give with short keywords, a mobile giving page, recurring giving, and an admin dashboard. Users praise its simplicity and support – one reviewer notes its “flat-rate platform pricing” and excellent customer service.
Pros: No monthly fee, unlimited users, donors can cover fees. Works with your own processor.
Cons: Reliant on texting (no built-in kiosk), platform fee (2.5%) adds to standard processing.
2. Tithe.ly
A church-focused suite (giving, apps, management).
Tithe.ly’s Giving module has a free plan ($0/mo) for unlimited donations; churches pay only processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 per credit card gift, 1% + $0.30 per ACH). The free tier includes a mobile app, giving forms, pledge campaigns, and donors can cover fees. Text Giving is a paid add-on ($19/mo). For $72/mo you get giving + church management (all-access at $119/mo bundles everything).
Pros: Built for churches, no setup or hidden fees, strong donor experience (mobile/web/text). Recurring giving is supported and Tithe.ly includes “Cover the Fees™” options so donors can pay processing costs.
Cons: To get texting and apps, you may need higher-tier subscriptions; payment rates (2.9%+30¢) are standard industry fees.
3. Donorbox
A nonprofit fundraising platform often used by churches.
The Standard plan is free ($0/month) with a 2.95% platform fee on donations, plus Stripe/PayPal processing (about 2.2% + $0.30 for cards or 1.99% + $0.49 for PayPal). (Upgrading to Pro/Premium lowers platform fees to 1.75%–2%.)
Donorbox supports unlimited custom donation forms, recurring giving, donor management, peer-to-peer campaigns, and text-to-give add-ons. It integrates easily into websites (WordPress, etc.) and allows donors to cover fees.
Pros: Free to start, easy setup, full-featured forms, strong recurring support (users note “quickly launch donation campaigns, accept recurring donations”).
Cons: Platform fee (2.95%) on free plan; some advanced features require upgrading or add-ons; custom reporting is limited on the free tier.
4. Givelify
A mobile-app-centric giving solution with zero monthly cost.
Churches pay only 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (even AmEx is 2.9%). There’s no contract or hidden fees. Donors give via the Givelify app on iOS/Android; recipients view gifts in a simple dashboard.
Pros: Totally free to use (no subscription), quick setup, mobile-first ease (“super easy to use”). Recurring gifts are supported.
Cons: Lacks a branded web giving page – donation flow is through the app only. Churches pay all processing costs via the 2.9% fee, and donors can’t pay them separately. Some admins want more web/dashboard features.
5. Continue To Give
A U.S. company offering both simple and advanced plans.
The Silver plan is $0/month with a 3.2% + $0.45 fee. It includes mobile app giving, text giving, QR codes, kiosks, recurring gifts, and donor portal – basically all features (donor pays fee option is an add-on).
The Gold plan is $29/month with fees around ~2.5% + $0.25. This paid plan significantly lowers transaction fees for growing churches.
Pros: No cost to start, full feature set (including custom forms, fund accounting add-ons). Good option for churches raising under ~$5k/month (Silver) or over (Gold).
Cons: Silver plan’s fees (3.2%+0.45) are higher than many competitors, so it’s best only for very low-volume giving. For substantial online donations, the $29 plan is needed to save money.
6. PayPal Donations
A generic but popular choice. Nonprofits get a discounted rate of about 1.99% + $0.49 per gift (down from the usual 2.89%+49¢). There are no monthly or setup fees – churches just pay transaction fees. You can embed a PayPal Donate button on your site or share a PayPal.Me link.
Pros: Free to start, donors don’t need PayPal accounts, easy to add to any site or email. Supports recurring monthly gifts.
Cons: PayPal branding dominates the giving page, and nonprofits sometimes face account holds or limited donor data. There’s no text-to-give or dedicated giving app, so it’s less “churchy” than specialized platforms.
7. Givebutter (Plus)
A modern fundraising platform popular with nonprofits. The base service is free: with optional donor tips, churches pay 0% platform fee and donors cover the 2.9%+30¢ processing.
If tips are disabled, Givebutter charges a 3% platform fee plus normal processing (2.9%+30¢).
Features include donation forms, peer-to-peer campaigns, event ticketing, and even text-to-donate.
Pros: Zero fixed fees if donors choose to tip, robust feature set.
Cons: Reliance on donor tips (not everyone will add a tip), and not church-specific (customer service and features are nonprofit-focused).
Comparison Table
| Platform | Price & Fees | Text Giving | Mobile App | Recurring Donations | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Txt2Give | Free plan: $0/mo; 2.5% platform fee (plus card fees) | Yes (built-in) | Yes (mobile giving page) | Yes | Text-to-give, online giving page, admin dashboard; donors can cover fees. |
| Tithe.ly | Free Giving: $0/mo (2.9%+30¢ per CC gift; 1%+30¢ ACH). Text Giving add-on $19/mo. | Yes ($19/mo) | Yes (Giving app) | Yes | Church management integration, pledge campaigns, giving insights, Cover Fees™. |
| Donorbox | Free plan: $0/mo; 2.95% platform fee (Stripe/PayPal +2.2%+30¢). Pro up to 1.75% fee for $149/mo. | Add-on available | Mobile-friendly forms (no standalone app) | Yes | Unlimited forms, donor dashboard, Stripe/PayPal integration, crowdfunding, optional text (via 3rd party). |
| Givelify | Free platform; 2.9% + $0.30 per donation | No (app only) | Yes (iOS/Android app) | Yes | App-based giving, church search, receipt emails. Simple setup, no contracts. |
| Continue To Give | Silver: $0/mo, ~3.2%+45¢ per gift. Gold: $29/mo, ~2.5%+25¢ | Yes (free) | Yes (branded app) | Yes | Text, web, QR, kiosk giving; unlimited campaigns/projects; donor portal. |
| PayPal | $0/mo; 1.99% + $0.49 (nonprofit rate) | No (via link) | No (PayPal app not church branded) | Yes | Donate button, PayPal/venmo payments, recurring gifts. Ubiquitous but no church branding. |
| Givebutter | $0/mo; 0% platform fee if donors tip (else 3% + processing). | Yes (via page link) | Yes (mobile-friendly site & Cash App) | Yes | Donation pages, peer-to-peer, events, text-to-give, CRM. |
Key Features Explained
Text Giving
Text-to-give lets donors give by texting a keyword and amount. Platforms like Txt2Give specialize in this, offering a code number donors text to, then complete donation in a browser. Tithe.ly (with a paid add-on) and Continue to Give include text giving as well. Text giving boosts giving among younger or tech-savvy donors and ties into Recurring Giving for autopay.
Mobile Giving
This means donors can give via smartphones either through a dedicated app or mobile-optimized site. All platforms above support mobile giving: Givelify has a smartphone app; Tithe.ly provides an iOS/Android Giving App; Continue to Give and Donorbox have mobile-friendly web giving flows. The admin interface is often accessible via phone as well. Mobile giving typically includes tap-to-give (NFC) or QR-code options on-site.
Recurring Giving
Recurring giving (weekly, monthly, etc.) is essential for steady church support. Every platform here supports recurring gifts: for example, Tithe.ly’s free plan “supports recurring giving”, and reviewers note Donorbox makes launching recurring campaigns easy. Givelify explicitly highlights “recurring donations” as a top feature. Encouraging recurring donations (and even auto-covering fees) maximizes long-term support for ministries.
Pros & Cons Summary
Txt2Give
Pros: No monthly fee, easy text and mobile giving, uses your processor, excellent support. Donors cover fees.
Cons: Requires learning a text code, 2.5% platform fee on each gift, smaller vendor (newer company).
Tithe.ly
Pros: Church-focused suite, free unlimited digital giving, users cover fees (60% typically do), strong church management tools if upgraded, flat-rate pricing.
Cons: Key features like texting or apps require higher plans, processing fees standard (2.9%+30¢), some feel locked into their ecosystem if deeply used.
Donorbox
Pros: Very easy to set up, integrates with Stripe/PayPal, flexible donation forms, unlimited campaigns, strong donor management (CRM). Free plan has no monthly charge.
Cons: Platform fee (2.95%) on free plan cuts into each gift. Some advanced customization and reporting are behind paid tiers. Add-ons (kiosk, text) cost extra.
Givelify
Pros: Truly free to start (no contract), simple app-based giving good for tech-friendly congregants, quick donor sign-up. Supports recurring gifts.
Cons: No branded giving page (donations happen in the Givelify app), so less control of donor experience. Churches pay all fees (2.9%) and can’t ask donors to cover them separately on the app.
Continue To Give
Pros: Robust feature set (including custom forms, fund accounting), affordable at scale: Gold plan’s 2.5% fee is very competitive. The free plan still offers texting, app, kiosk, etc.
Cons: Silver plan fees (3.2%+45¢) are on the high side, so best only for very low volume. The $29/mo commitment is needed to get lower rates.
PayPal
Pros: No signup or monthly costs, easy “Donate” buttons & links everywhere, familiar to donors, discounted 1.99% nonprofit rate. Can even accept Venmo.
Cons: Branding is PayPal-centric (not church-branded). Limited donor data and fundraising features, and some nonprofits fear account holds or ideological conflicts with PayPal’s policies.
Givebutter
Pros: No required fees – if donors opt to “tip”, platform fees drop to 0%. Packed with features (fundraising pages, peer-to-peer, events, text-to-give). Modern interface, with all tools on one platform.
Cons: Reliance on donor tips (if most donors remove tips, the 3% platform fee kicks in). Not tailored specifically to churches (though it works well).
Sources: We drew on official pricing pages and reviews (e.g. Txt2Give, Donorbox, Givelify, Continue to Give) and industry guides to ensure accuracy. Peer reviews on G2/Capterra were also consulted for real-world pros/cons. This information should help your church evaluate its best, budget-friendly giving solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Every platform charges payment processing fees (~2.2%+30¢ for cards, less for ACH). Most also add a platform fee or flat-rate. For example, Txt2Give has a flat 2.5% fee, Givelify is 2.9%+30¢, while Donorbox starts at 2.95%. Some services like Givebutter offer 0% fees if donors add a tip. Many platforms let donors “cover the fees” (Tithe.ly reports ~60% cover them), which saves your ministry money. Always compare the total effective rate: for instance, PayPal’s nonprofit rate is ~1.99%+49¢.
Generally, no. Most services are month-to-month. Tithe.ly, Breeze (Tithely Church Mgmt), Donorbox, Givelify, Txt2Give and others advertise no contracts and let you cancel anytime. For example, Donorbox explicitly states “no setup or cancellation fees”. Always check terms, but small church plans are usually flexible.
Support varies by provider. Many offer free online help or chat. Txt2Give is known for “amazing” customer service. Donorbox has extensive documentation and email support. Tithe.ly provides tutorials and phone/chat support. Givebutter and Continue To Give also have responsive help desks. Higher-tier plans often include onboarding assistance (e.g. Tithe.ly’s premium onboarding for $599).
Check each vendor: Donorbox, for instance, offers a paid service to migrate recurring donors (they advertise a one-time $195 migration fee), which can be handy if switching from another system. Most platforms allow exporting donors and gifts as CSV, so you can import into your new system. Plan to communicate changes to your congregation for a smooth transition.
Look out for text-to-give add-ons or required plan upgrades. For example, Tithe.ly charges $19/mo extra for texting, Continue to Give charges $10/mo for a custom text code. Some kiosks or advanced features (like Donorbox Live™ for in-person giving) incur extra monthly fees. Read fine print on card-not-present surcharges (some platforms charge 1.5% extra for manual entry). But reputable church giving platforms are usually transparent about fees upfront.