Church Windows
Church Windows is a flexible church management software providing integrated modules for tracking memberships, scheduling events, managing donations, and handling non-profit accounting to streamline your daily ministry operations.
Planning Center
Planning Center is a comprehensive church management software suite providing modular tools for attendance tracking, donation processing, volunteer scheduling, and worship service coordination to help ministries stay organized.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Church Windows | Planning Center |
|---|---|---|
| Website | churchwindows.com | planningcenter.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $41/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 0 days free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1987 | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Columbus, USA | Carlsbad, USA |
Overview
Church Windows
Church Windows provides a modular approach to managing your congregation's data and finances. You can choose specific modules for Membership, Scheduler, Donations, and Accounting, allowing you to build a system that fits your specific ministry needs. Whether you need to track attendance, manage complex fund accounting, or organize your church calendar, the platform keeps your information synchronized across all departments.
You can access the software through a traditional local installation or via a cloud-based hosting service for remote access. It is designed specifically for churches and non-profit organizations that require strict fund accounting standards and detailed member tracking. By centralizing your data, you eliminate double-entry and ensure your financial reports and member directories are always accurate and up to date.
Planning Center
Planning Center is a modular software suite designed to help you manage every aspect of your church's daily operations. Instead of a rigid, all-in-one system, you can choose specific applications for check-ins, giving, registrations, and worship planning. This flexibility allows you to build a custom toolkit that fits your ministry's unique size and specific workflow requirements without paying for features you don't use.
You can track member engagement, coordinate complex volunteer schedules, and process digital donations through a unified interface. The platform simplifies communication with your congregation through automated emails and a dedicated mobile app. Whether you are a small plant or a multi-site campus, you can scale your tools as your community grows while keeping your data synchronized across all departments.
Overview
Church Windows Features
- Member Tracking Maintain detailed records for individuals and families, including contact info, attendance history, and customizable skill or interest fields.
- Fund Accounting Manage your church finances with a true non-profit accounting system that handles restricted funds, budgets, and detailed financial reporting.
- Donation Management Track pledges and individual contributions easily while generating professional tax-compliant statements for your donors at year-end.
- Event Scheduling Organize your church calendar and manage room reservations to prevent double-bookings and keep your staff aligned on upcoming events.
- Payroll Integration Calculate taxes and process payroll for your church staff with a module that feeds directly into your accounting ledger.
- Cloud Access Work from home or the office by hosting your data in the cloud, giving your team secure access from any location.
Planning Center Features
- Services & Scheduling. Plan your worship sets and schedule volunteers with automated requests so your weekend services run without a hitch.
- People Database. Organize your member information in one central hub and track engagement levels to ensure no one falls through the cracks.
- Online Giving. Accept donations via credit card, ACH, or text-to-give and automatically generate year-end tax statements for your donors.
- Secure Check-Ins. Keep your children's ministry safe with fast label printing and secure pickup codes that give parents peace of mind.
- Event Registrations. Create custom sign-up forms for camps or conferences and process payments directly through your church website.
- Church Center App. Give your congregation a mobile home where they can join groups, register for events, and manage their own profiles.
Pricing Comparison
Church Windows Pricing
- Choice of one primary module
- Cloud-based hosting included
- Automatic data backups
- Technical support access
- Regular software updates
- Everything in Single Module, plus:
- Membership and Scheduler modules
- Donations and Accounting modules
- Payroll module integration
- Unified database for all departments
Planning Center Pricing
- Free versions of all apps
- Up to 5 Service members
- Up to 15 Check-ins/month
- Up to 10 Registration signups
- Unlimited People profiles
- Community support access
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Up to 25 Service members
- Unlimited service plans
- File storage for charts
- Volunteer scheduling tools
- Rehearsal pack integration
Pros & Cons
Church Windows
Pros
- Excellent fund accounting capabilities for non-profits
- Modular design lets you buy only what you need
- Highly responsive and knowledgeable technical support team
- Comprehensive reporting options for financial and member data
Cons
- Interface feels dated compared to modern web apps
- Steep learning curve for the accounting module
- Initial setup and data migration can be time-consuming
Planning Center
Pros
- Modular approach lets you pay only for needed features
- Highly intuitive interface requires very little staff training
- Excellent mobile app for both staff and congregation
- Seamless data syncing between different ministry modules
- Regular feature updates based on direct user feedback
Cons
- Costs can add up quickly when using multiple modules
- Limited customization for some automated email templates
- Reporting features can be basic for complex data needs