Church Website Builders
Tithe.ly vs Subsplash: Which Church Builder Is Better?
Tithe.ly and Subsplash are the two biggest church-specific technology platforms, and most churches shopping for an all-in-one solution will compare them head-to-head. Both offer websites, apps, giving, and communication tools. Both market specifically to churches. But they serve different needs, budgets, and church sizes.
We’ve used both platforms extensively. This is a detailed, honest comparison to help you decide which one fits your church — not a rehash of marketing pages.
In This Guide
- Quick Verdict
- Feature-by-Feature Comparison
- Websites: Tithe.ly Sites vs. Subsplash Sites
- Mobile App: Subsplash’s Strongest Advantage
- Online Giving: Core Feature for Both
- Sermon and Media Management
- Church Management (ChMS)
- Pricing Comparison
- When to Choose Tithe.ly
- When to Choose Subsplash
- Our Real-World Recommendation
Quick Verdict
Choose Tithe.ly if your church is small to mid-size, budget-conscious, needs a website first and foremost, and wants to start free or cheap with room to grow.
Choose Subsplash if your church is mid-size to large, prioritizes a custom mobile app, wants the best sermon/media management, and has the budget for a premium platform.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Tithe.ly | Subsplash |
|---|---|---|
| Website builder | Included (Tithe.ly Sites) | Included (Subsplash Sites) |
| Website design quality | Good — clean, modern templates | Good — slightly more template variety |
| Custom mobile app | Available (paid add-on) | Core strength — best church app platform |
| Online giving | Core feature, excellent | Included, solid |
| Giving processing fee | 2.9% + $0.30 (credit/debit) | 2.99% + $0.30 standalone; 2.3% + $0.30 on Subsplash One |
| ACH/bank transfer fee | 1% + $0.30 | 1% (no fixed fee) |
| Text-to-give | Yes | Yes |
| Sermon management | Basic — audio/video hosting | Advanced — best-in-class media management |
| Live streaming | Available | Available (strong integration) |
| Church management (ChMS) | Tithe.ly People (included in higher tiers) | Limited — relies on integrations |
| Communication tools | Email and SMS included | Push notifications, SMS, email |
| Check-in | Available | Available |
| Groups management | Available | Available |
| Free tier | Free giving only (site is $19/mo) | Free giving only (Subsplash Giving $0/mo) |
| Starting price (paid) | ~$19/month | ~$99-199/month (custom quote) |
| Pricing transparency | Published on website | Quote required for most plans |
| Best for church size | Under 500 attendance | 500+ attendance |
| Integrations | Planning Center, Mailchimp, others | Planning Center, strong API |
Websites: Tithe.ly Sites vs. Subsplash Sites
Both platforms include a website builder, and both produce clean, mobile-responsive church websites. Neither will win a design award against Squarespace, but both look professional and include church-specific content sections (sermons, events, giving, staff).
Tithe.ly Sites is slightly easier to use for non-technical volunteers. The drag-and-drop editor is intuitive, and the $19/month entry price keeps the barrier low. Templates are clean but somewhat limited in variety.
Subsplash Sites offers more template options and slightly more customization depth. The editor is capable but has a steeper learning curve. There’s no free website tier — Subsplash Giving is free standalone, but the platform itself is paid from day one.
Winner: Tithe.ly — The $19/month entry price and free standalone giving make it the better choice for most churches. If you’re comparing paid tiers only, it’s close to a tie.
Mobile App: Subsplash’s Strongest Advantage
This is where Subsplash clearly separates itself. Subsplash was originally a mobile app company, and their church app is still the best in the industry. Custom-branded, available on iOS and Android, with deep integration for sermons, giving, push notifications, events, and media.
The app experience is polished: smooth navigation, fast loading, offline sermon access, and a design that matches your church’s branding. Push notifications through the app are one of the most effective ways to reach your congregation — better open rates than email.
Tithe.ly offers a mobile app as well, but it’s a newer addition to their platform and not as mature. The app works and covers the basics, but it doesn’t match Subsplash’s depth or polish. If a custom church app is a priority for your church, Subsplash is the clear choice.
Winner: Subsplash — Not close. Their app is best-in-class.
Online Giving: Core Feature for Both
Both platforms handle online giving well. Fees are close but not identical: Tithe.ly charges 2.9% + $0.30 for cards and 1% + $0.30 for ACH; Subsplash charges 2.99% + $0.30 standalone (2.3% + $0.30 on its full platform) and 1% with no fixed fee for ACH. Both support recurring giving, text-to-give, and giving statements.
Tithe.ly has a slight edge here because giving was their original product. The giving experience is refined, the donor interface is clean, and the admin tools for tracking and reporting are excellent. Tithe.ly also offers a standalone giving product you can use without their website or app — useful if you only need giving.
Subsplash Giving is equally functional but feels more like one feature among many rather than the flagship product. The in-app giving experience is excellent (leveraging the strong app), and text-to-give works seamlessly.
Winner: Tithe.ly — Marginally, because of their giving-first heritage and standalone giving option.
Sermon and Media Management
Subsplash excels at media management. Their platform handles sermon audio, video, series organization, speaker profiles, and media libraries with more sophistication than Tithe.ly. If your church produces a lot of media content — multiple sermon series, podcast-style content, video teachings — Subsplash’s tools are superior.
Tithe.ly handles sermon management adequately. You can upload audio and video, organize by series and speaker, and display sermons on your website. For most churches that publish one sermon per week, it’s sufficient. But for churches with extensive media libraries, Subsplash is the better tool.
For best practices on either platform, see our sermon archive guide.
Winner: Subsplash — Especially for media-heavy churches.
Church Management (ChMS)
Tithe.ly includes Tithe.ly People, a church management system, in their higher-tier plans. It covers member directories, groups, volunteer management, and basic pastoral care tracking. It’s not as comprehensive as dedicated ChMS tools like Planning Center or Breeze, but for churches that want everything in one place, it’s a genuine option.
Subsplash doesn’t offer a full ChMS. They integrate with external tools — most notably Planning Center — and focus on being the front-end experience (website + app) rather than the back-end management tool. This is actually a smart approach if your church already uses and loves Planning Center.
Winner: Tithe.ly — If you want ChMS included. Subsplash — If you prefer best-of-breed tools connected via integrations.
Pricing Comparison
This is where the decision gets real for most churches.
| Tier | Tithe.ly | Subsplash |
|---|---|---|
| Free/Entry | $19/mo site; giving free | Giving free ($0/mo); no free site or app |
| Basic paid | ~$19/month | ~$99-149/month |
| Mid-tier | ~$99/month | ~$199-299/month |
| Full platform | ~$149/month | ~$299-499/month (custom) |
| Custom app add-on | Additional cost | Included in most plans |
Tithe.ly is roughly half the cost of Subsplash at comparable feature levels. The free tier makes the gap even larger for churches that are just getting started. For a small church spending $50-100/month with Tithe.ly, switching to Subsplash would mean $200-400/month for a similar feature set plus a better app.
Is the better app and media management worth 2-3x the cost? For some churches, absolutely. For most small and mid-size churches, probably not. For a broader cost comparison, see our church website cost guide.
When to Choose Tithe.ly
- Your church has under 500 weekly attendance. Tithe.ly’s feature set is built for this range, and the pricing matches a smaller church budget.
- Budget is a primary concern. The low entry price and free standalone giving make Tithe.ly accessible to almost any church.
- You need a website more than an app. If your congregation primarily accesses content through your website (not an app), Tithe.ly’s website tools are all you need.
- You want giving + website in one place. Tithe.ly’s giving-first approach means seamless integration between your site and online donations.
- You want to start free and upgrade later. No other church platform offers a genuine free tier.
When to Choose Subsplash
- Your church has 500+ weekly attendance. Larger churches benefit more from the app (higher adoption rates) and media tools.
- A custom mobile app is a priority. If your leadership has identified an app as a key communication channel, Subsplash is the best church app platform.
- You produce extensive media content. Multiple sermon series, podcasts, video teachings, and media libraries are handled better by Subsplash.
- You already use Planning Center. Subsplash integrates well with Planning Center, creating a strong front-end (Subsplash) + back-end (PCO) combination.
- Push notifications matter to you. Subsplash’s app-based push notifications have better engagement rates than email or SMS for reaching your congregation.
Our Real-World Recommendation
For most churches reading this article — especially those under 500 in attendance — Tithe.ly is the better choice. The combination of a low $19/month entry price, free standalone giving, transparent pricing, a solid website builder, and a growing feature set makes it the most practical option for the majority of churches.
Subsplash is the better platform, feature for feature, at the premium tier. But “better” only matters if your church needs those premium features and can afford the premium price. A $300/month platform that your church can’t sustain isn’t better than a $49/month platform that serves you well for years.
If you’re still unsure, start with Tithe.ly’s 30-day free trial. Build your website, set up giving, and use the platform for 3-6 months. If you hit limitations that matter — especially around the mobile app or media management — then evaluate Subsplash. You’ll be making the decision based on actual experience rather than marketing materials.
And if neither platform appeals to you, remember that a general-purpose builder like Squarespace paired with a standalone giving tool can produce a beautiful website at a lower total cost than either church-specific platform. See our church website builders comparison for all the options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from Tithe.ly to Subsplash (or vice versa)?
Yes, but it requires rebuilding your website and migrating your giving data. Sermon content, member information, and website design won’t transfer automatically between platforms. The process typically takes 2-4 weeks and is similar to a full website redesign. Giving history can usually be exported as CSV files for record-keeping.
Do both platforms handle recurring giving well?
Yes. Both Tithe.ly and Subsplash support recurring giving with options for weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly schedules. Donors can manage their recurring gifts through the website or app. Both platforms send giving receipts and year-end statements. Card fees are nearly identical — 2.9% + $0.30 vs 2.99% + $0.30 (2.3% on the full Subsplash platform) — so the financial difference for giving is small.
Which platform has better customer support?
Both offer chat and email support. Subsplash is generally reported to have more responsive support with dedicated account managers for larger churches. Tithe.ly’s support is adequate but can be slower during peak times. If responsive support is critical to your church, ask about dedicated account management during your evaluation of either platform.
Do I need a church app at all?
Most churches under 300-500 attendance don’t need a custom app. A well-built, mobile-responsive website handles the same functions — sermons, events, giving, contact — without requiring people to download anything. Apps become valuable when your congregation is large enough for high adoption rates and when you want to use push notifications as a primary communication channel. If you’re unsure, start without an app and add one later if there’s demand.
Can I use Tithe.ly giving with a Squarespace website?
Yes. Tithe.ly’s giving tools can be embedded on any website, including Squarespace, WordPress, or Wix. You don’t need to use Tithe.ly Sites to use Tithe.ly giving. Many churches use Squarespace for their website (better design) and Tithe.ly for giving (best church giving platform) — it’s a strong combination.
