Blackbaud Church Management vs Planning Center
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Church Management Software (2026). Last verified June 13, 2026.
The short answer
Planning Center ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #9) for Churches managing members and giving. A flexible, modular system where each component is a best-in-class tool.
At a glance
| Blackbaud Church Management | Planning Center | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #9 / The 11 Best Church Management Software (2026) | #1 / The 11 Best Church Management Software (2026) |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 7.5 | 9.2 |
| Best for | Enterprise CRM for large churches | Modular, a la carte ChMS |
| Pricing | $$$$ ($600 to $2000+/mo) | $$ ($100 to $500/mo) |
| HQ | Charleston, USA | Carlsbad, USA |
| Founded | 1981 | 2006 |
Blackbaud Church Management
An enterprise nonprofit CRM adapted for complex church organizations.
www.blackbaud.com/solutions/church-managementSee full entry in The 11 Best Church Management Software (2026)
Planning Center
A flexible, modular system where each component is a best-in-class tool.
www.planningcenter.comSee full entry in The 11 Best Church Management Software (2026)
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.