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