GLAD vs Planning Center
GLAD
ministrysaas.com
Planning Center
planningcenter.comSide by side
| Figure | GLAD | Planning Center |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $37/mo | $15/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 9 | 11 |
| Spec score · Church Background Check Software | 7.9 (#17) | 9.0 (#7) |
| Integrations | The site names Checkr for background checks, Stripe Connect for giving, Twilio for SMS, and Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams for life-group meetings. | The integrations directory includes services such as BoxCast, Checkr, Mailchimp, PraiseCharts, SongSelect, Zapier, Clearstream and ProPresenter; most connections are maintained by third parties. |
| Intended users | The maker presents GLAD as software for churches and describes features for staff, volunteers, worship teams, ministry leaders, and multiple campuses. | Planning Center describes its products as suitable for churches of any size, including small neighborhood churches and churches with multiple campuses. |
| Security | The privacy policy says GLAD uses TLS/HTTPS in transit, encrypts sensitive stored fields, hashes passwords with bcrypt, and applies role-based access controls. | Planning Center states it is SOC 2 Type 2 certified and PCI Level One compliant, encrypts data in transit and at rest, and uses a multilayered backup strategy. |
| Support | The pricing page describes founder-direct support; Church includes email support, Church Plus adds chat, and Multi-Campus adds phone support. | Support is free for customers and noncustomers, with a stated response time of about one business hour Monday through Friday and a weekend crew for emergencies. |
Plans
GLAD
- StarterFree
- Grow$74 a month
- Church$186 a month
- Church Plus$312 a month
- Grow$444 a year
- Multi-Campus$599 a month
- Church$1,116 a year
- Church Plus$1,872 a year
- Multi-Campus$3,600 a year
Planning Center
- CalendarFree
- PeopleFree
- ServicesFree
- Services FreeFree
- Services 20$15 a month
- Services 50$32 a month
- Services 150$69 a month
- Services 400$115 a month
- Services 1000$179 a month
- Services$239 a month
In their own words
GLAD
GLAD is web-based church management software that brings people, schedules, volunteers, giving, worship, websites, and administration into one service. The maker describes 15 integrated modules without separate logins, duplicate entry, or per-module pricing. Worship teams get Stage Deck tools for editing ChordPro, transposing automatically, syncing across devices, using backing tracks and PDF sheet music, and operating a Bluetooth foot pedal. Scheduling includes a drag-and-drop matrix, AI-generated drafts, rotation templates, volunteer blackout dates, and burnout alerts. Listed integrations include Checkr for background checks, Stripe Connect for giving, Twilio for SMS, and Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams for life-group meetings. Events can also be published to Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Permission controls cover 43 permissions across 15 areas, with distinct access for medical, giving, and background-check information. Starter is free and limited to 50 people, 10 AI credits monthly, 500 MB of storage, one location or floor plan, a subdomain, and a 1% giving fee. Paid plans start with Grow at $74 a month; higher tiers add capacity and support options.
Planning Center
Planning Center is a church ministry platform with products for people management, events, worship planning, donations, groups, and church apps. People centralizes membership information and ministry activity such as attendance, giving, and volunteering. Services supports worship planning, volunteer scheduling, team communication, and rehearsal tools. Other listed capabilities include group management, event registration, child check-in, and SMS messaging. Free plans are listed for Calendar, People, and Services: Calendar includes one room, People has an unlimited database and reporting, and Services includes five team members and 100 MB of storage. The pricing note lists paid access from $5/mo and a 30-day trial; a member limit of 75 is also listed. Services plans include unlimited feature access, teams, service types, and plans, with pricing based on the number of people accessing the system. The Services app supports iOS and Android phones and tablets, but not Windows devices. Integrations include SongSelect, PraiseCharts, Checkr, Mailchimp, Zapier, and third-party tools; an open API is also available. Planning Center states its products suit churches of any size.