Planning Center Online Review: Is It the Right Fit for Your Church?

Barry Voorhies
Feb 17
3 min read

Managing a church effectively requires organization, communication, and the right digital tools. Planning Center Online (PCO) has become one of the most popular church management platforms, offering a suite of tools designed to streamline everything from worship planning to member engagement. But is it the right fit for your church? In this review, we’ll explore PCO’s features, pricing, pros, and cons to help you decide.

What Is Planning Center Online?

Planning Center Online is a cloud-based church management software that provides a range of modules to help churches manage their ministries efficiently. Unlike all-in-one software with a fixed package, PCO allows churches to pick and choose the features they need, making it highly customizable and scalable.

Key Modules in Planning Center Online:

Services – Worship planning, scheduling, and team coordination.
People – Centralized church member database and profile management.
Giving – Online donations, recurring giving, and financial tracking.
Groups – Small group management, communication, and event planning.
Check-Ins – Secure child check-in and attendance tracking.
Calendar – Event scheduling, room reservations, and coordination.
Registrations – Event sign-ups, payment processing, and form creation.
Publishing – Website and app integration for sermon distribution and communication.

Pros of Planning Center Online

✅ User-Friendly Interface

PCO is designed with a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy for both staff and volunteers to navigate. The mobile-friendly platform allows for access on the go, making church management more flexible.

✅ Modular Pricing

Unlike many church management systems that charge a flat fee for everything, PCO allows churches to only pay for the tools they actually use. This can be a cost-effective solution for churches of different sizes.

✅ Cloud-Based & Mobile Friendly

Since PCO is cloud-based, users can access it from anywhere, whether on desktop or mobile devices. This is especially useful for pastors, worship leaders, and admin teams who need real-time access to schedules and data.

✅ Strong Integration Options

Planning Center integrates seamlessly with other tools like Mailchimp, Stripe (for payments), SongSelect (for worship planning), and even live streaming platforms. This makes it easier to build a fully connected digital ecosystem for your church.

✅ Excellent Customer Support & Regular Updates

PCO has a reputation for responsive customer support and continuous updates. New features and improvements are released regularly, ensuring that the platform remains relevant and useful.

Cons of Planning Center Online

❌ Costs Can Add Up

While the modular pricing model is great for flexibility, costs can increase quickly as you add more modules. Large churches using multiple features may find the pricing competitive but not necessarily budget-friendly.

❌ Learning Curve for Beginners

Some modules, particularly Services and Check-Ins, may take time for new users to fully understand. While there are plenty of tutorials and support resources, staff and volunteers might require some training to use the platform effectively.

❌ Limited Customization in Certain Areas

While PCO offers flexibility in module selection, some churches may find the customization options for reports, workflows, and branding somewhat limited compared to other church management solutions.

Who Should Use Planning Center Online?

PCO is a great fit for: ✔ Medium to large churches that need a scalable, digital church management system.✔ Churches that actively plan worship services and events, requiring structured scheduling tools.✔ Ministries looking for strong integrations with giving platforms, live streaming services, and other church tech tools.✔ Churches that value mobile access and cloud-based solutions for remote management.

PCO may not be ideal for: ❌ Very small churches with limited budgets that only need basic administrative tools.❌ Churches looking for a completely free church management system (though some PCO tools offer free versions, full functionality requires a paid plan).❌ Ministries that require extensive customization beyond what PCO provides.

How Much Does Planning Center Cost?

PCO offers modular pricing, meaning you pay separately for each module based on the size of your church and the number of active members using it. Prices start as low as $14/month for small churches and scale up depending on usage.

Additionally, Planning Center offers a free trial, allowing churches to explore the platform before committing.

Final Verdict: Is Planning Center Online Worth It?

Planning Center Online is one of the most comprehensive, user-friendly, and scalable church management systems available. Its modular approach makes it highly flexible, catering to churches of all sizes. However, churches should carefully evaluate their budget and specific needs before committing, as costs can rise with added features.

Recommendation: If your church is looking for a modern, well-supported, and feature-rich management tool, PCO is absolutely worth considering. However, smaller churches on tight budgets may want to explore more cost-effective alternatives before deciding.