Softwr

Church & Religious · head to head

ChurchPlanner vs SermonAudio

C

ChurchPlanner

Church & Religious

Integrated church service and ministry planning platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

SermonAudio

Church & Religious

Free sermon hosting and distribution platform for churches

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ChurchPlanner limited to basic church management functions; lacks financial/giving analysis compared to full suites; SermonAudio app requires reconfiguration after restart and resets items to default ordering
  • They diverge on capability: ChurchPlanner covers Service Planning, SermonAudio covers Sermon Hosting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ChurchPlanner and SermonAudio actually diverge.

Attributes where ChurchPlanner and SermonAudio differ
AttributeChurchPlannerSermonAudio
PlatformsWeb, Android mobile appiOS, Android, Web
Founded20202005

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Church & Religious).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ChurchPlanner

  • Service Planning
  • Team Collaboration
  • Volunteer Scheduling
  • Song Selection
  • Planning Center
  • Music Databases
  • Calendar Systems
  • Email Notifications

Only in SermonAudio

  • Sermon Hosting
  • Podcast Distribution
  • Audio Transcription
  • Analytics
  • Podcast Platforms
  • Website Integration
  • Email Distribution
  • Social Media Sharing

Both cover

  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ChurchPlanner

  • Member management
  • Donation tracking
  • Event planning
  • Volunteer scheduling
  • Communication

SermonAudio

  • Member management
  • Donation tracking
  • Event planning
  • Volunteer scheduling
  • Communication

Both are used for member management, donation tracking, event planning, volunteer scheduling, communication, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ChurchPlanner

  • Limited to basic church management functions; lacks financial/giving analysis compared to full suites
  • No built-in website or membership portal included in pricing
  • Mobile app limited to Android; limited iOS functionality

SermonAudio

  • App requires reconfiguration after restart and resets items to default ordering
  • Bookmark search functionality sometimes returns no results due to app bugs
  • Mobile app limited to iOS and Android without web-based access for church administrators

Pricing, plan by plan

ChurchPlanner

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 15 contacts
    • Unlimited trial period
    • No credit card required
  • Premium$9.99/month
    • Up to 80 contacts
    • Service planning and volunteer scheduling
    • Attendance tracking
  • Pro$19.99/month
    • Unlimited contacts
    • All Premium features
    • SMS and email reminders

SermonAudio

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the SermonAudio review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ChurchPlanner if

  • You need service planning.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Android mobile app.
  • You also want team collaboration.
ChurchPlanner review

Choose SermonAudio if

  • You need sermon hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want podcast distribution.
SermonAudio review

Questions people ask

Is ChurchPlanner or SermonAudio better?
Neither clearly leads. ChurchPlanner starts at Free and SermonAudio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ChurchPlanner or SermonAudio?
ChurchPlanner starts at Free and SermonAudio at Free.
Does ChurchPlanner or SermonAudio run on more platforms?
ChurchPlanner runs on Web, Android mobile app. SermonAudio runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use ChurchPlanner for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is ChurchPlanner best used for?
ChurchPlanner is most often used for member management, donation tracking, event planning, volunteer scheduling.
What can ChurchPlanner do that SermonAudio cannot?
ChurchPlanner covers Service Planning, Team Collaboration, Volunteer Scheduling, Song Selection. SermonAudio covers Sermon Hosting, Podcast Distribution, Audio Transcription, Analytics. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ChurchPlanner: How much does ChurchPlanner cost?

ChurchPlanner has a free tier with up to 15 contacts indefinitely (no credit card required), Premium at $9.99 CAD/month (up to 80 contacts), and Pro at $19.99 CAD/month (unlimited contacts with SMS reminders).

Source
SermonAudio: Is SermonAudio free for listening to sermons?

Yes, the sermon library of nearly 3 million audio and video sermons from conservative Christian churches is free to access. However, churches and ministries that want to broadcast their own sermons must pay a subscription fee.

Source
ChurchPlanner: Does ChurchPlanner include worship planning?

Yes. ChurchPlanner includes worship planning with service order building, ministry team scheduling, and support for chord charts in ChordPro format.

Source
SermonAudio: What is the cost for churches to broadcast sermons on SermonAudio?

SermonAudio offers a flat-fee subscription model at $29.95/month, with smaller ministries potentially eligible for financial aid through a third-party scholarship program.

Source
ChurchPlanner: Can volunteers get automated reminders?

Yes. ChurchPlanner sends automated SMS and email reminders to volunteers before services, reducing no-shows on the Pro plan.

Source
SermonAudio: What platforms does SermonAudio support for accessing sermons?

SermonAudio supports native apps across a wide range of devices, including iOS, Android, and web browsers, allowing access to sermons anytime, anywhere.

Source
ChurchPlanner: Is attendance tracking included?

Yes. ChurchPlanner includes attendance tracking from any device with trend analysis and follow-up flagging capabilities.

Source
SermonAudio: Does SermonAudio provide offline access to downloaded sermons?

Yes, the app supports offline download capabilities, allowing you to download sermon audio or video and access them even without an internet connection.

Source
ChurchPlanner: Can I export my church data?

Yes. ChurchPlanner emphasizes data ownership and allows users to export their information anytime without restrictions.

Source
SermonAudio: What integrations does SermonAudio offer?

SermonAudio integrates with Logos Bible Software, Blue Letter Bible, Biblearc, and Church Plant Media, enabling seamless distribution and organization of sermon content across platforms.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on ChurchPlanner

More on SermonAudio

Keep looking

Other head to heads