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Software · head to head

OpenLP vs Tithe.ly

OpenLP logo

OpenLP

Software

Free, open-source presentation software for churches

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tithe.ly logo

Tithe.ly

Software

Complete giving and church management solution

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: OpenLP there is no standalone mobile app; the Android and iOS apps are remote controls for a desktop running OpenLP; Tithe.ly card giving carries a 2.9% plus $0.30 fee, so every donation is reduced before it reaches the church
  • They diverge on capability: OpenLP covers Presentation, Tithe.ly covers Online Giving.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenLP and Tithe.ly actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenLP and Tithe.ly differ
AttributeOpenLPTithe.ly
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
PlatformsWindows, Mac, LinuxWeb, IOS, Android
Founded20042013

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

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 OpenLP

  • Presentation
  • Lyric Display
  • Media Playback
  • Bible Display
  • Theme Support
  • Plugin System
  • Custom Layouts
  • Scripture Integration

Only in Tithe.ly

  • Online Giving
  • Membership Management
  • Attendance Tracking
  • Accounting Software
  • Planning Center
  • PayPal
  • Stripe
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

OpenLP

  • Member managementnot Tithe.ly
  • Donation trackingnot Tithe.ly
  • Event planningnot Tithe.ly
  • Volunteer schedulingnot Tithe.ly
  • Communicationnot Tithe.ly

Tithe.ly

  • Online and text giving for churchesnot OpenLP
  • Church management, websites and mobile apps for congregationsnot OpenLP

Where each one falls short

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

OpenLP

  • There is no standalone mobile app; the Android and iOS apps are remote controls for a desktop running OpenLP
  • Only the most recent Fedora release and Debian unstable are supported on those distributions
  • The Flatpak build is experimental and the OpenLP team states it does not support its use
  • Requires macOS 10.15 or higher and Windows 10 or higher

Tithe.ly

  • Card giving carries a 2.9% plus $0.30 fee, so every donation is reduced before it reaches the church
  • American Express is charged at 3.5% plus $0.30
  • ACH at 1% plus $0.30 makes small bank transfers proportionally expensive
  • Church management is $72 a month and the mobile app $89, sold separately from the free giving product
  • Bundling everything is $119 a month, so a church wanting app, website and management pays regardless of donation volume

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenLP

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Full features
    • No restrictions
    • Community support

Tithe.ly

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic giving
    • Up to 100 members
    • Mobile app
  • Pro$99/month
    • Full suite
    • Unlimited members
    • Advanced reports

Which should you pick?

Choose OpenLP if

  • You need presentation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux.
  • You also want lyric display.
OpenLP review

Choose Tithe.ly if

  • You need online giving.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want membership management.
Tithe.ly review

Questions people ask

Is OpenLP or Tithe.ly better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenLP starts at Free and Tithe.ly at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenLP or Tithe.ly?
OpenLP starts at Free and Tithe.ly at Free.
Does OpenLP or Tithe.ly run on more platforms?
OpenLP runs on Windows, Mac, Linux. Tithe.ly runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use OpenLP for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is OpenLP best used for?
OpenLP is most often used for member management, donation tracking, event planning, volunteer scheduling. Of those, member management and donation tracking are not what Tithe.ly is typically brought in for.
What can OpenLP do that Tithe.ly cannot?
OpenLP covers Presentation, Lyric Display, Media Playback, Bible Display. Tithe.ly covers Online Giving, Membership Management, Attendance Tracking, Accounting Software.
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