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OpenLP vs Tithely Church App

OpenLP logo

OpenLP

Software

Free, open-source presentation software for churches

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tithely Church App logo

Tithely Church App

Software

All-in-one app for church giving and engagement

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; Tithely Church App card donations carry 2.9 percent plus $0.30, rising to 3.5 percent on American Express, so the free giving tier is not free to the church
  • They diverge on capability: OpenLP covers Presentation, Tithely Church App covers Mobile Giving.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenLP and Tithely Church App actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenLP and Tithely Church App differ
AttributeOpenLPTithely Church App
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
PlatformsWindows, Mac, LinuxIOS, 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 Tithely Church App

  • Mobile Giving
  • Announcements
  • Event Calendar
  • Member Directory
  • Payment Processing
  • Church Management
  • Email Integration
  • Push Notifications

What people use each for

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

OpenLP

  • Member managementnot Tithely Church App
  • Donation trackingnot Tithely Church App
  • Event planningnot Tithely Church App
  • Volunteer schedulingnot Tithely Church App
  • Communicationnot Tithely Church App

Tithely Church App

  • Online and recurring giving for a congregationnot OpenLP
  • A branded church mobile appnot OpenLP
  • Church management including volunteer schedulingnot OpenLP
  • Pledge campaigns and giving statementsnot OpenLP
  • Church website hosting on the bundled plansnot 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

Tithely Church App

  • Card donations carry 2.9 percent plus $0.30, rising to 3.5 percent on American Express, so the free giving tier is not free to the church
  • Church management starts at $72 a month and the combined All Access plan is $119
  • The custom church app is $89 a month as a standalone product
  • Negotiated processing rates and a dedicated success manager require the Enterprise plan, aimed at congregations above 2,000 attendees

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenLP

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

Tithely Church App

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic app
    • Limited features
  • Plus$99/month
    • Full app
    • Advanced features
    • Giving analytics

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 Tithely Church App if

  • You need mobile giving.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on IOS, Android.
  • You also want announcements.
Tithely Church App review

Questions people ask

Is OpenLP or Tithely Church App better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenLP starts at Free and Tithely Church App at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenLP or Tithely Church App?
OpenLP starts at Free and Tithely Church App at Free.
Does OpenLP or Tithely Church App run on more platforms?
OpenLP runs on Windows, Mac, Linux. Tithely Church App runs on 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 Tithely Church App is typically brought in for.
What can OpenLP do that Tithely Church App cannot?
OpenLP covers Presentation, Lyric Display, Media Playback, Bible Display. Tithely Church App covers Mobile Giving, Announcements, Event Calendar, Member Directory.
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