Church & Religious · head to head
SermonAudio vs ChurchPlanner
SermonAudio
Church & Religious
Free sermon hosting and distribution platform for churches
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
ChurchPlanner
Church & Religious
Integrated church service and ministry planning platform
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: SermonAudio app requires reconfiguration after restart and resets items to default ordering; ChurchPlanner limited to basic church management functions; lacks financial/giving analysis compared to full suites
- They diverge on capability: SermonAudio covers Sermon Hosting, ChurchPlanner covers Service Planning.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which SermonAudio and ChurchPlanner actually diverge.
| Attribute | SermonAudio | ChurchPlanner |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | Web, Android mobile app |
| Founded | 2005 | 2020 |
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 SermonAudio
- Sermon Hosting
- Podcast Distribution
- Audio Transcription
- Analytics
- Podcast Platforms
- Website Integration
- Email Distribution
- Social Media Sharing
Only in ChurchPlanner
- Service Planning
- Team Collaboration
- Volunteer Scheduling
- Song Selection
- Planning Center
- Music Databases
- Calendar Systems
- Email Notifications
Both cover
- Web support
- IOS support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
SermonAudio
- Member management
- Donation tracking
- Event planning
- Volunteer scheduling
- Communication
ChurchPlanner
- 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.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
SermonAudio
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the SermonAudio review.
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
Which should you pick?
Choose SermonAudio if
- You need sermon hosting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want podcast distribution.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is SermonAudio or ChurchPlanner better?
- Neither clearly leads. SermonAudio starts at Free and ChurchPlanner at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, SermonAudio or ChurchPlanner?
- SermonAudio starts at Free and ChurchPlanner at Free.
- Does SermonAudio or ChurchPlanner run on more platforms?
- SermonAudio runs on iOS, Android, Web. ChurchPlanner runs on Web, Android mobile app.
- Can I use SermonAudio for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is SermonAudio best used for?
- SermonAudio is most often used for member management, donation tracking, event planning, volunteer scheduling.
- What can SermonAudio do that ChurchPlanner cannot?
- SermonAudio covers Sermon Hosting, Podcast Distribution, Audio Transcription, Analytics. ChurchPlanner covers Service Planning, Team Collaboration, Volunteer Scheduling, Song Selection. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourceChurchPlanner: 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).
SourceSermonAudio: 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.
SourceChurchPlanner: 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.
SourceSermonAudio: 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.
SourceChurchPlanner: Can volunteers get automated reminders?
Yes. ChurchPlanner sends automated SMS and email reminders to volunteers before services, reducing no-shows on the Pro plan.
SourceSermonAudio: 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.
SourceChurchPlanner: Is attendance tracking included?
Yes. ChurchPlanner includes attendance tracking from any device with trend analysis and follow-up flagging capabilities.
SourceSermonAudio: 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.
SourceChurchPlanner: Can I export my church data?
Yes. ChurchPlanner emphasizes data ownership and allows users to export their information anytime without restrictions.
Source