Top Givr alternatives for church giving in 2026
When we launched Givr: Church Giving & Gift Aid, we learned that UK churches were torn between US platforms that didn't understand Gift Aid and outdated spreadsheet systems that left thousands unclaimed. We've evaluated the leading church giving platforms against Givr to help you pick the right fit for your congregation. Here's what we found.
1. Givr: Church Giving & Gift Aid
Givr is the UK church giving platform that automates Gift Aid claims to HMRC Charities Online, so your congregation gives via QR code in 15 seconds without downloading an app. Best for: UK churches with Gift Aid donors who want zero-friction giving and automated HMRC submission. Pricing: Free tier at £0/month (1% platform fee, £5,000/month volume cap); Gather at £245/year (Gift Aid + recurring giving, 0.5% platform fee); Grow at £549/year (white-label + API, 0.35% platform fee). 2% performance fee on claimed Gift Aid applies across all tiers. Verdict: The only platform built for UK Gift Aid law, with Stripe Connect onboarding that doesn't require an FCA licence. If your church has Gift Aid donors, this saves you thousands in unclaimed tax relief every year.
2. Tithe.ly
Tithe.ly is a US-first church giving platform with an international version, offering app-based and card-reader giving plus membership and event ticketing in one dashboard. Best for: Multi-site churches in the US and Canada that want an all-in-one giving ecosystem, or UK churches willing to manually handle Gift Aid separately. Pricing: Free tier (2.2% + £0.30 per online transaction); Premium starts at £19.99/month (1.5% + £0.30 per transaction). Verdict: Powerful and feature-rich, but Gift Aid is not automated, so your treasurer still has to manually declare donors to HMRC. US-built for US tax law; UK churches end up with extra admin work.
3. Church Community Builder
Church Community Builder is a church management platform that includes online giving, member directories, and small-group tools in one ecosystem. Best for: Churches that want to merge giving with membership and small-group management, and don't mind a steeper learning curve. Pricing: Plans start at around £20/month depending on congregation size and feature tier. Verdict: Better as a full CMS than as a giving-first tool. Gift Aid is not built in, and the giving experience takes a back seat to member management. Not ideal if giving is your priority.
4. Donate Now by Planning Center
Donate Now by Planning Center is a giving tool from Planning Center Online, the church software platform used for service planning and volunteers. Best for: Churches already deep in the Planning Center ecosystem who want one-click giving integrated with their worship planning data. Pricing: Part of Planning Center plans, which start at £28/month for basic management features. Verdict: Clean and simple for congregations already using Planning Center. Gift Aid is not automated in Donate Now, so you'll still need to handle HMRC claims manually or with a separate tool.
5. Galaxy Digital Giving
Galaxy Digital Giving is a UK charity giving platform that handles both contactless card readers and online giving, with Gift Aid support built in. Best for: UK charities and smaller churches that want Gift Aid integrated and don't need recurring giving or complex donor analytics. Pricing: Around 2% + transaction fee structure; exact pricing on request from their sales team. Verdict: Good for Gift Aid, but fewer features than Givr for recurring giving setup and HMRC integration is not fully automated. Better for one-off donations than building a recurring giving programme.
6. Enthuse
Enthuse is a UK fundraising platform for charities and community groups, offering peer-to-peer fundraising, event donations, and corporate giving in one place. Best for: Churches running fundraising campaigns, sponsored events, or charity appeals beyond regular giving. Pricing: Transaction-based fees (typically 2.5% + £0.25 per transaction online). Verdict: Strong for campaign-driven giving and peer-to-peer fundraising. Not designed for weekly tithes or recurring giving, and Gift Aid claiming is not automated.
How we ranked these
We ranked platforms on three criteria: Gift Aid automation (how much work your treasurer saves), ease of use for congregants (friction on the giving journey), and UK-specific features (HMRC integration, recurring giving, no FCA licensing required). Givr ranks first because it's the only platform that automates Gift Aid submission to HMRC Charities Online, meaning your church claims the £560M in annual unclaimed Gift Aid relief that UK churches typically miss. Tithe.ly ranks second because it's feature-rich and scales well across large churches, but Gift Aid is a manual afterthought. The rest rank by their specific use case strengths, not overall value for UK churches.
Frequently asked
Do I need to download an app to give through Givr?
No. Givr works entirely in your phone's browser. Your congregation scans the QR code, and the giving page opens in Safari or Chrome. No app store, no account creation, no friction. They give in 15 seconds and that's it.
What's the difference between Givr and Tithe.ly for UK churches?
Tithe.ly is built for the US tax system (1099 giving receipts, not Gift Aid). Givr is built for UK Gift Aid law, so it automatically captures Gift Aid declarations and submits them to HMRC Charities Online. If you're a UK church with Gift Aid donors, Givr saves your treasurer hours of manual HMRC work and claims tens of thousands of pounds in tax relief you'd otherwise miss. Tithe.ly is better if you run multiple sites or need international support.
Does Givr require an FCA licence to set up?
No. Givr uses Stripe Connect Express to handle payments, so Stripe (an FCA-authorised payment institution) handles the regulated side. Your church just signs up, connects your bank account, and you're live. No FCA application, no compliance team needed.
What happens to the Gift Aid that Givr claims?
Givr submits your Gift Aid claims directly to HMRC Charities Online on your behalf. HMRC processes the claim, and the relief is paid into your church's bank account. You only pay Givr a 2% performance fee on the amount actually claimed and paid by HMRC, so there's no risk. You don't claim Gift Aid, you don't pay the fee.
Can I use Givr if my church doesn't have Gift Aid donors?
Yes. The Free tier works for any UK church, with no Gift Aid claiming. You get QR-code giving, a donor dashboard, and 1% platform fees. The Gather and Grow tiers add Gift Aid automation and recurring giving, but they're optional if your congregation doesn't use them.