Tithe.ly vs Aplos for Churches (2026)

Churches need two things working together: a way for members to give easily, and a way to manage those funds with proper accounting. Tithe.ly and Aplos approach this from opposite directions. Here is how they compare — and when the two-tool approach breaks down.

Quick Answer

Comparison data as of August 2026. Features and pricing may change.

Pricing as of August 2026. Check vendor websites for current pricing.

Tithe.ly is built around digital giving — mobile apps, text-to-give, and giving kiosks. Aplos is built around nonprofit fund accounting and bookkeeping. Neither fully replaces the other, which is why many churches run both.

Area	Tithe.ly	Aplos	Alignmint
Online giving	✅ Core strength	⚠️ Basic forms	✅ Connected to accounting
Mobile giving app	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Mobile-friendly
Text-to-give	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Included
Fund accounting	⚠️ Basic bookkeeping	✅ Core strength	✅ Full fund accounting
Financial statements	⚠️ Limited	✅ Yes	✅ Balance sheet, income, cash flow
Form 990 mapping	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Mapped to Form 990
Volunteer management	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Volunteer hour tracking
Church website builder	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No

Tithe.ly Strengths

Tithe.ly has become one of the most popular church giving platforms:

• Frictionless giving experience. The mobile app, text-to-give, and embeddable giving forms make it easy for members to give from anywhere. First-time givers can complete a donation in under a minute.
• Giving kiosks. For churches that want a physical giving station in the lobby, Tithe.ly offers kiosk mode — useful for congregations transitioning away from offering plates.
• Church app and website. Tithe.ly bundles a basic church app and website builder, consolidating your digital presence with your giving platform.
• Low barrier to start. Churches can begin accepting digital donations quickly with minimal setup. The free tier covers basic online giving with standard processing fees.

Aplos Strengths

Aplos remains a trusted name in nonprofit and church accounting:

• True fund accounting. Aplos handles restricted and unrestricted funds, fund-level reporting, and a chart of accounts designed for nonprofits and churches.
• Form 990 alignment. Financial reports map to Form 990 line items, reducing year-end preparation work for your treasurer or CPA.
• Budgeting tools. Budget-to-actual reporting by fund helps treasurers track spending against board-approved budgets throughout the year.
• Audit-ready reports. Churches preparing for audits or financial reviews get the standard reports auditors expect: balance sheet, income statement, and detailed transaction journals.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Tithe.ly	Aplos	Alignmint
Online giving	✅ Deep (core product)	⚠️ Basic forms	✅ Full giving + auto-reconciled
Mobile giving app	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Mobile-friendly giving
Text-to-give	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Included
Giving kiosks	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Fund accounting	⚠️ Basic bookkeeping	✅ Full	✅ Full fund accounting
Restricted fund enforcement	❌ No	⚠️ Tracking only	✅ Enforced restrictions
Financial statements	⚠️ Limited reports	✅ Full suite	✅ Balance sheet, P&L, cash flow
Form 990 mapping	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Mapped to Form 990
Donor management	⚠️ Giving history	⚠️ Basic tracking	✅ Full donor CRM
Volunteer management	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Full volunteer CRM + portal
Event management	⚠️ Basic via church app	❌ No	✅ 7 event types
AI assistant	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Minty AI

When Tithe.ly Is the Better Fit

Choose Tithe.ly if giving technology is your primary gap:

• Your church needs a mobile-first giving experience and text-to-give
• You already have accounting handled (QuickBooks, separate bookkeeper, or denominational reporting)
• You want a church app and website bundled with giving
• Lobby kiosks are important to your giving strategy
• Your treasurer is comfortable reconciling giving data into a separate accounting system

When Aplos Is the Better Fit

Choose Aplos if accounting and financial reporting are your primary needs:

• Your treasurer or bookkeeper needs proper fund accounting with restricted fund tracking
• You are preparing for an audit or financial review and need standard reports
• Form 990 preparation is time-consuming and you want reports that map directly
• You already have giving handled through your ChMS or a separate platform
• Budget tracking by fund is important to your board

When Neither Is Enough

The Tithe.ly + Aplos combination is common — but it creates real friction. Donations processed through Tithe.ly must be manually reconciled or imported into Aplos. Fund designations in your giving platform do not automatically enforce spending restrictions in your accounting. When a member designates a gift to the building fund in Tithe.ly, someone still has to post that entry in Aplos with the correct fund code.

Alignmint connects giving and church fund accounting in one platform. Every donation auto-posts to your general ledger with the correct fund allocation. Restricted funds enforce spending boundaries — not just track designations. Your treasurer sees real-time fund balances without waiting for month-end reconciliation. For churches under $100K in annual donations, it is free.

Bottom Line

Tithe.ly makes giving easy. Aplos makes accounting work. But if your church needs both — giving that flows directly into fund accounting without manual reconciliation — the two-tool stack creates ongoing work that a connected platform eliminates.

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Related:

• Church Fund Accounting
• Alignmint vs Aplos
• Best Accounting Software for Churches
• How to Track Tithes and Offerings