Key Takeaway
Pushpay is a giving-first enterprise platform costing $500–1,000+/month, best for mega churches focused on maximizing digital donations. Rehost builds custom church apps with integrated giving at $250/month with full code ownership. Choose Pushpay if giving optimization is your #1 priority and budget is no constraint. Choose Rehost for an all-in-one church app with giving, engagement features, and denomination-specific tools at a fraction of the cost.
Different Priorities, Different Platforms
Pushpay and Rehost solve different primary problems. Pushpay is a digital giving platform that happens to include a church app. Rehost is a custom app development studio that includes giving integration. This distinction matters because it shapes everything - pricing, features, and where each platform invests its development resources.
Pushpay has optimized every pixel of their giving flow to maximize donation conversion rates. Rehost builds complete church engagement platforms with giving as one of many features. Neither approach is wrong - it depends on whether giving optimization or overall engagement is your church's priority.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Pushpay | Rehost |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $500–1,000+/mo | $250/mo |
| Primary focus | Digital giving | Custom church app |
| Giving optimization | Industry-leading | Integrated (via Stripe/provider) |
| Recurring giving | Yes (optimized) | Yes |
| Custom branded app | Yes | Yes |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
| Denomination-specific features | No | Yes |
| Sermon library | Basic | Full (searchable) |
| Push notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Prayer wall | No | Yes |
| Small group management | Basic | Custom-built |
| Long-term contracts | Typically annual | None |
| ChMS integration | Yes (deep) | Custom integrations |
| Processing fees | Varies by plan | Varies by provider |
Choose Pushpay If...
- You're a large church (2,000+ members) where digital giving is the top priority
- You need industry-leading giving conversion rates and are willing to pay premium pricing for it
- Your budget allows $500–1,000+/month for a giving platform
- You need deep ChMS integration with platforms like Church Community Builder
- Giving analytics and donor engagement tools are mission-critical
Choose Rehost If...
- You want an all-in-one church app - not just a giving platform
- You need denomination-specific features - Book of Common Prayer for Episcopalians, session governance for Presbyterians, connectional system support for Methodists
- Code ownership matters - you want to own the app if you ever leave
- Your budget is $250/month and you want more than just a giving tool
- You're a small to mid-size church (any size, really) that needs engagement features beyond giving
- You don't want long-term contracts
The Giving Gap vs The Engagement Gap
Here's the nuance most comparisons miss: Pushpay solves the giving gap (making digital donations easier and more frequent). Rehost solves the engagement gap (keeping your congregation connected, informed, and active between Sundays).
For many churches - especially large ones with established giving cultures - Pushpay's optimized giving flow can increase digital giving by 20–40%. That ROI can justify the $500+/month price tag.
But for churches where the primary challenge isn't "how do we get more donations?" but rather "how do we keep our members engaged?" - a custom Rehost church app with push notifications, prayer walls, event management, small group finders, and denomination-specific tools delivers more value at $250/month.
And here's the thing: you can use both. Many churches use Pushpay for giving processing while using a Rehost app for the broader engagement experience, with Pushpay's giving flow embedded in the app.
Pricing Reality Check
| Scenario | Pushpay Annual Cost | Rehost Annual Cost | Savings with Rehost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small church (500 members) | $6,000–$8,000 | $1,800 | $4,200–$6,200/yr |
| Mid-size church (1,500 members) | $8,000–$12,000 | $1,800 | $6,200–$10,200/yr |
| Large church (5,000 members) | $12,000–$18,000+ | $1,800 | $10,200–$16,200/yr |
Over 3 years, the cost difference ranges from $12,600 to $48,600 - money that could fund missions, staff, or facility improvements. The question is whether Pushpay's giving optimization generates enough additional donations to justify the premium.
Related: Best Subsplash Alternatives for Churches | Tithe.ly vs Rehost Comparison | Shoutem vs Rehost Comparison
FAQ
Is Pushpay worth the cost for small churches?
For most small churches (under 1,000 members), Pushpay's $500–1,000+/month pricing is difficult to justify. The giving optimization features are powerful but designed for churches with large donor bases where even a small percentage increase in giving represents significant revenue. Smaller churches often get better value from Rehost at $250/month with giving integration, or Tithe.ly's free giving platform.
Can Rehost integrate with Pushpay?
Yes. Churches can use Pushpay for giving processing while using a Rehost app for the broader engagement experience. The Rehost app can include a link or embedded view to Pushpay's giving flow, giving you the best of both platforms.
What giving platforms does Rehost integrate with?
Rehost apps can integrate with any giving provider including Stripe (direct processing), Tithe.ly, Pushpay, and Planning Center Giving. The integration is custom-built to match your church's specific giving workflow and preferred provider.