A practical comparison of Aurnet, ChurchSuite, ChurchDesk, and Tithe.ly for UK churches — covering GDPR, Gift Aid, pricing, and native apps.
By Aurnet Team · Church Tech
Choosing church management software is one of the most consequential decisions a church admin will make. The right platform saves hours every week and keeps your congregation connected. The wrong one creates more admin than it removes. This guide compares the four most relevant options for UK churches in 2026.
Before comparing platforms, it helps to name what UK churches specifically require — things that US-built tools often handle poorly or not at all. These include GDPR compliance with ICO-ready data handling, Gift Aid declaration collection and HMRC reporting, GBP pricing without currency conversion surprises, and UK data residency or at least EU-adequate hosting.
ChurchSuite is the incumbent for UK churches. It is UK-built, GDPR-compliant, and has solid CRM features — contacts, groups, rotas, and giving. Its admin interface is functional if slightly dated. The main limitations are the lack of a native mobile app for members (it uses a mobile-optimised web app), modular pricing that can add up quickly as you enable features, and a less modern user experience compared to newer platforms.
ChurchSuite is a strong choice for churches that prioritise CRM depth over member-facing experience. Pricing starts around £2 per person per month depending on which modules you enable, which can become expensive at scale.
ChurchDesk is a Danish-built platform with a presence in the UK. It focuses on website management, event booking, and communication. It is GDPR-compliant and handles church websites well. However, it is weaker on member engagement features — there is no in-app chat, no rota scheduling, and giving support is limited for UK churches. It suits churches that primarily need a website and event tool rather than a full management platform.
Tithe.ly is US-built and giving-first. It has expanded into a broader church management suite with apps, websites, and ChMS features. The giving product is polished and well-designed. The challenge for UK churches is that Tithe.ly was designed for the US market. Gift Aid support is an afterthought if present at all, pricing is in USD, and data is hosted in the US — which creates GDPR complications for UK churches handling member data.
If your primary need is online giving and you are a US church, Tithe.ly is excellent. For UK churches that need Gift Aid, GDPR compliance, and GBP pricing, it requires workarounds.
Aurnet is a UK-built, all-in-one church platform designed from the ground up for UK churches. It combines member management, scoped chat, events, rotas, giving with Gift Aid automation, sermons, Bible plans, pastoral care, training, and a website builder — all in one subscription. It ships as a native iOS and Android app for members and a web dashboard for admins.
Where Aurnet differs from the competition is scope and simplicity. Instead of buying separate tools for chat, giving, rotas, and websites, everything is built into one platform. The mobile app is native (not a web wrapper), which means push notifications, offline access, and the speed members expect from a modern app. GDPR compliance and Gift Aid are not bolted on — they are core to how the product works.
ChurchSuite charges per person per month with modular add-ons. Tithe.ly bundles features into tiers but prices in USD. ChurchDesk uses custom quotes. Aurnet uses flat monthly pricing in GBP — Free (up to 30 members), Starter at £49/month, Growth at £99/month, and Pro at £179/month. No per-member charges, no hidden add-ons.
If you are a UK church looking for a single platform that handles everything — communication, events, giving, pastoral care, training, and a public website — Aurnet offers the most complete package at a predictable price. If you need deep CRM features and don't mind a web-only member experience, ChurchSuite is a proven option. For US-focused giving, Tithe.ly is strong. And for website-first churches, ChurchDesk is worth a look.
Aurnet is free to start with no credit card required. Set up your church in 15 minutes and see how it compares for yourself.
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