Shepherd vs Tithe.ly
Tithe.ly is one of the biggest names in church giving and management software. But does it work for churches in Ghana and Africa?
The Quick Verdict
Tithe.ly is excellent for American churches that want an all-in-one platform with powerful online giving, a church website builder, and a branded mobile app. Their free giving tool is genuinely useful, and their full ChMS at $149/month is feature-rich for US congregations.
Shepherd is built for Africa. If your members give through Mobile Money, your primary communication channel is WhatsApp, and you need to track young people from Crèche through Tertiary education, Shepherd is the only ChMS that supports all of this natively—starting with a free tier and pricing in Ghana Cedis.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Shepherd 🇬🇭 | Tithe.ly 🇺🇸 |
|---|---|---|
| Based In | Ghana 🇬🇭 | United States 🇺🇸 |
| Starting Price | Free (50 members) | Free giving tool / $149/mo ChMS |
| Currency | GHS (Ghana Cedis) | USD only |
| Mobile Money | MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash, AirtelTigo | Not supported |
| WhatsApp Integration | Check-in, announcements, follow-ups | Not supported |
| Online Giving | Mobile Money, bank transfer | Cards, ACH, text-to-give (US) |
| Church Website Builder | Not included | Included (Sites) |
| Church App | Mobile-optimized web app | Custom branded app |
| Youth Lifecycle Tracking | Crèche → Primary → JHS → SHS → Tertiary | Not available |
| Communication Channels | SMS, WhatsApp, Email | Email, Push notifications, Text (US) |
| Attendance | WhatsApp, QR code, kiosk, manual | Check-in kiosk, manual |
| Pastoral Care Tools | Built-in counselling & follow-up | Basic people management |
| Support | WhatsApp, Email | Email, Chat (US hours) |
Detailed Feature Comparison
Online Giving & Donations
This is where Tithe.ly made its name. Their giving platform supports credit cards, debit cards, ACH bank transfers, and text-to-give—all optimised for US payment infrastructure. They even offer a free giving tool with transaction fees, making it accessible for churches of any size in America.
In Ghana and across Africa, however, Mobile Money is how people pay. Shepherd integrates directly with MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash, and AirtelTigo Money, so your members can give tithes and offerings the same way they buy airtime or pay for groceries. No credit card required.
Communication & WhatsApp
Tithe.ly communicates through email and push notifications via their church app. In the US, this works well since email open rates are high and many churches have their own apps.
In Ghana, WhatsApp is the default communication tool. Shepherd's WhatsApp integration lets you send announcements, follow up with absentees, and even take attendance via WhatsApp check-in—reaching members where they already are, without requiring them to download another app.
Youth & Children's Ministry
Tithe.ly offers basic people management and groups but has no dedicated youth lifecycle tracking. You can create groups for children's ministry, but there's no structured system for tracking a child's progression through educational stages.
Shepherd's youth lifecycle feature is unique in the ChMS market. Track children from Crèche through Primary, JHS, SHS, and into Tertiary education—ensuring no young person falls through the cracks as they grow up in your church.
Church Website & App
One area where Tithe.ly genuinely excels is their Sites (church website builder) and custom branded church app. If having a professionally designed church website and your own app in the App Store matters to your church, Tithe.ly delivers this well. Shepherd focuses on being a powerful ChMS with a mobile-optimised web experience rather than a website builder.
Pricing: Shepherd vs Tithe.ly
Shepherd Plans
- Seedling (50 members)Free
- Rooted (200 members)GHS 99/mo
- Growing (500 members)GHS 199/mo
- Flourishing (1000 members)GHS 399/mo
- Movement (unlimited)GHS 799/mo
All plans include full ChMS features. GHS 99 ≈ $8/month.
Tithe.ly Pricing
- Giving (free)Free + 2.9% fees
- ChMS$149/mo
- Sites (website)$49/mo
- Apps (branded app)$49/mo
Full Tithe.ly suite can cost $247+/month. In Ghana Cedis, the ChMS alone is roughly GHS 1,800+/month—more than double Shepherd's unlimited plan.
Who Each Platform is Best For
Choose Tithe.ly if you…
- Are a US-based church
- Want integrated online giving with cards & ACH
- Need a church website builder
- Want a custom branded mobile app
- Communicate primarily via email and app notifications
Choose Shepherd if you…
- Are a church in Ghana or Africa
- Need Mobile Money for tithes & offerings
- Want WhatsApp-based attendance & comms
- Track youth from Crèche to Tertiary
- Want to start free and scale affordably
- Need pastoral care tools
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tithe.ly a good choice for churches in Ghana?
Tithe.ly is designed for American churches and excels at online giving via credit cards and ACH. However, it doesn't support Mobile Money (MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash, AirtelTigo), WhatsApp communications, or Ghana Cedi pricing. For Ghanaian churches, Shepherd is a better fit with local payment methods and communication tools.
What is a good Tithe.ly alternative for African churches?
Shepherd is the best Tithe.ly alternative for African churches. While Tithe.ly focuses on US-style online giving, Shepherd supports Mobile Money giving, WhatsApp-based attendance and communications, youth lifecycle tracking, and offers a free tier with pricing in Ghana Cedis starting from GHS 99/month.
How much does Shepherd cost compared to Tithe.ly?
Tithe.ly's free giving tool only handles donations. Their full ChMS costs $149/month. Shepherd starts completely free for up to 50 members with full ChMS features, and paid plans run from GHS 99/month (about $8) for 200 members up to GHS 799/month for unlimited members.
Does Tithe.ly support Mobile Money payments?
No, Tithe.ly does not support Mobile Money. It processes payments through credit cards, debit cards, ACH bank transfers, and text-to-give—all US-centric methods. Shepherd supports MTN Mobile Money, Telecel Cash, and AirtelTigo Money for churches in Ghana and across Africa.
Can I use WhatsApp with Tithe.ly for church communication?
No, Tithe.ly does not integrate with WhatsApp. It relies on email, push notifications, and US-based text messaging. Shepherd offers full WhatsApp integration for attendance check-in, announcements, pastoral follow-ups, and member communications—the messaging platform most Ghanaians use daily.
Ready to try the ChMS built for Africa?
Start free with up to 50 members. No credit card required. Mobile Money giving and WhatsApp attendance from day one.