How to Move Your Church From Planning Center (Step by Step)

Planning Center is a capable, well-built platform, and plenty of churches are happy on it. But some churches decide to move, and the first question is always what happens to their people and their records. If you've been quietly wondering whether the move is worth the hassle, here's the honest answer: the migration is far less work than staying somewhere that no longer fits. Below is the exact process.

Before you move

Two things to settle first. Cost: start from your own Planning Center invoice, and compare it with SoapBox, which has a free plan for churches up to 100 members. Records: save a copy of your People and Giving data before you change anything, so nothing is lost.

We laid out what SoapBox includes in our guide to moving from Planning Center if you want the details before you commit.

Step 1: Export your data from Planning Center

Everything starts with your data, and it's yours to take. In Planning Center, open each product you use and use its export option to download CSV files. The two that matter most:

1. People: export your full contact list, including households, roles, and any custom fields you rely on. Keep it as your church's record.
2. Giving: export your donation history and donor records, so you keep a complete record for past giving statements.

Export from any other module you actively use (Groups, Calendar/Events), keep the files clearly named in one folder, and store them securely — these CSVs contain personal information.

Tip: while you have the export open, mark your staff, group leaders, and most active members. That short list is where you start in Step 2.

Step 2: Set up your church and import your people

Download SoapBox and create your church. Then, in the SoapBox web app, open People, then Members, and choose Import from CSV with your Planning Center People export. SoapBox matches the columns for you, skips anyone already on your list, and shows you exactly who will be added before anything changes, and you can undo the last import. Then invite your people to join, starting with your staff and leaders so they can help welcome everyone else. Our team can help you get set up.

Step 3: Reconnect online giving

This is the step leaders worry about most, and it's usually the easiest. SoapBox giving runs on Stripe, so you connect (or create) your church's Stripe account and giving is live. SoapBox takes no platform fee on donations. Donations are paid directly into your church's own account — SoapBox never takes a cut, and only standard Stripe processing fees apply. Keep your Planning Center giving export for past statements, then send a test donation to confirm the flow end to end.

Step 4: Invite your members

With people and giving in place, invite your congregation to the app. Because SoapBox is an all-in-one app — Bible, prayer, sermons, community, and giving in one place on iOS, Android, and web — members have a reason to actually open it, which is the difference between a migration that sticks and one that fizzles. Announce it on a Sunday, send invitations, and point people to the app stores.

Step 5: Turn on the AI tools

Once you're moved, your team can turn on SoapBox's AI tools. ORA gives members a Scripture-cited Bible study aid in your language. On paid plans, the AI Sermon Clip Generator suggests short moments from a sermon for you to turn into clips, the Customized Discipleship AI is a study aid grounded in your own teaching, and the Monday Morning Report summarizes attendance, new visitors, giving and follow-ups. The paid plans are on the pricing page, and are discounted in many countries.

A realistic timeline

Creating your church takes minutes, and reconnecting Stripe is usually quick. Adding and inviting your people takes longer the bigger your church is. The one habit that makes it painless is a short overlap — keep Planning Center active for a couple of weeks while your congregation moves over, so nothing falls through the cracks during the handoff. Then cancel your old subscription.