OnStage or WorshipPlanning? Pick the Right Worship Tool
OnStage or WorshipPlanning? Pick the Right Worship Tool
Oct 13, 2025
Oct 13, 2025
Planning worship isn’t just about songs and schedules — it’s about crafting moments that lead people closer to God. For that, leaders often look for software that brings order to the creative process. Two popular options in this space are WorshipPlanning.com and OnStage.
While both help you organize and lead your team, they reflect different philosophies: one built for structured service planning, and the other for collaborative worship flow. Let’s unpack their strengths, differences, and which one might fit your ministry best.
Different Approaches to the Same Goal
WorshipPlanning feels like the “planner’s dream.” You can build detailed worship flows with metadata like key, tempo, capo, and even past performance history. It’s excellent for leaders who love structure and consistency.
OnStage feels more like a “bandmate’s companion.” It’s lightweight, flexible, and optimized for live use — letting you reorder, transpose, and collaborate without losing momentum.
Both exist for the same purpose: to help your team serve with excellence. They just start from different angles — structure vs. flow.
Overview Features
Feature | WorshipPlanning | OnStage |
|---|---|---|
Primary purpose | Church service planning, volunteer scheduling, worship management | Team collaboration, setlists, resource sharing |
Volunteer scheduling | Scheduling, notifications, accept/decline | Roles/groups, availability, Google Calendar sync |
Song management | Deep metadata, SongSelect import, MP3/text transpose | Semantic/AI search, attachments, instant transpose |
Integrations | SongSelect, OnSong, Proclaim, Spotify, YouTube | Google Calendar, Planning Center import |
Mobile/offline | Web-based (wplan.me) | Native apps, offline support |
Pricing | From ~$15/month (Solo) | Free for small teams; paid plans from $10/month |
Best for | Medium/large churches with structured services | From small to large churches emphasizing flexibility |
Volunteer Scheduling & Communication
WorshipPlanning has been known for its robust volunteer management tools: assigning positions, sending reminders, handling availability, and receiving confirmations (via email or even SMS). It’s ideal for larger teams with rotating volunteers.
OnStage, though simpler, makes scheduling more relational — with group roles, availability responses, and calendar syncs that fit smaller, agile teams. It trades depth for immediacy, focusing on collaboration over control.
Song Libraries & File Handling
WorshipPlanning
acts like a worship archive.
You can track every detail of each song, import from CCLI SongSelect, transpose lyrics or audio, and even monitor performance frequency — useful for CCLI reporting.
OnStage
takes a more modern approach: attach PDFs, audio, or rehearsal notes; preview files directly in the app;
and find songs using semantic/AI search.
It’s built for discovery and creativity, not just record-keeping.
Integrations & Ecosystem
If your church already uses CCLI SongSelect, OnSong, or Proclaim, WorshipPlanning is a good fit. Its ecosystem is broad and mature, making it ideal for churches embedded in traditional planning workflows.
OnStage, being newer, focuses on integrations that serve mobility — especially Google Calendar and quick imports from other planning tools. It’s lean but constantly evolving.
Mobile & Offline Access
WorshipPlanning runs through a web app (wplan.me), so there’s nothing to install — convenient for those who prefer browser access.
OnStage offers full native apps (iOS/Android) with offline rehearsal mode and real-time sync. This makes it more performance-oriented — ideal for musicians on the move.
Pricing Snapshot
WorshipPlanning starts around $15/month for the Solo plan, scaling up with Deluxe, Premium, and Ultimate tiers.
OnStage starts free for up to 5 members, with paid plans around $10/month for small groups, scaling with members and storage.
For ministries just testing the waters, OnStage’s free tier offers a gentle entry point.
Platform | Pricing |
|---|---|
OnStage | Free (5 members), 10$ (20 members) 26$ (50 members) 50$ (85 members) |
WorshipPlanning | 15$ (1 planner) 25$ (5 planners) 50$ (10 planners) 100$ (unlimited planners) |
Recommendations
Choose OnStage:
If your team values creativity, collaboration, and fluid rehearsal workflows.
It’s especially great for youth bands, worship collectives, and smaller churches that want modern tools without heavy systems.
Final Thoughts
If you lean toward freedom and collaboration, OnStage will fit like a glove.
Remember: no software can replace the heart of worship.
But the right one can free you from distractions — so you can lead your team, and your church, with clarity and purpose.
Planning worship isn’t just about songs and schedules — it’s about crafting moments that lead people closer to God. For that, leaders often look for software that brings order to the creative process. Two popular options in this space are WorshipPlanning.com and OnStage.
While both help you organize and lead your team, they reflect different philosophies: one built for structured service planning, and the other for collaborative worship flow. Let’s unpack their strengths, differences, and which one might fit your ministry best.
Different Approaches to the Same Goal
WorshipPlanning feels like the “planner’s dream.” You can build detailed worship flows with metadata like key, tempo, capo, and even past performance history. It’s excellent for leaders who love structure and consistency.
OnStage feels more like a “bandmate’s companion.” It’s lightweight, flexible, and optimized for live use — letting you reorder, transpose, and collaborate without losing momentum.
Both exist for the same purpose: to help your team serve with excellence. They just start from different angles — structure vs. flow.
Overview Features
Feature | WorshipPlanning | OnStage |
|---|---|---|
Primary purpose | Church service planning, volunteer scheduling, worship management | Team collaboration, setlists, resource sharing |
Volunteer scheduling | Scheduling, notifications, accept/decline | Roles/groups, availability, Google Calendar sync |
Song management | Deep metadata, SongSelect import, MP3/text transpose | Semantic/AI search, attachments, instant transpose |
Integrations | SongSelect, OnSong, Proclaim, Spotify, YouTube | Google Calendar, Planning Center import |
Mobile/offline | Web-based (wplan.me) | Native apps, offline support |
Pricing | From ~$15/month (Solo) | Free for small teams; paid plans from $10/month |
Best for | Medium/large churches with structured services | From small to large churches emphasizing flexibility |
Volunteer Scheduling & Communication
WorshipPlanning has been known for its robust volunteer management tools: assigning positions, sending reminders, handling availability, and receiving confirmations (via email or even SMS). It’s ideal for larger teams with rotating volunteers.
OnStage, though simpler, makes scheduling more relational — with group roles, availability responses, and calendar syncs that fit smaller, agile teams. It trades depth for immediacy, focusing on collaboration over control.
Song Libraries & File Handling
WorshipPlanning
acts like a worship archive.
You can track every detail of each song, import from CCLI SongSelect, transpose lyrics or audio, and even monitor performance frequency — useful for CCLI reporting.
OnStage
takes a more modern approach: attach PDFs, audio, or rehearsal notes; preview files directly in the app;
and find songs using semantic/AI search.
It’s built for discovery and creativity, not just record-keeping.
Integrations & Ecosystem
If your church already uses CCLI SongSelect, OnSong, or Proclaim, WorshipPlanning is a good fit. Its ecosystem is broad and mature, making it ideal for churches embedded in traditional planning workflows.
OnStage, being newer, focuses on integrations that serve mobility — especially Google Calendar and quick imports from other planning tools. It’s lean but constantly evolving.
Mobile & Offline Access
WorshipPlanning runs through a web app (wplan.me), so there’s nothing to install — convenient for those who prefer browser access.
OnStage offers full native apps (iOS/Android) with offline rehearsal mode and real-time sync. This makes it more performance-oriented — ideal for musicians on the move.
Pricing Snapshot
WorshipPlanning starts around $15/month for the Solo plan, scaling up with Deluxe, Premium, and Ultimate tiers.
OnStage starts free for up to 5 members, with paid plans around $10/month for small groups, scaling with members and storage.
For ministries just testing the waters, OnStage’s free tier offers a gentle entry point.
Platform | Pricing |
|---|---|
OnStage | Free (5 members), 10$ (20 members) 26$ (50 members) 50$ (85 members) |
WorshipPlanning | 15$ (1 planner) 25$ (5 planners) 50$ (10 planners) 100$ (unlimited planners) |
Recommendations
Choose OnStage:
If your team values creativity, collaboration, and fluid rehearsal workflows.
It’s especially great for youth bands, worship collectives, and smaller churches that want modern tools without heavy systems.
Final Thoughts
If you lean toward freedom and collaboration, OnStage will fit like a glove.
Remember: no software can replace the heart of worship.
But the right one can free you from distractions — so you can lead your team, and your church, with clarity and purpose.
Planning worship isn’t just about songs and schedules — it’s about crafting moments that lead people closer to God. For that, leaders often look for software that brings order to the creative process. Two popular options in this space are WorshipPlanning.com and OnStage.
While both help you organize and lead your team, they reflect different philosophies: one built for structured service planning, and the other for collaborative worship flow. Let’s unpack their strengths, differences, and which one might fit your ministry best.
Different Approaches to the Same Goal
WorshipPlanning feels like the “planner’s dream.” You can build detailed worship flows with metadata like key, tempo, capo, and even past performance history. It’s excellent for leaders who love structure and consistency.
OnStage feels more like a “bandmate’s companion.” It’s lightweight, flexible, and optimized for live use — letting you reorder, transpose, and collaborate without losing momentum.
Both exist for the same purpose: to help your team serve with excellence. They just start from different angles — structure vs. flow.
Overview Features
Feature | WorshipPlanning | OnStage |
|---|---|---|
Primary purpose | Church service planning, volunteer scheduling, worship management | Team collaboration, setlists, resource sharing |
Volunteer scheduling | Scheduling, notifications, accept/decline | Roles/groups, availability, Google Calendar sync |
Song management | Deep metadata, SongSelect import, MP3/text transpose | Semantic/AI search, attachments, instant transpose |
Integrations | SongSelect, OnSong, Proclaim, Spotify, YouTube | Google Calendar, Planning Center import |
Mobile/offline | Web-based (wplan.me) | Native apps, offline support |
Pricing | From ~$15/month (Solo) | Free for small teams; paid plans from $10/month |
Best for | Medium/large churches with structured services | From small to large churches emphasizing flexibility |
Volunteer Scheduling & Communication
WorshipPlanning has been known for its robust volunteer management tools: assigning positions, sending reminders, handling availability, and receiving confirmations (via email or even SMS). It’s ideal for larger teams with rotating volunteers.
OnStage, though simpler, makes scheduling more relational — with group roles, availability responses, and calendar syncs that fit smaller, agile teams. It trades depth for immediacy, focusing on collaboration over control.
Song Libraries & File Handling
WorshipPlanning
acts like a worship archive.
You can track every detail of each song, import from CCLI SongSelect, transpose lyrics or audio, and even monitor performance frequency — useful for CCLI reporting.
OnStage
takes a more modern approach: attach PDFs, audio, or rehearsal notes; preview files directly in the app;
and find songs using semantic/AI search.
It’s built for discovery and creativity, not just record-keeping.
Integrations & Ecosystem
If your church already uses CCLI SongSelect, OnSong, or Proclaim, WorshipPlanning is a good fit. Its ecosystem is broad and mature, making it ideal for churches embedded in traditional planning workflows.
OnStage, being newer, focuses on integrations that serve mobility — especially Google Calendar and quick imports from other planning tools. It’s lean but constantly evolving.
Mobile & Offline Access
WorshipPlanning runs through a web app (wplan.me), so there’s nothing to install — convenient for those who prefer browser access.
OnStage offers full native apps (iOS/Android) with offline rehearsal mode and real-time sync. This makes it more performance-oriented — ideal for musicians on the move.
Pricing Snapshot
WorshipPlanning starts around $15/month for the Solo plan, scaling up with Deluxe, Premium, and Ultimate tiers.
OnStage starts free for up to 5 members, with paid plans around $10/month for small groups, scaling with members and storage.
For ministries just testing the waters, OnStage’s free tier offers a gentle entry point.
Platform | Pricing |
|---|---|
OnStage | Free (5 members), 10$ (20 members) 26$ (50 members) 50$ (85 members) |
WorshipPlanning | 15$ (1 planner) 25$ (5 planners) 50$ (10 planners) 100$ (unlimited planners) |
Recommendations
Choose OnStage:
If your team values creativity, collaboration, and fluid rehearsal workflows.
It’s especially great for youth bands, worship collectives, and smaller churches that want modern tools without heavy systems.
Final Thoughts
If you lean toward freedom and collaboration, OnStage will fit like a glove.
Remember: no software can replace the heart of worship.
But the right one can free you from distractions — so you can lead your team, and your church, with clarity and purpose.
