They manage a church. Symphonia keeps a parish.
Generic church software can hold your directory and your giving. None of it knows what a catechumen is, keeps the typikon, or seals a confession. That is the whole difference.
| Symphonia | Breeze | Realm | ChurchTrac | Planning Center | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built for Orthodoxy | |||||
| Orthodox liturgical calendar, feasts, saints & tones | |||||
| Jurisdiction-aware (OCA, Antiochian, GOARCH…) | |||||
| Daily fasting rule | |||||
| Sacramental register (Baptism, Chrismation, Marriage, Burial) | |||||
| Catechumen progress (Inquirer → Illumined) | |||||
| Name-day tracking from the saint calendar | |||||
| Members & pastoral care | |||||
| Member directory & households | |||||
| Private pastoral notes (priest-only by design) | Shared | Shared | Shared | ||
| Visit & confession log | Workflows | ||||
| Spreadsheet / CSV import | |||||
| Money & the books | |||||
| Online giving, funds settle to the parish | |||||
| Pledge campaigns & multiple funds | |||||
| Real double-entry books with reconciliation | Add-on | Add-on | |||
| Presence & formation | |||||
| Public parish website on your domain | Templated | ||||
| Branded member app under your parish name | Shared | Shared | Shared | ||
| Prayer book & primary sources | |||||
| Cemetery management, linked to the directory | Add-on | ||||
Comparison reflects each product's standard, generally-available offering as understood in 2026. Where a product offers something through custom configuration or a separate purchase, we mark it accordingly rather than as a check. Corrections welcome, tell us.