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 | check | ||||
| Jurisdiction-aware (OCA, Antiochian, GOARCH…) | check | ||||
| Daily fasting rule | check | ||||
| Sacramental register (Baptism, Chrismation, Marriage, Burial) | check | ||||
| Catechumen progress (Inquirer → Illumined) | check | ||||
| Name-day tracking from the saint calendar | check | ||||
| Members & pastoral care | |||||
| Member directory & households | check | check | check | check | check |
| Private pastoral notes (priest-only by design) | check | Shared | Shared | Shared | |
| Visit & confession log | check | Workflows | |||
| Spreadsheet / CSV import | check | check | check | check | check |
| Money & the books | |||||
| Online giving, funds settle to the parish | check | check | check | check | check |
| Pledge campaigns & multiple funds | check | check | check | check | check |
| Real double-entry books with reconciliation | check | Add-on | |||
| Presence & formation | |||||
| Public parish website on your domain | check | Templated | |||
| Branded member app under your parish name | check | Shared | Shared | Shared | |
| The Philokalia & prayer book (Cathedral tier) | check | ||||
| Cemetery management, linked to the directory | check | ||||
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.