Frequently Asked Questions
01
Can we try it before we have to pay for it? What about refunds?
Yes. All new paying accounts come with a 30-day free trial (upgrades are not eligible for the 30 day free trial). Cancel before you are billed on the 30th day and your credit card won't be charged (refunds will not be issued if you do not cancel within 30 days). Get started today and try Planning Center for free. For more information on the free trial and refund policy, see this FAQ.
02
Which pricing level is right for me? Can I change my mind?
First, pick the pricing level that seems to make the most sense. Don't worry too much, because no matter which level you choose you have 30 days to try it out absolutely free. Then if you are satisfied, continue to use the service as long as your account is up to date. If you would like to switch to a higher or lower level or cancel your account, you can do so at anytime from the "my account" page.
03
What are the system requirements to use Planning Center?
Since Planning Center is hosted on our servers, there's nothing to install and no server/platform requirements to worry about. All you need is a modern web browser with Javascript turned on (Planning Center officially supports IE 6 or later on the PC, Firefox on Mac, PC, Linux, and Safari on Mac) and an internet connection. Planning Center does not support IE 5.x on the Mac or PC. If you have IE 5, we recommend switching to Firefox it's modern, fast, compatible, and free.
04
Can we run Planning Center on our own servers?
Planning Center is a web-based, hosted service. It is not available for purchase to install on your own servers.
05
Do I need a CCLI membership?
We do not require you to have a CCLI membership to use Planning Center. If you do have a CCLI membership (you probably should), you can export songs from CCLI's database and import them directly to Planning Center, alleviating the need to type in author and copyright information.
We do recommend that every church either have a CCLI membership or something similar.
06
Are there legal implications for uploading songs and sheet music?
Planning Center does not include any form of copyright licensing and is not responsible for any misuse on your part. Sharing mp3s, charts or lyrics that you do not have the licenses for is illegal. If you own all the copyrights to a song, maybe for a song you have written, or you have obtained the licenses to distribute them electronically, you are free to do so.
The CCLI license covers the distribution of lyrics, charts & self-recorded (your band) audio for most worship songs.
One way to obtain licenses for the original audio files is to link directly to the song on a music store like iTunes or AmazonMP3, and let your users download the songs for themselves.
Contact Church Copyright Administration for more information about copyrights.
07
What software do I need to upload sheet music?
If you create your sheet music in a notation program such as Finale, you will probably want save your song as a PDF. Adobe Reader is a free program that allows anyone to open PDF files. Visit Adobe to learn how to create PDFs online or to purchase Adobe Acrobat. Finale also has a free program called Finale Notepad that will let users open and even make minor modifications to Finale files. The bottom line is, you can upload almost any kind of file you want, whether it be Word, PDF, Finale File, or even Powerpoint, just make sure your musicians have the appropriate software to open it.
08
How do my volunteers access Planning Center? Will they be able to make changes?
You will need to enter in the names and email addresses of anyone you would like to be able to access your plans. Then schedule them from within any individual plan, and an email will be sent to them with links to accept, decline or view that plan. When they click on any of the links, it will take them to Planning Center and there will be a box for them to enter a password. Once they have created their password, they can return anytime from the links within the email or simply have the option to designate them as an editor. Anyone who you assign as an editor will be able to make changes to your plans and anyone who is not, will only be able to view and download.
09
How do I update to the latest version?
You don't have to do anything - it's automatic! Since Planning Center is a subscription-based service, your recurring monthly payment includes all future updates! We are adding new features to Planning Center all the time, so by being a faithful subscriber, you will always be running the very latest version.
