Check writing software vs your bank: when each one wins
Your bank can usually move money, hold your account and may offer checks, bill pay, ACH and recurring payments. A check writing tool does one narrow job: it prints your own checks on your own printer. Use your bank for the money and the tool for the paper, and you avoid paying for features you do not need.
Check Writer 123 prints checks only. Your bank still holds and moves your money.
Where a bank's own tools can fall short for checks
Ordering checks through the bank is slow
Banks sell personalized checks through their own ordering process or a printer they use. You pay for a batch, wait for delivery and reorder when you run low.
Bill pay is not built for every payee
Bank bill pay can send electronic payments or mail a paper check for you, depending on the bank and the payee. It can be slower, can carry a fee and gives you less control over the check itself.
Banking menus are not a workflow
Searching through online banking for each payment takes time. A dedicated tool keeps check preparation in one place, with saved payees and a register.
Not every payee wants electronic payment
Some landlords, contractors and small suppliers still ask for paper. Even with ACH available, you will sometimes need a check.
How to use your bank and a check tool together
You do not have to choose one. This is a simple way to split the work so you pay only for what you use.
- 1
Let the bank handle money movement
Use your bank for deposits, transfers, ACH, wires and recurring payments where your bank offers them and you are comfortable with the cost.
- 2
Use the tool for paper checks
For payees who need a check, enter the details in Check Writer 123 and print on your own blank check stock or plain paper.
- 3
Print on your own schedule
Prepare checks at your desk on payment day, or whenever it suits you, without a trip to a branch for new checks.
- 4
Match checks to your statement
Tick each check off in the check clearing tracker when it appears on your bank statement. The register shows which are still outstanding.
- 5
Review costs once a year
Compare your bank's check, ACH and wire fees with the price of your plan and your supplies. Adjust if one method costs far more than another.
What a dedicated check tool adds next to your bank
Print checks at your office
Use your own printer and blank check stock instead of a bank's check-ordering process.
A dedicated, simple workflow
Open one tool to write checks instead of navigating banking menus, with saved vendors and employees ready to pick.
Multiple bank accounts
Keep each account's name, address, check numbers and alignment settings separate, and switch between them in one place.
A register and a clearing tracker
See each check you printed and whether the bank has paid it, then export the register as a CSV file.
Check preparation without moving money
Prepare checks in the app and manage the funds at your bank. The app does not connect to your bank account.
An example: a small shop using both
A small shop pays its two biggest suppliers by ACH from the business account and pays a handful of local vendors, a cleaner and a repair technician by check. The figures are an illustration, not a customer story.
The owner uses the bank for ACH and for monitoring the balance, and prints about eight checks a month in Check Writer 123, which fits the Occasional plan at $5.99. She buys her own blank check stock and ink, so the real savings come from not ordering more personalized boxes.
An illustration with made-up figures, not a real customer.
What your bank probably does better
It is worth being fair. Banks do several things that software cannot:
- Hold your money and process deposits and withdrawals.
- Send ACH payments and wires, often with scheduled or recurring options.
- Offer fraud monitoring and positive pay services on some business accounts.
- Process the checks you issue and tell you when they clear.
- Provide cashier's checks and certified checks when a payee requires one.
Where a check tool is the better choice
When you need physical checks in small quantities, on a schedule that suits you, from your own printer, a dedicated tool is hard to beat. It also helps when you keep several accounts for several businesses, or when a team member prepares checks that you sign.
It will not eliminate bank fees, insufficient funds or fraud, and it needs compatible check stock and ink or toner. Read our guide to protecting your account numbers and the notes on ACH, wires and mailing checks.
Questions to ask your bank
Before you decide how much to rely on your bank for checks, ask:
- What does it cost to order personalized checks, and how long does delivery take?
- Can bill pay send a paper check, and what is the fee?
- What are my ACH and wire fees and limits?
- Does the bank accept checks printed on blank check stock with a MICR line? Show a Test Print if you are unsure.
- Does the account offer positive pay or other check fraud tools?
What it costs
One flat monthly price. Every paid plan has all check templates, batch printing and the check register. Logo, signature and cloud backup come with Mid Tier and Unlimited. You also pay for your own paper and ink.
Occasional Pack
$5.99
per month
20 checks a month
1 bank account
Mid Tier
$10.99
per month
60 checks a month
4 bank accounts
Unlimited
$25.99
per month
Unlimited checks
Unlimited bank accounts
A check counts when you press Print. Reprints and Test Prints are free. 30-day money-back guarantee on your first payment; see the refund policy.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need check writing software if my bank offers checks?
Not necessarily. If you write few checks and are happy ordering from your bank, you may not. A tool helps when you want to print checks on demand on your own printer, keep saved payees and a register, or avoid ordering batches that go out of date.
Is Check Writer 123 a replacement for my bank?
No. It prints checks only and never connects to your bank account or moves money. Your bank holds and moves your funds, and you use the tool to prepare and print the paper checks.
Can my bank's bill pay mail checks for me?
Many banks offer bill pay that can send a paper check to a payee, sometimes for a fee and with delivery times that vary. Check your bank's terms. Printing and mailing the check yourself avoids that fee but takes a few minutes.
Are checks I print accepted by my bank?
A check on blank check stock carries the same information as a bank-issued check, including your routing and account numbers in the MICR line. Run a Test Print and, if you have questions, ask your bank how it handles checks you print yourself.
Does printing checks avoid bank fees?
No. Printing does not remove bank fees, and the account still needs sufficient funds. It changes how you prepare the check and what you pay for supplies, so compare your total costs rather than assuming it is free.
What does Check Writer 123 cost?
The Free plan prints 5 checks a month with 1 bank account and needs no card. Paid plans are $5.99 a month for 20 checks, $10.99 for 60 and $25.99 for unlimited, with no per-check fee.
Guides for people comparing check writing software with what their bank offers
- Check Printing Software vs Ordering Checks From a Bank
- Will Banks Accept Checks You Print Yourself? A Practical Checklist
- Do You Need MICR Toner to Print Checks? What Banks Actually Care About
- How Small Businesses Can Print Their Own Checks
- Check Printing Software Compared: 10 Options, Prices and Who Each Suits
- How to Print Vendor Checks
Also for
- Anyone who prints their own checks
- Small businesses
- Mac users
- Windows users
- Chromebook users
- Landlords and property managers
- Contractors and trades
- Churches and nonprofits
- Bookkeepers and accountants
- Daycares and small shops
- Law firms and small practices
- Auto repair shops and dealerships
- People who want to try check printing software first
- People who want free check printing software
- People deciding whether to pay for ACH payment software
- People deciding whether to pay for wire transfer software
- People deciding whether to pay for check mailing services
- People deciding whether check writing software is worth it
- People who handwrite checks and want something easier
- People deciding between printing checks and ordering them
- People who want to save time writing checks
- Small businesses that need better check records
- People who want to avoid check writing mistakes and wasted checks
- People who print checks now and then
- People searching to buy checks online
- People who do not want a subscription
- People wondering what a digital checkbook is
- People comparing a digital checkbook with regular checks
- People who want to know how a digital checkbook works
- People weighing the benefits of a digital checkbook
- People checking the price of a digital checkbook
- Businesses that pay by check
- Employers who pay staff by check
- People who print on blank check stock
- People who print the MICR line on checks
- LLC owners
- Anyone: print checks online
Keep your bank for money, use a simple tool for checks
Start on the free plan, 5 checks a month with no card, and print checks on your own printer.