Digital checkbook vs regular checks

Digital checkbook vs regular checks: how they compare

A regular checkbook is a box of pre-printed checks ordered from your bank or a check printer. A Digital Checkbook is a pack of 100, 200 or 500 check credits that you print yourself when you need them. Both produce a paper check. The differences are cost, waiting time, flexibility and who does the work.

Get a Digital Checkbook See pricing

Paper checks either way. The Digital Checkbook is $15, $25 or $35, paid once, with no expiry.

Where regular checkbooks fall short

You wait for them to arrive

Ordering checks means a form, a delivery time and sometimes a fee for faster shipping. If you run out on a Friday, you may be stuck until the next week. Printing at your desk takes minutes.

Everything is fixed in advance

Your name, address and account details are printed on every check. If you move, change a business name or switch banks, the unused checks are wasted. Printed-on-demand checks carry whatever details you have saved today.

You buy more than you need

Boxes come in set sizes. If you write a few checks a year, most of the box sits in a drawer for years. A pack of credits can be as small as 100, and the balance never expires.

There is no built-in record

A paper register or a carbon copy is easy to forget or lose. A digital checkbook saves each check you print, with the number, payee, amount and date, so you can look it up or download a list.

Writing a check the regular way, and the digital way

Here is what each approach looks like on the day you need to pay someone. The digital way assumes you already have blank paper and have set up your bank account once.

1
Regular: find the box and a pen
You take a pre-printed check from the box and write the date, payee, amount in numbers and in words, the memo and your signature by hand. A slip anywhere means a voided check.
2
Digital: open the page and type
You sign in, pick the payee and enter the amount. The date, the amount in words, the check number and the MICR line are filled in for you.
3
Digital: run a free Test Print if needed
On plain paper, a Test Print shows exactly where everything will land. It uses no check from your balance. You only need to do this when you set up or change paper.
4
Digital: print the real check
Print on blank check stock, pre-printed bank stock or plain paper. The check uses one credit from your balance. A saved check can be reprinted for free if the paper jams.
5
Both: sign, hand over or mail
Either way you end up with a signed paper check. The difference is that the digital one is neat, complete and recorded, and you never ran out of checks.

Side by side: what each one gives you

Cost per check

Regular checks are priced by the box, and prices vary by bank and printer. A Digital Checkbook is 15 cents a check for 100, 12.5 cents for 200 and 7 cents for 500. You also pay for your own paper and ink.

Speed

Regular checks arrive when they arrive. Digital checks print in minutes, once you have blank paper and a printer. There is no minimum order and no delivery time.

Flexibility

Pre-printed checks cannot change. With a digital checkbook you can update your address or logo any time and the next check shows it. The checkbook allows 1 bank account.

Records

The check register, saved payees and a CSV download come with every pack. Regular checks rely on a paper register that you fill in yourself.

Accuracy

The amount in words and the MICR line are made automatically, and the routing number is checked. This avoids the handwriting slips and wrong amounts that void a check.

What you must supply

A digital checkbook needs a computer, a printer, and paper. A regular checkbook needs only a pen. If you have no printer and write one check a year, a regular box may be simpler.

An example: which is better for a small landlord?

Dan owns two rental units and writes about 20 checks a year to contractors, an insurer and the county. The figures here are an illustration with round numbers, not a customer story.

A regular box means a wait, a set quantity and details that are wrong if his mailing address changes. With the 200-check pack at $25, he prints each check when needed, keeps a record without effort, and the balance lasts about ten years. A Digital Checkbook allows one bank account, so if he later keeps rent and repairs in separate accounts, he would look at a monthly plan.

An illustration with made-up figures, not a real customer.

When regular checks are still the better choice

A digital checkbook is not right for everyone. Be honest about your situation before you choose.

You have no printer and do not want to get one.
You write one or two checks a year and already have some in a drawer.
You need checks that carry a bank-printed security design for a particular recipient.
You would rather handwrite every check and never look at a screen.
A recipient has told you they only take bank-issued checks.

Are printed checks as good as bank-printed checks?

A check is a written instruction to pay. What matters to the bank is that it has the payee, the amount, a signature and a correct MICR line with the routing and account numbers. Checks printed with a complete MICR line carry the same information as bank-issued checks.

We cannot promise any bank will accept any check, so ask your own bank if you are unsure. See will banks accept checks you print yourself, and the comparison of printing your own checks vs ordering checks.

Digital checkbook, free plan or monthly plan?

If you only write a few checks, the free plan gives you 5 checks a month at no cost, without the logo, saved signature, register report or cloud backup. A Digital Checkbook adds all of those for a one-time price. A monthly plan suits steady use or several bank accounts. See the pricing page.

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

Is a digital checkbook cheaper than a regular checkbook?

It often is, especially for people who write few checks, because you only pay for the checks you use and the credits never expire. Regular box prices vary by bank and printer, so compare with your own price. A Digital Checkbook is 7 to 15 cents a check, plus your own paper and ink.

Are digital checks real checks?

Yes, in the sense that matters here. A Digital Checkbook prints a real paper check with a MICR line. It is not an electronic payment. The person you pay deposits it like any other check, though we cannot promise any bank will accept any check.

Do I have to pay every month?

No. The Digital Checkbook is a one-time purchase. There is no subscription, nothing renews and the checks do not expire. Monthly plans exist for people who need more bank accounts or write a lot of checks.

What if my printer runs out of ink or jams?

Reprinting a saved check is free and uses no credit, so a jam does not cost you a check. You buy your own ink and paper. Test Prints on plain paper are also free.

Can I use my existing blank checks?

Yes. You can print on blank check stock you already have, pre-printed bank stock or plain paper. A Test Print helps you line the page up first. Read how to choose the right check paper.

Can I get a refund on a Digital Checkbook?

No. All Digital Checkbook sales are final. The 30-day money-back guarantee covers monthly subscriptions only. If you were charged by mistake or your checks did not appear, contact support and they will fix it.

How many bank accounts can I use?

A Digital Checkbook allows 1 bank account. If you need more, Mid Tier allows 4 and Unlimited allows unlimited accounts. Both are billed monthly and include a 14-day free trial with no card.

Is it safe to put my bank details into a website?

Read our honest description on the safety page before you decide. It lists what is in place and what is not. Card payments go straight to Square.

Guides for people comparing a digital checkbook with regular checks

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