Free plan: 5 checks a monthStart free
Check Writer 123
Start free
Before you pay for ACH software

Do you need software for ACH payments? Often your bank already does it

Many banks include ACH payments in their online or business banking: you add a payee, enter their routing and account numbers, pick a date and, if you want, repeat it every month. Paid ACH platforms add extras on top. If all you need is to pay people, check what your bank offers first, and keep a check printing tool for the payees who still want a check.

Start freeSee pricing

No ACH setup, no per-payment fees. Just checks. Free plan: 5 checks a month.

Why people end up overpaying for ACH tools

You pay monthly for something your bank may already include

Online banking at many banks lets you send an ACH payment or transfer to another bank account and schedule it ahead of time. Some banks include this in a business account, and some charge a monthly or per-payment fee, so the first step is reading your own fee schedule instead of assuming you need to buy a platform.

You were sold a bundle when you only needed one feature

A payables platform is built to do many jobs at once: bill capture, approval chains, accounting sync, ACH, wires and mailed checks. If you only wanted to print a few checks, you can end up paying every month for a long list of features you never open.

You assume recurring payments need special software

Standing and recurring payments are a normal banking feature. If you pay the same landlord, subcontractor or loan every month, your bank can usually repeat the payment on a schedule without any outside tool.

Some payees still want a paper check

Not every vendor accepts ACH, and not everyone shares account details. Many small businesses end up using ACH for some payees and checks for the rest, which means they still need a simple way to print a clean check.

How to pay by ACH using your bank first

Every bank words these screens differently, but the steps are similar. Before you subscribe to anything, try the steps below on one real payment.

  1. 1

    Find ACH, transfers or bill pay in your online banking

    Look for words such as ACH payments, send money, transfer to another bank, pay a vendor or business payments. Business accounts often have a separate section from personal accounts.

  2. 2

    Read the fee and limit page

    Banks list fees for ACH, same-day ACH and wires, and set daily or monthly limits. Reading this page takes five minutes and tells you whether your bank is free, cheap or expensive for this job.

  3. 3

    Add the payee carefully

    You will need the payee's name, bank routing number and account number, and their permission to be paid that way. Send one small test payment to a new payee before sending a large one.

  4. 4

    Schedule it, or repeat it

    Choose a date, and if the payment repeats, set the schedule. Many banks also let you set up several payees once and reuse them for later payments.

  5. 5

    Keep checks for everyone who wants one

    For payees who need paper, print the check yourself instead of paying a platform to mail it. Write it in Check Writer 123, print it on blank check stock or plain paper and send it with a stamp.

Where Check Writer 123 fits next to your bank's ACH

It only does checks, on purpose

There is no ACH layer to configure or pay for. You enter a payee, an amount and a date, check the live preview and print.

A free plan to start

The Free plan prints up to 5 checks a month with 1 bank account, no card needed. The Occasional plan is $5.99 a month for 20 checks, Mid Tier is $10.99 for 60 and Unlimited is $25.99.

No per-payment fees

Plans are flat monthly prices. You are not charged a fee on each check you print.

Works alongside your bank

Use your bank's ACH for payees who accept it and Check Writer 123 for the rest. The register keeps a record of every check, and you can export it as a CSV file.

Runs in the browser

It works on Windows, Mac and Chromebook with nothing to install, and prints to any printer your computer can use.

An example: a small landscaping company

A landscaping company with six regular payees pays its two largest suppliers by ACH through the business account, set to repeat each month, because both accept it. The other four, including two part-time workers and a repair shop, want paper checks. The figures are illustrations, not a customer story.

The owner prints those four checks once a month, which is well inside the Occasional plan's 20 checks at $5.99 a month. The ACH payments cost whatever the bank charges, and no separate payments platform is needed. If the owner prints five checks or fewer a month, the Free plan covers it.

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

What does paid ACH software add that your bank does not?

It would be unfair to say software never helps. Payables platforms and bank-integrated tools exist because some businesses have real needs that a bank screen does not meet. The honest question is whether you have those needs.

  • Approval workflows, where one person enters a bill and another approves it.
  • Syncing paid bills into accounting software automatically.
  • Collecting vendor bank details through a secure form, so you do not handle account numbers yourself.
  • Handling a large number of payees and payments every month.
  • Tax paperwork tracking for contractors.
  • If none of those apply, you may be paying for features you will not use.

How to tell if you are overpaying for a payments platform

Add up what you pay each month, then divide it by the number of payments you actually send through the platform. If the cost per payment is higher than what your bank charges and you use none of the extra features, you are probably overpaying.

Look at how you pay people today. If most of your payments are checks to a handful of payees, a plain check printing plan at $0 to $25.99 a month is hard to beat. Compare costs in our subscription vs one-time cost guide and the software comparison.

What to check in your bank before you decide

Ask your bank, or read its fee schedule, for each of these:

  • Is ACH included in my account, and is there a monthly fee for sending ACH payments?
  • What is the fee for one payment, and for same-day ACH?
  • What are the daily and monthly limits?
  • Can I schedule repeating payments and save payees?
  • Can several people have access, and can I require a second person to approve?
  • Can the bank mail a paper check for me, and what does that cost?

Is printing your own checks worth it?

If you still pay by check, printing can save retyping, cut wasted checks and give you a searchable record. It is not worth it for everyone, and it does not remove bank fees or fraud risk. Start with why use check writing software, then see printing vs handwriting, printing vs ordering checks, how it compares with your bank, saving time, check records and avoiding mistakes.

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 software to send ACH payments?

Not always. Many banks let you send ACH payments in online banking, set a date and repeat the payment, sometimes included and sometimes for a fee. Software becomes useful when you need approvals, accounting sync or a large number of payees. Check your bank's fee schedule first.

Can my bank set up recurring ACH payments?

Most banks that offer ACH or bill pay also let you schedule payments to repeat, for example on the first of each month. The exact name and limits differ by bank, so look for scheduled, recurring or standing payments in online banking or ask the bank.

Is ACH cheaper than a check?

It can be, but it depends on your bank's fees and your volume. A check costs paper, ink and a stamp, and ACH can be free or carry a fee per payment. Compare your bank's fee schedule with your real monthly count of each type of payment.

What if a vendor will only take a check?

Then print them a check. Check Writer 123 prints checks on blank check stock, pre-printed stock or plain paper from your browser, with the amount in words and the MICR line filled in for you.

Does Check Writer 123 send ACH payments?

No. It prints checks only, and it does not move money or connect to your bank account. It is built for people who want a simple, low-cost way to print checks and use their bank for everything else.

How much does Check Writer 123 cost?

There is a Free plan with 5 checks a month and 1 bank account, no card needed. Paid plans are $5.99 a month for 20 checks and 1 bank account, $10.99 for 60 checks and 4 accounts, and $25.99 for unlimited checks and accounts. There is no per-check fee.

Is it safe to give a vendor my account number for ACH?

Sending an ACH payment needs the payee's account details, and a check shows your own routing and account numbers to whoever receives it. Each method has risks, so share account numbers only with people you trust and read our guide on protecting your account numbers.

Guides for people deciding whether to pay for ach payment software

Also for

Pay by ACH where it is free, print checks where it is not

Start on the free plan, 5 checks a month with no card, and only pay for more if you need it.

Start Free Trial