Before you pay for wire software

Do you need software to send wire transfers? Your bank already sends them

A wire transfer is a service your bank provides, usually from online banking, by phone or at a branch. Software that offers wires is usually passing your instruction to a bank and adding its own fee or subscription on top. For many payments a check is cheaper and slower only by a few days, so compare the real costs before you pay for a platform.

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No wire fees, no platform. Print checks for $0 to $25.99 a month.

Why wire features can be expensive for what they are

The bank is already doing the work

When a payment platform says it can send a wire, a bank is still moving the money. Your own bank generally lets you start a wire yourself, and you can see the exact fee on its fee schedule before you commit.

Wires often cost more than other payment types

Banks commonly charge more for an outgoing wire than for an ACH payment or a check, and international wires can cost more again. Because fees differ by bank, read yours before you decide which payments should go by wire.

Wires are hard to take back

A wire is usually final once it is sent. That makes it a good fit for a closing or a time-critical payment and a poor fit for routine bills, where a mistake costs much more than a stamp.

Most small payments do not need that speed

Rent, a subcontractor invoice, a supplier bill or a refund rarely needs to arrive in hours. A printed check or a standard ACH payment is usually enough and costs far less than a wire.

How to decide between a wire, ACH and a check

Use these five questions, in order, for any payment. Most of the time you will end up at ACH or a check, and only occasionally at a wire.

1
How fast does it need to arrive?
If the money must arrive the same day, such as for a property closing or a deadline, a wire is the right tool. If a few days is fine, you do not need one.
2
How much is the bank fee?
Look up your bank's fee for an outgoing domestic wire and compare it to the cost of an ACH payment or a check. Multiply by how many payments you send each month.
3
Can the payee take another method?
Ask whether they accept ACH or a check. Many people will, and the price difference can be large when you pay the same people each month.
4
How reversible should it be?
A check can be stopped or voided before it is cashed, which a wire usually cannot. If you want a safety net for a routine payment, choose a method you can undo.
5
Print the check yourself
When a check is the right answer, write it in Check Writer 123, print it on blank check stock or plain paper and mail or hand it over. You do not pay a platform to do it.

Why a simple check tool can beat a wire platform for everyday payments

A flat monthly price

The Free plan prints 5 checks a month. Paid plans are $5.99 a month for 20 checks, $10.99 for 60 and $25.99 for unlimited. There is no fee on each payment.

Nothing to connect to your bank

Check Writer 123 prints checks only. It does not move money, so it never needs to be linked to your bank account.

A recorded trail

Each printed check is saved in a searchable register with its number, payee, amount and date, and you can export it as a CSV file.

The paper trail you can void

You can print a voided check and keep a record of it, and the check clearing tracker shows which printed checks the bank has paid.

Works on any computer

It runs in the browser on Windows, Mac and Chromebook, so there is nothing to install and it works with any printer.

An example: a small contractor choosing how to pay

A contractor pays two subcontractors every other week, a lumber supplier once a month and, a few times a year, a large equipment deposit that has to arrive the same day. The figures here are an illustration, not a customer story.

The deposit goes by wire from the bank, because the speed matters and the fee is worth it. Everything else is printed as a check from Check Writer 123, which on the Occasional plan costs $5.99 a month for up to 20 checks. The contractor pays the bank's wire fee only when a wire is truly needed.

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

When is a wire transfer actually worth it?

Wires have a real place. They are fast, they settle between banks directly and they are common for large, time-sensitive or international payments.

Closing on a property or a vehicle.
Paying a supplier abroad who does not accept checks.
A large deposit that has to arrive the same day.
Anything where the payee requires a wire.
For routine bills, payroll or small vendor payments, there is usually a cheaper method.

What to ask your bank about wires

A short call or a look at the fee schedule answers most of this:

What is the fee for an outgoing domestic wire, and for an international one?
Is there a fee to receive a wire?
What is the daily limit and the cut-off time for same-day wires?
Can I start wires in online banking, or only at a branch?
Can I save a payee's details for repeat wires, and can I require a second person to approve?
What happens if I send a wire to the wrong account?

Does a wire platform or a check tool cost more over a year?

Take the number of payments you send a month, multiply by the fee for each method, and add any monthly subscription. Wires carry a fee on every payment, a platform adds its own subscription, and a check tool charges only a flat monthly price plus your paper and a stamp.

See our software cost comparison and cost of printing your own checks for worked examples.

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 a wire transfer?

No. Wire transfers are a bank service. You can usually start one in your bank's online banking, by phone or at a branch. Software that offers wires is generally passing your instruction to a bank and may add its own fee, so compare the total cost first.

How much does a wire transfer cost?

It depends on your bank. Banks commonly charge a fee for outgoing wires, often more than for ACH or checks, and international wires can cost more. Look at your bank's fee schedule or ask, since there is no single price.

Is a wire safer than a check?

Each has trade-offs. A wire is fast and final, which also means it is hard to reverse if you made a mistake or were tricked. A check can be voided or stopped before it is cashed. Verify the payee's details by a phone number you trust before sending a large payment.

Can I pay with a check instead of a wire?

Often yes. If the payee accepts a check and can wait a few days, a printed check is usually cheaper. Ask the payee, and use a wire only when speed or the payee requires it.

Does Check Writer 123 send wire transfers?

No. It prints checks only and does not move money or connect to your bank. It is a low-cost way to print checks, and you keep using your bank for wires and ACH.

What does Check Writer 123 cost?

The Free plan prints up to 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 checks and $25.99 for unlimited checks and accounts, with no per-check fee.

Guides for people deciding whether to pay for wire transfer software

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Save wires for when you truly need them

Print your everyday payments as checks. Start on the free plan, 5 checks a month with no card.

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