Affordable check printing software is the option with the lowest total cost per check once you include the software fee, blank stock, ink or toner and any extra charges for accounts or checks. A low sticker price can hide costs that make it expensive, so calculate a cost per check using your own monthly volume before you buy.
This page is a cost method, not a price list. Prices change and vary by seller, so we do not quote anyone else's numbers. The example figures below are labeled assumptions that you should replace with real ones. Check Writer 123 is made by the publisher of this site, so weigh its figures accordingly.
The four ways check software charges you
| Pricing model | How it works | Cost to watch |
|---|---|---|
| One-time license | Pay once, install and use | Upgrade fees for new versions, support charges, a new purchase if you change operating system |
| Monthly or yearly subscription | Pay on a schedule while you use it | Auto-renewal, price rises, plan limits on checks or accounts |
| Per-check or per-use fees | Pay for each check printed | Costs that climb with volume, with no cap |
| Bundled in accounting software | Part of a larger subscription | Paying for a whole suite when you only need checks |
None of these is always cheapest. A one-time license is attractive for a person who prints for years on the same computer. A subscription is attractive for someone who prints a few months a year and can cancel in between. Per-check pricing suits very low volume and punishes high volume.
How to calculate cost per check
Use this formula for any tool, including a free template with your own costs for stock and ink.
- Software cost per month: the monthly fee, or the license price divided by the months you expect to use it.
- Stock cost per check: the price of a pack of blank check sheets divided by the number of sheets. Each 3-to-a-page sheet carries one check.
- Ink or toner per check: the cartridge price divided by estimated pages, or a rough share if you are not sure.
- Add any account, user or storage fees spread over your checks.
- Total monthly cost divided by checks printed in the month equals your cost per check.
A worked example with assumed numbers
These are illustration numbers, not quotes. Suppose a 500-sheet pack of blank check stock costs $60, so stock is $0.12 per check. Suppose ink or toner adds about $0.03 per page. Now compare three monthly volumes with a subscription that charges $13.99 a month for up to 60 checks.
| Checks per month | Software cost per check | Stock plus ink per check | Total per check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | $2.80 | $0.15 | $2.95 |
| 20 | $0.70 | $0.15 | $0.85 |
| 60 | $0.23 | $0.15 | $0.38 |
The lesson is that volume matters more than the headline fee. At 5 checks a month the subscription looks expensive per check, and a free template or a bank-ordered box may be cheaper. At 60 a month, the same fee almost disappears. Run your own numbers with your own prices.
Hidden costs to look for
- Stock lock-in: tools that only work with a particular brand of check paper can cost more over time than your software fee.
- Extra bank accounts: a low entry price can rise once you add a second or third account.
- Renewal increases: introductory pricing that doubles after the first term.
- Per-check overage fees when you pass a plan limit.
- Support or upgrade fees for an installed program.
- Wasted stock: misaligned prints use up sheets. A free test print prevents this.
- Time costs: a cheaper tool that is slow to use is not cheaper if you value your hours.
Cheap routes and their limits
Free options exist. A word processor template costs nothing, but you type the amount in words yourself, get no check numbering and keep no register, as covered in how to print checks from Excel. Printing on plain paper saves the cost of blank stock, though acceptance varies by bank and it suits mobile deposit better than handing someone a check.
If your priority is cutting stock costs, read how to print a check without buying pre-printed checks for what you save and what you give up. For help selecting the right stock, see how to choose the right check paper.
A fair cost test before you commit
- Take your last three months of check counts and average them.
- Price three options with the formula above: bank-ordered checks, a free template and a paid tool.
- Add the cost of a wasted sheet or two during setup.
- Check the cancellation terms and refund policy before paying.
- Run a free trial and use the saved time as part of the answer.
Check Writer 123 uses plain monthly pricing: $9.99 for 20 checks and 2 bank accounts, $13.99 for 60 checks and 4 accounts, and $29.99 for unlimited checks and accounts, with all features on every plan. There is a 14-day free trial with no card, cancellation in Settings at any time and a 30-day money-back guarantee on the first payment. Test Prints and reprints are free and do not count toward the limit. Stock and ink are extra.
Putting it together
Affordable does not mean cheapest. It means the lowest all-in cost per check for a tool that does the job without costly mistakes. Count your checks, compute the cost per check for each option and keep the free trial window to test alignment before you spend on stock. For a business-focused view of the same question, see best check printing software for small business.