Why use check writing software? 12 reasons, and when not to
Check writing software lets you type a payee and amount, review a live preview and print a clean check on demand, instead of handwriting each one or ordering a box of preprinted checks. It helps most if you still pay by check regularly. If you write only a few a month, the Free plan covers up to 5 checks at $0.
Free plan: 5 checks a month. Paid plans from $5.99. No per-check fees.
The problems printing checks solves
Handwriting is slow and easy to get wrong
Every handwritten check means writing the payee, the amount in numbers, the amount in words, the date and the memo. One slip can make the check unusable, and you start again with a fresh one.
Ordering checks is a slow, upfront cost
Personalized checks come from a printer or your bank in a large batch. You wait for delivery, pay for the whole order and are left with extras if your address, business name or bank account changes.
Records live on scraps of paper
A handwritten check register or a stub is easy to lose and hard to search. When a vendor asks about a payment from months ago, you may be digging through a drawer.
Banking tools do not cover every payment
Online banking can send ACH payments and wires, but some payees still want paper. Needing a check now and again is common, and it deserves a simple, low-cost workflow.
Is it worth it for you? Five quick questions
You can answer these in a couple of minutes. If most are a yes, check writing software is probably worth trying.
- 1
Do you pay at least a few people by check each month?
Software helps when there is something to print. If you write one or two checks a month, the Free plan is enough and costs nothing.
- 2
Do you pay the same people more than once?
Saved vendors and employees mean you type a name once. Repeat payees are where the time savings add up.
- 3
Do you want a record you can search?
A register that stores the number, payee, amount and date makes it quick to answer a vendor's question or hand records to a bookkeeper.
- 4
Do you own a printer and can you buy blank check stock or use plain paper?
Check Writer 123 prints from a browser to the printer you already have. You buy the paper and ink yourself, so include those costs when you compare.
- 5
Would you rather type than handwrite?
If handwriting is slow, messy or tiring, typing the details and printing a neat check is a real benefit by itself.
What you get with Check Writer 123
Live preview and amount in words
Type the payee and amount and see the finished check. The amount in words is written for you, which removes a common source of mistakes.
Saved vendors and employees
Save a payee once and reuse it, so repeat payments take seconds instead of minutes.
Batch entry and printing
Enter up to 25 checks in one table and print up to 50 together for a payment day.
A register you can search and export
Every printed check is saved with its number, payee, amount and date, and you can download the register as a CSV file for your bookkeeper.
Alignment tools and a free Test Print
Print a watermarked test page on plain paper, then nudge the alignment before you use real check stock.
A free plan, then flat monthly prices
Free covers 5 checks a month. Paid plans are $5.99 for 20 checks, $10.99 for 60 and $25.99 for unlimited, with no fee on each check.
An example: a small office paying a dozen checks a month
An office manager pays a cleaner, a copier lease, two suppliers and a few reimbursements by check each month, about twelve in total. The figures here are an illustration, not a customer story.
Instead of handwriting twelve checks, she types the details, reviews each preview and prints them on one afternoon. The twelve checks fit within the Occasional plan's 20 checks at $5.99 a month. She still buys check stock and ink, so her real saving is time and fewer wasted checks, not the full price of the subscription.
An illustration with made-up figures, not a real customer.
12 reasons people use check writing software
Each reason has a page with more detail. Pick the ones that match how you work.
- Save time by typing instead of handwriting: see save time writing checks.
- Print on demand instead of waiting for an order: see printing your own checks vs ordering them.
- Avoid handwriting mistakes and wasted checks: see avoid check writing mistakes.
- Look professional and consistent: see print checks instead of handwriting them.
- Keep searchable records: see check records for small business.
- Use a dedicated tool next to your bank: see check writing software vs your bank.
- Print a batch on payment day.
- Reprint a check after fixing a mistake.
- Prepare checks outside banking hours.
- Keep different bank accounts or businesses separate.
- Let an authorized team member prepare checks.
- Skip the full accounting suite when all you need is checks.
When is check writing software not worth it?
It is not for everyone, and it is better to know that up front. If you write a check once or twice a year, handwriting it is fine. If you have no printer and no desire to buy check stock, a bank-issued check or your bank's bill pay may suit you better.
Software also does not eliminate bank fees, bounced checks or fraud. You still need funds in the account, compatible check stock, ink or toner, and good habits. Read how check printing compares with ACH and wire transfers to see where your bank's own tools fit.
What does it really cost?
The software price is only part of the cost. Add blank check stock, ink or toner and postage, and compare the total with what you pay today for ordered checks and your own time. A subscription can cost more than a checkbook if you write very few checks, which is why the Free plan exists.
Our cost of printing your own checks page shows the formula, and the subscription vs one-time cost guide compares the options.
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 check writing software worth it?
It is worth it if you pay several people by check each month, pay the same people repeatedly, or want searchable records. If you write only a few checks a year, handwriting them is fine, and the Free plan of 5 checks a month costs nothing if you want to try it.
What are the main reasons to print checks instead of handwriting them?
You type the details instead of writing them, so checks are easier to read and look consistent. You can correct mistakes before printing, print several checks at once and keep a record of what you printed. Handwritten checks can still be the better choice for a rare payment.
Is printing checks cheaper than ordering them?
It depends on your volume. Printing means paying for blank check stock, ink and a software plan, while ordering means paying for a batch of personalized checks and waiting for delivery. Compare your total yearly cost for each, using the formula on our cost page.
Do I need an accounting program to use it?
No. Check Writer 123 works on its own in your browser. You can export the register as a CSV file to share with a bookkeeper or enter checks in your accounting program using the same check numbers.
Does check writing software remove bank fees or bounced checks?
No. The software prints checks, but it does not move money or connect to your bank. You still need enough funds in the account, compatible check stock and ink or toner, and your bank's own fees still apply.
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 checks and $25.99 for unlimited checks and accounts. There is no per-check fee.
Guides for people deciding whether check writing software is worth it
- Check Printing Software Buyer's Checklist: 12 Things to Compare
- Best Free Check Printing Software: What 'Free' Really Means in 2026
- Check Printing Software Cost: Subscription vs One-Time Purchase (3-Year Table)
- How Small Businesses Can Print Their Own Checks
- Check Printing Software vs Ordering Checks From a Bank
- Affordable Check Printing Software
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 who handwrite checks and want something easier
- People deciding between printing checks and ordering them
- People comparing check writing software with what their bank offers
- 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
See if printing your own checks works for you
Start on the free plan, 5 checks a month with no card, and print a free Test Print in about ten minutes.