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Most buyers should pick Plastiq.
Choose Online Check Writer if check printing is central and you want checks, ACH, wires and eChecks in one platform. Its Pay As You Go plan is $0 monthly, but requires a $30 minimum recharge; payment and delivery fees also apply. Choose Plastiq if you mainly need to pay vendors by card, bank account or financing and want unlimited users without subscription fees. Its card fee is 2.99%, with separate delivery charges. Neither has a fixed subscription starting price.
01Side by side
| Online Check Writer | Plastiq | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $0/month; $30 minimum recharge | No subscription; per-transaction fees |
| Free plan | Free plan; recharge and transaction fees apply | No subscription fee; transaction fees apply |
| Best for | Businesses printing checks and paying bills | Businesses paying vendors by card |
| Core strength | Checks, ACH, wires and eChecks | Card-funded vendor payments and delivery options |
| Learning curve | Ease-of-use review score: 6/10 | Ease-of-use review score: 7/10 |
| Integrations/data | Accounting sync with leading platforms | Accounting sync with supported tools |
| Team/seat costs | 3 users included; Enterprise users custom | Unlimited users; no subscription fee |
| Support | Support review score: 4/10 | Support review score: 5/10 |
Online Check Writer Choose Online Check Writer if
- Choose Online Check Writer if check printing is a core workflow.
- Choose Online Check Writer if you need checks, ACH, wires and eChecks.
- Choose Online Check Writer if three users fit the Pay As You Go plan.
Plastiq Choose Plastiq if
- Choose Plastiq if you want to pay vendors by credit card.
- Choose Plastiq if unlimited users matter and you want no subscription fee.
- Choose Plastiq if you need bill capture and payment approval workflows.
02Pricing compared
Neither product has a fixed subscription starting price, but the costs work differently. Online Check Writer’s Pay As You Go plan has a $0 monthly fee, three bank accounts and three users, plus a required $30 minimum recharge. The pricing page lists $1 for printing or emailing a check and $1.25 for First Class mailing. ACH, wires and card payments have separate fees; Enterprise pricing is custom.
Plastiq has no subscription fee or user limit. Its pricing page lists card payments at 2.99%, ACH or electronic delivery at $0.99, paper checks at $1.49, and domestic wires at $8.99. International wires cost $39. For card payments, compare Plastiq’s 2.99% with Online Check Writer’s 2.9% processing fee. The cheaper choice depends on payment method and delivery needs.
03Features and depth
Online Check Writer combines check printing and mailing with eChecks, ACH, RTP and wire transfers. It also supports invoices, payment links, credit card payments to vendors, and accounting sync. That makes it the broader fit if you want check creation and several payment rails in one platform. Its Pay As You Go plan is limited to three bank accounts and three users; Enterprise accounts and transaction pricing are custom.
Plastiq focuses on vendor payments: pay by card, bank account or short-term financing, with delivery by check, ACH or wire. It also offers bill capture by email, sync or upload, payment tracking, approval workflows, bulk payments, and accounting sync. Businesses can accept card payments or add payment options through APIs and widgets. Plastiq lists unlimited users, but financing costs 2.75%–10.65% and is limited to registered businesses. Choose by workflow: check production favors Online Check Writer; vendor payment flexibility favors Plastiq.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Both products cover more than sending a payment, so the easier fit depends on what your team needs. Online Check Writer puts check printing, mailing and multiple payment methods alongside invoicing and payment links. Its Pay As You Go cap of three users and three bank accounts is clear; larger or custom needs point to Enterprise pricing.
Plastiq has unlimited users and lists bill capture, approvals and accounting sync, which may suit teams managing vendor bills together. Our review scores put ease of use at 6.0 for Online Check Writer and 7.0 for Plastiq, but those scores do not show how either product will fit your process. Map your payment and approval steps before switching.
Questions people ask
What is the best free online check writer?
Of these two, Online Check Writer is the closer fit for printing checks. Its Pay As You Go plan has no monthly fee, but it requires a $30 minimum recharge and charges $1 to print or email a check. Plastiq charges per transaction or delivery.
Can I legally print my own checks?
The published product information confirms that Online Check Writer supports self-printed checks, but it does not establish legal or bank requirements. Before using printed checks for business payments, confirm the requirements with your bank and relevant authorities.
Is Online Check Writer legit?
The published information describes Online Check Writer as a cloud-based business payments and check-printing platform, with check, ACH, wire and eCheck features. It does not verify security practices, regulatory status or customer outcomes, so we can’t assess legitimacy from this material alone.
What does a check writer do?
A check writer creates checks to pay people or businesses. Online Check Writer also lets businesses print checks themselves or mail them, and supports eChecks, ACH, wires, invoices and payment links. Plastiq is focused more on paying vendors through different methods.