As a result, you’ll be able to find check styles that are perfectly suited to your individual needs, whether you’ve got a penchant for Disney characters or want to show your love of the animal kingdom, or simply want something different to the norm. Being able to use customized checks can be ideal if you run a business, too, solidifying your brand image and even letting you highlight your support for a particular cause. Better yet, buying through the cheapest online check ordering services can prove far more cost-effective than going through your bank, adding another benefit to the tally. Of course, there are other things to think about as well, such as the level of security offered, the customer service of the company in question, their reputation or even their eco credentials. Luckily, this list of the very best online check ordering services should be able to point you in the right direction no matter what your priorities may be. But why stop there? If you want to completely overhaul your finances you may want to check out the best online banks (opens in new tab) as well, but you can be safe in the knowledge that the cheapest online check ordering services will be able to accommodate when you want the familiarity of a check.
1. CostCo Check Service: Cheapest online check ordering service
Costco has partnered with Harland Clarke Check Printing to provide a good choice of check options at very cheap prices… if you’re happy to buy in bulk. The minimum number of checks you can order is 200, and obviously the discounts get deeper the greater the volume that you buy. However, for those with high check use, and those happy to have plenty of checks in reserve, the savings can be significant. For a fairly standard blue safety check, you’re looking at a super low price per single check of $0.0338 if you’re a Costco Executive Member and willing to order 1,500 checks. This makes it the cheapest online check ordering service overall. Obviously, choosing one of the many check designs on offer tends to see the cost rise, and there’s plenty of options to catch your eye, from character checks featuring Mickey Mouse and Star Wars through to animal and good cause related checks. That said, greater choice can be found at other online check ordering services if you can’t see what you’re looking for. For businesses, a good range of manual, computer and high security checks are available, with the latter boasting an impressive 29 security features. All the accessories required to keep track of check spending are on offer too, including deposit tickets, binders and checkbook covers.
2. CheckAdvantage: Best online check ordering service
CheckAdvantage likes to give its customers a choice, and with over 2,500 check design options on display, it offers one of the largest selections in the online check ordering market. Featuring unique design options created by independent licensed artists and photographers, you’re likely to find something fairly different from the other check ordering sites as well. You can choose from more than 300 check covers to complement your check pattern and also select a custom font. The downside is the lack of licensed and therefore well-known superhero or cartoon characters - if you’re wanting Disney or professional sports teams, you will need to look elsewhere. Businesses are afforded the option to add their logo to business checks (minimum price $24.95), and to take a package that includes a deposit record and an endorsement stamp. CheckAdvantage also offers payroll computer checks that are compatible with Quicken, QuickBooks, Microsoft Money, Great Plains and Peachtree accounting software, and three-on-a-page manual checks that come in top-stub or side-tear formats if you like to write your own. Topping everything off is a money-back guarantee if you’re not pleased with the print quality or timeliness of the delivery of your checks from CheckAdvantage, and the prerequisite security features too. It may not be the cheapest online check ordering service overall, but it is certainly one of the best.
3. Carousel Checks: Best value online check ordering
If you want a simple box of single checks at a low, low price, Carousel Checks is an excellent choice. One box of 125 parchment checks costs just $6.99 - it’s an offer that is very hard to beat - and as you might expect, the more boxes you buy, the cheaper the price of a single check becomes. Carousel Checks has the second-largest design catalog in our comparison, with 1,250 options, although you won’t find many popular characters from the movie or television industry. The design options are categorized by theme, including value checks, floral themes, scenic designs, and “fun and games” checks, while there’s some original designs from licensed artists, and the option to upload your own photos for a truly original personal check. Carousel also has a good selection of business checks. You can choose from a catalog of laser checks for use with accounting software like Quicken or QuickBooks, or manual checks with various stub options. One last thing to bear in mind, though, especially if you’re in a hurry for your checks - orders can take two to three weeks from when the order is placed, and anywhere between 12 to 121 business days from when an order is shipped.
4. Checks In The Mail: Most trusted online check ordering service
Supplying over a billion checks to customers in all 50 states a year, and with almost 100 year’s experience in the check industry, it is easy to see why Checks In The Mail is one of the most trusted online check ordering services. While the choice of 200 design options is a little on the low side compared with some online check ordering services, the more popular themes from movies like “Star Wars,” “Minions” and “Frozen” which can be absent elsewhere are all available here. The basic checks come in at a very reasonable price and you’ll regularly find special offers on the website too. And in that respect, the website is also one of the best around - all of the buying options are clearly presented and easy to find, and there’s live chat assistance as well. For repeat customers who’ve ordered checks through Checks In The Mail before and like what they received, the fast-track reordering option will prove useful too. Besides the more traditional checks, the company offers high-security checks for business and personal accounts, which include an impressive 25 protection features. Perhaps just one thing is missing, and that’s a money-back guarantee - but given Checks In The Mail has a stellar reputation among online check ordering circles, you’re unlikely to make use of it any way.
5. Deluxe: Best online check ordering customer support
Deluxe offers around 90 check styles, including Disney, Warner Brothers and university branded sports checks, and has high security checks for both personal and business use that exceed the CPSA standards for security. However, what makes Deluxe really stand out is the customer support that it can provide, something which is particularly important if your business depends on checks for payroll, client payments and other functions.
6. Walmart Checks: Best eco-friendly checks
Walmart Checks might be slightly average in most aspects of its online check ordering service, but where it does stand out is with its green credentials. All of the checks it produces are printed on recycled paper and use soy ink instead of petroleum-based inks, helping to minimize environmental impact and reducing toxic waste. Walmart also uses recycled paper to make the check boxes in which they are sent. In terms of the check service itself, Walmart is certainly worth a look. There’s over 330 check designs on offer, including a great range of Disney and movie-related checks, and the option to create your own checks using photos or stick figures that you can create yourself online. Walmart is not the cheapest online check ordering service - basic single checks start off at $7.46 for a box of 150, and even when you up your order to make use of bulk discounts, the price can bettered elsewhere. Business checks are available too, as are high security checks with the backing of CheckSafe, which protects any checks in your order from being used fraudulently. Walmart’s certified check fraud specialists will also work with your financial institution and the merchants involved to resolve any issues should they arise.
7. Checks Unlimited: Best for online check ordering security
Checks Unlimited is a great online check ordering service if security is at the top of your list of priorities. Its dedicated security center explains all the protections on offer in huge detail, including advanced features such as chemical protective paper, microprint signature lines, two dimensional holographic foil, and security screens. Going even further, Checks Unlimited offers the excellent EZShield Check Fraud Protection Program, which delivers an advances of up to $25,000, generally much faster than a bank, in the event of forged signatures, forged endorsements and altered checks. Identity Restoration Pro also helps to protect your information and provides professional assistance to restore your identity if it is stolen. There’s a video guide to explain everything, and identity crime education materials to further inform too. While security is very much its focus, Checks Unlimited still offers more than 200 check designs, including the ever popular Disney and Warner Brother themes, and customizable photo checks too. In terms of price, however, it is definitely not the cheapest online check ordering service overall, with a one box of 100 single checks costing $18.99 - even with discounts for buying bulk, lower price options are certain to be found elsewhere.
What are the benefits of checks?
Some people may think checks are an outdated form of payment, but they’re still useful for many reasons. Firstly, checks are great way to ensure your money is transferred to another person or company securely. A check is one of the only safe ways to send money in the mail, because only the person you’ve made it out to can cash it. Putting cash in the mail, particularly in cards for holidays or birthdays, is risky; it’s easy to steal cash and see the bills through an envelope. In contrast, a check is one thin slip of paper that is less obvious to would-be thieves. Another reason to use checks is they’re traceable. The bank keeps a copy of every check you write, creating a record of your payment history. So if your landlord, for instance, claims you haven’t paid the rent when you actually have, the bank will have hard evidence that you have. Checks can also be useful if you’re running low on cash but have something to pay - as the person you make the check out will need to cash it at their bank, the money transfer isn’t instant (although mobile apps that allow check deposits are speeding this up!). Then there may be a further delay for the check to clear and the money to go through, giving you a little extra time to move funds around and ensure your money is where it needs to go.
How secure are checks ordered online?
While intuition might suggest it is less safe to order checks from anywhere other than your bank, remember that your bank will probably use a third party to print your checks anyway. Nevertheless, when using an online check ordering service, security should always be one of the most important factors to consider. Most services devote sections of their website to security, outlining the steps they take to keep you and your checks secure. An easy way to make sure an online check ordering service follows best security practice is to check for membership of the Check Payment Systems Association (opens in new tab) (CPSA). A non-profit organization, the CPSA works to ensure the integrity of the paper-based payment system, with companies having to meet strict guidelines in terms of check paper, ink and design to become a member. If a service is upholding CPSA guidelines, there will be a padlock icon next to the “amount” box on its checks.
What makes a good online check ordering service?
Customization If you order checks online, these services will usually provide better quality checks and a greater selection of designs than your local bank. For instance, some online check ordering services allow you to add your company’s logo to business checks or will provide a selection of stock logos you can use. The vast majority of online check ordering companies also carry novelty designs, with images from movies and TV, nature, sports and hobbies. Check options & extras The best online check ordering services offer checks in various formats that can help you monitor your personal and business expenses, and see where your money goes. So if you’re happy to pay slightly more, you’ll be supplied with checks with duplicates for you to keep, and registers to list the check number, payee, date and amount. Many online check ordering services sell business checks with a top or side stub to help track spending, or carry check templates that work with accounting software such as Quicken or QuickBooks. Customer service While it should be possible to complete your entire check order quickly and efficiently online, you may still occasionally need to make use of customer support. Almost all online check ordering services have a toll-free phone number to ring and an email address for you to contact, while the best services will have live chat support to answer your questions in double quick time. Should you end up unhappy with the service you receive, most online check ordering companies offer a money-back guarantee too, in case there are problems with printing or shipping your checks. That said, it remains your responsibility to carefully proofread the check details you submit, so perhaps run it by someone else for extra safety before completing your order.
