5 Places to Get Cheap Checks for Those Annoying Times You Need Paper
From time to time, it happens: You need a paper check.
Your landlord lives in the Stone Age and wants you to send a check in the mail… like, with a stamp. Or you park in a garage near your office that only takes cash or checks for some inexplicable reason.
But it’s real life. Sometimes, you need to write a check. (And if you’re reading this, you might have already used your last one.) But when you log in to your checking account and ask for some, the bank wants to charge you $20 or $30 — and that’s before you pay for shipping and hold your horses for seven to 10 business days.
What’s a frugal infrequent check writer to do? Find a way around those bank fees, of course.
5 Cheap Ways to Order Checks Online
You don’t need to order checks from your bank. You might be surprised at how many alternative options there are if you poke around online, instead of just perusing that leaflet that came with your weekly coupons in the mail.
When researching online check printers, you should use the same discretion you’d use with any online merchant. Do a little research ahead of time, shop on a secure Wi-Fi connection, and double-check that the site is encrypted to protect your personal information.
Here are a few options we found that feature rock-bottom prices for these pesky paper slips.
Check Advantage
Check Advantage promotes its basic checks as “our cheapest check,” so they’re easy to pick out on the site. One box of 150 checks costs $7.50, and shipping is free. Your checks will arrive in 11 to 15 days, but you can also pay for expedited shipping.
Checks.com
Checks.com sells a box of 100 checks starting at $5.95. Standard delivery is free and takes up to 15 business days; trackable shipping starts at $2.25 and takes seven to 11 business days.
Checks in the Mail
Checks in the Mail offers 25 checks for $4.99. Shipping without tracking is free and takes 14 business days; shipping with tracking starts at $8.95 and takes 12 business days.
Vistaprint
Vistaprint offers personal checks starting at $4 for 25. With a coupon code (and there always seems to be a coupon code here), you’re looking at $2.99 for 25 checks.
Vistaprint has flat shipping fees based on order cost. For orders under $20, you can expect to pay $4.99 for delivery in eight business days, $6.99 for delivery in five business days, or $19.99 for express shipping in three business days.
Walmart
Walmart checks start at $7.46 for a pack of 150.
Free standard shipping takes about 12 business days from the time your order is received. Two-day delivery costs $13.15.
Need a Check ASAP? Request a Counter Check
Need a check faster than expedited shipping can provide? Head to your bank.
If you only need a check or two, you can ask for a counter check. They’ll look slightly different from a regular check, but you’ll write out the details the same way you would normally. It only takes a few minutes, and if your bank charges a fee, it should only be a few bucks.
Want Free Checks? Switch to an Online Banking App
Online banks typically have lower fees because they don’t have the overhead of maintaining branch locations. Those lower fees may include nominal charges to order paper or cashier’s checks — or they may be free altogether.
Ally offers free checks to customers, for example.
Chime® has a similar option: It doesn’t offer physical checks to members, but the free Chime Checkbook feature sends checks from the mobile app to anywhere in the U.S. for free, with delivery in three to nine business days.*
If You’re in It for the Long Haul, Print Your Own Checks
This option takes a little prep. You’ll have to buy check paper (look at office supply stores like Staples or Office Depot), and you’ll need access to software that can format the check details before printing.
Some people prefer to use magnetic ink to print checks. If that’s not an effort you feel like making for your check-printing needs, consider a different option.
Lisa Rowan is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. The Chime Visa® Debit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. The secured Chime Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your Card for its issuing bank.
MyPay® line of credit provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. MyPay services provided by Chime Capital, LLC (NMLS ID 2316451).
Chime is recommended by more of its users in the 2024 Qualtrics® NPS study when compared to top national banks and select fintechs. THE #1 MOST LOVED BANKING APP is a Registered Trademark of Chime Financial, Inc.
* Terms apply. Limited time only, must open the new account and complete qualifying activities to earn 3 individual rewards, up to a max of $350.00, as described at https://www.chime.com/policies/newmemberofferv3.
1 Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
2 Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at FCTI® ATMs in a 7-Eleven® or Speedway, or any Allpoint® or Visa® Plus Alliance ATM participating in the Allpoint network.
3 SpotMe® on Credit is an optional, no interest/no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account. SpotMe on Debit is an optional, no fee service attached to your Chime Checking Account (individually or collectively, “SpotMe”). Eligibility for SpotMe requires $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month.
Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account and/or their Secured Deposit Account up to $20 in total, but may be later eligible for a higher combined limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your SpotMe Limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your SpotMe Limit. SpotMe for Credit and SpotMe on Debit share a single SpotMe limit. Your SpotMe Limit may change at any time, at Chime or its banking partners’ discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions or OTC cash withdrawal fees at retailers. SpotMe won’t cover non-card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe Terms and Conditions.
4 With a qualifying direct deposit, earn 1.5% cash back on eligible secured Chime Visa® Credit Card purchases. Please refer to the Secured Chime Visa® Credit Card – Cash Rewards Program Addendum for details and more information on rotating cash back categories.
5 On-time payment history may have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Chime will report your activities to Transunion®, Experian®, and Equifax®. Impact on your credit may vary, as Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.
6 Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and OTC advance fees may apply. View The Bancorp agreement or Stride agreement for details; see back of card for issuer.
7 Money added to Chime Card™ will be held in a secured deposit account as collateral for your Chime Card, and you can spend up to this amount. You can use money deposited in your Secured Deposit Account to pay off your charges at the end of every month.
8 You must notify your financial institution immediately of any unauthorized use. For specific restrictions, limitations and other details, please consult your issuer.
9 To be eligible for Chime+™ status, you must receive a qualifying direct deposit to your Chime Checking Account in the preceding 34 days. Certain products marketed as Chime+ benefits have additional eligibility requirements. While some Chime+ benefits may have associated fees, none of these fees are mandatory to access Chime+ benefits or to maintain Chime+ status. See Chime+ Terms and Conditions for details.
10 To be eligible for MyPay, you must receive qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account in the preceding 36 days as set forth in the MyPay Agreement. A qualifying direct deposit is a deposit from an employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, government benefits payer, or other permitted source of income by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) or Original Credit Transaction (“OCT”). Your MyPay Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance may change at any time. MyPay is a line of credit and available limits are based on estimated income and risk-based criteria. Eligible members may be offered a $20 – $500 Credit Limit per pay period. Your Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance will be displayed to you within the Chime app. MyPay is currently only available to eligible Chime members in certain states. Other restrictions may apply. See Bancorp MyPay Agreement or Stride MyPay Agreement for details.
11 Top three national bank ranking according to the Federal Reserve Statistical Release based on domestic assets; number of ATMs self-reported by Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo – June 2025.
12 To apply for a Chime Card, you must also open a Chime Checking Account.
13 Chime Visa® Credit Card holders – Deposits and debit refunds go to your Checking Account, then transfer to your Chime Card Secured Deposit Account – other than Chime Card cash deposits at retailers, which go to your Chime Card Account, then transfer to your Secured Deposit Account. Funds are moved from your Secured Deposit Account to your Checking Account to facilitate outbound transfers and debit purchases. Your Available balance is the money you can spend with your Chime Card or Checking Account. See account agreements and statements for details.
14 Chime will report the following activities, as applicable, to TransUnion®, Experian®, and Equifax®: amount past due; payment status of the last paid-off balance; how long you’ve had your card; current statement balance; last balance payment date; and highest balance before paying it off.
