GITNUXSOFTWARE ADVICE
Business FinanceTop 8 Best Check Making Software of 2026
Compare check making software tools and tradeoffs for checkbooks, CHAX, and Checkeeper, helping teams shortlist options by needs.
How we ranked these tools
Vendors set the topic, but our editors set the inclusion criteria and the evaluation framework before research starts.
Search agents gather the source set and the review record, including transcriptions of video reviews and podcasts.
Framework: Features 40% · Ease 30% · Value 30%
Gitnux may earn a commission through links on this page — this does not influence rankings. Editorial policy
Checkbook is the best pick for accounts payable teams that need controlled check writing because its batch-level signer authorization ties approvals to the check run release, reducing unauthorized printing and keeping check numbering consistent. CHAX is the safer alternative for SMB teams since its signer-gated finalization includes tracked void and reissue history per check record.
Editor’s top 3 picks
Three quick recommendations before you dive into the full comparison below — each one leads on a different dimension.
Checkbook
Batch-level signer authorization tied to check run release reduces unauthorized check printing risk.
Best for: Fits when accounts payable teams need controlled check writing with approval and consistent check numbering across batches.
CHAX
Editor pickSigner-gated check finalization with tracked void and reissue history for each check record.
Best for: Fits when AP teams need controlled check creation, approval gating, and traceability across recurring runs.
Checkeeper
Editor pickSigner authorization with check lifecycle audit trail for voided and updated checks.
Best for: Fits when accounts payable teams need governed check runs and auditable void tracking.
Comparison Table
Checkbook
API-firstDigital check delivery platform with printable and eCheck options.
Batch-level signer authorization tied to check run release reduces unauthorized check printing risk.
Checkbook generates and prints checks from structured remittance data while enforcing check numbering and signer selection workflows. The system supports exporting check outputs and linking check runs to a check register for audit trail purposes.
Checkbook also provides bank account validation steps before issuing checks, which reduces the chance of printing against incorrect funding details. It is designed to centralize approval and release for check writing so accounts payable can manage exceptions without manual rework.
- +Check numbering and release workflow reduce out-of-sequence printing errors
- +Signer and approval controls support separation of duties for check runs
- +Bank account validation steps catch mismatched funding details before print
- +Check outputs can be generated from remittance inputs and retained in a register
- –Limited guidance for complex multi-entity chart of accounts mapping
- –Requires careful configuration to keep signers aligned to payment batches
- –Automation depth depends on external accounting integration availability
- –Void and replacement handling needs disciplined check register updates
Best for: Fits when accounts payable teams need controlled check writing with approval and consistent check numbering across batches.
CHAX
SMBCheck printing software accepting checks by phone, fax, and online.
Signer-gated check finalization with tracked void and reissue history for each check record.
CHAX is a fit for organizations that need check creation workflows tied to operational records, not only print-ready documents. The solution supports check numbering behavior, check register visibility, and an audit trail for key actions like voiding and reissuing. For check execution, it supports PDF check output workflows that help separate approval from print steps. It also includes operational guardrails like authorized signers so only approved users can finalize check runs.
A tradeoff with CHAX is that complex edge cases in check stock handling and bank-specific formatting often require more process discipline than generic check templates. It is best used when the team already has a defined accounts payable batch cadence and wants consistent controls across multiple payment runs.
- +Audit trail captures void and reissue actions by user and time
- +Authorized signers gate check finalization across payment runs
- +PDF check output supports approval steps before printing
- +Check register tracking keeps batch activity easy to reconcile
- –Bank-format edge cases may require tighter internal setup
- –Automation depth depends on how existing AP data is staged
Accounts payable teams
Batch payment runs with approvals
Fewer unauthorized check edits
Controller and audit teams
Traceable void and reissue controls
Faster audit evidence collection
Show 2 more scenarios
Finance operations analysts
PDF review before print execution
Lower print-time rework
Generate PDF checks for review and reconciliation before physical print steps begin.
Multi-entity AP teams
Consistent check numbering across entities
Cleaner month-end reconciliation
Maintain consistent check register visibility and numbering behavior across separate entities and recurring cycles.
Best for: Fits when AP teams need controlled check creation, approval gating, and traceability across recurring runs.
Checkeeper
SMBCheckeeper provides browser-based check creation and printing for businesses and individuals.
Signer authorization with check lifecycle audit trail for voided and updated checks.
Checkeeper focuses on check creation and controlled printing workflows, with templates for consistent check writing and remittance-ready output. It adds payee and signer governance features that support fraud-control practices like voided check tracking and auditable status changes.
Integration depth centers on exporting payment-ready documents and wiring check runs into accounting and vendor payment workflows. The overall fit comes from operational control for accounts payable teams that need repeatable check numbering, print alignment, and document output.
- +Signer and approval controls support governed check authorization
- +Void and status history supports internal audit of check lifecycle
- +Template-driven check output helps maintain consistent formatting
- +Exported documents fit accounting and payment workflows
- –Review flow design requires careful setup to match internal roles
- –Automation hinges on export formats rather than native bank file generation
Best for: Fits when accounts payable teams need governed check runs and auditable void tracking.
Checkrun
API-firstCheckrun creates, approves, and sends business payments through digital and mailed checks.
Voided check tracking tied to check numbering so canceled checks remain traceable across print cycles.
Checkrun’s core workflow starts with importing or defining payment details, generating check documents with consistent alignment, and producing PDF outputs for approval and print. The system includes check numbering controls and voided check tracking so audits can trace what was issued and what was canceled. It also supports configuration for payee name formatting and signature placement so printed checks match internal standards.
- +Configurable check layouts that keep signature and payee placement consistent
- +PDF-ready check output supports approval steps before check printing
- +Voided check tracking preserves an issuance and cancellation audit trail
- +Check numbering controls reduce duplicate and out-of-sequence issuance risk
- –Cross-bank document rules require careful setup for multi-bank operations
- –Some verification workflows add operational steps to each payment run
- –Automation depth depends on how payment data is sourced and formatted
- –High-volume print pipelines need printer and alignment validation testing
Accounts payable teams
Generate printable checks with approvals
Fewer print mistakes
Finance ops administrators
Standardize check formats across teams
Uniform check output
Show 2 more scenarios
Audit and compliance teams
Trace issued and voided checks
Cleaner evidence trail
Use issuance and cancellation history to support internal reconciliation and audit requests.
Mid-market controllers
Reduce payment rework from errors
Less rework
Run check creation with validation and review PDFs to catch payee and sequencing issues early.
Best for: Fits when accounts payable teams need controlled check document generation with approval and void tracking.
PrintBoss
enterprisePrintBoss prints checks and payment documents from accounting and business applications.
Check job lifecycle controls that keep check numbering and register output aligned to each print run.
PrintBoss focuses on turning check-printing workflows into a governed process for high-volume production environments. It supports check stock handling and formatting rules for consistent output, including alignment expectations needed for MICR lines and signature placement.
- +Job templates standardize check formatting across print runs
- +Check stock and layout controls reduce rework from misalignment
- +Print-run linkage helps keep check numbering and register records consistent
- +Repeatable production configurations cut manual steps for operators
- –Integration depth for accounting workflows can lag behind check-specialist peers
- –Advanced governance requires careful role separation and operational discipline
- –Limited visibility into fraud workflows beyond printing controls
- –API extensibility is weaker than tools built for deep automation
Best for: Fits when finance teams need standardized, high-throughput check printing with controlled job templates and consistent output.
Charted
vertical specialistAP check printing automation built natively within NetSuite for on-premise printing or outsourced check fulfillment.
Approval-based check status lifecycle with audit trail for edits, voids, and release steps before print or export.
Charted targets check printing and check writing workflows where teams need controlled approvals before checks leave for production. The system centers on user permissions, check status tracking, and audit-ready activity around check creation, edits, and voids.
- +Strong approval workflow support for check creation and changes
- +Audit trail captures who edited checks and when
- +Print-ready output reduces manual reformatting for AP teams
- +Void and status tracking supports cleaner check reconciliation
- –Less suited for high-volume MICR production without dedicated process planning
- –Add-on integrations can be needed for payroll or accounting connectivity
- –Complex signatory and approval routing can slow first rollout
- –Limited transparency into bank-specific formatting differences
Best for: Fits when accounts payable teams need governed check production with approvals, audit trail, and controlled void tracking.
OnlineCheckWriter
SMBOnlineCheckWriter creates, prints, emails, and mails business checks from a web application.
Batch generation of print-ready PDF checks with consistent numbering and register tracking for the run.
OnlineCheckWriter targets teams that need online check writing and printing with MICR-ready outputs for standard check stock.
- +PDF check output is built for direct printing batches
- +Check numbering stays consistent across multi-check runs
- +Payee and signer lists reduce repeated typing
- +Issued check tracking supports quick status lookups
- –Fewer automation hooks than platforms focused on AP workflows
- –Account and validation controls are limited versus full bank integrations
- –Minimal extensibility for custom remittance formats
- –Batch edits can be slow when handling large payee volumes
Best for: Fits when small AP teams need fast, print-ready check production without deep accounting integration.
FiChecks
SMBOnline check printing software for creating, printing, mailing, and sending eChecks from any printer or paper.
Batch-driven check run that keeps check numbering, printed output, and check register records linked in one preparation cycle.
FiChecks creates printable checks and automates the check preparation workflow for accounts payable and related payment runs. It focuses on managing check numbering, payee details, and output formatting for consistent check stock usage.
- +Clear check numbering workflow that reduces manual reconciliation steps
- +Consistent printable output designed around standard check stock constraints
- +Check register generation keeps issued-check records organized
- +Exportable payment documentation supports downstream finance processes
- –Limited evidence of deep accounting software synchronization from within the check flow
- –Automation depends on having payment data prepared in an expected format
- –Advanced audit controls like per-field signer RBAC are not clearly surfaced
- –Throughput depends on batching and template configuration discipline
Best for: Fits when mid-size finance teams need controlled check printing and clean payment documentation export for AP runs.
Conclusion
After evaluating 8 check making software, Checkbook stands out as our overall top pick — it scored highest across our combined criteria of features, ease of use, and value, which is why it sits at #1 in the rankings above.
Use the comparison table and detailed reviews above to validate the fit against your own requirements before committing to a tool.
How to Choose the Right Check Making Software
Check making software in this guide covers end-to-end workflows for controlled check creation, approval, printing, and void tracking across AP teams using tools like Checkrun, CHAX, CheckStream, and Checkeeper. These tools are compared by how they enforce signer authorization and document lifecycle controls, how they preserve check numbering continuity, and how they produce print-ready outputs such as PDF checks. The list also includes Checkbook, OnlineCheckWriter, ezCheckPrinting, PrintBoss, FiChecks, and Charted to show how governance depth and automation surfaces vary by product.
Teams selecting check making software typically start with whether the platform ties each check record to an auditable status history through approval and void events, then they validate output alignment across check stock and printer runs.
Check Making Software that governs check creation, approval, numbering, and print output
Check making software automates check writing and check printing workflows by generating printable check documents and attaching them to a check run record that tracks numbering and lifecycle events. The strongest systems also maintain traceability when checks are voided and reissued so canceled checks remain linked to the same numbering sequence. Checkrun is built around configurable check layouts with PDF-ready check output and voided check tracking tied to check numbering so cancelled checks remain traceable across print cycles.
CHAX emphasizes signer-gated check finalization with tracked void and reissue history so each check record shows who took actions and when. In this category, the practical differentiator is whether approval workflows and audit trails are tied to check status transitions and printed output, not just whether templates exist for formatting. The same decision affects how reliably teams can maintain separation of duties between check preparation and release before printing.
Evaluation criteria for Check Making Software control and auditability
Check making software needs control over who can create, approve, print, and void each check document so AP teams can separate duties and explain outcomes. The strongest tools also keep numbering continuity and link printed artifacts to a check run record so canceled checks remain traceable across multiple print cycles.
Signer-gated check finalization with tracked void and reissue
CHAX gates check finalization by authorized signers and records void and reissue history per check record so canceled documents stay attributable to actions. CheckStream adds event-based approval and void tracking tied to check status transitions so auditors can follow the lifecycle from create to print.
Voided check tracking tied to check numbering across print cycles
Checkrun ties void tracking to check numbering so canceled checks remain traceable across print cycles even when templates and reruns are involved. PrintBoss aligns check numbering and register output to each print run so job-level reruns do not break reconciliation.
Status-driven approval workflow tied to check lifecycle events
CheckStream connects approval workflows to check status events and includes traceable transitions across create, approval, print, and void. Charted records approval-based status lifecycle steps with an audit trail for edits, voids, and release steps before print or export.
Template and layout controls that preserve MICR-safe alignment
ezCheckPrinting uses check job templates that preserve MICR-safe alignment across different check stock sizes and print devices. PrintBoss standardizes job templates so check stock and layout controls reduce rework caused by misalignment.
Operational throughput controls via job templates and print-run alignment
PrintBoss provides job lifecycle controls that keep check numbering and register output aligned to each print run for higher throughput batches. FiChecks uses a batch-driven check run that links printed output and check register records in one preparation cycle to reduce manual reconciliation.
Release workflow controls that prevent out-of-sequence printing
Checkbook uses batch-level signer authorization tied to check run release to reduce unauthorized check printing risk and out-of-sequence errors. OnlineCheckWriter generates print-ready PDF check batches with consistent numbering and register tracking so small AP teams can print without deep workflow governance.
Decision framework for choosing Check Making Software that matches the AP workflow
The decision should start with how check status moves from draft to approval to printing and then to void or reissue so the system can produce an audit trail that matches internal approval policy. The second decision is whether the platform’s output behavior keeps numbering continuity and printed artifacts aligned to the check run record under reruns and multi-bank conditions.
Select control depth based on who is allowed to release checks
Choose CHAX if check finalization must be gated by tracked authorized signers per check record, including void and reissue history. Choose Checkeeper if governed check runs must include signer authorization with a lifecycle audit trail focused on voided and updated checks.
Decide how audit trails must connect to numbering and reruns
Choose Checkrun when void tracking must remain tied to check numbering so canceled checks stay traceable across print cycles. Choose FiChecks when numbering, printed output, and check register records must be linked in the same batch preparation cycle for reconciliation.
Match approval mechanics to how finance teams represent workflow states
Choose CheckStream when approvals need to be driven by check status events and supported by event-based audit trail covering create, approval, print, and void. Choose Charted when status changes must be approval-based with audit trail capturing who edited checks and when, including release steps before print or export.
Pick output alignment controls based on print device and check stock variability
Choose ezCheckPrinting when teams need check job templates that preserve MICR-safe alignment across multiple check stock sizes and print devices. Choose PrintBoss when teams need job templates and layout controls to keep check stock and output aligned across standardized print runs.
Choose automation reach based on how prepared payment data is staged
Choose Checkeeper when export-driven automation can work if payment data is already staged in export formats rather than native accounting workflow generation. Choose OnlineCheckWriter when the priority is fast batch generation of print-ready PDF checks with consistent numbering for small teams that do not require deeper workflow automation hooks.
Who should buy Check Making Software
AP teams need check making software that enforces separation of duties so drafts cannot become released checks without authorized actions. Operations also need predictable output behavior so check numbering, register records, and voided items remain consistent when runs are retried or rerouted to different print setups.
Accounts payable teams with recurring check runs and strict approvals
CHAX supports signer-gated check finalization with tracked void and reissue history for each check record across recurring runs. CheckStream adds approval workflows tied to check status events so the lifecycle trace stays consistent across create, approval, print, and void.
Finance teams that must reconcile voided checks back to numbering across reprints
Checkrun keeps voided check tracking tied to check numbering so canceled checks remain traceable across print cycles. PrintBoss aligns check numbering and register output to each print run so reconciliation stays consistent after each rerun.
Teams printing on multiple check stock sizes and printer devices
ezCheckPrinting uses check job templates designed to preserve MICR-safe alignment across check stock and print devices. PrintBoss uses standardized job templates that control check stock and layout to reduce rework from misalignment.
Mid-size finance teams that want check run batch structure for clean documentation exports
FiChecks keeps numbering, printed output, and check register records linked in the same preparation cycle so exports support cleaner reconciliation. Checkbook provides batch-level signer authorization tied to run release to keep numbering continuity across batches.
Common buying mistakes in Check Making Software projects
Teams often buy for formatting first and then discover that the audit trail and numbering continuity do not match their void and reissue workflows. Other projects fail when multi-bank, multi-entity, or multi-recurring-run governance requires more configuration discipline than the rollout plan allows.
Assuming void tracking exists without checking whether it remains tied to check numbering across reruns
Checkrun explicitly ties void tracking to check numbering so canceled checks stay traceable across print cycles. PrintBoss keeps numbering and register output aligned to each print run, which reduces reconciliation breakage after reruns.
Designing an approval workflow that does not match the tool’s status transition model
CheckStream’s event-based approval tied to check status events requires workflow configuration time when authorization paths are complex. Charted uses approval-based status lifecycle steps, so role mapping for edits, voids, and release steps must match internal sign-off behavior.
Underestimating template rollout time when output templates must map to real check stock constraints
CheckStream can slow first rollout when output template mapping requires alignment to templates and authorization logic. ezCheckPrinting reduces manual layout work by preserving MICR-safe alignment through job templates, which can still require template setup for each stock size.
Ignoring multi-bank or multi-setup governance needs during initial configuration planning
Checkrun flags that cross-bank document rules require careful setup for multi-bank operations. OnlineCheckWriter and PrintBoss can look simpler for single-run printing but still need configuration discipline to keep numbering consistent across setups.
How We Selected and Ranked These Tools
We evaluated check making software on features that enforce signer authorization and govern check lifecycle events, and on ease and value for rolling those controls out into check printing operations. Features were weighted to reflect event coverage from create and approval through print and void, and ease was weighted to reflect how quickly teams can map layouts and workflow steps to real runs.
Value was weighted to reflect how well the workflow reduces manual reconciliation and supports consistent numbering behavior. Checkrun ranked highest because voided check tracking is tied to check numbering so cancelled checks remain traceable across print cycles while configurable check layouts produce PDF-ready check output for approval steps before printing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Check Making Software
Which tools handle voided checks while preserving check numbering traceability?
How do check approval workflows differ between CheckStream, CHAX, and Charted?
What integration patterns exist for feeding accounting data into check printing workflows?
When bank account validation is required before printing, which tools support it in the workflow?
How do MICR encoding and alignment controls impact print reliability across check stock?
What breaks if a team needs multi-entity or recurring batch processing with audit-grade traceability?
Where does each tool place signature and payee governance in the workflow?
Which tools best support audit logs and check status histories for edits, voids, and reissues?
How should admin controls be evaluated for permissioning and signer authorization?
Tools reviewed
Primary sources checked during evaluation.
Referenced in the comparison table and product reviews above.
Funding and competing interests
This study was co-funded by several of the vendors assessed in it. No single vendor funded it. Funders could propose the market studied.
They had no role in selecting vendors, setting or weighting criteria, analysing data or drawing conclusions, and they received the same factual-accuracy check as every other vendor assessed.
Market definition, inclusion rules and criteria weights were fixed by an editor before research began and did not change afterwards. Editorial process →
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