Ellen Cibula
Written by Ellen Cibula Payments, Finance, and AI Expert: Learn More

Are you tired of struggling to find a reliable ACH payment processor? Look no further! As someone who has worked in the payment processing industry for years, I know how crucial it is to have the right provider.

That’s why I’ve taken the time to research and test out the top ACH payment processors on the market. In this post, I’ll share my findings and highlight the 6 best ACH payment processors of 2024.

Whether you’re a business owner or an individual looking to handle payments more efficiently, this post will help you make an informed decision. No more searching for the right provider – we’ve done the heavy lifting for you.

So, let’s dive in and discover the best options for you.

best green choice

Dharma Merchant Services

  • MX Merchant portal integrates with ACH.com for ACH and EFT transactions
  • Auto-approval for $5,000/month in volume and $1,000/sale
  • Accept ACH payments via invoices, online payment links, or phone payments
  • Socially responsible
  • Sustainable practices

Read Review

best for Global Businesses

Stripe

  • Global payments
  • Many integrations
  • Fully integrated suite of payment and financial products
  • Highly customizable with numerous developer APIs
  • Tools for managing and tracking payments
TL;DR

Here are my favorite ACH Payment Processors:

1. Dharma
2. Stripe
3. Durango Merchant Services
4. PaymentCloud
5. National Processing
6. Square Invoices

This site is supported by its readers. If you purchase through a link on my site, I may earn a commission. For more information see my Disclosure Policy

What Are the Best ACH Payment Processors?

Here is my reviewed list of the best ACH payment processors.

best green choice
Dharma logo
Great rates. Exceptional customer service.

Dharma Merchant Services

Dharma Merchant Services is an ACH payment processor that stands out for its commitment to social responsibility. In addition to offering competitive rates and good customer support, they prioritize transparency and ethical business practices. 

They also offer customizable solutions to meet their clients’ unique needs, making it easier for businesses of all sizes to process electronic payments seamlessly. With a focus on social impact and sustainable practices, Dharma Merchant Services is an excellent option for those looking for a payment processor that aligns with their values.

Top Features

Dharma merchant services ACH processing
  • MX Merchant portal integrates with ACH.com for ACH and EFT transactions
  • Auto-approval for $5,000/month in volume and $1,000/sale
  • Accept ACH payments via invoices, online payment links, or phone payments
  • Socially responsible
  • Sustainable practices
  • Customizable solutions
  • No contracts or hidden fees
  • B2B sales
  • 24-hour tech support

Dharma Pros

  • Competitive rates
  • Customizable solutions
  • Great customer support
  • Transparent pricing

Dharma Cons

  • ACH underwriting approval can take up to 10 days
  • Requires a Dharma Merchant Account
  • Not ideal for high-risk industries

Pricing

Dharma ACH Pricing
  • $25/month
  • Transaction Fees:
  • Transactions less than $100 = $0.40/transaction fee
  • Transactions from $100 – $1000 = 0.10% + $0.40/transaction fee
  • Transactions more than $1000 = 0.20% + $0.40/transaction fee
  • $2.00 ACH return item fee
  • $5.00 reversal fee

Bottom Line: Ellen’s Take

In conclusion, Dharma Merchant Services is my top choice for the best ACH payment processor. Its socially responsible approach, commitment to transparency and ethical business practices, good customer support, and customizable solutions provide an excellent experience for businesses of all sizes. 

Dharma Merchant Services aligns with values and practices sustainable methods, which easily garners respect and trust. Additionally, they offer competitive rates that are hard to beat. 

Overall, Dharma Merchant Services is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a reliable payment processor with a conscience.

best for Global businesses
Stripe logo
Financial infrastructure for the internet

Stripe

Stripe is an ACH payment processor that stands out for its user-friendly platform, ease of use, and simple setup process. With a focus on providing a seamless payment experience, Stripe offers customizable solutions that cater to businesses of all sizes. 

They also provide many tools to help businesses manage and track their payments effectively, making staying on top of finances easier. Stripe’s reputation for reliability and consistent uptime, coupled with competitive pricing, make it a strong contender in the ACH payment processing space. 

Stripe is a great option for those seeking a streamlined, hassle-free payment processor.

Top Features

  • Global payments
  • Many integrations
  • Fully integrated suite of payment and financial products
  • Stripe Invoicing
  • Stripe Checkout – prebuilt hosted payment page
  • Stripe Billing – bill and manage customers
  • Highly customizable with numerous developer APIs
  • Tools for managing and tracking payments
  • Handles large transaction volumes
  • Supports international payments

Stripe Pros

  • User-friendly platform
  • Customizable solutions
  • Reliable with consistent uptime
  • Competitive pricing
  • Offers international payments

Stripe Cons

  • Requires developer expertise
  • Not customizable in all cases
  • Fee for disputed charges

Pricing

Stripe ACH Pricing

Stripe’s pricing is as follows:

  • ACH Credit: $1.00 per ACH Credit payment
  • Wire: $8.00 per Wire payment
  • ACH Direct Debit: 0.8% capped at $5.00 for standard settlement
  • 1.2% for two-day settlement
  • $1.50 per instant bank account validation
  • Failed ACH direct Debit Payments: $4.00
  • Disputed ACH Direct Debit Payments: $15.00

Bottom Line: Ellen’s Take

After researching the top ACH payment processors available in the market, Stripe is a strong contender as an ACH processor. Its user-friendly platform, easy setup process, reliable performance, and competitive pricing make it an attractive option. 

Additionally, Stripe offers customizable solutions and tools for managing and tracking payments, which can help businesses of any size run their operations more efficiently. 

Stripe requires expertise in development and may not be customizable in specific scenarios, which could be a drawback. 

It also charges fees for disputed charges. 

While Stripe may not be the perfect fit in every case, it is an excellent option for those seeking a hassle-free and reliable payment processor.

best for eCheck processing
Durango Merchant Services logo
Let’s get you processing! Transparent pricing. Quick approval.

Durango Merchant Services

For over 20 years, Durango Merchant Services has been helping businesses secure high-risk merchant accounts. As an ACH alternative, they offer eCheck processing for their clients. They use Remote Deposit Capture and Image Cash Letter that digitize the information on checks in easy-to-read file formats. This electronic system is fast, secure, and efficient.

Top Features

Durango Merchant Services eCheck Processing
  • International and low- and high-risk merchant accounts
  • Remote deposit capture
  • Check image processing
  • Live real-time bank verification
  • Live signature capture
  • International payments
  • Recurring Billing
  • Single and Recurring Email Invoices
  • Virtual Terminal
  • Multiple Shopping Cart Integrations (WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, and more)
  • Pay Now Buttons

Durango Merchant Services Pros

  • Omnichannel eCheck processing
  • Send and receive eCheck payments
  • Fraud protection with QVT Verification Technology
  • Next-day funding

Durango Merchant Services Cons

  • Pricing details not readily disclosed
  • Only eCheck, not ACH processing

Pricing

Durango Merchant Services do not disclose their prices on their website. They claim that they are transparent, and that they have low eCheck processing fees.

Bottom Line: Ellen’s Take

Whether you are a high-risk merchant or not, Durango’s eCheck processing service allows you to accept eChecks from your customers. You can also pay vendors using their eCheck platform. Their next-day funding is one of the fastest ways to get your money.

If you are looking for a payment processor that will allow you to process eChecks, then Durango Merchant Services is your best bet.

best for high-risk merchants
PaymentCloud Logo
Payments Made Simple

PaymentCloud

PaymentCloud is a well-known payment facilitator for high-risk merchants who need a payment processor. They offer both ACH and eCheck processing. Using PaymentCloud, you can accept ACH payments online, through MOTO, and via mobile. 

You can instantly verify the check received and initiate the deposits directly to your bank account. This verification helps reduce fraud by using ACH payments. And reduced fraud means fewer chargebacks, saving you time and money.

With PaymentCloud’s instant ACH transfer, you can speed up the time it takes to receive payment, ensuring you get paid on time.

Among the many benefits of ACH payments, accepting these payments is also generally cheaper than credit card payments, eliminating terminal fees. ACH Payments are free for your clients, giving them another way to pay you.

Top Features

PaymentCloud ACH processing
  • B2B payments
  • Instant ACH Transfers
  • No Setup Fees
  • Send ACH Payments online
  • Multiple gateway integrations
  • Subscription and recurring billing
  • Check verification and processing
  • Omnichannel ACH payments

PaymentCloud Pros

  • Both ACH payments and eCheck processing
  • Automatic eCheck authentication
  • Instant ACH Transfer
  • No setup fees

PaymentCloud Cons

  • Quote-based pricing

Pricing

PaymentCloud does not post its prices online; you need to contact them to get a quote based on your business, risk category, and sales volume.

Bottom Line: Ellen’s Take

PaymentCloud is an excellent option for high-risk merchants looking to accept ACH and eCheck payments. Their features, like instant ACH transfers, no setup fees, subscription billing, and check verification, make them attractive.

Their quote-based pricing model means you can get the best deal explicitly tailored to your business needs. With PaymentCloud’s reliable payment processing services, businesses of all sizes will be able to securely receive payments online with ease.

best for Supplemental ACH PRocessing
National Processing logo
See the Difference a Top Payment Processor Can Make for Your Business

National Processing

National Processing is another processor that offers ACH and eCheck payments. They service startups, SMBs, and enterprises across all industries.

Their ACH solution allows you to accept and process checks online. Their solution also includes check verification to eliminate fraud from bad checks.

With their solution, you can also process payroll checks, pension payments, rent payments, and charitable donations by ph

Top Features

National Processing ACH processing
  • Onetime and Recurring transactions
  • Virtual Terminal
  • API available to integrate with your system
  • Transparent pricing

National Processing Pros

  • Virtual terminal to process eChecks
  • API use to integrate into your own system
  • Recurring transactions
  • B2B processing

National Processing Cons

  • Only available for online check processing
  • Only for low-risk clients
  • PCI fees
  • High termination fee

Pricing

National Processing ACH Pricing

According to National Processing, the median cost of an ACH transaction is $0.29 per transaction, which is affected by several factors. The most significant factor is the volume of ACH transactions you process — the more you process, the cheaper these individual transactions will be.

Here is a breakdown of the cost of using National Processing’s ACH/eCheck service:

  • $15/month
  • 0 – 1.5% + $0.48 per transaction
  • Fees for returned and rejected ACH
  • Fees for merchant accounts

Bottom Line: Ellen’s Take

National Processing is an excellent choice for businesses looking to accept ACH payments. With their virtual terminal, API integration option, and recurring transactions feature, they offer a comprehensive solution to the needs of any business.

With transparent pricing and competitive rates on individual transactions depending on your processing volume, National Processing provides great value for money when it comes to online check processing.

Overall I recommend them as an ACH payment processor if you already using their services for credit card processing.

best for seasonal businesses
Square logo
Built to save time and get you paid faster

Square Invoices

Built to save time and get you paid faster

Square is a merchant services provider that offers ACH payment processing through its Square Invoices software. This lets your customers pay with an ACH bank transfer, saving both your and your customer money.

Square has partnered with a secure payment network, Plaid, to collect banking information. This protects your business and customer’s banking information, saving you from liability. 

Funds collected through ACH are available in 3 -5 days. Square offers a flat fee for ACH payments. If you are a small or seasonal business or only process a few transactions, this might be the solution for you. However, Square only offers ACH payments through Square Invoices. If you are an eCommerce customer, you cannot accept ACH through their virtual terminal or online store.

Top Features

Square ACH Payments
  • Onetime and recurring billing
  • No hidden fees for failed ACH transactions
  • Uses Plaid for bank account verification
  • Web Payments SDK to integrate with the Square platform
  • Available in Square Dashboard and Square point-of-sale app
Enable ACH bank transfer payments with Square Invoices, Square

Square Invoices Pros

  • No monthly fees
  • Predictable pricing
  • Easy setup

Square Invoices Cons

  • ACH payments only available through Square Invoices

Pricing

Square charges a flat fee for ACH processing but no monthly fee. There’s also no setup fee and no ACH reject fee. There is a $50,000 maximum per ACH transfer.

  • 1% per transaction, with a minimum fee of $1 per transaction

Bottom Line: Ellen’s Take

Square Invoices is ideal for businesses looking to accept ACH payments without hidden fees. With its flat fee structure and easy setup, Square provides excellent value for money when it comes to online check processing. The secure payment network Plaid helps protect your business from liability while providing customers with the convenience of bank transfers.

If you are a small or seasonal business or don’t process many transactions, this might be the solution for you. However, keep in mind that ACH payments are only available through Square Invoices, so if you have an ecommerce store, then this may not be suitable for you. All things considered, I recommend giving Square Invoices a try if want to start accepting ACH payments quickly and easily.

What is an ACH Payment Processor?

An ACH payment processor is a financial service that allows businesses to accept electronic payments through the automated clearing house (ACH) network. It is an efficient and secure way for customers to make payments directly from their bank accounts.

ACH payment processing companies allow businesses to securely process customer payments and transfer funds electronically, eliminating the need for paper checks or manual bank deposits. ACH payment processors typically have features such as virtual terminals, API integration options, and recurring transactions to provide a comprehensive solution for businesses.

These services often offer competitive rates on individual transactions depending on the business’ processing volume. With an ACH payment processor, companies can quickly and easily accept customer payments without worrying about expensive fees or hidden charges.

ACH payment processing solutions may include eCheck processing as an alternative payment method, a secure and cost-effective way to process payments. EChecks use the Automated Clearing House network to move funds directly from the customer’s bank account to the merchant’s. EChecks are often preferred for their low transaction fees and improved security compared to other payment methods. Additionally, eChecks do not require the customer to manually enter bank account information and are convenient for customers who wish to use a digital form of payment without having a credit card or debit card.

In summary, ACH Payment Processors offer businesses a practical and secure way to process payments from customers. With competitive rates and many different features, companies can find the right payment processor to fit their needs. Whether you’re just starting out or an established business, ACH Payment Processors are a great way to quickly and securely process payments online.

FAQs

ACH and eCheck processing are similar in that they are both electronic payment methods used to transfer funds directly from one bank account to another. However, eCheck processing is a subcategory of ACH processing.

ACH stands for Automated Clearing House, a nationwide payment processing system that handles large volumes of electronic transactions. ACH payments can be processed by businesses or individuals and usually have a lower transaction fee than other payment methods.

EChecks are a form of payment that is processed through the ACH network. They are a digital version of traditional paper checks and allow funds to be electronically debited from one bank account and deposited into another. They can include additional information, such as digital signatures or memo fields. They can be a convenient option for recurring payments.

In summary, ACH processing refers to the entire system for electronic fund transfers between financial institutions. In contrast, eCheck processing is a specific type of transaction that uses the ACH network for payment processing.

Accepting ACH payments from your customers is a simple process that can bring several benefits. To get started, you will need to:

  • Choose an ACH payment processor
  • Set up a merchant account
  • Verify your bank account information
  • Set up payment processing with your payment processor
  • Promote ACH payments to your customers and explain the benefits

By following these steps, you can enjoy the benefits of accepting ACH payments, such as faster processing times, lower transaction fees, and increased customer convenience.

Yes, all banks that issue or receive electronic payments can support ACH transfers. All that’s needed is a valid bank account and routing number. Therefore, a person or business with a valid bank account and routing number can use ACH to send and receive payments. 

However, some banks may have policies or restrictions that require additional verification or limit the amount of ACH transactions a customer can make. It’s a good idea to check with your bank to understand their policies and fees related to ACH payments.

Conclusion – Ellen’s Take

ACH Payment Processors can be an ideal solution for businesses that want to process payments securely and efficiently. With their competitive rates and comprehensive features, ACH Payment Processors are a great way to accept payments from customers quickly and with minimal fees. Plus, eCheck processing provides businesses with an additional payment option that is secure and cost-effective. Ultimately, ACH Payment Processors make it easy and convenient for companies to accept customer payments without worrying about expensive fees or hidden charges.

I hope my review of the best ACH payment processors helps you add ach processing services to your arsenal of payment processing services.

Similar Posts