12 Best ACH Payment Platforms for Small Businesses in USA

ACH platforms allow you to process business transactions.

You can use them to collect payments from clients, clear vendor bills, send salaries to your staff, and more.

It’s a cost-effective way to send and receive payments that aren’t time-sensitive.

If you are exploring ACH options, I have reviewed some top platforms that offer ACH payment. 

What Is an ACH Payment, And What Platforms Are Best For Small Businesses

ACH payment is an electronic bank-to-bank money transfer method. It sends funds to another account through an automatic clearing house. 

There are two ways to send an ACH payment. You either do it directly through your bank or use a third-party platform. 

As Banks typically offer this service to large organizations, ACH payment platforms are the best option for small businesses.

Top Features to Look For In An ACH Payment Platform;

• ACH at a low rate.
• Invoicing or billing tools.
• Approval workflow.
• Integration with accounting software.

Here’s a list of the 12 best ACH payment platforms.

1. Helcim

Helcim provides several digital payment solutions to small and mid-size businesses. 

You can manage ACH payments through this platform and sync the transactions with your accounting software.

Helcium particularly specializes in payment collection. 

It charges 0.5% + 25¢ per transaction, and you’ll be charged a maximum of $6 for transactions under $25,000. 

There’s no setup or monthly fees, and you won’t be charged for deposits either. 

Helcim might charge for a rejected transfer, however. Reach out to the sales team for details.

For billing workflows, Helcim offers two methods. You can generate invoices for clients or set up recurring payments. 

If you run a store, you can embed the checkout process into your website. Helcim delivers flexible options for your convenience. 

Overall, it’s hassle-free and affordable for small businesses. 

Core Features

• Unlimited ACH bank transfer.
• Low transaction rate and fast turnaround.
• Paperless workflows.
• Invoicing software and a recurring billing option.
• Embedded checkout and payment pages.
• Free business tools.
• Integration with QuickBooks and Xero.

Price

You can create a free account on Helcim. The platform only charges a transaction fee.

2. Nickel

Nickel offers amazing packages to small businesses.

The platform allows unlimited free ACH bank transfers and provides a three-day turnaround. There’s no hard transaction limit, and you can schedule your payments in advance.

Registration here is pretty easy, and you’ll get a personalized onboarding by the in-house team. If you need assistance, you can reach out to the support team via email and live chat.

You can manage both client and vendor payments on Nickel. You’ll get a branded self-service portal and approval workflow to oversee activities. 

Nickel can be integrated with QuickBooks. 

Core Features

• Unlimited free ACH.
• Multiple payment methods and fast turnaround.
• Recurring payments and refund options.
• Branded self-service portal and vendor onboarding.
• Approval workflow and payment tracking.
• Partial and full payments.
• Batch transactions and automation.
• Team collaboration.
• Compliance.
• QuickBooks integration.

Price

Nickel’s basic plan is free, and the premium package costs $35 per month. You can customize your plan.

3. Square

Square is a point-of-sale (POS) and a payment processor. It delivers both software and hardware to help small businesses set up a proper payment system.

Some of the payment options Square provides include in-person card transactions, digital payment links, digital wallets, and ACH transfers. You’ll get invoicing software to create custom-branded invoices and schedule recurring bills.

A few automation features are also available to make things easier for you. For example, you can convert estimates into invoices and process batch bills.

You can create as many invoices as you want and integrate Square with QuickBooks for record-keeping. The basic features are free, and premium invoice features cost only $20 per month.

The best thing about Square is its versatility. 

If you are a B2B business, you can manage everything from your store and workflows to customers and payments directly from the platform. Square supports unlimited ACH transfers and charges minimum fees.

Core Features

• Unlimited ACH bank transfer.
• $1 transaction fee with no rejection charges.
• Fast turnaround.
• In-person and online payments.
• Invoicing and recurring billing.
• Store builder and marketing tools.
• Built-in CRM for customer management.
• Workflow automation.
• Staff management.
• Third-party integrations and a mobile app.

Price

Square charges $29 per month. The basic plan is free.

You can ask for the custom package.

4. Bill

Bill is one of the best platforms for ACH payments. 

It provides a system to manage both payables and receivables, plus flexible methods to improve the overall customer experience.

Through Bill, you can conduct standard and same-day ACH transfers, automate your invoicing process, offer auto-pay options to customers, and set follow-up reminders.

You can also schedule vendor payments and automate the ACH payments.

The fee structure is flat for both bills and invoices, which I believe is $0.59, but Bill may charge 1% extra for instant payments. You can check out the transaction rates on the official website.

Several productivity tools are built into the system to help you improve your work efficiency. For example, you can manage multiple entities from one account and set up an approval workflow to control your financial activities.

Bill also integrates with popular accounting software, such as QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, and NetSuite.

Core Features

• Low-fee ACH bank transfer.
• Accounts payable and receivable.
• Standard and same-day transfer.
• Approval workflow and tracking.
• AI and automation.
• Invoicing and recurring payments.
• Reporting.
• API and integrations.
• Mobile app.

Price

Bill’s monthly subscriptions range between $45 and $89. You can take a free trial.

5. Stripe

Stripe is widely popular for its cross-border payment solutions, but it also supports domestic payment methods, such as ACH bank transfer.

If you live in the US and charge recurring payments from customers, you can accept ACH payments. 

You can go for both standard and fast settlement options. The standard turnaround time is 4 days, and the premium transfer takes 2 business days. 

You may have to pay extra for the second option. Stripe charges 0.8% per transaction for the standard method and 1.2% for fast settlement.

You’ll get a few side features as well to make the experience as smooth as possible. 

For example, Stripe can protect you from failed payments by checking the user’s bank balance before initiating the payment. This would save you from paying transaction rejection charges.

Core Features

• Domestic and international payments.
• ACH transfer.
• Flat fee for standard and fast settlements.
• Payment failed protection.
• Pre-built forms and auto-fill details.
• Embedding payments for platforms.
• Tracking and analytics.

Price

You can sign up for Stripe for free.

6. Alternative Payments

Alternative Payments is built for service-based businesses. 

It allows you to collect payments from customers through credit card, ACH, and B2B BNPL (buy now, pay later).

You can automate the revenue collection and process ACH payments for free. You’ll get an AR (accounts receivable) software to handle invoices, track payments, and reconcile accounts.

While labelling is part of the package. You can personalize the online portals with your branding.

Alternative Payments can be integrated with major accounting software and other third-party applications.

Core Features

• Free ACH.
• Multiple payment methods for B2B.
• Automated invoicing and payment collection.
• Reconciliation.
• Branded portal.
• Analytics.
• Third-party integration.
• Customer support.

Price

Alternative Payment charges a fixed monthly subscription. The packages start at $199.

7. Melio

Melio is an AR (accounts receivable) and AP (accounts payable) automation platform. 

It provides you with tools to manage your customers and vendors’ payments.

Core capabilities of Melio are domestic and international transactions, bill management, flexible payments, and instant transfers. You can pay and get paid by ACH, wire, and check.

The platform is secure, and payment transfer is typically smooth. You can schedule vendor payments and set up recurring invoices for clients.

You can process unlimited ACH transfers via Melio. You’ll get a free quota in each plan, and the custom package allows unlimited free ACH.

Batch payments, auto-pay, and approval workflows are all built into the system. You’ll also get several third-party integration options, including QuickBooks syncing.

Melio works well on both desktop and mobile phones. You can download the mobile app on Google Play and the App Store.

Core Features

• Unlimited free ACH transfer.
• Flexible payments.
• Accounts receivable and payable.
• Bill capture and workflow automation.
• Auto-pay option and batch payments.
• A central inbox for bill management.
• Third-party integrations.
• Mobile app.

Price

Melio charges $25 to $55 a month. For the first three months, you’ll get discounted prices.

A free plan is also available.

8. PaySimple

PaySimple delivers online, in-person, and mobile payment solutions. 

Both small businesses and SaaS startups can use this platform to accept payments from customers.

The best features of PaySimple are payment integration into websites, credit card and ACH transactions, and recurring billing. You’ll be charged 1% + $0.30 per ACH transaction and a fixed monthly fee.

You can set up a storefront to create a checkout process or send invoices electronically to clients. PaySimple provides developer tools to integrate the billing option into your software.

Core Features

• Payment platform for small businesses and SaaS companies.
• ACH and credit card transactions.
• Mobile payment solutions.
• Storefront with embedded payment.
• Recurring billing.
• Business insights.
• API and integration.
• Marketing tools.

Price

PaySimple shares prices on request. You can reach out to the sales team here.

9. QuickBooks

QuickBooks is a popular accounting software for small businesses. It’s globally recognized and has a good reputation.

Any small business that uses QuickBooks can manage its payments directly from the platform. It offers not only an accounting app for record keeping but also provides payment transfer options, including ACH.

Via QuickBooks, you can send invoices to customers, collect payments online, and pay your bills. The platform charges 1% for ACH and around 2% to 3% for credit card transactions.

You can schedule recurring payments and track the status in real time. You’ll get cash flow history to monitor your financial activities.

Core Features

• Accounting software for small businesses.
• ACH and credit card payments.
• Invoicing and reminders.
• Real-time status tracking and invoice auto-match.
• Recurring payments.
• Billing.
• Cash flow history.
• Third-party integrations.

Price

QuickBooks charges $10 to $20 per month for payment collection.

10. Seamlesschex

Seamlesschex is an excellent option for small businesses. 

It sells a product specifically for ACH, providing multiple payment methods and developer-friendly tools.

Top notable features of Seamlesschex’s ACH product are bank verification, real-time balance checking, payment links, and next-day transfers.

You can both send and receive ACH payments and personalize the checkout experience.

The account setup process is pretty simple, and you can integrate ACH into your checkout page. Whether you are a freelancer, small business, or agency, you can find a tailored solution on Seamlesschex.

Core Features

• Flexible payment methods.
• Send and receive ACH.
• Next-day transfer.
• Bank and balance verification.
• Recurring billing and store payment methods.
• Digital wallet features.
• Real-time status
• White labeling and developer tools.

Price

You can join Seamlesschex for free. It charges for its services.

11. Ramp

Ramp is an AP and expense management platform. 

It helps you manage credit card activities and pay vendors via ACH and check.

With Ramp, you can automatically capture your bill details, schedule recurring payments, and process batch transactions. 

The platform supports both standard and same-day ACH and provides an approval system to control your finances.

What makes Ramp attractive is its department integration. You can manage procurement, accounts payable, and expenses from one place.

Core Features

• Bill capture.
• Procurement, vendor, and expense payments.
• ACH, check, and credit card.
• Standard and same-day transfers.
• Approval workflow and batch payments.
• AI and automation.
• Reporting.
• Domestic and global.
• Third-party integration.

Price

Ramp charges $15 per month. The basic plan is free.

12. FlexPoint

FlexPoint is an AR (accounts receivable) automation platform. 

It delivers a branded portal and automation tools to simplify the payment collection process.

You can choose from three subscription packages, offering various charges and limits on transactions. The basic plan allows up to $50k per month and charges $1 per standard ACH transfer and a 1% fee for the same-day ACH.

If you go for its Plus package, you can process unlimited ACH and pay only $0.25 per transaction. There’s no monthly cap on the plus package, and same-day ACH rates are also fixed.

Tons of side features are available on FlexPoint. Check the pricing page for details.

Core Features

• AR automation.
• A branded portal and email templates.
• Auto-pay and reminders.
• Standard and same-day ACH.
• Partial and bulk payment.
• Reconciliation.
• Invoicing and payment reporting.
• Real-time tracking.

Price

FlexPoint shares prices on request.

Conclusion

Found what you were looking for?

Most payment processors and AP automation platforms provide ACH payment services.

Some sell it as a main product, and some offer it as a part of the package.

Choose a platform that meets your business requirements. 

For example, if you want to use ACH for both AP and AR, tools like Bill and Melio are ideal for you. If you are a service-based business, Alternative Payments is perfect for you.

Try a few platforms to make a better decision. Good luck!