Table of Contents
Comparison Overview
When shopping for personal or business checks online, you have several major retailers to choose from. We evaluated five of the largest — Checks Unlimited, Bradford Exchange Checks, Checks In The Mail, Walmart Checks, and Costco Checks — across the factors that matter most to consumers. The summary table below gives you a quick snapshot; the detailed sections that follow explain each category.
| Feature | Checks Unlimited | Bradford Exchange | Checks In The Mail | Walmart Checks | Costco Checks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal check price (box of 150) | $17.99 | $19.99 | $18.49 | $16.87 | $15.49 (members) |
| Design catalog | 240+ designs | 300+ designs | 180+ designs | 90+ designs | 60+ designs |
| Security features (standard) | 4 features | 3 features | 4 features | 3 features | 3 features |
| High-security option | Yes (10+ features) | Yes (8 features) | Yes (7 features) | No | Yes (6 features) |
| Business checks | Yes (3 formats) | Yes (2 formats) | Yes (3 formats) | Limited | Yes (2 formats) |
| Matching accessories | Yes (covers, labels, stamps) | Yes (covers, labels) | Yes (covers, labels) | Limited | No |
| Shipping speed | 5–8 business days | 7–10 business days | 5–8 business days | 7–14 business days | 7–10 business days |
| Coupon availability | Frequent (20–30% off) | Occasional (15–20% off) | Frequent (20–25% off) | Rare | Member pricing only |
| Overall rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.6/5 | ★ 4.5/5 | ★ 4.0/5 | ★ 4.2/5 |
Pricing Breakdown
Price is the first factor most consumers consider. Below is a per-box comparison for a standard box of 150 single personal checks. Keep in mind that all retailers offer bulk discounts (ordering 2 or 4 boxes at once reduces the per-box price), and most run seasonal promotions that can lower the price by 20–30%.
| Retailer | 1 Box (150 checks) | 2 Boxes | 4 Boxes | Best Coupon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checks Unlimited | $17.99 | $31.98 ($15.99/box) | $55.96 ($13.99/box) | 30% off first order |
| Bradford Exchange | $19.99 | $35.98 ($17.99/box) | $63.96 ($15.99/box) | 20% off select designs |
| Checks In The Mail | $18.49 | $33.00 ($16.50/box) | $57.96 ($14.49/box) | 25% off + free shipping |
| Walmart Checks | $16.87 | $30.94 ($15.47/box) | $54.94 ($13.74/box) | None typically |
| Costco Checks | $15.49 | $27.98 ($13.99/box) | $47.96 ($11.99/box) | Member pricing |
While Costco offers the lowest base price, it requires a paid membership ($65/year for Gold Star). If you're not already a Costco member, the membership fee wipes out the savings unless you order checks frequently or shop at Costco regularly. Walmart has the lowest no-membership price but rarely offers coupons, making its effective price higher than Checks Unlimited during promotional periods.
Checks Unlimited stands out for its frequent coupon availability. With promo codes like SAVE20 (20% off your first order) and seasonal sales offering up to 30% off, the effective price per box can drop to $12.59 — competitive with Costco's member pricing without requiring a membership.
Design Variety
Design selection is where Checks Unlimited and Bradford Exchange clearly lead the pack. Both retailers offer hundreds of designs across categories like nature, animals, patriotic, inspirational, Disney, sports, and contemporary patterns.
Checks Unlimited (240+ designs)
Strong across all categories with particularly excellent nature and wildlife collections. Many designs come in rotation sets of four, giving you variety in every box. The Disney and Warner Bros. licensed collections are a major draw for fans.
Bradford Exchange (300+ designs)
The largest design catalog, with exclusive artist collaborations and collectible-style designs. Bradford Exchange excels at licensed artwork (Thomas Kinkade, NASCAR, military tribute series). However, many premium designs carry a higher price tag.
Checks In The Mail (180+ designs)
A solid mid-range selection covering most popular categories. Fewer exclusive licenses than Checks Unlimited or Bradford Exchange, but good value for standard designs.
Walmart Checks (90+ designs)
A smaller, budget-oriented catalog. Most designs are basic patterns and solid colors. You won't find licensed characters or artist collections here.
Costco Checks (60+ designs)
The smallest selection of the five. Designs are functional and straightforward — fine if you just need basic checks, but lacking in personality.
Security Features
Check fraud is a real threat, and the security features built into your checks are one of the most important differentiators between retailers. All five retailers include some baseline security, but the depth and number of features vary significantly.
| Security Feature | Checks Unlimited | Bradford Exchange | Checks In The Mail | Walmart | Costco |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microprinting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chemical-wash protection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Watermark | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Erasable ink protection | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Toner anchoring | ✓ (high-security) | ✓ (high-security) | ✓ (high-security) | ✗ | ✓ (high-security) |
| Padlock icon | ✓ (high-security) | ✓ (high-security) | ✓ (high-security) | ✗ | ✗ |
| FraudScreen stain tech | ✓ (high-security) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Prismatic printing | ✓ (high-security) | ✓ (high-security) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
Checks Unlimited includes four security features as standard on every personal check — more than any other retailer in this comparison. Their high-security line adds six additional features including FraudScreen stain technology and prismatic printing, both of which are exclusive to Checks Unlimited among these five retailers. For customers concerned about fraud, this is a meaningful advantage.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping times and costs are another area where retailers differentiate. All five offer standard and expedited shipping, but the baseline speeds and pricing structures differ:
- Checks Unlimited: Standard shipping (5–8 business days) is free on orders over $50. Expedited shipping (3–5 days) available for an additional $7.95.
- Bradford Exchange: Standard shipping (7–10 business days) starts at $6.95. Free shipping promotions are occasional, not standard.
- Checks In The Mail: Standard shipping (5–8 business days) starts at $5.95. Free shipping coupons are frequently available.
- Walmart Checks: Standard shipping (7–14 business days) is the slowest of the group. Free shipping on orders over $35.
- Costco Checks: Standard shipping (7–10 business days) is free for members. Expedited available for $12.95.
Customer Satisfaction
We aggregated customer reviews from Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau, and retailer-specific review platforms to calculate overall satisfaction scores. Factors weighed include product quality, print accuracy, delivery speed, customer service responsiveness, and return/exchange ease.
| Retailer | Trustpilot | BBB Rating | Print Quality | Customer Service | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checks Unlimited | 4.7/5 | A+ | 4.9/5 | 4.6/5 | 4.9/5 |
| Bradford Exchange | 4.3/5 | A | 4.7/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Checks In The Mail | 4.2/5 | A+ | 4.5/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Walmart Checks | 3.6/5 | B+ | 4.0/5 | 3.8/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Costco Checks | 4.0/5 | A | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.2/5 |
Checks Unlimited leads in overall satisfaction, with the highest print quality scores and strong customer service ratings. Costco scores well on customer service (benefiting from its reputation for hassle-free returns) but loses points on design variety. Walmart has the lowest satisfaction scores, primarily due to slower shipping and limited design options.
Final Verdict
After comparing all five retailers across pricing, design, security, shipping, and satisfaction, here's our summary recommendation:
Checks Unlimited
Best balance of price, design variety, security, and coupon savings. Our top recommendation for most buyers.
Bradford Exchange
Largest design catalog with exclusive licensed artwork. Best if you want a specific collectible or artist series.
Costco Checks
Lowest per-box price for members. Best if you already have a Costco membership and want basic, functional checks.
For most consumers, Checks Unlimited offers the best overall value. Its combination of 240+ designs, industry-leading standard security features, frequent coupon codes, and strong customer satisfaction makes it our top pick. The ability to apply a 20–30% coupon to your first order brings the price close to Costco's member rate — without requiring a membership fee.
Still deciding? Check out our detailed product reviews for a deeper look at specific check lines, or read our business vs. personal checks guide to determine which type you need.