ACH Payment Gateway
ACH payment gateway: three ways to take bank payments.
Upload payments from the web portal with no code, charge saved bank accounts with tokens, or build the whole flow with the ACH API. One gateway, one underwriting, one support team.
▍Three ways to connect to the ACH payment gateway
All three run on the same backend. Same underwriting, same reporting, same support.
Web portal
No code at all.
Key in payments or upload them in batches from the ACHQ web portal. Good for billing teams and businesses that don't want to build anything.
- No code required
- Batch file uploads
- One-time and recurring payments
- Settlement reports
Saved bank account tokens
Best for repeat billing. Live in a day.
Save each customer's bank account once as a reusable ACHQToken, then charge the token for every future payment. Account numbers stay out of your systems.
- Reusable ACHQTokens
- Accepts your Plaid and MX processor tokens
- Recurring-charge friendly
- Stored securely with ACHQ
ACH API
Most control. Live in days.
Build the exact payment flow your product needs. The ACHQ ACH API works over HTTPS from any language.
- Create, update, hold, cancel, refund
- SDKs for Node, Python, Ruby, PHP
- Idempotency keys on writes
- Comprehensive webhooks
What is an ACH payment gateway?
An ACH payment gateway, sometimes called an ACH gateway or ACH payment platform, is how a business takes ACH payments online, straight from customer bank accounts instead of cards. Here is what happens to every payment.
01
Collect
Your customer gives you their routing and account number, or links the account in your app, and authorizes the payment.
02
Check
The gateway checks the account is valid and open before anything is sent, so bad accounts don't turn into returns.
03
Send
ACHQ sends the payment into the ACH network through our bank partners as a debit from your customer's account.
04
Settle and track
Track each payment's status, see returns with their return code, and reconcile with settlement reports.
ACH gateway vs. card gateway
| ACH payment gateway | Card gateway | |
|---|---|---|
| Pays from | A bank account | A credit or debit card |
| How it's priced | Per transaction, from $0.15* | Percentage plus a fee, typically 2.9% + 30¢ |
| When a payment fails | ACH return with a return code | Card decline |
| Customer disputes | Unauthorized returns under Nacha rules | Chargebacks |
*Final pricing is set at underwriting.
Taking payments from check details? See eCheck processing. Want to check accounts before you debit them? See bank account verification.
Production-ready
Built for engineers who've been burned before.
Your own transaction IDs, status you can check any time, and a sandbox with test accounts for every outcome.
Idempotency built in
Every write accepts an idempotency key, and your own transaction ID travels with every payment. Retry safely without double-charging.
Real-time webhooks
Signed payloads with HMAC. Automatic retries with exponential backoff. Replay events from the dashboard.
Sandbox that mirrors production
Identical API surface, full transaction simulation including return codes. Test every edge case before launch.
ACH payment gateway FAQ
What is an ACH payment gateway?
An ACH payment gateway is the connection between your business and the ACH network. It takes a customer's bank account details and payment authorization, checks the account, sends the debit, and reports back when the payment settles or is returned.
How do I take ACH payments online?
Open an ACH merchant account, get your customer's authorization, and send the payment through the gateway: key it into the web portal, upload a batch, or send it from your own website or software through the ACH API. Complete applications often get a decision within hours.
What is the difference between an ACH gateway and an ACH processor?
The gateway is how you send payments in. The processor underwrites your business, sends the payments into the ACH network through its bank partners, and settles the funds to you. With ACHQ they are the same company: one account, one underwriting, one support team.
Do I need a developer to use the ACHQ gateway?
No. You can key in payments or upload them in batches from the ACHQ web portal with no code. Saved bank account tokens and the ACH API are there when you want to build payments into your own software.
Can I save customer bank accounts for recurring payments?
Yes. Save a bank account once as a reusable ACHQToken and charge the token for every future payment. The account number does not have to be stored in your own systems.
Does the ACH payment gateway work with Plaid?
Yes. If your app already links bank accounts with Plaid or MX, send ACHQ the processor token and we send the ACH payment against that account. Plaid itself runs in your own app under your own Plaid account.
Can I accept eChecks through the gateway?
Yes. An eCheck is an ACH payment that starts from check details your customer gives you online or over the phone. It runs through the same gateway, portal, and API.
How much does the ACH payment gateway cost?
ACH pricing from $0.15 per transaction. Final pricing is set at underwriting.
Building payments into a software platform for your own merchants? See the partner program. Full pricing is on the pricing page.
Try it. The sandbox is free.
Request sandbox access to start building. Apply for a production account when you're ready to go live.
Move money cheaper, faster, and with fewer headaches.
Apply for an ACH merchant account online. Complete applications often get a decision within hours.