Paying per-transfer fees doesn't add up. ACH transfers cost just a few cents to process, yet many payment platforms still take a percentage of each invoice to move your money.
Your clients often pay these fees without realizing it, since they're hidden in statements that most people don't review carefully.
When you add it up, the impact is obvious. A one percent fee on a $1 million invoice means $10,000 in fees.
Card processing fees are usually even higher, often starting at 2.9%. For building suppliers or distributors who send a few large invoices each month, these fees can add up to the cost of a salary.
Nickel is one of the few platforms that doesn't charge for ACH at all, on any plan, including the free one.
Accountants often notice these fees before their clients do. You're the one reconciling deposits and seeing the difference between the gross and net amounts on each payment.
The client sees the invoice as paid. You see how much was taken out before it arrived.
Free ACH transfers are common, but finding truly unlimited free ACH is rare
This is where many comparisons fall short. Several platforms advertise free ACH, but the offer usually changes once you read the fine print about volume limits.
Melio's plans give you a set number of free ACH payments each month, then charge $0.50 for each one after that.
The free plan covers five transfers, the $25 plan covers twenty, and you only get truly unlimited ACH on the $80 plan.
BILL charges about $0.50 to $0.60 per ACH transfer, plus per-user subscriptions that start at around $45 per month.
Nickel doesn't limit your transfers. There's no monthly cap, no extra charges after a certain number, and no premium tier needed to access unlimited ACH.
Every plan, including the free one, offers unlimited free ACH for both sending and receiving payments.
The main limitation is the transaction cap. On Nickel's free Core plan, individual payments are limited to $25,000.
If your clients invoice for more than that, which is common in construction and wholesale, they'll need a paid plan. ACH transfers remain free either way; only the per-payment limit changes.
If your clients make more than a few transfers each month, the savings add up fast. You can open an account and review the fee schedule yourself in just a few minutes.
Handles both accounts receivable and accounts payable
Most firms use separate tools for accounts receivable and accounts payable, which often don't work together. Nickel combines both in one platform.
Clients can get paid via branded payment links and portals, and pay vendors by ACH, card, or mailed check from the same account. Vendors don't need a Nickel account to receive payments.
QuickBooks Online sync is included with the free plan and works in real time, allowing unlimited transactions in both directions.
If you use QuickBooks Desktop, you'll need the Plus or Pro plan for syncing. It's helpful to know this in advance if most of your work is on Desktop.
If you've ever spent a Friday sorting out a sync that turned out to be just a CSV export, you know it's better to test this yourself rather than just trust the claims.
For your firm, the main benefit isn't just saving on fees. It's having accounts receivable, accounts payable, and your ledger all in one place.
You'll have fewer exports, fewer reconciliation gaps, and one less tool for your staff to learn.
Set up a free account and connect a test file yourself before recommending it to others.
Who unlimited free ACH actually suits
Nickel is designed for invoice-heavy B2B businesses, such as HVAC, plumbing, building materials, electrical contractors, distributors, and service businesses that rely on invoices and trade credit.
If that describes many of your clients, Nickel could be a good fit. If your clients are SaaS companies or online retailers, you may want to look at other options.
For trust and security, it's important to know that Nickel is not a bank. It works with sponsor banks, and your clients' funds are held in FDIC-insured accounts in their names.
The platform is SOC 2 certified and PCI DSS compliant. Investors include Stanley Black & Decker, which fits given the types of customers Nickel serves.
A simple way to try out Nickel
You don't need to migrate any data to try this. Just open a free plan, process one client's payments for a month, and compare the fees to what they're paying now.
If the numbers don't change, you've only spent an afternoon testing. If they do, you may have found something valuable to share with your contractor and distributor clients.
Start with the free plan and see what the ACH fee line looks like when it shows zero.
Disclosure: We are a Nickel partner and earn a commission if you sign up through the links in this post. Pricing figures reflect each platform's published rates as of August 2026 and are worth verifying, since this category changes often.
