What is the cost per ACH transaction for originators?

ACH originator costs: standard ACH USD 0.20–0.50 per item through third-party processors; same-day ACH USD 0.52 NACHA per-transaction fee plus processor markup. RTP per-transaction fee is USD 0.045 to the sending FI plus processor markup bringing total cost to USD 0.25–0.75. FedNow is similarly priced at USD 0.045.

What use cases favor RTP over ACH despite higher cost?

RTP is preferred for time-critical use cases: earned wage access, insurance claim disbursements, gig worker payments, account-to-account transfers where speed commands premium. ACH remains dominant for payroll (low urgency, high volume) and bill pay where same-day ACH provides sufficient speed at lower cost.

ACH vs RTP Cost Comparison

Compare cost per transaction for ACH (standard batch, same-day), RTP (The Clearing House Real-Time Payments), and FedNow across originator, receiver, and total system cost perspectives.

Principal ($)

Annual Rate (%)

Years

Compounding / Year

$ Finance Disclaimer: These calculators are for educational and illustrative purposes only. Results do not constitute financial advice. Consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment or borrowing decisions.

How It Works

Compare cost per transaction for ACH (standard batch, same-day), RTP (The Clearing House Real-Time Payments), and FedNow across originator, receiver, and total system cost perspectives

Each component has a specific meaning:

Originator — The originator recorded for the scenario being assessed.
Receiver — The receiver recorded for the scenario being assessed.

Note: Interpret the ach vs rtp cost result against the thresholds and context described above.

How to Use

Enter the originator, receiver for the scenario you are assessing. Compare cost per transaction for ACH (standard batch, same-day), RTP (The Clearing House Real-Time Payments), and FedNow across originator, receiver, and total system cost perspectives. Use the ach vs rtp cost result to inform your calculation.

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