We have used eveything formidable has to offer from basic forms to advnaced froms, views, reports you name it we have used it. Probally even things the developers of this amazing app did not intend it to be used for 5 out of 5
Last updated on June 25, 2025 by Formidable Team
How To Use Stripe To Accept ACH Payments for Free
Want to use Stripe to accept ACH payments on your website? This step-by-step guide will help you take direct debits and recurring payments today! Let's go!
Approximate read time: 7 minutes
Using Stripe for ACH payments (aka ACH direct debits) offers the perfect blend of security, efficiency, and low transaction fees. But how exactly can you implement these types of reliable US bank transfers and direct debits on your website?
Luckily, it only takes a few steps. And zero coding!
So, let’s get those websites powered up with Stripe’s ACH payment solutions!
Upgrade your WordPress site with powerful, flexible forms.
How do I use Stripe to accept ACH payments from customers?
Your business must be based in the United States to accept ACH direct debit payments on your website. You'll also need a Stripe merchant account and the best WordPress Stripe integration, Formidable Forms.
If you don't already have Formidable, click the green button below to pick up the free plugin!
After installing and activating Formidable on your WordPress website, you need to toggle a few buttons, add a payment form to collect customers' bank account details, and let Stripe automatically handle the rest!
Not located in the US? You can also use Stripe to accept iDEAL payments, SEPA transfers, or PayPal payments. Discover all the different Stripe payment options available in your region.
Okay, ready to get started? Just follow along with these steps to accept Stripe ACH payments on WordPress:
- Install and activate Formidable Forms
- Connect Stripe to your WordPress website
- Turn on ACH Stripe payments
- Make a Stripe ACH payment form
- Publish and test your form
Step 1: Install and activate Formidable Forms
From your WordPress dashboard, head to Plugins → Add New Plugin.
Search for "Formidable" and click the Install button. After installing, click the Activate button when it appears.
Or, enter your website below and we'll take you straight to the install page! 👇
Step 2: Connect Stripe to your WordPress website
From your WordPress dashboard, select Formidable → Global Settings → Stripe.
Select whether to start with the Stripe test mode or Stripe live, then Connect to Stripe.
Now you'll see Formidable Forms' Stripe WordPress integration wizard. Enter your email address to log into your Stripe account or to create a new one.
Step 3: Turn on ACH Stripe payments
In your Stripe dashboard, head to Settings → Payment Methods.
Scroll down the list of all the Stripe payment options available until you see the Bank Debits section.
Click to Turn On ACH Direct Debits, and you’re good to go!
Now let's make a form and connect it to your payment gateway!
Step 4: Make a Stripe ACH payment form
Back in the WordPress dashboard, go to Formidable → Forms → Add New.
Either choose to Create a blank form or use one of the WordPress payment form templates to make life even easier.
Then give your form a name and hit Create to start building or customizing your form.
Drag and drop fields to add them to your form. To change field labels, descriptions, and more, click on a field to open the Field Options menu on the left side of the screen.
And be sure to add a 💳 Payment Field to your form.
Otherwise, customers won't be able to enter their billing details or bank account information, and your site won't collect online payments or donations!
But don't worry about making fields to manually enter bank account information such as name or routing numbers — the ACH Stripe gateway and payment form field take care of all this for you!
When you’re happy with your form, hit the blue Update button in the upper right to save it.
Alright, almost done! Now, select the Settings tab at the top of the screen.
Under Actions & Notifications, choose the Collect a Payment action.
This is where you'll set up all your payment details, including amount, currency, one-time or recurring payment, etc.
Also, be sure to Enable Stripe Link and additional payment methods.
Once you've filled in all the payment and customer information, hit Update.
Way to go! 🙌 You now have a form to accept ACH Stripe payments on your website!
Step 5: Publish and test your form
All that's left is to publish your payment form.
Open the WordPress page or post where you want to display your form, and click the + in the editor to add a new block. Search for and then insert the Formidable Forms block.
Finally, select your Stripe form from the dropdown menu and you're good to go! 🎉
However, we recommend running a few test transactions to ensure everything's ready for production. 🤓
- To test debit or credit card payment flows, use 4242 4242 4242 4242 for the card number, any three digits for the CVC, and any future date. Enter at least 50 cents for the amount.
- To test ACH payments in Stripe: see the Stripe documentation for a list of test account numbers
You can also test different methods of verifying bank accounts with Stripe financial connections. See their documentation to learn how to test scenarios with instant verifications using financial connections test accounts.
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If you're selling tons with our free Stripe payments plugin, you could save a lot by upgrading to Formidable Business or Elite. That's because there's no extra transaction fee with these plans!
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Stripe ACH payments FAQs
Still unsure about ACH payments in Stripe? Here are the answers to a few common questions, from how long it takes to verify your customers' bank account information to invoicing and more.
Can I accept ACH payments through Stripe?
Yes, Stripe can accept ACH payments, providing you with a secure and efficient way to process these transactions.
How much does Stripe charge for ACH payments?
Stripe charges a 0.8% transaction fee for standard ACH payments, up to a maximum of $5.00. For accelerated ACH direct debit transactions (two-day or instant bank account validation), Stripe charges 1.2% and $1.50, respectively.
It's worth mentioning that there are also fees for failed and disputed payments.
Visit the Stripe website for the latest information on fees.
How long does Stripe take to process ACH payments?
Stripe takes between 2-6 business days to process ACH payments. The delay depends on whether you're using the Charges API or the PaymentIntents API and whether your Stripe merchant account is eligible for the faster settlement timing feature.
Find more information about Stripe ACH payment processing times.
Can I accept Stripe ACH payments for free?
Yes and no. You can use the free Formidable Forms plugin to accept Stripe ACH payments on your website, but transaction fees to apply. That still means there's no upfront cost; you'll only pay fees when you earn money.
Ready to use Stripe to accept ACH payments in WordPress?
There are many options for taking Stripe payments in WordPress. But unlike plugins such as WP Simple Pay or Zoho Invoice, Formidable Forms is the best solution for accepting payments or donations on any form.
And it isn’t only ACH payments you can accept by combining Stripe and Formidable. With our one plugin, you can add Stripe Checkout to WordPress in a few steps (along with many other form features!).
So what are you waiting for? If you want to take your site to the next level, get Formidable today!
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