Easy Digital Downloads Check Payment Gateway 1.3.5

Introduction to the EDD Check Payment Gateway

The Easy Digital Downloads Check Payment Gateway provides a reliable way to handle offline transactions on your WordPress site. When you buy this premium extension, you enable a checkout method that does not require an active credit card or digital wallet. This is particularly useful for businesses dealing with high-value digital assets where processing fees from standard gateways would significantly reduce profit margins. It offers a professional way to manage manual payments without complicating the user experience.

How the Check Payment Gateway Functions

When a user selects the check payment option during checkout, the system creates an order with a ‘Pending’ status. The customer sees specific instructions on where to mail the physical check and who to make it payable to. The digital files remain protected and are not available for download until you manually verify the payment. Once the check clears your bank account, you update the payment status in the EDD dashboard to ‘Complete,’ which triggers the automated email containing the download links. This manual control ensures you only deliver products once funds are secured.

Key Technical Features

• Customizable instruction fields for checkout and confirmation pages.
• Direct integration with the standard EDD reporting system for accurate bookkeeping.
• Manual order management to ensure zero risk of online fraud or chargebacks.
• Compatibility with the core Easy Digital Downloads plugin architecture.
• Clear administrative interface to filter and find pending check payments.

Professional Use Cases

This extension is built for specific business environments. For example, if you sell high-end software licenses to government agencies or large corporations, these entities often pay via check or purchase order. By using this gateway, you accommodate their internal procurement processes without forcing them to use a corporate credit card. It bridges the gap between traditional corporate accounting and modern digital delivery.

Another scenario involves local service providers who sell digital guides or documentation but prefer to collect payments in person or via mail. It removes the technical barrier for customers who are uncomfortable with online payment processors or those who do not have access to digital payment methods.

Reducing Transaction Costs

Standard payment gateways often charge between 2.9% and 4% per transaction. On a large sale, those fees add up quickly. By offering a check payment option, you keep the full amount of the sale price. This makes the gateway a cost-effective choice for stores with high average order values or those operating on thin margins. It is a practical tool for high-ticket digital items like enterprise software, architectural blueprints, or comprehensive online courses.

Configuration and Setup

After you download and install the plugin, navigate to the EDD settings. You will find a dedicated section for the Check Payment Gateway. Here, you can enter the ‘Payable To’ name and the physical mailing address. You can also customize the message that appears on the success page. This ensures the customer knows exactly what steps to take next, maintaining a professional workflow from start to finish.

Manual Workflow Management

Managing manual payments requires a clear internal process. This extension makes it easy by keeping these orders separate from your automated sales. You can filter your payment history to show only pending check payments, making it simple to batch-process updates once you return from the bank. If you are an agency owner setting up a store for a client who handles large-scale B2B transactions, this tool is a necessary addition to their stack. It provides a level of control that automated systems cannot match.

Security and Risk Mitigation

One of the primary advantages of this gateway is the elimination of digital fraud. Since you do not release the digital download until the funds are physically in your possession, there is no risk of a customer disputing a transaction through a credit card company. This provides peace of mind for creators selling expensive assets or proprietary software where unauthorized access must be strictly prevented.