# PayStubNest vs Check Stub Maker: $1 vs $8.99 per pay stub (2026)

> Check Stub Maker charges $8.99 per pay stub. PayStubNest charges $1 with a free preview, 50-state withholding, 18 templates and unlimited plans from $9.99 a month. Here is how the two compare.

Source: https://www.paystubnest.com/guides/paystubnest-vs-check-stub-maker
Published: 2026-10-20
Publisher: PayStubNest.com

## Short answer

Check Stub Maker charges $8.99 per pay stub and also sells W-2 and 1099-MISC forms at $15.49 each. PayStubNest charges $1 per pay stub, previews are free, withholding is calculated for all 50 states and DC, and unlimited plans start at $9.99 a month. Check Stub Maker is the choice if you want tax forms from the same vendor; PayStubNest costs a fraction of the price for pay stubs.

Check Stub Maker is a long-running pay stub generator that also sells W-2 and 1099-MISC forms. Its pay stubs cost $8.99 each. This page compares it with PayStubNest on price, tax handling and templates.

[Create a pay stub on PayStubNest](https://www.paystubnest.com/app/new) — preview is free, a download is $1.

## Side by side

FeaturePayStubNestCheck Stub Maker  Price per pay stub$1$8.99 W-2 and 1099-MISC formsNot offered$15.49 each Preview before payingFreeYes Unlimited plan$9.99 / month or $99.99 / yearNot offered Federal and state withholdingAll 50 states + DCYes Year-to-date totalsAutomatic, carried across a seriesEntered per stub Templates18, plus your own designsSeveral Contractor (1099) stubsYesYes   

## Where Check Stub Maker is the better fit

If you want W-2 or 1099-MISC forms generated by the same tool, Check Stub Maker sells them. PayStubNest only makes pay stubs and contractor payment statements.

## Where PayStubNest is the better fit

For the pay stubs themselves, the gap is $8.99 against $1. A year of biweekly stubs for one employee is 26 stubs: about $233.74 on Check Stub Maker, $26 on PayStubNest, or $99.99 for an unlimited year that covers every employee.

## What PayStubNest includes at $1

- Federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security and Medicare withholding for all 50 states and DC, from the published withholding tables (tax years 2025 and 2026).
- Year-to-date totals carried forward across a series of pay stubs, generated in one go.
- 18 templates, your own template designs, and your company logo.
- Hourly or salary pay, overtime, bonuses, commissions and custom deductions on their own lines.
- Contractor (1099) payment statements and an optional direct deposit advice.
- A free preview of every pay stub before you pay. Credits never expire.
- Unlimited plans for businesses that run payroll regularly: $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year.

PayStubNest is a payroll record-keeping tool. It is meant for pay stubs that reflect pay that was actually issued or received; see the [Acceptable Use Policy](https://www.paystubnest.com/acceptable-use).

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*Competitor prices and features were checked on October 20, 2026 from the vendors' public pages and can change at any time. PayStubNest is not affiliated with any company named on this page. If you spot an error, email [support@paystubnest.com](mailto:support@paystubnest.com) and we will correct it.*