There is now a newer, upgraded version of the bill payment capability in QuickBooks Online. Previously, there was a scaled-down version of Bill.com’s bill payment service, but it incurred a surcharge.

The new offering, powered by Melio, enables small businesses to pay bills directly within QuickBooks. The service is free if paying with a bank transfer or debit card. There is a fee, however, if you use a credit card, currently 2.9%.

This means that businesses no longer have to use checks with their bank’s routing and account number on them, which can be dangerous and subject to fraud. However, an actual check can still be issued with this service if a bank transfer (ACH) is not preferred or available, such as to an individual without a bank account.