You must decide what best meets your needs. Checks are the most widely used means of transmitting money. When opening a checking account at a financial institution the customer enters into a contractual agreement that allows the customer to deposit money in the bank and to write checks on that account. The financial institution agrees to maintain the account, provide records, and honor checks. Sometimes checks are called demand deposits, because it is a demand on the customers deposit.
Checks are safe, convenient, and provide a receipt for proof of payment.
If the depositor's account balance drops below the minimum then they must pay a service charge. There is not minimum balance requirement or service charge on these accounts. These are usually the best checking accounts for the customer. Generally one has to agree to maintain a minimum balance plus pay a fee for each check that is written. A drawback of using a NOW account is that there is usually a minimum balance requirement.