Sticker price vs true cost of virtual mailboxes
Many providers advertise a low monthly price, but your real 12‑month cost includes scan fees, content opens, forwarding, inbound postage, and address upgrades. We break down the numbers.
This site is an independent directory. We don’t resell mailboxes and we’re not a law firm.
Teaser: 12‑month true cost (example scenario)
Scenario assumptions: 10 mail pieces/month, 5 content opens/month, 2 letter forwards/month, 1 package/quarter. See full methodology in the comparison page.
| Provider | Advertised Monthly | Total Year (est.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PhysicalAddress.com | $10.98 | $299.76 | Includes 50 envelope scans/mo and 25 content scans/mo; scenario stays within.; Forwarding at carrier rates; we include postage estimate only. |
| US Global Mail | $49.00 | $756.00 | Includes 360 interior scans/year; scenario stays within.; Discounted carrier shipping; no handling fees advertised. |
| Traveling Mailbox | $15.00 | $348.00 | Includes 40 envelopes/mo and 35 page scans/mo; scenario stays within.; Forwarding at carrier rates; postage estimate included. |
| PostScan Mail | $10.00 | $464.00 | Open & Scan modeled at $2/envelope (10 pages included); actual plan may include a monthly allowance reducing this line.; Forwarding handling $2 per shipment modeled for each letter and package; plus postage. |
| Earth Class Mail | $59.00 | $939.00 | Includes 25 digitized items/mo; contents up to 20 pages included.; Forwarding handling $1.25/shipment + $1 per item, plus postage. |