For decades people have turned to the PO Box for convenience and privacy, but the numerous disadvantages and limitations end up being frustrating. If you use a PO Box, you know exactly what I’m talking about. In this article, we’re going to explore seven of the best PO Box alternatives that take advantage of better technology, options and features. These alternatives are not only more convenient but also serve as an affordable alternative to traditional PO Boxes.
The primary challenges that worthy alternatives to PO Box must overcome are:
- Access: A post office box must be visited in person in order to pick up mail. A better alternative would be virtual access from anywhere that can also do mail forwarding.
- Cost: A PO Box can be costly to maintain, especially if you’re receiving larger packages. The replacement must be cost-efficient no matter what kind of mail you receive.
- Professionalism: Let’s face it: having a PO Box as an address doesn’t look nearly as professional as a real street address.
- Privacy: A PO Box offers some degree of privacy…but not much. There has to be a more private way to handle your mail.
I assume you probably already know these limitations, which is why you’re even reading this in the first place. The digital mailbox solutions that I’m about to share with you are something I’ve been using for over a decade and I promise you – it’s going to revolutionize the way you handle your physical mail!
This isn’t just reviews based on internet research. I use a virtual mailing address for my personal and business mail and have even visited some of these mailing address locations in person. What I’m recommending here is the same that I recommend to my own family and friends.
7 Best Alternatives to Post Office Box
Here are the 7 best PO Box alternatives that can change the way you handle your postal mail.
- Postscan Mail – Best for Security
- Traveling Mailbox – Best for Personal Use
- iPostal1 – Best for International Addresses
- VirtualPostMail – Best for Business Address
- Anytime Mailbox – Best Low-Cost Option
- Earth Class Mail
- USA2Me – Mail Forwarding Service
Let’s take a look at each of these options individually.
Postscan Mail (Best for Security)
PostScan Mail has been a leading virtual mailboxes provider for over a decade, providing all the features most PO Box customers lack. The online mail dashboard can be accessed from anywhere in the world, at any time of day, and their locations are HIPAA and SOC2 compliant.
When looking at Postscan Mail, it’s best to choose one of their Primary Hub addresses, which is a mailing address that is owned and operated by the company. This ensures the highest level of security for your incoming mail that rivals even a post office location, not to mention a more professional looking street address, whether for personal or business use.
Postscan Mail ensures secure handling of your mail, with only employees with proper clearance and background checks having access to it. This is particularly important if you plan to use mail storage for any length of time since only employees with proper clearance and background checks have access to the mail.
Postscan Mail is also one of the few virtual mailbox companies that allows customers to collect mail in person. So if you’re able to find a physical address location near you, you can save money by treating virtual mailboxes like a po box and picking it up yourself.
Traveling Mailbox (Best for Personal Use)
Traveling Mailbox has been in operation since 2011 and operates a single primary hub address with additional premium addresses to choose from around the US. Unless you require a specific state, it is recommended that you use their Sanford, North Carolina address as your new physical address.
Traveling Mailbox was one of the first to develop a mobile application that gives you virtual access to your physical mailbox while you’re on the go. With just a few taps of the thumb, you can request mail to be opened, scanned or forwarded to anywhere you are. With Traveling Mailbox, you can collect post at a time that suits you, adding to the convenience of this service.
Whether you’re looking for simple mail forwarding or a better way to digitize your mail, Traveling Mailbox has been my go-to option for my personal mailbox.
iPostal1 (Best for International Addresses)
iPostal1 is one of the best alternatives to a USPS PO Box because of the sheer number of address locations that they offer to receive mail: over 2,750 of them! Chances are, if you’re looking for an address to replace your post office box in a specific city, they probably have one.
It’s worth noting, however, that all of these locations are third-party mail providers that are not owned or operated by iPostal1 at all. They simply act as the technology connecting the mail center with the you, the end user.
As a digital mailbox, the dashboard is easy to use and feels just like logging into your email account.
If you need an international address or a specific city address that other companies don’t offer, iPostal1 is likely going to be your best alternative to the United States Postal Service.
VirtualPostMail (Best for Business Address)
VirtualPostMail is unique in that they only operate a physical address in five states: Florida, Delaware, California, Nevada and Texas. Each of these addresses is owned and operated by the company, ensuring the highest level of security and quality control.
This virtual mailbox service allows you to collect mail securely, do international mail forwarding and even provide a proof of address for your business. This feature, known as TruLease, can be used to open bank accounts, set up Amazon stores and other actions that require a proof of address. Using VirtualPostMail can enhance credibility for your business by providing a professional mailing address.
In addition to virtual mailbox services for your postal mail, VirtualPostMail also offers virtual assistants to help you with various business tasks such as bookkeeping, administration or purchasing. That’s definitely something you won’t find any PO Box offering!
Anytime Mailbox (Best Low-Cost Option)
Similar to iPostal1, Anytime Mailbox is a virtual mailbox provider that boasts hundreds of locations not just across the US, but also internationally. They’re also unique in that they allow each third party mail location to set their own pricing, which has its pros and cons.
Anytime Mailbox is an affordable alternative to traditional PO Boxes, with prices as low as $5 per month. The benefit to you is that you can score a real street address for as low as $5 per month, which beats any PO box pricing you’ll ever find. The virtual mailbox handles all your legitimate mail, junk mail and package forwarding however you want.
I wouldn’t rely on these low-cost options for your business mail, but if all you’re looking for is simple mailbox forwarding, Anytime Mailbox is an easy option.
Earth Class Mail
Earth Class Mail is one of the most recognizable names in the virtual mailboxes industry and were recently bought out by LegalZoom. While they offer a great product, they also have premium pricing that doesn’t necessarily reflect any premium service.
They offer a modest selection of real street address locations that are certainly better than a postal box. All mail received at these locations is forwarded to their Centralized Operations Facility where you can request the physical mail to be opened, scanned, shredded or forwarded. Earth Class Mail offers additional features such as mail scanning, shredding, and forwarding.
When it comes to a more efficient handling of your postal mail, Earth Class Mail isn’t going to be faster, but it will be more convenient.
USA2Me (Mail Forwarding Service)
Finally, if all you really need is an alternative to the post office box address where physical mail can immediately be forwarded, USA2Me is an option to consider. Instead of having all the virtual mailbox options to open or scan or even mail storage, this company specializes in one thing: mailbox forwarding.
In addition to mail forwarding, USA2Me offers other services such as package consolidation and storage.
You can do international mail forwarding or local mail forwarding, it’s up to you. And they won’t forward mail to your home address that is junk mail, either.
Types of PO Box Alternatives
There are several types of PO box alternatives available, each with its own unique features and benefits. Virtual mailboxes, such as Anytime Mailbox, offer a real street address and online access to mail, allowing users to manage their mail remotely. This means you can view, open, and forward your mail from anywhere, at any time.
Mail forwarding services, such as Earth Class Mail, provide a physical address and forward mail to a designated location, ensuring you never miss important documents no matter where you are.
Physical mailbox services, such as those offered by coworking spaces, provide a secure and convenient way to receive mail and packages, often with the added benefit of a professional business address.
These alternatives offer a range of benefits, including increased security, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, making them an attractive option for both personal and business use.
What are Virtual Mailbox Services?
A virtual mailbox is a service offering that allows you to receive mail at a real street address and then handle that mail virtually from anywhere in the world.
A virtual business address can provide a professional image for remote, home-based, or small businesses.
Instead of being tied to a specific post office location, this virtual postal box gives you so much more control over your mail. You can:
- View a scanned image of your mail
- Request that the mail be opened and all pages scanned
- Ask that mail be shredded
- Request mail forwarding to any street address you want.
We have a longer explanation of how a virtual mailbox works here if you’d like to read more.
Virtual Mailbox vs PO Box
This kind of virtual address is different from a PO box in many ways, but it really boils down to access, professionalism and mail forwarding. Unlike PO Boxes, virtual mailboxes do not have physical location requirements, making them more flexible for remote workers and frequent travelers.
- Access: These alternatives to a PO Box allow you to see your incoming mail from the comfort of your computer or mobile device.
- Professionalism: Instead of a post office, these services offer you a physical mailbox at a real street address that looks and sounds better than a postal box.
- Mail Forwarding: Unlike a post office PO Box that requires you to visit in person to pick up the mail, a virtual mailbox will forward mail to any location in the world.
Benefits of a Virtual Mailing Address
In addition to the differences between this kind of “online mail” and the regular PO Box, there are other benefits to having a dedicated street address which acts like a virtual PO Box.
A virtual mailing address can serve as a permanent address, providing stability for those who travel frequently or lack a stable physical residence.
24/7 Online Mail Dashboard
When you digitize your mail online, it not only gives you access 24/7 to handle the mail, it also provides you the convenience of organizing your mail like you’ve never been able to do before.
The online mail dashboard ensures secure handling of your mail, protecting your privacy and security.
With virtual PO Boxes, you can create folders for each kind of mail, forward the digital mail to the person who needs to see it and keep the scanned mail indefinitely in digital storage.
Greater Security & Privacy than a PO Box
A traditional post office box is secure, but they’re not exactly known for privacy, especially when you have to arrive in person to pick up your mail.
A virtual mailbox offers the security of a lockable mailbox, ensuring that your mail is kept private and secure.
You deserve privacy with your postal mail, and that’s what these PO Box alternatives provide.
Cheaper Alternative to PO Box
When you get a post office box, you choose based on location and size. If you expect to receive larger packages in the mail, you’ll need to rent a larger box.
Virtual mailboxes are an affordable alternative to traditional PO Boxes, with pricing based on the pieces of mail you receive. The cost of virtual mailboxes is different. Instead of a box size, you are charged based on the pieces of mail you receive and how you decide to forward that mail.
Potential Drawbacks of Virtual Mailboxes
As with any type of product or service, there are some drawbacks to consider with a virtual mailbox before you jump in head-first.
Using a personal address for business purposes can make it part of the public record, raising privacy concerns.
For example, when having your mail delivered to a virtual address, you’re adding a middleman to the equation, which always increases the risk of lost mail or mishandling. This rarely happens, but at least with a PO box, you know that the only people touching your mail are the United States Postal Service and you.
Also, since a PO Box is located inside the post office, you’re likely to get mail delivered faster than if you use virtual po boxes. We’re only talking about an extra day or two, but sometimes that matters when you want to receive mail quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions | PO Boxes
Below are the questions I get most often about PO boxes and how they work.
Collecting mail from a single local post office can be inconvenient for businesses with remote or mobile workforces.
Your best options are a virtual mailbox or mail forwarding service. Each of these offers an actual street address where you can receive mail without the inconvenience of visiting the post office. They offer the same security as post office locations, better privacy and greater control over your postal mail.
Yes! If you’re looking to save money, you can choose a mail forwarding service as a low cost alternative to a PO Box. Incoming mail is bundled and forwarded to whatever global mail location or home address you set.
A PO Box cannot be used to register your business, although you can receive business mail at a po box. A better option is virtual mailboxes which can be used as a registered business address.
It is acceptable to use a PO Box to receive mail, but po boxes cannot be used as your legal address. You must have a home address or other legal address for any government documents.
Conclusion
In conclusion, PO box alternatives offer a range of benefits and features that make them an attractive option for individuals and businesses. From virtual mailboxes to physical mailbox services, there are many options available to suit different needs and budgets.
By understanding the limitations of traditional PO boxes and the benefits of PO box alternatives, individuals and businesses can make informed decisions about their mail management needs.
Whether you’re looking for increased security, flexibility, or cost-effectiveness, there’s a PO box alternative out there for you. With the rise of digital mailbox solutions and online mail handling services, it’s never been easier to manage your mail and packages remotely. So why not consider a PO box alternative today and start enjoying the benefits of convenient and secure mail handling?
Josh Summers is a writer and entrepreneur who has been using a virtual mailbox for both personal and business use while living in Asia for the past 10 years. In addition to using multiple services, he has actually visited a number of virtual address locations to better understand how the industry works and what’s most important to consider.