9 Best Virtual Mailboxes & Business Addresses Reviewed (Mar 2024)

March 14, 2024
Blog

A virtual mailbox service is the easiest way for a business to receive physical mail and packages without a permanent address. Virtual mailboxes (sometimes known as digital mailboxes) provide you with a physical address you can send any mail to, which they will then forward on to you anywhere in the world.

After researching and testing more than a dozen companies over 12+ months, Anytime Mailbox is my top choice for the best virtual mailbox due to its 2,000+ locations and excellent overall value. With thousands of 5-star reviews and great customer support, I can't recommend Anytime Mailbox highly enough.

The Best Virtual Mailbox Services Of 2024

  1. Anytime Mailbox – Best overall
  2. PostScan Mail – Best for cloud storage
  3. iPostal1 – Best international presence

Find a virtual mailbox near you

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    What Is The Best Virtual Mailbox?

    1. Anytime Mailbox – Best Overall

    Best Overall
    Anytime Mailbox

    Monthly fee: $5—$10
    Free storage: 30 days
    Shipping discounts: Yes

    1,600+ locations worldwide.

    ★★★★★

    Rated 4.9/5

    Best Overall
    Anytime Mailbox

    Monthly fee: $5—$10
    Free storage: 30 days
    Shipping discounts: Yes

    1,600+ locations worldwide.

    ★★★★★

    Rated 4.9/5

    With 1,600+ mailbox locations spread across 40+ countries—plus services like package consolidation to reduce the cost of shipping—Anytime Mailbox has been another solid option for me. They're a good choice both for business owners and anyone shopping online from outside the United States, and they've won my trust and continued business through years of improvements and helpful customer support.

    Anytime Mailbox offers all of the standard digital mailbox services (mail scans, check deposits, etc.) plus 30 days of free storage on all letters and packages. Like the other mailboxes on this list, they'll also forward postal mail anywhere in the world, particularly helpful for expats and digital nomads like myself, who spend most of their time abroad.

    Anytime Mailbox Virtual Mailboxes In California, USA

    Anytime Mailbox's plans range from $5 to $15 per month, which is reasonable given the variety of services they offer. As you can see in the screenshot of their California mailboxes above, prices are different for each mailbox, making it easy to find one that meets your budget.

    Features

    • 1,600+ locations in 40+ countries, including Canada, Europe, Asia, South American, Africa, and the Middle East
    • Tax-free warehouses in Delaware, Oregon, Montana, Alaska and New Hampshire
    • 30 days of free storage on all letters and packages
    • Deep discounts with all major carriers
    • Letter + package consolidation
    • Local pickup available for a fee ($1-$5 per item)
    • Mail scanning ($0.50/page)
    • Forward packages for $5
    • Check deposits
    • Secure shredding ($0.10/page)

    Fees

    • Monthly Fee: $5-$10/month
    • Mail Scanning: $0.50/page
    • Mail Forwarding: $5 + the cost of shipping
    • Storage: Free for 30 days, then 5 cents/item/day

    Best For

    Business owners and online shoppers buying from retailers around the world.

    2. PostScan Mail – Best For Cloud Storage

    Best For Letter Mail
    PostScan Mail

    Monthly fee: $10—$30
    Free storage: 7 days
    Shipping discounts: Yes

    400+ locations across the US.

    ★★★★★

    Rated 4.5/5

    PostScan Mail operates a network of 400+ virtual mailboxes across the United States and abroad. Its robust mobile app allows you to place your mail into digital folders and filter while you search, making finding and organizing your postal mail easy.

    PostScan Mail allows 30 days of free storage for letters (7 days for packages), and offers unlimited cloud storage, so you can keep years' worth of postal mail on their servers. They eliminate junk mail before it reaches your inbox and have run a respectable mail forwarding service for years.

    I stopped using PostScan Mail a while ago, since I already had a mailbox with Anytime Mailbox, and didn't need to keep both. But if you choose not to go with Anytime Mailbox, PostScan Mail is still a solid second option.

    PostScan Mail Virtual Mailboxes Features

    Features

    • 400+ locations across the US and around the world
    • Free storage for 7 days (packages) and 30 days (letters)
    • Tax-free warehouses in Delaware, Oregon, Montana and Alaska
    • Local pickup
    • Letter + package consolidation
    • Unlimited cloud storage
    • Real U.S. street addresses

    Fees

    • Monthly fee: $10 – $30/month
    • Mail Scanning: 5-20 free scans per month (depending on your plan), then $2 per letter
    • Mail Forwarding: $0.85 per item + shipping
    • Letter Storage: First 30 days free, then $0.05 per letter/day.
    • Free Package Storage: First 7 days free, then $0.10 per pound/day.

    Best For

    Businesses with low to moderate amounts of incoming letter mail.

    3. iPostal1 – Best International Presence

    Best Int'l Presence
    iPostal1

    Monthly fee: Starting at $9.99
    Free storage: 30 days
    Shipping discounts: Yes

    2,700+ locations worldwide.

    ★★★★

    Rated 4.1/5

    iPostal1 offers 2,700+ addresses, unique and powerful digital mailbox features, consistent plans across all locations, and it's the one I personally use day-to-day. You can view and manage your mail and packages with the iPostal1 app (or online), and plans start at just $9.99/month.

    If you’re running your business from home like me, iPostal1 makes it affordable to get a real street address to upgrade your company image, protect your family’s privacy and register your business. I travel frequently as well, but using iPostal1 allows me to stay connected to my mail and not worry about my packages getting stolen.

    iPostal1 offers features like real-time shipping prices and the option to add virtual office plans with phone and fax to your existing virtual mailbox plan. Whenever I forward a package to me while I'm abroad, I take advantage of iPostal1's international shipping discounts, which make things quite a bit cheaper and easier than paying full price at the post office.

    As someone who's used iPostal1 for several years, I can confidently say it's a reliable virtual mailbox provider that takes care of its customers. I can't recommend iPostal1 enough.

    Features

    • 2,700+ locations in all 50 states plus Canada, Europe, Asia, and other countries
    • Tax-free warehouses in Delaware, Oregon, Montana, Alaska and New Hampshire
    • Deep discount international shipping
    • Office building and co-working locations also available
    • Mail forwarding, including consolidation of letters and packages
    • Free storage for 30 days
    • Real-time shipping prices
    • Open and scan mail content ($1.50 for up to 10 pages)
    • Mail pickup + discarding/shredding
    • Check deposit by mail available at most locations
    • Virtual office plans with phone and fax (from $39.99)

    Fees

    • Digital mailbox: $9.99/month
    • Mail scanning: $1.50 for up to 10 pages
    • Mail forwarding: Cost of postage
    • Storage: 30 days free, then $1.10 per letter per month

    This screenshot offers a bit more info into iPostal1's pricing structure: if you pay annually, you'll get 2 months free, with their Blue and Silver plans being their most popular.

    iPostal1 Virtual Mailbox Pricing

    Best For

    Business owners, frequent travelers and online shoppers

    Virtual Mailboxes I Don’t Recommend

    In my research into digital mailboxes, I discovered a handful of mailboxes that I don’t recommend for a variety of different reasons: 

    1. US Global Mail: US Global Mail has a sleek website, but it nickel-and-dimed me when I tried it out, charging small fees in every way it could. If you’d rather not get hit with unexpected charges around every turn, go with iPostal1 instead.  
    2. Earth Class Mail: Earth Class Mail only has mailboxes within the US, which made it significantly less useful for me. For a better digital mailbox with just as strong US coverage as Earth Class Mail, go with iPostal1.
    3. Traveling Mailbox: Like US Global Mail and Earth Class Mail, Traveling Mailbox charged me additional fees for just about everything, making the service much more expensive than I expected. For more accurate, honest pricing, go with iPostal1 or Anytime Mailbox.
    4. USA2Me: USA2Me’s main draw is its free plan, though just setting up my account with them cost me $23—and there are additional fees after that. For a better low-cost mailbox with zero setup fees, go with any of my three recommended mailboxes above.

    My Pick For The Best Virtual Mailbox: Anytime Mailbox

    After researching and testing more than a dozen companies over 12+ months, Anytime Mailbox is my top choice for the best virtual mailbox service due to its 2,700+ locations and excellent overall value. With a well-developed app and features like check deposits, secure mail shredding and junk mail filtering, Anytime Mailbox has been a valuable tool in helping me scale my business operations quickly.

    With thousands of 5-star reviews and great customer support, I can't recommend Anytime Mailbox highly enough.

    What Is The Best Virtual Business Address?

    1. Northwest Registered Agent â€“ Best Virtual Business Address Overall & $39 Business Formation Service

    Best Overall
    Northwest Registered Agent

    Fee: $39 per year
    Free storage: Unlimited
    Shipping cost: Free

    Best value mailbox in the USA.

    ★★★★★

    Rated 4.9/5

    Northwest Registered Agent is the best virtual business address provider specializing in registering LLCs. They operate in all 50 states, are rated 4.7/5 on Google, and take care of all of your legal needs.

    From now until March 20, 2024, Northwest Registered Agent is registering LLCs, corporations and nonprofits for just $39. This price includes a full year of mail forwarding, registered agent services, a virtual address for business, all of the legal documents required for your new business, and everything else you need to ensure you're fully compliant with the law.

    All filings with Northwest Registered Agent are backed by their 100% error-free guarantee. You can cancel your services at any time, and there are zero hidden fees.

    As both the cheapest and the best virtual business address provider out there, I can't recommend Northwest Registered Agent highly enough.

    Features

    • All legal paperwork filed for you on time
    • 100% error-free guarantee
    • 200+ business experts across the country available to answer your questions
    • Fully private business address
    • Free mail forwarding within the United States
    • Unlimited phone and email support
    • Available in all 50 states
    • Zero hidden fees or automatic service renewals
    • All personal information kept fully private (the only company to offer this)

    Fees

    • First year: $39 + state fees
    • Annual renewal: $125 + state fees

    Promotion

    $39 for the first year when you sign up using the link below

    Best For

    Business owners looking for the best service at the lowest price in the industry.

    GET THE $39/YEAR DEAL
    Offer ends March 20, 2024.

    2. Incfile â€“ No Longer Recommended

    I used to recommend Incfile, but as of early 2023 I no longer do, for a number of reasons:

    • Very Expensive: Incfile is significantly more expensive than Northwest Registered Agent to get the same benefits. For example, Incfile Platinum costs $299 + state fees and still doesn't include everything that Northwest Registered Agent does.
    • Poor Customer Support: Many Incfile users complain about its slow, unhelpful customer support, while Northwest Registered Agent users consistently rate its customer support extremely well.
    • Limited Availability: Incfile only operates in 22 states, while Northwest Registered Agent operates in all 50 states.

    For these and other reasons, I believe Northwest Registered Agent is the only virtual business address to use, assuming you're in the market for one.

    Our Methodology: How I Chose The Best Virtual Mailboxes & Business Addresses

    We assessed each virtual mailbox provider and virtual business address on the following four criteria:

    #1 Features & Functionality

    All of the mailbox providers on this list offer more than just the basics. Some of the more advanced features you can get in a virtual mailbox include mail forwarding, mail shredding, check deposits, package consolidation, free mail and package storage, registered agent services, and more. 

    Before choosing a virtual mailbox, look through the specific features each of them offer to ensure you’re getting exactly what you need. You aren’t comparing apples to apples here, so keep that in mind as you make your decision.

    Some of the data points I looked at include:

    • How much do they charge for each feature, and how does that compare with their competitors?
    • Do they charge a reasonable fee (or no fee) for additional services?
    • How easy is it to search and filter through your mail? 
    • Is it possible to export your data? What export formats are available?
    • Do they offer multiple user accounts with varying levels of permissions and access? 
    • Do they make signing and submitting USPS Form 1583 easy?

    #2 Physical Locations

    The more physical mailbox locations a company has, the easier it will be to find one that works for you. Even though you won’t be physically visiting your mailbox (unless it offers local pickups), having one that fits your specific business needs can save you a lot of headaches.

    For example, if most of your customers are in Arizona, it’s probably a good idea to have your address in Arizona, too. Similarly, if you’re in the financial services business, it makes more sense to have an address in Manhattan than one in Boise.

    Most businesses will want a physical address, not a P.O. box, since larger packages can’t be delivered to P.O. boxes, and banks generally require a physical address to work with them. And if you plan to expand your operations internationally, it’s a good idea to choose a virtual mailbox service with international addresses to make future growth simpler. 

    Some of the data points I looked at include:

    • How many physical locations does each mailbox offer? 
    • How well distributed are those locations?
    • Do they offer a substantial number of international mailboxes?
    • Do they offer physical addresses, or just P.O. boxes?

    #3 Storage & Shipping

    If you choose to store your mail and packages at a virtual mailbox facility, you’ll want to know that it’s well-maintained and secure. You’ll also want to know how much you’ll need to pay for that storage, and how long you can keep it there before shipping it out.

    We paid special attention to the scanning practices of each mailbox provider, their domestic and international shipping policies, and how long it actually took them to process a piece of mail. 

    Some of the data points I looked at include:

    • How long will each mailbox store your mail and packages for free?
    • How much does package storage cost beyond the initial free period? 
    • Do they scan mail and packages automatically? How long does scanning take?
    • How many shipping options do they offer when forwarding packages? Do they offer shipping discounts?

    #4 Security

    Security is very important when handling both personal and business mail, but given that there’s both a digital and a physical component to virtual mailboxes, running a secure operation takes a significant effort. 

    On the physical side, human error and misconduct are the primary security risks, so I looked at internal policies and security track records over time. On the digital side, encryption and safe data handling are essential, which is why all providers above have excellent data practices.   

    Some of the data points I looked at include:

    • How secure are their warehouses? Do they outsource the operations to third parties or do it all in-house? 
    • How secure are their servers? Are they following encryption and data transfer best practices?
    • Do they only work with approved Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies (CMRAs)?
    • Have they trained their staff to receive and handle sensitive mail? 
    Our methodology

    • Functionality
      What features do they offer, how easy is it to use their platform, and how much do they charge for it all?
    • Physical Locations
      How many locations do they have, how well distributed are those locations, and do they offer real street addresses or just P.O. boxes?
    • Storage & Shipping
      How long can you store items for free, how quickly do they scan (or ship) those items, and how expensive is shipping?
    • Security
      How do they ensure upset employees and hackers can’t access the mail in their warehouses and on their servers?

    Benefits Of Virtual Mailboxes & Business Addresses

    There are a few major benefits of using a digital mailbox:

    • Convenience: You have control over all your mail right at your fingertips. You’ll see new mail arrive, be able to forward it to other locations, and even have checks deposited. If the digital mailbox you choose also provides virtual office services, you may be able to get a dedicated phone number answered by a real receptionist, too.
    • Freedom To Travel: Have your postal mail or packages forwarded to you anywhere in the world, freeing you up to travel whenever and wherever you want.
    • Privacy: There are many reasons why you may not want to give out your home address, especially if you're registering a business and your physical address will be publicly accessible. Using a virtual address is a great way to maintain your privacy while still reaping all of the benefits a physical address entails.
    • Security: All of the mailboxes I recommend above go to great lengths to ensure that your documents (legal, business, and personal) are handled very securely. Communications with end users are encrypted with bank-level SSL encryption, and your account is protected by a password and 2-factor authentication (2FA) if you choose. It's also worth pointing out that every mailbox provider in the United States has to follow strict USPS guidelines, and there are harsh consequences if they fail to keep users’ information safe. 
    • Registered Agent Services: Premium mailbox providers like iPostal1 also offer registered agent services, which can offer tremendous value if you’re considering a digital mailbox for your business. A registered agent can take care of sensitive documents and legal filings on your behalf, giving you much more flexibility.

    Virtual Mailboxes & Business Addresses FAQs

    What is a virtual mailbox?

    A digital mailbox gives you a physical mailing address where you can accept letters, documents, and packages while you're away from home. You can also use your virtual mailbox to create an online archive of your documents and important papers or even as an official business address when opening an LLC.

    When your mailbox provider receives a piece of your mail, they'll scan the envelope or take a photo of the package and email it to you.

    Getting started with a virtual mailbox service is simple:

    1. Open an account with one of the virtual PO boxes mentioned in this post (I recommend iPostal1 or Anytime Mailbox). I've included details about all of their features, including which of them I personally use and why.
    2. The service you select will assign you a unique virtual mailing address, which you can have letters and packages sent to.
    3. Start receiving email notifications every time a piece of mail arrives.

    Standard Virtual Mailbox Services

    These are the services that nearly all mailbox providers offer:

    • Open and scan/photograph your letters and packages for you to view online
    • Forward letters and packages to you domestically or internationally
    • Receive credit cards and bank statements
    • Receive legal statements and personal & business bills
    • Instant notification when you receive a piece of mail
    • Shred and destroy unwanted mail
    • Filter out junk mail like flyers

    Advanced Virtual Mailbox Services

    These services are only offered by some mailbox service providers:

    • Long-term package storage
    • Unlimited digital storage
    • Repack and consolidate multiple packages to save on shipping costs
    • Real street address (not a PO box)
    • Personal shopping service
    • Deposit checks for you and your business
    • Sign for letters and packages upon delivery

    Are virtual mailbox services safe?

    Yes, virtual PO boxes are safe because they're accessed exclusively online and are not available to the public. All of the digital mailboxes I recommend above operate from secure data centers and comply with the latest security protocols, including 128-bit SSL encryption and full disk encryption for all customer data.

    All digital mailboxes in the US must comply with strict USPS guidelines and face stiff penalties if they fail to keep users’ information safe. Virtual PO boxes are not permitted to release their users' addresses to anyone unless they are specifically instructed to do so.

    What is the cheapest virtual mailbox?

    The cheapest mailbox provider is iPostal1, whose plans start at just $9.99/month with no hidden fees. It's possible to get a $5/month mailbox from Anytime Mailbox, but you will face some additional fees, so if cost is your primary concern, I recommend iPostal1.

    On the other hand, if you're planning to only receive packages (not letter mail), you should give iPostal1 a try. It's a great US-based parcel forwarding service in the US, and it's an excellent choice for the budget-conscious shopper.

    Which virtual mailbox is best?

    The best overall virtual mailbox is iPostal1, both for its low pricing and its excellent customer service. I’ve tested out more than a dozen different mailbox providers, and if you’re looking to get your purchases forwarded to you quickly and reliably, I recommend iPostal1.

    But don't take my word for it: as you can see here, iPostal1 has received excellent ratings from more than 5,000 reviews on Trustpilot, Sitejabber, and Google.

    iPostal1 Virtual Mailbox Reviews

    Does USPS offer a virtual mailbox?

    Yes, USPS does offer a virtual PO box service. However, USPS PO boxes cannot receive shipments from any other shipping carrier, which is why it may be a good business move to get a separate virtual mailing address as well.

    What's the best free virtual mailbox?

    There aren't any free virtual mailbox services in the United States today, and that makes sense: storing and shipping your mail costs money, so companies need to charge for it. If you're looking for a free solution for a place that can accept your mail, you may want to ask some friends or family members who might be willing to do it for you.

    Which virtual mailbox services offer a free trial (first month free)?

    No digital mailboxes currently offer a free trial (first month free), though you can get 2 months free if you opt for iPostal1's annual plans instead of their monthly plans.

    What's the best virtual mailbox for small business?

    The top virtual mailbox for small business is iPostal1 since it offers real street addresses, protecting the privacy of both your family and your business. Given that iPostal1 costs as little as $9.99 per month yet still comes with so many valuable features, a virtual address can be a very affordable tool to make your life easier and help your business grow.

    You can read more about iPostal1 in my full iPostal1 review.

    What's the best virtual mailbox service in Canada?

    The best virtual mailbox service for Canadians is iPostal1, given that it has a low monthly fees $9.99/month) and quickly ships items (including Amazon.com purchases) across the Canadian border with no hassle and minimal shipping fees.

    What kind of mail forwarding service do virtual mailboxes offer?

    Most digital mailboxes offer mail and package forwarding of all kinds: if you can get an item shipped to them, they're able to forward it on to you. The companies listed above have all negotiated special discounts with the big shipping companies, too, so you can ship your items for far less than the retail price.

    Mail forwarding services are convenient both for businesses and for frequent travellers since you won't need to update your virtual mailing address so frequently. If you're looking for a secure mail forwarding service, any of the companies listed above are a great choice.

    What's the best virtual mailbox for expats?

    The best virtual mailbox service for expats depends on where you are in the world: expats based in Europe will have different priorities than those based in Asia, and the same goes for other places around the world. If you're just looking for a solid all-around digital mailbox, though, I recommend iPostal1.

    How much does a virtual PO Box cost?

    Most virtual PO boxes, including iPostal1, Anytime Mailbox, and PostScan Mail, charge fees ranging from $5 – $30/month.

    Is A Virtual Mailbox Better Than A PO Box?

    Yes, virtual mailbox services are better than PO boxes in some crucial ways, perhaps the most important of which is that PO box users can only check their mail during business hours (and not on federal holidays). Virtual mailing address users are also able to change the location of their mailbox much easier than PO box users can, giving them extra flexibility in case their mailbox needs suddenly change.

    What is a virtual business address used for?

    A virtual business address is used for forwarding mail while you’re travelling or living abroad or just to keep you more organized. You can also use a virtual address for business to create an online archive of your documents and important papers or even as an official business address when opening an LLC.

    I personally find myself using virtual business address services most often when I’m overseas and need to order things from Amazon and other retailers that won’t ship to my current address. In those cases, I just have the package shipped to my virtual office address and have them forward it to my current address a few days later.

    Having a real street address can be a huge benefit, too, as many banks and government agencies don’t accept PO boxes as legitimate addresses. This means you can use some virtual business addresses as a registered business address, though not all of them.

    Are virtual business addresses safe?

    Yes, virtual business addresses are safe because they’re accessed exclusively online and are not available to the public. All of the virtual business addresses I recommend above operate from secure data centers and comply with the latest security protocols, including 128-bit SSL encryption and full disk encryption for all customer data.

    All virtual business addresses in the US must comply with strict USPS guidelines and face stiff penalties if they fail to keep users’ information safe. Virtual office addresses are not permitted to release their users’ addresses to anyone unless they are specifically instructed to do so.

    Which countries have virtual mailboxes?

    You can find a virtual mailbox in nearly every country in the world. Using my virtual mailbox locator tool at the top of this page, you'll find mailboxes in all of these countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, all over the Caribbean, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

    As you can see, this list represents every corner of the globe: North America, South and Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Oceania.

    Does USPS offer a virtual business address?

    Yes, USPS does offer a PO box virtual mail service. However, USPS PO boxes cannot receive shipments from any other shipping carrier, which is why it may be a good business move to get a virtual address for business as well.

    What's the best free virtual address for LLC?

    There aren't any free virtual business addresses out there, though if you're looking for a cost-effective virtual address for your LLC, I recommend iPostal1, since it offers small business owners a low-cost way to accept mail and packages at any of 2,700+ physical addresses across the United States and beyond. iPostal1 stores each piece of mail for free for up to 30 days, and if you need it forwarded on to your current address, iPostal1 has negotiated lower prices with all of the major shipping carriers to keep your costs low.

    Can you pick up mail from a virtual business address?

    You can pick up mail from some virtual business addresses, but not all of them. You’ll need to check with your virtual office address service’s policies before receiving any packages to avoid getting charged an extra pickup fee.

    What's the best free virtual business address?

    No virtual business address providers offer their services completely free, though Northwest Registered Agent‘s $39/year plan is as close to free as you'll get.

    Is it necessary to have a registered agent?

    Yes, every LLC and corporation is legally required to have a Registered Agent in each state where they do business. Some virtual business addresses can serve as a Registered Agent for you, eliminating expensive legal fees and allowing you to focus on building your business.

    Can I use a virtual business address for my LLC?

    Yes, you can use a virtual business address for your LLC, and thousands of companies already do. Whether you already have an established LLC or are opening one for the first time, a virtual address for business can save you time, money and effort in the process, making your business less burdensome and more profitable.

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