Becoming a digital nomad means embarking on a life of freedom and adventure. But it also presents some logistical challenges, including what to do about your mail while traveling abroad.
That’s where virtual mailboxes come in. These companies collect your mail in a central location and forward it to a location of your choosing. Virtual mailboxes also offer services such as package storage and mail shredding, as well as content scans so you can view paper documents remotely.
This guide offers a side-by-side comparison of five major virtual mailbox services. Our analysis covers the most essential factors for digital nomads, including cost, mail scanning, package storage, mail shredding, mobile app access, location variety, and user reviews. Finally, our buying guide goes into further detail about the factors that you should consider when choosing a virtual mailbox.
Compare Our Best Picks
Mailboxes
| Base price (monthly) | Mail scanning | Max items included | Package storage | Free mail shredding | Mobile app | Physical locations | Trustpilot score | |||
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iPostal1 | $9.99 | $2.25/10 pages | 30 – 240 | 5 – 30 days | ❌ | ✅ | U.S. & international | 4.3 |
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Anytime Mailbox | $9.99 | varies | varies | varies | ❌ | ✅ | U.S. & international | 3.2 |
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Physical Address.com | $7.98 | 30 – 200 envelopes | unlimited | 7 days | ✅ | ✅ | U.S. only | 4.8 |
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US Global Mail | $9.95 | $3.00 + $0.50/page | unlimited | 30 days | ✅ | ❌ | U.S. only | 4.6 |
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LegalZoom Virtual Mail | $29.00 | unlimited | 5 – 50 | 10 days | ✅ | ✅ | U.S. only | 1.9 |
iPostal1
Excellent international locations, low prices
Base Price
$9.99 per month
Maximum items
30 on entry-level plan
Features
mail scanning, package storage, mobile app, forwarding services
Editor’s Take
iPostal1 stands apart from competitors for its variety of physical locations, which total over 3,000 worldwide. The company maintains mailboxes in all 50 U.S. states, plus Guam, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, you can find mailboxes in several international locations popular among digital nomads, including Canada, Guatemala, Italy, Malaysia, Portugal, Spain, and Taiwan.
We like iPostal1’s Trustpilot above average score of 4.3 out of 5, as well as the app’s 3.9 out of 5 rating on the App Store. However, we found that the service includes fewer overall scanning, storage, and shredding benefits compared with competitors on our list. The monthly price of $9.99 for the entry-level plan is typical of other virtual mailbox providers.
Pros & Cons
✅Widely-used mobile app.
✅Over 3,000 physical mailbox locations.
✅High Trustpilot score of 4.3 out of 5.
❌Mail shredding requires additional fee.
❌Cap of 30 items per month on the entry-level plan.
❌Mail scanning available for an additional fee.
Anytime Mailbox
Excellent for location variety, mobile
Base Price
$9.99 per month
Maximum items
varies by provider
Features
mail scanning, package storage, mobile app, forwarding services
Editor’s Take
With 2,400 mailboxes across 49 U.S. states and nomad hotspots such as Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Hungary, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, and the UAE, Anytime Mailbox is a great provider for international locations.
Because the company acts as a platform for independent virtual mailbox operators, prices and benefits vary depending on the provider ($9.99 is a typical monthly price, although options can be found for as low as $5.00). Some providers allow unlimited parcels, while others set a monthly cap. Similarly, mail scanning rates can range from 5 to 100 pages monthly on an entry-level plan, depending on the exact mailbox that you choose.
Pros & Cons
✅Mobile app available.
✅More international locations than other mailboxes.
✅Low-priced options available.
❌Pricing and benefits are not uniform across mailbox locations.
❌Free mail shredding not included among all providers.
❌Trustpilot score of 3.2 out of 5 is lower than some competitors.
PhysicalAddress.com
Excellent for customer service, high package volume, budget
Base Price
$7.98 per month
Maximum items
unlimited
Features
mail scanning, package storage, mobile app, forwarding services
Editor’s Take
At only $7.98 for the entry-level plan and excellent benefits, PhysicalAddress.com is one of the best values on our list. The base plan includes 30 envelope content scans per month, no monthly cap on the number of parcels, and free mail shredding. The company garners a 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot, which is the highest score among the virtual mailboxes that we reviewed.
One downside is that PhysicalAddress.com is that while it does offer a mobile app, some users criticize the lack of functionality compared to the browser website. The company also limits international mail forwarding to certain countries, so you will need to check if your place of residency is included.
Pros & Cons
✅Large number of mail scans included.
✅Unlimited parcels.
✅Free mail shredding.
❌Mobile app functionality is limited.
❌Package storage is for 7 days only
❌The site does not support mail forwarding to all countries.
US Global Mail
Excellent for customer service, high package volume
Base Price
$9.95 per month
Maximum items
unlimited
Features
mail scanning, package storage, forwarding services, free trial
Editor’s Take
US Global Mail has earned a reputation in the digital nomad community for reliability and customer service. With 4.6 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, the company boasts one of the highest scores in the digital mailbox industry. For $9.95 a month (base plan price when billed annually), you get unlimited parcels, 30-day package storage, and free mail shredding.
The only downside is that US Global Mail does not offer a mobile app, although a web version of their virtual mailbox allows you to view mail contents 24/7. Mail scanning prices are also higher than competitors at $3.00 + 50 cents per page.
Pros & Cons
✅Unlimited parcels.
✅Free mail shredding.
✅30-day free trial.
❌No mobile app is available.
❌Mail scanning fees are higher than competitors.
❌The site does not support mail forwarding to all countries.
LegalZoom Virtual Mail
Excellent for mail scanning
Base Price
$29 per month
Maximum items
five on entry-level plan
Features
mail scanning, package storage, forwarding services, mobile app
Editor’s Take
LegalZoom Virtual Mail (formerly Earth Class Mail) sets itself apart with its cost-effective mail scanning service. While most virtual mailboxes charge per page for content scanning, LegalZoom allows unlimited scans as long as the document is under 20 pages. After that, it charges a low 10 cents per additional change. LegalZoom’s entry level plan also includes free mail shredding and a mobile app.
The only con is that the maximum monthly parcel limit is very low on the entry level plan, and package storage is limited to ten days. At $29 a month, the base plan is more than double the cost of most other competitors.
Pros & Cons
✅Unlimited mail scanning.
✅Free mail shredding included.
✅Mobile app.
❌More expensive base plan than alternatives.
❌Low cap on the maximum monthly items allowed.
❌Package storage period less than that of competitors.
Other Virtual Mailboxes to Consider
St. Brendan’s Isle
Florida-based digital mailbox St. Brendan’s Isle remains under-the-radar. It doesn’t offer a mobile app, there is no profile on Trustpilot, and the website comes across as somewhat dated. Nevertheless, the company is often praised on digital nomad forums as one of the top virtual mailbox services.
At $13.99 a month for the entry level plan, you get 40 mail item scans, unlimited parcel receivables, 30-day package storage, and free mail shredding. St. Brendan’s Isle charges a flat $2.00 handling fee (plus postage) to forward packages to any address in the world.
Escapees RV Club
Escapees RV Club was started in 1978 to provide services to full-time RV residents. Over the years, the organization has evolved to meet the needs of digital nomads, and is perhaps best-known for helping remote workers establish residency in nomad-friendly states such as South Dakota.
The company also operates one of the biggest mail-forwarding services in the U.S. The Escapees digital mailbox ($10.83 for the entry-level plan, billed annually) doesn’t set a limit on the amount of mail that you receive. It also offers a mobile app, free mail shredding, and scanning at a flat 50 cents per page.
Virtual Mailbox Buyer Guide
When it comes to digital mailboxes, every provider has both pros and cons. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, so it’s really a matter of deciding which service best suits your individual needs.
Here’s a closer look at the critical factors to consider when doing your research:
Pricing and plans
Many digital nomad mailboxes offer multiple plans at various price points. Affordable entry-level plans with basic services range from $5.00 per month on the low end to $29.00, with some companies offering discounts for 12-month upfront payments. These base-level plans are appropriate for digital nomads that receive up to 30 mail items a month.
Higher-tier plans reach price points of 26.98 to $79.00 per month. These plans are designed primarily for business customers that receive 50 – 240+ mail items a month, and often include premium features such as mail shredding, longer package storage time, and specialized customer support.
Add-ons such as content scanning, long-term package storage, forwarding, and mail shredding are sometimes included as part of the monthly subscription, but oftentimes, mailbox providers will charge an extra fee for these services.
Mail forwarding
One major function of digital mailboxes is to forward your mail and packages from the mailbox location to wherever you’re located. Digital mailboxes typically charge normal USPS shipping rates, and sometimes an additional small flat handling fee. If you intend to forward packages from the U.S. to an international address, make sure that the digital mailbox is willing to ship to that country.
Physical address
Many mailbox services offer physical locations where you can pick up mail and packages in person. In many cases, these physical addresses can also be used to establish a domicile in the state (a service offered by Escapees RV Club) or maintain residency. While most providers on this list are U.S.-based, iPostal1 and Anytime Mailbox have locations in countries around the world.
Mail scanning
One major benefit of digital mailboxes is content scanning, allowing you to view paper documents remotely from a desktop computer or mobile app.
While some digital mailboxes include a limited amount of mail content scanning as part of the monthly subscription, others charge on a per-page basis. Typically, this cost ranges from 20 – 50 cents per page. Some providers also charge a small fee for mail forwarding
Package storage
Digital mailboxes allow you to receive parcels in addition to regular mail. Storage periods typically range from one week to 30 days, after which you pay a daily fee based on the weight or dimensions of the parcel. Some digital mailboxes cap the number of items per month that you are allowed to receive, so make sure that you’re aware of any limits.
Mail shredding
After reviewing your mail remotely, you can request that the mailbox service securely destroy it. Some digital mailboxes offer mail shredding as part of their entry-level monthly subscription, while others make it available on higher-tier plans or as an add-on for an extra fee.
Mobile app
Unlike many online services, don’t assume that all digital mailboxes offer a mobile app. While many do allow you to review mail scans and put in orders from a smartphone, some of the highest-rated platforms on our list do not currently have a mobile app.
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