Which Online Postage Service Is The Best?

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and give online postal services a try. Of course now the question becomes which online postage company offers the most bang for your buck?

In the battle for online postal supremacy, there currently exists three primary rivals: newcomer Stamps.com, established standby Endicia, and old-timer Pitney Bowes. All three services offer you the chance to put an end to those trips to the post office once and for all. But which of the three offer the clearest advantage when it comes to cost, features, and convenience? Let’s do a comparison of the three and decide on our champ.

Monthly Cost Comparison
First, let’s take a look at monthly cost.

Pitney Bowes least expensive option is their $17.99 per month deal. For that price, you get rental of a postage meter, which allows you to print exact postage for letters, flats, parcels, and postcards. Sounds like a pretty good deal until you read the fine print. Looks like Pitney Bowes not only has a few hidden fees, but they also charge an “early termination fee” if you should decide that you no longer have a need for their services. Not to mention the fact that they aren’t offering discounts on any of the postal services you may frequently use. Sounds like Pitney Bowes could cost a lot more in the long run.

Endicia offers a $15.95 per month plan. This is for their “premium” package. In contrast to Stamps.com, Endicia does not provide you with a FREE digital scale. There also are no discounts being offered on any of USPS’s services. It appears that establishing an Endicia account could actually wind up costing you more than the $15.99 monthly fee would have you believe.

Stamps.com offers their package for $15.99 per month. There are no hidden fees and no early cancellation charges. There also is not a need to spend money on additional equipment, as the FREE digital scale provided with your Stamps.com account is all you need to get started. Add to that the substantial discounts you receive for various postal services, and it’s clear that Stamps.com will offer you far more savings than the competition.

Cost Winner: Stamps.com
So Stamps.com is the obvious winner as far as cost goes, but does the lower cost mean you have a disadvantage when it comes to features you will have access to? Let’s take a closer look at the three offers.

With Stamps.com, you will have the ability to print exact postage to shipping labels, envelopes, or plain paper. You are also able to use the discounted Stamps.com shipping insurance. You automatically receive discounts for various postal services, including FedEx. You will have access to FREE Electronic Delivery Confirmation. And you will be able to track your postage spending and create customized reports.

Ease of Use/Learning Curve
One noticeable difference when viewing the Endicia and Pitney Bowes features is the level of confusion that arises when trying to figure out what it is you will receive with your account. Stamps.com seems to give more straightforward information about their available features, whereas Endicia and Pitney Bowes have complicated their offer pages.

The time commitment it takes just to figure out what it is you receive with Endicia and Pitney Bowes puts Stamps.com at a distinct advantage. As a small business owner, time is often your most precious commodity. This makes it a perfect opportunity to compare the convenience of the three services.

Convenience
It’s hard to beat the convenience that Stamps.com offers. Right out of the box, you will be able to start using your personal post office. Stamps.com is extremely user-friendly, and doesn’t require you to have to spend money on additional equipment or have a computer science degree in order to use their software. The FREE scale connects directly to your computer and calculates the accurate amount of postage you need.

With Endicia and Pitney Bowes, convenience seems hard to come by. The main problem with these two services is the need for additional equipment in order to get up and running. And their offerings are far too complicated for someone who just wants the ability to avoid having to make trips to the post office.

Stamps.com: The Clear Favorite
The showdown is complete, and there is now a clear victor. Whether you’re looking at cost, features, or convenience, Stamps.com stands strong as your reigning champ. Stamps.com packs a powerful punch when it comes to online postal services.

Don’t sell yourself short when it comes to your postage needs. Stamps.com will save you time and money while giving you exactly what you are looking for in an easy-to-use package.