Light scan (rare content opens) — 12-Month True Cost (2026)
Rare content opens reduce the two scan-related cost lines while shipping stays at the base level. The useful question here is how much a per-open plan saves when less mail needs reading. In this model, PhysicalAddress.com ranks first at $299.76 a year, followed by Traveling Mailbox at $348.00 ($48.24 more). The upper end is Earth Class Mail at $939.00.
This sensitivity model multiplies the base annual scan charges by 0.5, content-open charges by 0.5, forwarding handling by 1, and postage by 1. Subscription, setup and other charges stay fixed. It scales cost lines rather than recalculating plan allowances; a zero base charge remains zero. Check quotas before treating the estimate as a quote.
What rare reading saves
iPostal1 reduces its annual content-open allowance in the budget from $135.00 to $67.50, saving $67.50. Its resulting monthly equivalent is $29.61. PostScan Mail reduces its annual content-open allowance in the budget from $120.00 to $60.00, saving $60.00. Its resulting monthly equivalent is $33.67. The subscription still runs for the full year. For the other stored provider rows, multiplying a zero scan or open charge by one half produces no saving. Rare reading therefore narrows some price gaps without reducing every provider's bill. Postage remains $168.00 even if fewer envelopes need to be opened; reading less is not the same as shipping less.
Light scan (rare content opens): cost changes by provider
- 1. PhysicalAddress.com: $299.76 per year — $0.00 more than its $299.76 base total. Opens: $0.00; handling: $0.00; postage: $168.00.
- 2. Traveling Mailbox: $348.00 per year — $0.00 more than its $348.00 base total. Opens: $0.00; handling: $0.00; postage: $168.00.
- 3. iPostal1: $355.38 per year — $67.50 less than its $422.88 base total. Opens: $67.50; handling: $0.00; postage: $168.00.
- 4. PostScan Mail: $404.00 per year — $60.00 less than its $464.00 base total. Opens: $60.00; handling: $56.00; postage: $168.00.
- 5. US Global Mail: $756.00 per year — $0.00 more than its $756.00 base total. Opens: $0.00; handling: $0.00; postage: $168.00.
- 6. Earth Class Mail: $939.00 per year — $0.00 more than its $939.00 base total. Opens: $0.00; handling: $63.00; postage: $168.00.
Base assumptions before multipliers: 10 mail pieces/mo; 5 content opens/mo, ~5 pages each; 2 letter forwards/mo; 1 package/quarter. Postage assumptions: $5 per letter forward and $12 per 2 lb package. Calculations assume actions taken within free storage windows.
| Provider | Plan | Advertised | Scans | Opens | Forwarding | Inbound Postage | Address/Setup | Other | 12‑mo Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhysicalAddress.com | Plan 50 | $131.76 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $168.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $299.76 |
| US Global Mail | Scale (annual) | $588.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $168.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $756.00 |
| Traveling Mailbox | Basic | $180.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $168.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $348.00 |
| PostScan Mail | Starter (as low as) | $120.00 | $0.00 | $60.00 | $56.00 | $168.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $404.00 |
| Earth Class Mail | Essentials | $708.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $63.00 | $168.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $939.00 |
| iPostal1 | Virtual Mailing Address (as low as) | $119.88 | $0.00 | $67.50 | $0.00 | $168.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $355.38 |
Methodology: Where plans vary by location, we model a typical entry or mid-tier plan. We then apply the published à‑la‑carte fees: per‑open charges, page overages and forwarding handling. — Last verified: 2026-09-08
Published: 2026-09-08 · Updated: 2026-09-08
How to interpret these numbers
Totals reflect the scenario’s action mix, not the cheapest possible year. If you regularly open contents, providers that bundle page scans can be more economical than low sticker‑price plans that charge per open. If you rarely open contents, the opposite can be true. Postage is modeled as pass‑through: carriers bill the shipping, and providers may add handling fees per shipment or per item in a consolidated shipment.
The “Scans” and “Opens” lines aim to separate page‑level fees from envelope‑level interior opens. Some providers price per envelope opened (with a page allowance), others per page scanned, and many include a monthly allowance before overage pricing applies. We normalize these into annual estimates based on the scenario.
Adjusting the model for your usage
Prefer to have it computed? The 12‑month bill builder runs this exact model on your own numbers.
If you open contents more frequently than our scenario, scale the “Opens” and “Scans” components proportionally and consider plans with higher included page scans. If you forward more items, increase the “Forwarding” and “Inbound Postage” lines. Packages can distort costs because carrier rates vary by weight and zone — consider your typical package profile when comparing.
Address choice matters. Some providers add surcharges for “premium” addresses. If an address upgrade is essential for you (e.g., prestige location, commercial acceptance), include those surcharges in your evaluation.