Best Mail Forwarding Services (2026): 10 Services Compared

If you run your business from a laptop, a spare room or a different country each month, post is one of those small jobs that quietly gets messy. Letters pile up at an old address, a bank sends something important while you're away, or you simply don't want your home address printed on every invoice. A mail forwarding service fixes that by giving you an address that receives your post, then scans it, forwards it or holds it for you.

I've put together ten mail forwarding services in no particular order, listed alphabetically. They cover the UK and the US, with smaller providers next to the better-known names, because the right fit often depends more on where your post arrives than on how big the company is. The descriptions come from each service's own website and directory listings.

Mail forwarding services at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the provider's own site says it has an ongoing free option. Trial only means it offers a free trial but no permanent free option. No means its site doesn't mention either. Providers change their plans, so check the current details on their site before you sign up.

Tool	Type of service	Good for	Free plan
Anytime Mailbox	US virtual mailbox	Choosing from many US street address locations	No
iPostal1	US digital mailbox	Scanning on request and combining parcels before forwarding	No
Mail Boxes Etc	UK mailbox and virtual office centres	A local high street address with collection or forwarding	No
PostScan Mail	US virtual mailbox	Scanned post with short AI summaries of each item	No
Stable	US business address and mailbox	Official business mail routed into your existing software	No
The Hoxton Mix	London virtual office	A London business address with mail scanned to your inbox	No
Traveling Mailbox	US virtual mailbox	Travellers and RV owners handling post from the road	No
UK Postbox	UK virtual address	Personal and business post scanned and forwarded in the UK	Yes
US Global Mail	US virtual mailbox	Trying a US business address before committing	Trial only
VirtualPostMail	US virtual mailbox	Remote businesses and nomads wanting fast mail processing	No

Ten mail forwarding services, in alphabetical order

Anytime Mailbox

Best for: Remote founders who want a US street address and an app to scan, forward or shred each letter.

iPostal1

Best for: People who receive a mix of letters and parcels and want to bundle items into one shipment abroad.

Mail Boxes Etc

Best for: UK sole traders who like having a nearby centre to collect post and parcels in person.

PostScan Mail

Best for: Busy owners who want to see the gist of every letter quickly without opening every scan.

Stable

Best for: US startups that want one permanent business address for tax, state and supplier letters.

The Hoxton Mix

Best for: UK limited companies and freelancers who want a London address and post delivered as scans.

Traveling Mailbox

Best for: Travellers and nomads who need US post scanned, stored for a while, then forwarded wherever they are.

UK Postbox

Best for: Expats and small firms who want a UK address with letters read online and forwarded on request.

US Global Mail

Best for: Overseas sellers and founders who want to try a US address and forwarding before settling in.

VirtualPostMail

Best for: Remote teams and digital nomads who want post logged quickly and handled from a web dashboard.

What a mail forwarding service does for a small business

Most of these services work the same way. You pick an address, you verify your identity, and your post starts arriving there. Each time something lands, you get a notification with a picture of the envelope. You then choose what happens next: open and scan it, forward it, shred it, or keep it for collection.

That's the basic idea, but the details vary a lot. Some providers only handle letters, while others are happy taking parcels. Some are built for businesses that need an official-looking address, and others are aimed at travellers and expats who just want their personal post kept safe.

How to choose a mail forwarding service that fits

Before you look at any provider, write down what usually reaches your letterbox in a typical month. Then use these points to compare services side by side:

• Address location. Do you need a UK address, a US address, or both? Does the city matter to your customers?
• Letters, parcels or both. If you sell online or receive samples, check that parcels are accepted and how long they're held.
• Scanning. Some services scan only the envelope until you ask for the contents. Others can scan everything automatically.
• Forwarding options. Look at where they can send post, which carriers they use, and whether they can combine several items into one shipment.
• Storage time. Find out how long post is kept before it's shredded or returned, and whether you can extend it.
• Identity checks. Expect to verify who you are. In the US that usually involves a postal authorisation form; in the UK it usually means proof of identity and address.
• App and dashboard. You'll be using it every week, so make sure it's easy to read, search and act on your post from your phone.

Questions to ask a mail forwarding provider before you sign up

• Can I use this address on my website, invoices and business listings?
• Can I use it as a registered office or official company address, or only for correspondence?
• Will government and bank post be handled any differently from ordinary letters?
• What happens to junk mail? Is it shredded automatically or counted against my allowance?
• How quickly is new post logged after it arrives?
• If I cancel, will any letters that arrive afterwards be forwarded or returned to sender?
• Who else in my team can log in and see the post?

Get the answers in writing, especially about official addresses. If you're unsure whether you need one at all, my guide to choosing between sole trader and limited company explains what changes when you set up a company.

Registered office addresses versus mail forwarding addresses

This is where people get caught out. A mail forwarding address isn't automatically the same thing as a registered office address in the UK, or a registered agent address in the US. Each has its own rules, and those rules come from the official bodies, not from the provider.

In the UK, check what Companies House says about registered office addresses for your situation. In the US, check your own state's rules about registered agents. This page isn't legal advice, so if you're not sure, ask your accountant or solicitor before you put a new address on any official filing.

Which mail forwarding service type suits which business

• Digital nomads and travellers tend to suit services built around scanning and worldwide forwarding, with a good mobile app.
• UK sole traders working from home often want a business address to keep their home address private, plus scans of anything important.
• Small limited companies usually need a provider that clearly explains which addresses can be used for official company records.
• Overseas founders selling into the US or UK may need a local address for suppliers, banks and customers, with parcels accepted.
• Online sellers should prioritise parcel handling, storage time and the option to combine shipments.

If you're often on the move, you'll probably also want to sort out connectivity. My roundup of eSIM options for international travel covers staying online abroad, and my guide to VPNs for business explains how to keep your connection private when you check scanned post on hotel or café Wi-Fi.

Setting up mail forwarding without losing a single letter

1. Choose your service and complete the identity checks first. Your address won't go live until they're done.
2. Update your address with the most important senders: your bank, the tax office, your insurer and your accountant.
3. Change the address on your website, email signature, invoices and business listings.
4. Keep your old address active for a while, or arrange a redirection from it, so nothing slips through the gap.
5. Set your default rules, such as scanning everything from official senders and shredding obvious junk.
6. Check the dashboard daily for the first fortnight, then settle into a weekly routine.

Mistakes people make with mail forwarding services

• Using a correspondence-only address on official company paperwork without checking the rules.
• Forgetting that original documents, such as cards or signed contracts, may need forwarding rather than just scanning.
• Ignoring storage limits and finding that post has been shredded before they asked for it.
• Not telling the bank, so a replacement card goes to an old address.
• Picking a provider for its address alone without checking that it accepts parcels.

Why a smaller mail forwarding service can be a smart choice

Smaller providers often focus on one type of customer, such as nomads, startups or expats, and that focus can show in how their app and support work. Some are quick to answer questions and happy to explain exactly how they handle sensitive post.

Do your homework first. Look for clear terms about privacy, storage and what happens if you leave. Read recent reviews from people with similar post to yours, and make sure the address you're given is a real street address if your senders need one.

Do you make a mail forwarding or virtual mailbox service? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Final checks before you move your post

Narrow it down to two services that cover the country you need and the type of post you receive. Read each one's terms on scanning, storage and official addresses, ask any questions in writing, and only then start changing your address with the people who send you important letters.

Frequently asked questions

What is a mail forwarding service?

It's a service that gives you an address to receive post, then scans, forwards, stores or shreds each item on your instructions, usually through an online dashboard or app.

Can I use a mail forwarding address as my registered office?

Sometimes, but not always. It depends on the provider and on the official rules where your company is registered. Check with Companies House in the UK or your state in the US, and ask your accountant or solicitor.

Do mail forwarding services open my letters?

Most only photograph the envelope until you ask for the contents to be scanned. Some let you choose to scan everything automatically. Check the provider's privacy terms.

Can a mail forwarding service handle parcels?

Many can, but it varies. Check whether parcels are accepted, how long they're kept and whether several items can be combined into one shipment.

Is a mail forwarding service the same as a postal redirection?

No. A postal redirection sends post from your old address to a new one. A mail forwarding service gives you a separate address and lets you decide what happens to each item.