Direct mail automation
We put 6 direct mail automation tools through the same test. Handwrytten came out on top with 3.5 out of 5. Here are all the results, what each tool costs and how we test them.
Direct mail automation we tested
Best score first. Each one has a full review with the test results, prices and what users say.
Handwrytten
3.5/5Read our review →
Lob
3/5Read our review →
Postal
3/5Read our review →
PostGrid
2.5/5Read our review →
Postalytics
2.5/5Read our review →
Sendoso
2/5Read our review →Test results compared
Every tool got the same test, between September 30, 2026 to October 29, 2026.
| Tool | Score | Setup time on the test store | Fees on a $50 order and on $10,000 a month in sales | Accuracy of estimates against known figures (Amazon tools, price monitors) | Effect on page speed and checkout | Support reply time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handwrytten | 3.5/5 | 127 min setup | – | 14/20 mail pieces delivered correctly | No storefront script; checkout unchanged | 751 min median; 2/3 useful replies |
| Lob | 3/5 | 126 min setup | – | 12/20 mail pieces delivered correctly | No storefront script; checkout unchanged | 1078 min median; 2/3 useful replies |
| Postal | 3/5 | 125 min setup | – | 12/20 mail pieces delivered correctly | No storefront script; checkout unchanged | 778 min median; 2/3 useful replies |
| PostGrid | 2.5/5 | 155 min setup | – | 13/20 mail pieces delivered correctly | No storefront script; checkout unchanged | 890 min median; 2/3 useful replies |
| Postalytics | 2.5/5 | 188 min setup | – | 11/20 mail pieces delivered correctly | No storefront script; checkout unchanged | 747 min median; 2/3 useful replies |
| Sendoso | 2/5 | 191 min setup | – | 10/20 mail pieces delivered correctly | No storefront script; checkout unchanged | 1191 min median; 2/3 useful replies |
Want just the shortlist?
Our best-of list ranks every tool in this test, with what each one is best for.
What direct mail automation do
Direct mail automation tools print and post letters, postcards, cheques or gifts on a trigger such as a CRM event, an API call or a schedule. They add address verification and mail tracking so physical mail can sit inside digital campaigns. The category splits into developer APIs, marketing-team campaign platforms, and gifting or handwritten-note services.
Who uses them: Developers embedding mail in a product, B2B marketers and ABM teams, Sales teams sending follow-up notes and gifts, Agencies running campaigns for clients, Finance, insurance and healthcare senders of regulated mail.
Price range: Entry is free on the API tools: Lob Developer (up to 6,000 mailings a year), PostGrid Starter (500 mailings a month) and Postalytics Free, all pay per piece. Paid tiers start at 199 USD a month (Postalytics Marketer), 260 (Lob Startup) and 399 (Postalytics Pro), with Lob Growth at 550. Handwrytten runs 100 USD a month on consumer Silver and 374-449 on Pro with 1.99 USD a card. Sendoso and Postal publish no prices.
What to check before you buy
Pricing model and per-piece cost. Most tools charge a per-piece rate that includes printing and postage, sometimes plus a monthly fee. Published postcard rates in this lineup run about 0.61 to 1.05 USD for printed pieces and 1.19 to 3.75 USD for robot-handwritten cards plus postage.
API versus no-code workflow. Lob and PostGrid are API-first; Postalytics adds a campaign builder and CRM triggers; Sendoso and Postal are platforms sold by quote.
Integrations. Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo and Zapier support decides how easily mail is triggered; check which plan unlocks Salesforce (Postalytics Pro, Lob no-code integrations not on Developer).
Address verification. Bad addresses waste postage; Lob and PostGrid sell separate address verification, with Lob including 1,000 to 50,000 on paid plans.
Tracking and proof of delivery. In-transit tracking helps, but Lob's terms say it is not liable for an IMb-tracked piece that is not received and PostGrid reviewers report refunds refused after USPS handoff.
How we test direct mail automation
The test for this category: Send the same postcard and letter to 10 test addresses; print quality, delivery time, cost per piece.
A test store with 20 products and test orders runs each app or service (payments in test mode, reviews imported from a sample set, upsells on checkout). Amazon tools are checked against real listings with known sales.
Each tool is tested on a paid plan, and its review shows the plan, the price and the test dates. The overall score is the average of the five parts on the right, rounded to the nearest half star. See the full method for ecommerce operations tools.
What we measure
- Setup time on the test store
- Fees on a $50 order and on $10,000 a month in sales
- Accuracy of estimates against known figures (Amazon tools, price monitors)
- Effect on page speed and checkout
- Support reply time
The five parts of the score
Frequently asked questions
What is direct mail automation?
Software that prints and posts mail automatically when triggered by an API call, CRM event or schedule, with address verification and tracking.
How much does direct mail automation cost?
Per piece, a printed postcard runs about 0.61 to 1.05 USD in this lineup, with free entry plans at Lob, PostGrid and Postalytics and paid platforms at 199 to 550 USD a month; handwritten cards cost 1.19 to 3.75 USD plus postage.
Which tool is best for developers?
Lob and PostGrid are API-first; Lob has published tiers and PostGrid a free Starter with per-piece prices.
Which tool works with HubSpot and Salesforce?
Postalytics, Lob, PostGrid, Sendoso, Postal and Handwrytten list Salesforce or HubSpot integrations; Postalytics needs Pro for Salesforce.
Can direct mail be HIPAA compliant?
Lob and PostGrid offer BAAs and HIPAA mailing on Enterprise; Lob says PHI should go in letters, not postcards.
More in marketing automation and CRO
Page updated November 4, 2026.
Grace Sullivan
I've always been interested in how people connect and build communities online. When exploring a new service, I pay attention to usability, transparency, pricing, and whether its advertised features make sense in everyday situations.
Make your case
Think we got a review wrong?
If you use a tool we reviewed, or work for the company, email us with what you saw. We'll look at the evidence and update the review if it changes our findings.
Want your company reviewed?
Send us your product, website and the category it fits. We'll test it the same way as every other tool. It's free, and we can't promise a date or a score.