How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- PostcardMania suits most small businesses that want postcards plus digital follow up in one campaign.
- Lob and Postalytics suit teams that want automated mail triggered from a CRM or app.
- Vistaprint, PsPrint, and NextDayFlyers suit businesses that mainly need printing and mailing at a clear per piece price.
- Gunderson Direct suits companies that want an agency to run strategy, creative, and mailing end to end.
- List quality, tracking, and postage often matter more than the print price alone.
Quick comparison
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We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best direct mail marketing companies
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
PostcardMania is the most complete starting point for a small or mid sized business that wants direct mail without managing separate vendors. It handles design, printing, mailing lists, Every Door Direct Mail, and coordinated digital ads that follow up with people who received a postcard. That combination helps local services, real estate, dental, and home services businesses that rely on neighborhood reach.
Pricing depends on quantity, format, list, and digital add ons, so get a quote for your exact campaign rather than comparing a single postcard price. The service suits businesses that want guidance on offer, design, and targeting, not just a print order. If you only need 100 postcards printed, a simpler print shop may be cheaper, but for an ongoing campaign, PostcardMania's bundled approach is hard to beat.
What we like- Postcards, mailing lists, EDDM, and digital ads in one campaign
- Large case study library
- Automated mailing options
Watch out for- Full service pricing is higher than print only shops
- Best value comes with larger campaigns
#2Vistaprint
Best for: Postcard designs and printing4.2/5 on
G2 (429 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit vistaprint.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Vistaprint is best known for business cards, but its postcard range is the reason it belongs here. Hundreds of templates cover restaurants, salons, clinics, real estate, and events, and the online editor lets a non designer produce a clean card quickly. Upload your own design if you want full control, or start from a template and adjust colors, photos, and text.
Mailing is available, but Vistaprint is primarily a print company, so businesses that need list building, targeting strategy, and campaign tracking may need extra help. It fits occasional mailings, event announcements, and businesses that already have a mailing list and just need quality printing at a competitive price. Watch paper stock, finish, and quantity discounts, because those choices affect both cost and response.
What we like- Huge postcard design library
- Easy online design tools
- Frequent discounts on print orders
Watch out for- Mailing services are thinner than specialist mail houses
- Design quality depends on template choice
#3PsPrint
Best for: Wide format variety4.1/5 on
G2 (10 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit psprint.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
PsPrint suits businesses that need more than a standard postcard. Brochures, tri folds, catalogs, menus, and oversized mailers all sit in the same catalog, which helps companies that mail different formats through the year. Custom sizes and paper options let a premium brand stand out in a mailbox full of standard cards, and direct mailing services handle addressing and postage for many formats.
Strategy support is thinner than at an agency, so you should arrive with a list, an offer, and a design direction. PsPrint fits marketing teams and print buyers who know what they want and value format choice and print quality. For a first campaign with no list or creative, pair PsPrint with a designer or choose a full service provider instead.
What we like- Postcards, brochures, flyers, booklets, and envelopes
- Custom sizes and paper stocks
- Direct mailing options
Watch out for- Less campaign strategy support than full service agencies
- Pricing varies by format and quantity
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Gunderson Direct is an agency, not a print shop, and the difference shows in how campaigns are planned. The team handles audience data, creative, printing, mailing, and response tracking as one program, with testing to improve results over time. That end to end model suits companies that mail at scale, run multi drop campaigns, or need direct mail tied to broader marketing goals.
Costs reflect agency service, so a business mailing a few hundred pieces once may find print only options cheaper. Gunderson Direct fits when direct mail is a core channel, when list quality and creative testing drive results, or when an internal team lacks time to manage vendors. Ask about minimums, reporting, and how results are measured before signing, because agency value depends on clear targets.
What we like- Agency run strategy, creative, printing, and mailing
- Data and list expertise
- Testing and optimization
Watch out for- Agency pricing suits larger budgets
- Less suited to a single small print order
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
PrintingForLess, also known as PFL, has built a reputation with local and regional businesses that want to reach nearby households. Every Door Direct Mail support helps restaurants, clinics, and service companies blanket a ZIP code or carrier route without buying a named list. Targeted mailing options add demographic and geographic filters for businesses that need a narrower audience.
The service is practical rather than flashy. You get solid printing, mailing support, and local targeting, but less of the multi channel campaign machinery of PostcardMania or the agency strategy of Gunderson Direct. For a local business running its first EDDM campaign or a regular neighborhood mailing, PrintingForLess is a straightforward and credible choice.
What we like- EDDM and targeted mailing support
- Local business focus
- Print and mail in one order
Watch out for- Smaller national agency footprint than larger competitors
- Design help is more limited
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
NextDayFlyers earns its place on speed. When an event, sale, or opening date leaves little time, fast printing and shipping can decide whether a mailing happens at all. The catalog covers postcards, flyers, brochures, banners, and other print needs, so a business can order a full event kit from one vendor. Pricing is competitive for rush work, though expedited shipping should be factored into the total.
Mailing strategy is not the core offer, so businesses that need list building and campaign planning should look elsewhere or add a mail house. NextDayFlyers fits teams with a design and list ready, a tight deadline, and a clear mail date. Order early when possible, because even fast printing cannot fix a late design or an unclean list.
What we like- Very fast print turnaround
- Wide product range
- Competitive pricing for rush orders
Watch out for- Rush shipping costs add up
- Mailing and strategy services are less central
#7Lob
Best for: Automated mail API4.4/5 on
G2 (281 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit lob.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Lob is built for software teams and operations teams that want mail to happen automatically. Through an API, a CRM, billing system, or app can trigger a letter or postcard when a customer signs up, misses a payment, or reaches a milestone. Address verification reduces returned mail, and tracking shows delivery status in a dashboard or webhook. That automation suits SaaS companies, insurers, lenders, and large service businesses.
Lob is not a creative agency. You supply templates and logic, and Lob handles printing, addressing, and delivery. Small businesses without developer resources will find a platform such as Postalytics or PostcardMania easier. For teams that already automate email and SMS, adding Lob brings direct mail into the same triggered workflow with similar measurement.
What we like- Developer API for letters and postcards
- Address verification
- Tracking and automation at scale
Watch out for- Needs developer time or integration help
- Not a design or strategy agency
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Postalytics bridges the gap between a print shop and a developer API. It connects to CRMs such as HubSpot, so a sales or marketing team can trigger postcards and letters from workflows without writing code. Templates, personalization, and tracking are built in, which helps teams measure which mail pieces drive replies, calls, or conversions. That CRM link is the main reason to choose Postalytics over a generic printer.
Pricing includes platform fees on some plans, so one off mailers may pay more than at a print shop. The value grows with automation volume, because each triggered mailing saves manual work and keeps timing consistent. Postalytics fits B2B and service businesses already running a CRM, where mail is part of a lifecycle campaign rather than a single blast.
What we like- Direct mail triggered from HubSpot and other CRMs
- Templates and tracking
- No developer API required for many setups
Watch out for- Monthly platform fees on some plans
- Best value for CRM users rather than one off mailers
How we chose
We compared full service agencies, print and mail houses, and automated mail platforms, because direct mail buyers range from a local shop mailing 500 postcards to a SaaS company triggering thousands of letters. We checked each provider for current services, mailing options, list and EDDM support, tracking, and pricing transparency. Where pricing depends on quantity, format, and postage, we wrote See website rather than publishing a single piece price that would mislead a different campaign.
Running a campaign that gets replies
Direct mail works when the list, offer, and creative align. A beautiful card sent to the wrong households wastes money, while a plain card with a strong offer to the right list can perform well. Start small, measure, and expand what works rather than mailing your full budget on a first test.
List first, design second
Define who should receive the mail by geography, household traits, purchase history, or business type. Clean the list for duplicates and bad addresses, and suppress existing customers if the goal is new business. A smaller, accurate list usually beats a large, stale one.
Offer and call to action
Give one clear reason to respond, such as a discount, a free consultation, or an event invitation, with one simple next step. QR codes, unique phone numbers, and campaign specific landing pages help you attribute replies to the mailing. Avoid crowding the card with three offers and five contact methods.
Test, then scale
Mail a test batch, track response rate and cost per lead, and adjust headline, offer, or audience before scaling. Test one variable at a time, such as offer versus audience, so you know what changed the result. Keep postage, printing, list, and design costs in the cost per lead math, not just the print price.
Frequently asked questions
How much does direct mail cost per piece?
Per piece cost varies by format, quantity, paper, printing, list, and postage, so a single national figure would mislead. Small postcard runs cost more per piece than large runs, and EDDM can lower postage costs for local saturation mailings. Get a quote for your exact quantity and format, and compare total cost including postage.
What is the best direct mail company for small businesses?
PostcardMania is the best all round pick for most small businesses, because it bundles design, lists, printing, mailing, and digital follow up. Vistaprint suits businesses that only need printing, while PrintingForLess suits local EDDM campaigns. Choose by whether you need strategy help or just print and mail.
Can direct mail be automated?
Yes. Lob automates mail through an API for software teams, while Postalytics triggers mail from CRM workflows without custom code. Automated mail suits welcome kits, renewal reminders, win back campaigns, and payment notices. One off promotions may be cheaper through a print and mail house.
Is direct mail still effective in 2026?
Direct mail remains effective for local services, real estate, healthcare, and high value B2B outreach, especially when paired with digital follow up. Response depends on list quality, offer strength, and creative clarity, not on mail alone. Test a small campaign and measure cost per lead before judging the channel.
What is EDDM?
Every Door Direct Mail is a USPS service that lets businesses mail to every address on a carrier route without buying a named list. It suits local businesses targeting a neighborhood or ZIP code, such as restaurants, clinics, and home services. EDDM lowers list costs, but it cannot target by name, age, or income within the route.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.postcardmania.com
- https://www.vistaprint.com
- https://www.psprint.com
- https://www.gundersondirect.com
- https://www.printingforless.com
- https://www.nextdayflyers.com
- https://www.lob.com
- https://www.postalytics.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
PostcardMania
Gunderson Direct
PrintingForLess
NextDayFlyers
Postalytics