Pick by what you're actually receiving.
Both services give you a US address. They diverge on what you do with that address. If you're an international shopper buying from US retailers, the math on a virtual mailbox usually doesn't make sense — they're priced for businesses receiving daily mail, not shoppers receiving 1-3 packages a year.
What each service is built for
The monthly subscription compounds.
Virtual mailboxes charge whether mail arrives or not. For shoppers who ship a few packages a year, that's a lot of monthly fee for not much use.
- iPostal1 Basic: $9.99/mo × 12 = $119.88
- Anytime Mailbox: $9.99-19.99/mo × 12 = $120-240
- Earth Class Mail: from $19/mo × 12 = $228
- + per-package handling fees on top
- $0 to join, no monthly fee
- 3 × $14.99 = $44.97 only when you ship
- Free repack typically saves another $40-100 per shipment
- Pay zero in months you ship nothing
Virtual mailboxes don't even think about repack.
A virtual mailbox might forward your package — but it'll go out in the original US-store box. Selectido shrinks every parcel to true dimensions before forwarding, which is where the real savings live on international shipping.
Big box, small bill. We shrink it down.
Typical save: a 24×24×24 box from Target with 4 small items, repacked to 14×10×10. FedEx Ground international drops from ~$160 to ~$60.
Virtual mailbox vs Selectido
Cost and capability for the international shopping use case specifically.
One flat fee. Only when something ships.
No subscription means no charges in months you don't use the service. For shoppers ordering a handful of times a year, that's hundreds saved vs a virtual mailbox.
- $0 to join, no annual or monthly fee
- 60 days free storage at the Minneapolis hub
- Free repack to true dimensions on every parcel
- Hand-check + photo of every inbound package
- Customs paperwork included (CN-22 / CN-23)
- Live US shoppers when stores won't accept third-party addresses
- Pick your carrier — USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, or Aramex
Questions, answered
What's the difference between a virtual mailbox and a forwarding suite?
A virtual mailbox (iPostal1, Anytime Mailbox, Earth Class Mail) is designed for business mail and document handling — they scan letters, deposit checks, and provide a real street address for legal use. They charge a monthly subscription ($10-30) and often handle packages poorly or charge extra. Selectido is purpose-built for international package shoppers — receive parcels from any US retailer, hand-check + photograph them, repack to true dimensions for free, and ship overseas via your choice of carrier.
Do virtual mailbox services forward packages internationally?
Some do, but it's not their core focus. Most virtual mailbox services charge extra package handling fees, limit package size, and don't offer repack or carrier comparison. Selectido is built around packages — no monthly fee, $14.99 flat per outbound shipment, free repack saving up to 60% on the carrier bill.
Is Selectido cheaper than a virtual mailbox?
Yes for shoppers. iPostal1 starts at $10/month, Anytime Mailbox $9.99/month, Earth Class Mail $19/month — all charged whether you receive anything or not. Selectido is $0/month, $14.99 only when something ships. For shoppers receiving 1-3 packages a year, Selectido is dramatically cheaper. For business mail handling, a virtual mailbox is the right tool.
Can I use Selectido as a business address for legal mail?
No — Selectido is purpose-built for shopping packages, not legal mail or business registration. If you need a real street address for business mail, document scanning, or check deposit, use a virtual mailbox service. If you need to receive shopping packages from US stores and ship them internationally, that's exactly what we do.