John Haywood · founder
I built MailboxCompare while trying to answer a practical question for my wife, Erika, and me: what should we do with our mail if we spend more time away from home?
After losing our dog, Piggles, we began rethinking how we wanted to spend this stage of our lives. We wanted to see more of the world and live more flexibly, but we did not know whether that would mean a month away, several months at a time, or a much longer change.
Before creating MailboxCompare, I spent roughly 15 years working primarily in finance, beginning in consulting and later serving as a chief financial officer. That background shaped how I approach comparisons: look beyond the advertised price, understand the assumptions, identify additional charges and compare the full commitment.
As I researched virtual mailboxes, I kept finding pieces of the answer in different places. A low monthly price did not tell me what scanning would cost, how we would receive an original document, whether we could share an account, or what would happen when we came home. New-subscriber offers, package forwarding and business mail added more questions.
That research grew into MailboxCompare. My goal is to bring the costs, tradeoffs, useful offers and practical details together so other people can make a decision that fits their lives.
My experience is in researching and comparing these services. MailboxCompare identifies published facts, modeled costs, unresolved questions and any firsthand testing separately.
What this research can establish
I compare published prices, plan limits and mail-handling rules against stated needs. A calculated subtotal covers only its specific charges and assumptions. It does not measure delivery reliability, customer support or institutional acceptance. No firsthand subscriber test is claimed for the current guides.
How we compare and qualify results → · Inspect dated sources →
How the site is supported
Some ordinary purchase links are referral links and are identified beside the action. Compensation does not change objective cost calculations or whether a provider meets your requirements. Relevant providers without a paying relationship remain visible.
Commercial disclosure → · Contact the publisher or suggest a correction
Where to start
US mail while traveling → · A short stay or move → · Business correspondence → · Package forwarding →