Short answer: A virtual PO box is a mailbox at a real street address that receives your mail and packages, scans every letter and puts it online, so you read your mail from anywhere. BusinessAnywhere’s virtual PO box costs from $20 a month billed annually, with unlimited scanning, at any of 31 street addresses in 21 states and Washington, DC.
Key Takeaways
- A virtual PO box gives you a commercial street address with a suite number, not a USPS PO Box number.
- Every letter is opened, scanned and in your online dashboard within 2 business days.
- It receives packages from USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL and Amazon, which a USPS PO Box does not without Street Addressing.
- BusinessAnywhere plans cost $20, $30 or $65 a month billed annually, with unlimited mail and unlimited scanning on every plan.
- USPS requires PS Form 1583 before any mail center can receive mail for you.
What Is a Virtual PO Box?
A virtual PO box, also called a virtual mailbox, online PO box or digital mailbox, is a mail service run from a commercial street address. The mail center receives your letters and packages, scans each envelope and its contents, and uploads the scans to an online dashboard. You decide online whether to forward, store or shred each item.
It is not a USPS PO Box. A USPS PO Box is a locked box inside a Post Office that you visit in person. A virtual PO box is a private mailbox at a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA), with an address in the format “Street, Suite number, City, State ZIP”. Learn more about how PO boxes work.
How a Virtual PO Box Works
- Your mail arrives at your street address under your suite and client number.
- The mail center opens and scans it. Every envelope and its contents are scanned and uploaded within 2 business days, and you get an email.
- You read it online on your phone or computer, from any country.
- You choose what happens next. Forward the original to any address in the world, keep it in storage or have it shredded.
See how the mail scanning service handles every letter.
Virtual PO Box vs. USPS PO Box
| Feature | Virtual PO box | USPS PO Box |
|---|---|---|
| Address | Real street address with a suite number | PO Box number at a Post Office |
| Read mail from anywhere | Yes, every letter scanned online | No, you collect it in person |
| Packages from UPS, FedEx and DHL | Yes | Only with Street Addressing, where offered |
| Forwarding | On request, to almost any country | Change of address only |
| Cost | From $20 a month billed annually at BusinessAnywhere | About $5 to $113 a month, by size and Post Office |
| Registered agent address for an LLC | No, a registered agent is a separate service | No |
| Pickup | Not needed | In person during lobby hours |
For USPS prices by size, see how much a PO Box costs.
Virtual PO Box Plans and Prices
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Mail recipients |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $20 a month | $25 a month | Up to 2 |
| Premium | $30 a month | $40 a month | Up to 5 |
| Advanced | $65 a month | $85 a month | Up to 20 |
Monthly plans carry a one-time $25 sign-up fee. Annual plans have no sign-up fee. Every plan includes unlimited incoming mail and packages, unlimited scanning, 30 days of free physical storage, free shredding and junk mail filtering, and worldwide forwarding for $2 plus postage.
What a Virtual PO Box Really Costs
A low starting price does not tell you what you pay. Most virtual PO box services cap the mail items in each plan and charge for every letter they open and scan. This table shows those extra fees.
| Provider | Starting price | Mail items included | Each extra mail item | Each open and scan | Forwarding handling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BusinessAnywhere | $20 a month billed annually | Unlimited | $0 | $0, unlimited scanning | $2 per shipment |
| iPostal1 | $9.99 a month (Green) | 30 | $0.35 | $2.25 per letter, or $1.50 with a prepaid bundle | Not published |
| Anytime Mailbox | $9.99 a month (Bronze) | 30 | $0.35 | $0.25 per page after 10 pages a month | $3 per shipment |
| PostScan Mail | $8.33 a month billed annually (Starter) | 30 | $0.50 | $2 per letter (up to 10 pages) | $2 per shipment plus $0.50 per extra item |
| Traveling Mailbox | $15 a month (Basic) | 40 envelopes | $0.25 | $0.50 per page after 35 pages a month | $2 per shipment |
| US Global Mail | $49 a month (Scale) | Not stated | Not stated | $3 per letter after 30 a month | Not published |
Here is the total for a typical small business: 40 letters a month, every letter opened and scanned (3 pages on average) and one forwarding shipment a month. Each provider is priced on its lowest-cost plan for that volume. Postage is excluded for every provider.
| Provider | Plan used | Extra fees a month | Total a month | Total a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BusinessAnywhere | Basic, $20 billed annually | $2 forwarding | $22.00 | $264 |
| Anytime Mailbox | Silver, $13.75 billed annually (15 pages included) | $26.25 page scans | $40.00 | $480 |
| Traveling Mailbox | Extended, $20.83 billed annually (80 pages included) | $20 page scans, $2 forwarding | $42.83 | $514 |
| PostScan Mail | Premium, $25 billed annually (20 scans included) | $40 scans, $2 forwarding | $67.00 | $804 |
| iPostal1 | Green, $8.25 billed annually | $60 scans, $3.50 extra mail, forwarding not published | $71.75 or more | $861 or more |
| US Global Mail | Scale, $49 (30 scans a month included) | $30 scans, forwarding not published | $79.00 or more | $948 or more |
iPostal1, Anytime Mailbox and US Global Mail prices vary by location, so the figures above use each one’s lowest advertised price. Anytime Mailbox figures use its location in Casper, Wyoming. Prices were checked on each provider’s pricing page on November 13, 2026.
Virtual PO Box Locations
BusinessAnywhere has 31 street addresses in 21 states and Washington, DC, all at the same price. Pick the city that fits your customers, your bank or the state where your LLC is formed. Compare every virtual mailbox location, or see the addresses in Texas, Florida, California, New Mexico and Wyoming.
Who Uses a Virtual PO Box
- LLC owners who want a business mailing address that keeps their home address off invoices and public records. Read about a virtual address for an LLC.
- Founders outside the US who need to read IRS letters, bank mail and state notices from abroad. See international mail forwarding.
- Digital nomads and RV travelers who need one fixed address while they move. Compare the best virtual mailbox for digital nomads.
- Real estate investors who keep each property LLC’s mail in one place. See the virtual mailbox for real estate investors.
How to Get a Virtual PO Box
- Choose a location and a plan. Sign up online and add each person or business that will receive mail.
- Complete USPS PS Form 1583. USPS requires this form before a mail center can receive mail for you. Each applicant shows a current photo ID and a current ID that shows their address (USPS PS Form 1583). Use the online notary service for $37, or upload a form you notarized yourself. See the USPS Form 1583 guide.
- Point your mail to the new address. File a USPS change of address from your old address, and give the new address to the IRS, your bank and your contacts. Here is how to forward mail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a virtual PO box?
A virtual PO box is a mail service at a real street address that receives your mail and packages, scans every letter and lets you read, forward or shred it online from anywhere.
How much does a virtual PO box cost?
BusinessAnywhere plans cost $20, $30 or $65 a month billed annually, or $25, $40 or $85 a month billed monthly with a one-time $25 sign-up fee. Scanning is unlimited on every plan, and forwarding costs $2 per shipment plus postage.
Is a virtual PO box a real address?
Yes. A BusinessAnywhere virtual PO box is a commercial street address with a suite number and your client number. It is not a USPS PO Box number.
Is a virtual PO box the same as a USPS PO Box?
No. A USPS PO Box is a locked box inside a Post Office that you visit in person. A virtual PO box is a street address at a mail center that scans your mail and puts it online.
Can a virtual PO box receive packages?
Yes. It receives packages from USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL and Amazon, and you forward them anywhere on request.
Can I use a virtual PO box for my LLC?
Yes, as your business mailing address on your website, invoices, bank and IRS forms. Every state also requires a registered agent with a physical address in the state to accept legal documents, which is a separate service. BusinessAnywhere offers registered agent service for $147 a year.
Can I get a free virtual PO box?
BusinessAnywhere has no free plan. Read what to watch for with free virtual business addresses before you choose one.
How do I get a virtual PO box?
Choose a location and a plan, complete USPS PS Form 1583 with 2 forms of ID, then file a change of address to your new street address. You start receiving scans once your form is approved.
Get Your Virtual PO Box
Get a real street address, read every letter online and receive packages from every carrier, from $20 a month.
