Ways to send a letter online in Canada
PostPal, Online-Post.ca, Recourse, or doing it yourself with Canada Post — here is how they actually compare, including the things we don't do. Competitor details from their public websites as of June 2026.
| PostPal | Online-Post.ca | Recourse | Do it yourself | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price for a standard letter in Canada | $6 flat — printing, envelope, postage, and mailing included | "From $3 (plus printing fees)" — final total depends on page count | $6.49 all-in | $1.24–$1.44 stamp + envelope + printing + your trip |
| Price shown before you pay | Yes — exact total on the preview step | Printing fees added during ordering | Yes | You do the math |
| Account required | No — send your first letter without signing up | Not stated publicly | Has customer login; see their site | No |
| Attachments / documents | Up to 5 files (PDF, JPG, PNG), 25MB total, up to 100 pages | PDF upload; per-page printing fees | Document upload | Whatever you can print yourself |
| Mailing confirmation | Confirmation of Mailing email with date deposited, recipient, and reference number | Not stated publicly | Online order tracking | None (unless you pay for Registered Mail at a counter) |
| Registered / tracked mail | Registered Mail online — flat $25 add-on ($31 all-in), tracked with optional signature on delivery | Offers Registered Mail and Xpresspost (pricing on their site) | Registered Mail from $21.99 | Registered Mail at a post office counter (registration fee + postage) |
| International destinations | $12 flat to most countries worldwide | Canada, US, and international | Canada-wide (their published wording) | Yes, with international postage rates |
| French service | English and French (site and send flow) | Not found on their site | Not found on their site | Canada Post serves both languages |
| Speed to mailbox | Deposited with Canada Post within 24 hours (business days) | See their service terms | See their service terms | As fast as you can get to a mailbox |
Sources: each provider's public website, June 2026. Canada Post stamp prices from canadapost-postescanada.ca. Prices and features change — confirm on the provider's site before ordering. Online-Post and Recourse are trademarks of their respective owners; PostPal is not affiliated with either.
The honest summary
Choose PostPal if you want one flat, all-in price shown before you pay, no account, bilingual service, and a Confirmation of Mailing for your records — especially for government forms, tax documents, and official letters. Need proof of delivery? Add Registered Mail online for a flat $25 ($31 all-in), tracked with an optional signature on delivery.
Choose Online-Post.ca or a post office if you need Xpresspost or a courier-speed option with guaranteed delivery dates — we focus on regular and Registered letter mail, not expedited parcels, and we'd rather tell you that than have you find out later.
Do it yourself if you own a printer, have stamps and envelopes on hand, and the trip to a mailbox is no trouble — it's the cheapest option at $1.24 per stamp.
Common questions
What is the cheapest way to send a letter online in Canada?
For a short letter, advertised base prices are similar: Online-Post.ca advertises "from $3 plus printing fees," Recourse charges $6.49 all-in, and PostPal charges $6 flat with printing, envelope, and postage included. For multi-page documents, compare final totals — PostPal includes your first 7 pages in the $6 base price and always shows the exact total before payment.
Is it cheaper to mail a letter myself?
A booklet stamp is $1.24 ($1.44 for a single stamp), so DIY is cheaper if you already own a printer, envelopes, and stamps and don't mind the trip. Most people use an online service when they have no printer, are short on time, or are away from home — the $6 covers the printer ink, envelope, stamp, and the walk to the mailbox.
Can I send Registered Mail online in Canada?
Yes. PostPal now sends Canada Post Registered Mail entirely online — choose Registered Mail on the send page and we print, mail, and register your letter, then email you the tracking number within 2–3 business days, with an optional signature on delivery. It is a flat $25 add-on on top of the $6 letter ($31 all-in) and covers domestic mail within Canada. Recourse offers an online registered option from $21.99 and Online-Post.ca also lists Registered Mail. If you only need to show you mailed something, our free Confirmation of Mailing (date deposited, recipient, and reference) is included with every letter.
Which service should I use to mail something to the CRA?
Any service that deposits your letter with Canada Post works for CRA mail — the CRA treats a paper return as filed on its postmark date. PostPal mails within 24 hours on business days and publishes a free directory of verified CRA tax centre addresses, so your return goes to the right tax centre the first time.
Are these comparisons up to date?
Competitor details were taken from each provider's public website as of June 2026 and may change. Always check their sites for current pricing. If you spot something outdated here, email [email protected] and we will correct it.
Looking for a specific mailing address? Browse our verified directory of government mailing addresses.
Ready to mail it?
Upload your document or write your letter — $6 flat, mailed within 24 hours, no account needed.