Answers to the most common questions developers ask about our mail automation platform.
What is Postally?
Postally is a Canadian direct mail API platform that lets developers send postcards programmatically with a single REST API call. Postally handles printing, postage, and delivery automatically. It is built in British Columbia, Canada and prices in CAD.
How much does it cost to send mail with Postally?
Postally offers prepaid credits with volume-based pricing for API users, or pay-per-order via Stripe Checkout for dashboard campaigns. No monthly fees or contracts. The more you send, the lower your per-piece cost across 4 volume tiers. Test mode is completely free with no charges.
How do I send a postcard via API?
Send a POST request to https://api.postally.ca/v1/postcards/create with your API key, recipient address, and a template ID or PDF URL. Postally renders the postcard, queues it for printing, and delivers it. Track status via webhooks or the dashboard.
Is Postally a good alternative to Lob or PostGrid?
Yes. Postally is a Canadian-built alternative to Lob and PostGrid with similar REST API capabilities for direct mail automation. Postally supports postcards with pay-as-you-go CAD pricing, SmartyStreets address verification, and privacy-law architecture (GDPR, PIPEDA, CCPA).
Does Postally verify mailing addresses?
Yes. Postally includes SmartyStreets-powered address verification for US and international addresses. Addresses are validated before mail is sent, reducing undeliverable mail and wasted postage.
What privacy and security architecture does Postally have?
Postally implements AES-256-GCM encryption at rest, GDPR data rights (erasure, access, export), an immutable audit log with WORM storage via S3 Object Lock, role-based access control with four-tier PHI access levels for sensitive data, PCI DSS SAQ A via Stripe, and PIPEDA/CCPA privacy compliance. Postally is not currently HIPAA-certified or SOC 2-audited. If you handle Protected Health Information or have specific compliance requirements, contact support@postally.ca to discuss your needs.
Can I track mail delivery and recipient engagement?
Yes. Postally provides HMAC-signed webhook notifications for mail status changes (printed, shipped, delivered) and built-in QR code scan tracking with geographic analytics. Integrate with Zapier or Make.com for automated workflows triggered by mail events.
Does Postally integrate with Zapier and Make.com?
Yes. Postally offers native Zapier and Make.com integration with 5 triggers and 5 actions. Trigger direct mail from form submissions, CRM events, e-commerce orders, or any of 5,000+ connected apps — no code required.
Can I use Postally with Shopify for abandoned cart recovery?
Yes. Postally integrates with Shopify via inbound triggers (webhooks). Configure Shopify to send checkout events to your Postally trigger URL, map the Shopify address fields to Postally recipient fields, and Postally will automatically send a postcard to shoppers who abandon their cart. You can also use Zapier or Make.com for a no-code setup. See our Shopify Integration Guide for step-by-step instructions.