A PO box alternative is any address that receives your mail without a Post Office box. The main options are a USPS PO Box with Street Addressing, a private mailbox (PMB) at a mail center, and a virtual mailbox that adds online scanning and forwarding. Most PO box alternatives give you a real street address.
Why look for an alternative to a PO box?
A PO box works well for letters. Its limits show up with packages and with forms that ask for a street address.
- Address format: a standard United States Postal Service (USPS) PO Box address is "PO Box" plus a number, not a street address.
- Private carriers: USPS itself notes that some private carriers require a street address, and that some merchants do not ship to PO Box addresses.
- Access: you collect your mail in person, when your Post Office lobby is open.
- Distance: if you travel or live abroad, you cannot see what arrived until you open the box.
What are the main PO box alternatives?
| Option | Address you get | Run by | Form 1583 (US) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS PO Box with Street Addressing | Post Office street address + # and box number | USPS | Not required | Keeping a USPS box and receiving private carrier packages |
| Private mailbox (PMB) at a mail center | Mail center street address + PMB or # and box number | A private business (a CMRA in the US) | Required | A street address you collect in person |
| Virtual mailbox | Same PMB street address, plus an online account | A mail center, with an online platform | Required | Travelers, expats and anyone who wants to see their mail remotely |
| A friend's or relative's address | Their street address | You and them | Not applicable | Short periods, low mail volume |
USPS PO Box with Street Addressing
At some Premium PO Box Service locations, USPS lets you write the street address of the Post Office followed by # and your box number. This lets private carriers such as UPS, FedEx, DHL or Amazon deliver to your box. It is not offered at every location, and it requires a signed customer agreement.
Private mailbox (PMB) at a mail center
A mail center or pack-and-ship store rents you a box at its own street address. In the United States, these businesses are registered with USPS as a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA). You file USPS Form 1583, and the mail center receives your mail and packages for you.
Virtual mailbox
A virtual mailbox is a private mailbox with an online account on top. The mail center logs each item it receives, and you decide what happens next from your phone or computer.
Is a PMB the same as a PO box?
No. A PO Box is a box inside a Post Office, run by USPS. A PMB is a box at a private business. Your address is the business's street address plus "PMB" or "#" and your number. See how to write a PMB address for the exact format. Another difference: if a letter goes missing, you contact the mail center, not USPS.
Is a virtual mailbox a PO box?
No. A virtual mailbox uses a street address at a mail center, not a Post Office box. What makes it "virtual" is the online account: you see each envelope or package and request an action, such as open and scan, forwarding, pickup or shredding, depending on your plan.
YogoMailbox is a virtual mailbox platform that gives you a real street address at a local mail center in Canada or the United States, with mail scanning and forwarding.
What should you compare between providers?
- Location: the street address should be in the city or country where you need it.
- Included actions: how many scans, forwards and pickups the plan includes, and the fee for each extra one.
- Identity checks: a US mailbox requires USPS Form 1583 with two current IDs. Our help page What is USPS Form 1583? explains the form.
- Recipients: who else can receive mail at the box, such as family members or a business name.
- Total cost: compare the monthly and yearly price. Prices vary by mail center.
For a side by side view of a virtual mailbox and a USPS PO Box, see how YogoMailbox compares.
What about PO box alternatives in Canada?
In Canada, Canada Post rents Postal Boxes at post offices for 3 months, 6 months or 1 year. You need government-issued photo ID, and you keep the same PO address when you move. The private alternative is a mailbox at a local mail center, which gives you a civic street address. USPS Form 1583 applies only to mailboxes in the United States.
FAQ
Can UPS or FedEx deliver to a PO box?
Only where USPS offers Street Addressing. At those Premium PO Box Service locations, you use the Post Office street address followed by # and your box number, and private carriers can deliver to it. A mail center address works with private carriers because it is already a street address.
Do I need USPS Form 1583 for a private mailbox?
Yes, for a mailbox in the United States. Each adult files one form with two current IDs and signs it in the presence of the mail center or a notary. A mailbox in Canada does not need Form 1583.
Do I keep the same address if I move?
Yes, as long as you keep the box. A PMB or virtual mailbox address belongs to the mail center, not to your home, so moving does not change it.
Get a street address instead of a PO box
Compare mail centers and plans on the YogoMailbox pricing page, then sign up online.
Sources
- USPS PostalPro: Premium PO Box Service Street Addressing
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 508, section 1.8: Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies
- USPS FAQ: Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA)
- Canada Post: Rent a post office box
Last updated: 30/10/2026