Platform Comparison
The Best Platform for Running a Snail Mail Club
Running a recurring snail mail subscription is different from running a digital membership or an online store. Most platforms manage subscriptions. Posthouse manages the mailing cycle.
The real difference is clarity
When you run a snail mail club, the biggest question every month is simple:
“Who gets mail this month?”
On general platforms
You export all the data and interpret it.
On Posthouse
You log in and it’s clear. Here’s your batch.
Same goal. Only one makes it obvious.
Platform comparison for snail mail clubs
A high-level comparison specifically for recurring physical mail subscriptions.
| What matters for a snail mail club | Posthouse | Patreon | Shopify | Squarespace | Ko-fi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built specifically for snail mail clubs | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Automatic monthly cutoff enforcement | Built in | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual |
| Clear "who gets mail this month" view | One-click batch | CSV filtering | Order filtering | Manual | Manual |
| Automatic batch generation | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Late payment clarity (after cutoff) | Clearly surfaced | Manual checking | Manual checking | Manual | Manual |
| Batch-only address export (only members who get mail) | CSV + card view | Full CSV, you filter | Full CSV, you filter | Full CSV, you filter | Full CSV, you filter |
| Self-service address updates for members | Built in | Message the artist | Contact store owner | No | No |
| Domestic + international pricing per tier | Native | Workaround | App-based | Limited | Limited |
| Platform fee | 3% | ~8–12% | Plan + apps | Plan + fees | 5% |
Most general platforms give you subscriber data. Posthouse gives you a mailing system.
What it actually feels like
Three platforms. Three very different experiences.
On Patreon
Membership platform
- You set a mentally set a cutoff date
- You export a spreadsheet
- You filter for active subscribers.
- You remove failed payments.
- You check again for late recoveries.
- You cross your fingers no one slips through.
Patreon doesn't generate a mailing batch. You do.
On Shopify
E-commerce platform
- You create a storefront.
- You install a subscription app.
- You configure shipping rules.
- You manually track cutoff dates.
- You filter orders each month.
- You export addresses manually.
Shopify treats subscriptions like product orders. It doesn't understand recurring mail cycles.
On Posthouse
Built for snail mail clubs
- You set your cutoff once.
- The system enforces it automatically.
- Monthly batches generate themselves.
- You see exactly who qualifies.
- Failed payments update automatically.
- Late recoveries are clearly surfaced.
- Export clean addresses or flip through card view.
You're not interpreting data. You're mailing with certainty.
Which platform should you use?
Posthouse
is best for
- Recurring snail mail clubs
- Monthly art envelopes
- Handwritten mailing workflows
- Creators who don't want spreadsheets
Patreon
is best for
- Digital memberships
- Community content
- Video or podcast creators
Shopify
is best for
- Online stores
- One-off physical products
- Inventory-heavy businesses
Squarespace
is best for
- Portfolio sites
- Light e-commerce
Ko-fi
is best for
- Tips
- Lightweight support memberships
Moving to Posthouse
Switching doesn't have to be chaotic.
Estimated migration time: ~15 minutes
Export your list
Download your subscriber CSV from Patreon, Shopify, or your current platform.
Import to Posthouse
Upload your list and send invite emails in one click.
Connect payouts
Securely connect your bank via Stripe.
Set your cutoff
Define your monthly mailing logic once. Posthouse handles the rest.
Good to know: Subscriptions belong to the platform they were created on and can't be auto-transferred. Most artists run both platforms during the transition. Because Posthouse's fee is lower, many break even — or earn more — even before every member switches.
Frequently asked questions
If you run a recurring physical mail club with monthly cutoffs, Posthouse is the only platform designed specifically for that workflow — including batch generation, address clarity, and failed payment handling.
On most platforms, you keep the cutoff date in your head and enforce it manually. On Posthouse, you set your cutoff once. Each month, the system automatically determines who qualifies based on payment timing and status. No filtering. No double-checking.
Stripe retries failed payments automatically. On Posthouse: • If payment fails before cutoff, the subscriber is excluded. • If it recovers before cutoff, they're added back in. • If it recovers after cutoff, it's clearly flagged so you know to send their mail. You never have to manually remove or re-add someone.
Yes. Posthouse supports multiple tiers with separate pricing, subscriber limits, and domestic/international pricing per tier — built directly into the subscription logic.
Yes. Many artists use: • Shopify for one-off product sales • Posthouse specifically for recurring mail subscriptions Or they run Patreon temporarily during migration. There's no conflict.
Built for this
Snail mail clubs aren't digital memberships.
They're recurring physical workflows. They require enforced cutoffs, batch certainty, address confidence, late payment visibility, and clear communication.
Posthouse was built for that.
Start your mail club with certainty