Mango PostalHow to Send a Postcard Online in Canada and the US
You don't need a stamp, a printer, or a trip to the post office. You need a photo, a few lines, and an address.
Sending a text takes three seconds, and the person reading it forgets it about as fast. A postcard sits on a fridge for years. That's the whole case for mail, and it's why "send a postcard online" has quietly become a thing: you design it on your phone, and a real card turns up in someone's mailbox a few days later.
This guide walks through how online postcard services work, what to look for, and exactly how to send one with Mango Postal.
How online postcards work
An online postcard service takes care of everything between your idea and the mailbox:
- You design it in a browser: pick images, write a message, enter the recipient's address.
- They print it on real card stock.
- They mail it through the national postal service, with postage paid.
You never touch a stamp. The recipient gets physical mail with your photos and your words on it, which is a very different feeling from a notification.
Step by step: sending one with Mango Postal
Mango Postal runs in your phone or laptop browser. There's no app to install and no account to create.
1. Add your images
Open mangopostal.com and put at least one image on the picture side of the card. You can add several, then move, resize and layer them however you like. Your camera roll is fair game: a trip photo, a screenshot of a group chat, your dog mid-sneeze.
2. Write your message
Flip the card over and write something. You choose a pen for it, from a loopy felt tip to a clacky typewriter, so it reads like you wrote it by hand. A message is required: a postcard without one is just a photo.
3. Enter the addresses
Add the recipient's address and your return address. Mango Postal checks the format as you type, so you can't accidentally send a card to a postal code that doesn't exist.
4. Pay and you're done
Checkout happens in a popup, by card or wallet. Payments go straight to Stripe, so your card details never touch our servers. You'll see the full price, including shipping and tax, before you pay.
Then you wait. We print your postcard on glossy, thick white 4×6″ stock, tuck it into a free premium envelope, and mail it.
You can leave and come back. Your postcard saves on your device as you work, so if you close the tab halfway through, it's still there when you return.
How long it takes to arrive
Every order is printed, addressed and mailed within 1 to 2 business days. After that, it's in the postal service's hands:
| Sending to | Delivery after it ships |
|---|---|
| Ontario | About 3 days |
| Rest of Canada | About 5 days |
| United States | About 7 days, depending on the state |
For a birthday or anniversary, order about 10 days ahead for Canada and two weeks ahead for the US. Postcards are cheap to send early and impossible to send late.
Tips for a postcard people keep
- Pick a photo with a story. A blurry picture from a night you both remember beats a perfect landscape.
- Keep the message short. Three honest sentences land better than a paragraph.
- Name a specific memory. "Remember the parking lot fries?" does more than "miss you."
- Send it for no reason. Birthday cards are expected. A random Tuesday postcard is a surprise.
- Be a little chaotic. Mailing a friend their own worst photo is a time-honoured tradition.
Your turn
Design a postcard in a couple of minutes. We'll print it and mail it for you.
Make a postcardFAQ
How long does a postcard take to arrive?
We print and mail every postcard within 1-2 business days. After it ships, allow about 3 days within Ontario, about 5 days to the rest of Canada, and about 7 days to the US.
Can I track my postcard?
No. Postcards travel through Canada Post and USPS as regular mail, which has no tracking number. You'll get a confirmation email once your postcard is printed and on its way.
Where can I send a postcard?
Anywhere in Canada and the United States.
Will the mail carrier see my message?
No. Every postcard goes out in a free premium envelope, so the message and photo stay private until your recipient opens it.
What size is the postcard?
4×6 inches (101×152 mm), printed on glossy, thick white card stock.