RealProPrint vs Lob
Same automation.Different math.
API-first direct mail for software developers. Powerful automation if you have an engineering team. Completely alienates traditional marketing buyers who don't write JSON.
Lob
$0.95+ / piece (API platform)
REAL TOTAL: $0.95+ baseline; engineering integration cost on top
(after their math runs)
Refund policy
Enterprise SLA, contract-dependent
RealProPrint
$0.51 to $0.89, all-in
QUOTED TOTAL = ACTUAL TOTAL
No checkout shock.
Refund policy
Reprint promise · process-driven, no fabricated guarantees
Where Lob causes friction
Documented from public pricing pages, terms-of-service language, customer reviews on Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau.
Requires engineering integration
The product is a REST API. Using it requires writing code, configuring webhooks, and maintaining the integration. Marketing teams without dev resources can't actually use Lob without spending more on engineers than they save on mail.
Visual UI is an afterthought
Their dashboard exists but is positioned for ops/devops use. Designing a postcard, picking a list, and previewing a drop is dramatically harder than in a consumer-grade tool.
Premium per-piece price
API platforms cost more. $0.95+ per piece is roughly 2× the per-piece price of standard EDDM, justified by automation rather than mail economics.
Where RealProPrint wins
Visual no-code trigger builder
Our automated triggers (new movers, birthdays, win-back, recurring schedules) are configured in a 4-step visual picker. No engineers required. Same automation power Lob ships, accessible to anyone.
Better per-piece economics
Volume tiers from $0.51 to $0.89 per piece, all-in. For a 10,000-piece monthly campaign, RealProPrint costs roughly half what Lob does.
Same outcome, accessible to non-technical teams
Marketing directors, dental office managers, real estate agents — anyone can set up automation in our portal. No JSON, no API keys, no developer dependency.
Lob works for
Tech companies with developers who want programmatic mail triggered by user behavior
Lob fails for
The 99% of small-to-medium businesses who don't have engineers to integrate REST APIs and configure JSON payloads
See your real number.
Map your campaign in 60 seconds. The total in the bottom footer is the total on your invoice.