Compare
SnailPostal vs Shopify
Shopify is a full online store you build and bring traffic to. SnailPostal gives a mail club a ready-made page, subscriptions, and a directory audience.
Ahead on 6 of 6 things that matter for running a mail club
| Feature | SnailPostal | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Mail clubs | Any store |
| Cost to start | Stronger: Free to list | Weaker: From $39/month |
| Subscriptions | Stronger: Built in | Weaker: Needs an app |
| Setup | Stronger: Fill in a page | Weaker: Build a storefront |
| Getting found | Stronger: Built-in directory | Weaker: Bring your traffic |
| Mailing cutoff | Stronger: Built in | Weaker: None |
| Address labels | Stronger: CSV export | Weaker: Via an app |
Fees shown exclude payment processing, which applies on every platform. SnailPostal takes a 4.5% platform fee once you're selling; Shopify's $39 is the Basic plan billed monthly. Shopify's plans and fees change over time — check their pricing page for current rates.
When Shopify might be the better fit
- You sell a large catalog of one-off products and the club is a small part of your shop.
- You want complete control over your storefront's design and checkout.
Common questions
- Do I need a paid plan to run a mail club on SnailPostal?
- No. Listing a club is free, there's no monthly platform fee, and the 4.5% fee applies only to monthly revenue above $100. Shopify's Basic plan starts at $39 a month before you sell anything.
- Does SnailPostal handle recurring subscriptions?
- Yes, built in — monthly, quarterly, or yearly tiers, billed at your club's cutoff day. On Shopify, subscriptions need a third-party app.
- How do subscribers find my club?
- Every live club appears in the SnailPostal directory, browsable by category, price, and where it ships. A Shopify store depends on traffic you bring yourself.
- Can I move an existing Shopify subscription product over?
- You can import your customer list and invite each person to rejoin. Subscriptions themselves can't transfer between platforms, so each subscriber re-enters payment once.
Moving a club over
Import your subscriber list and send each person an invite to rejoin, connect your own Stripe account for payouts, and add any cash or check subscribers by hand. Existing subscriptions can't be transferred automatically between platforms — each subscriber re-enters payment once when they rejoin.