Written by Dan Barraclough Reviewed by Heleana Neil Updated on 16 November 2018 In Canada, businesses have three choices of suppliers when it comes to leasing a postage machine:Pitney BowesFrancotyp Postalia (FP)Quadient, formerly known as NeopostSo if, for any reason, you’d rather not lease a machine through Pitney Bowes, there are still two great suppliers to choose from.Below we’ve reviewed the four best postage machines available from FP and Quadient for different sized offices. We’ve cross-referenced reviews and features to find the best model for different business needs.In a hurry? Simply fill in this short form now with a few details about your business, and the amount of mail you currently send each month and we’ll send you quotes from the best suppliers for you.Best Alternatives to Pitney Bowes Postage MachinesThe best alternatives to Pitney Bowes Postage Machines are: FP Postbase Mini, the Quadient IN-360, the FP Ultimail U120s and the Quadient IS-6000. 1FP Postbase Mini★★★★★Best for home offices or very small officesRead Review2Quadient IN-360★★★★★Best for small businessesRead Review3FP Ultimail U120s★★★★★Best for medium-large businessesRead Review4Quadient IS-6000★★★★★Best for large offices or mailroomsRead Review Get a tailored postage meter quote for your business get your quote 1. FP Postbase MiniBest for very small offices If your office is already bursting at the seams, you might wonder if you even have space for a postage machine. Enter, the FP Postbase Mini. This incredibly compact and ‘whisper quiet’ machine can process 17 letters per minute – unless you’re processing a lot of mail everyday, you should find this more than fast enough. Unlike the Pitney Bowes equivalent model (the MailStation 2), the Postbase Mini also has a colour touchscreen, so you can interact with it like a smartphone.Equivalent Pitney Bowes model: the MailStation 2 Pros Very compact and sleek ‘Whisper quiet’ for distraction-free operation Remotely connects to a set of scales that can weigh items up to 30kg Rental costs start from $19.95/month Cons Not the fastest available postage meter 2. Quadient IN-360Best for small businesses For businesses which might have outgrown a smaller machine like the FP Postbase Mini, the Quadient IN-360 is a logical step up. Still fairly small in size, this model won’t take up much space, but processes mail nearly three times as fast (up to 45 letters per minute). Lastly, you can get the latest postal rates and add custom graphics to print onto your mail using the high-speed wireless connection.Equivalent Pitney Bowes model: the DM125 Pros High speed LAN or wireless internet connection Automatic envelope sealing option Option to connect to an external weighing scale for items up to 35kg Cons Only includes 30 accounts as standard, with the option to upgrade to up to 100 (the Pitney Bowes equivalent includes up to 300 accounts) Integrated weighing scale can only weigh items up to 3kg Save money on your next postage meter by comparing quotes get free quotes 3. FP Ultimail U120sBest for medium-large businesses A notable step up from the Quadient IN-360 is the FP Ultimail U120. It’s able to process up to 120 letters every minute, and operates a seamless ‘seal – post – stack’ operation for maximum efficiency. You can also log up to nine advertising messages for greater brand awareness and personalization.Equivalent Pitney Bowes model: the DM475 Pros Relatively compact given its capabilities, so it won’t take up the whole office or making hardly any noise ‘Seal – post – stack’ in one smooth operation Information-based indicia (ECDSA) for maximum security Cons Only has capacity for 100 accounts, which is much less than the Pitney Bowes equivalent. 4. Quadient IS-6000Best for large offices or mailrooms This isn’t just a postage machine: Quadient’s IS-6000 is a ‘Mail’n Ship Station’. With unbeatable speeds of up to 150 letters per minute, this machine means business. It’s perfect for any mailrooms, or companies posting commercially. With Quadient’s IS-6000, your days of manually sorting mail are well and truly behind you. Plus, it’s web-enabled, so you can input postage info in your online portal to be printed in postage label format.Equivalent Pitney Bowes model: the SendPro P-Series Pros Very fast, processing up to 150 letters per minute Can weigh parcels of up to 35kg Can happily deal with mixed mail at pace Cons Only has capacity for 100 accounts, compared to the 300 available on FP’s equivalent model Expert VerdictAll of the postage machine models featured on this page are the cream of the crop in Canada. They either match or beat their Pitney Bowes equivalents on like for like features. The right one for you simply depends on the needs of your business; if you’re processing hundreds of letters each day, you’ll find the FP Postbase Mini frustratingly slow. Equally if you only send a few, the Quadient IS-6000 would be wasted on you.It’s all about finding the model that’s ‘just right’, and we can help with that. Simply fill in this short form with a few details about your business and your current postage expenditure and we’ll send you quotes from leading postage machine suppliers in Canada, leaving you to choose the one that’s best for you.FAQsWhat is meter or postal indicia?An incidia is the physical meter stamp on a parcel or letter that shows the postage has been paid. Postage machines add indicia to items of mail, enabling them to be processed and sent by Canada Post.How much is a postage machine?You can’t buy a postage machine outright in Canada, but you can lease or rent one from one of the three approved suppliers. Prices start at around $19.95/month for the smaller models.What’s the best postage machine for small businesses?In this review, excluding Pitney Bowes, we’ve identified the Quadient IN-360 as the best option for small business. Check out our roundup of the best mail machine companies for small businesses for alternative options. Written by: Dan Barraclough Dan’s a Senior Writer at Expert Market, specialising in digital marketing, web design, and photocopiers, amongst other topics. Reviewed by: Heleana Neil Business Services Editor Heleana Neil specialises in Business Services, managing the strategy and production of content for SMBs, helping businesses with the challenges and opportunities they face today. Covering everything from payroll to payment processing, Heleana uses her expertise to help business owners make better, informed decisions and grow their companies.