thanks.io vs ZAP~POST

thanks.io automates direct mail campaigns for postcards, letters, notecards, gift cards and MagnaCards. Sending is available through its dashboard, REST API, MCP server or integrations. Supported formats include postcards in 4x6, 6x9 and 6x11 sizes, windowed or windowless letters, folded 5x4 notecards, branded gift cards and 6x9 MagnaCards. Campaigns can run as drips, birthday or anniversary sends, holidays, recurring mail, Neighbor Blast radius mailings or paced evenFLOW sends. Recipients can have unique QR codes with scan analytics, available on every plan. A digital handwriting engine uses fonts, AI Fonts and optional Realism Mode; it does not use real pens or human handwriters. ThanksAI Studio can generate campaign designs from plain-English prompts, alongside per-recipient AI copy and dynamic images. Developer tools include REST API v2, webhooks, OAuth2, personal access tokens and MCP servers. Pay as you go is $0/month and includes full API access; Business is $49/month, Professional is $199/month, and Enterprise pricing is custom. Gift card sends require Business, Professional or Enterprise, and postage-included per-piece charges may apply in addition to subscriptions.

ZAP~POST sends personalized postcards and letters when a real-time event or customer action triggers a campaign. Its web design app supports drag-and-drop editing, custom fields, uploaded images, and unique promotional or QR codes. Mail formats include oversized and A5 postcards, an A5 one-piece mailer, and a secure letter. Campaigns can use recipient-specific QR codes and tracking, while conversion attribution is handled through the customer’s analytics platform. ZAP~POST validates recipient details and cleans records; rejected records may receive Zap credits under its credit rules. Ecommerce, CRM, and CDP systems can connect by API, and listed integrations include Klaviyo, Dotdigital, Ometria, HubSpot, Bloomreach, Zapier, Force24, and Shopify. The main standard mailing location is the UK, with campaigns also available in the US, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Italy; specifications, prices, and turnaround vary by country. A one-off trial campaign is available without a credit card, and the site advises trying at least 1,000 recipients. The service is web-based and headquartered in London.