Corvo vs. Lob
Both Corvo and Lob help teams send physical mail through an API, but they are optimized for different jobs. Lob is strong for direct-mail campaigns and USPS mail pieces. Corvo is built for tracked document delivery: legal notices, compliance mailings, closing packages, and any PDF that needs operational tracking, mailing evidence, and retained records.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Corvo | Lob |
|---|---|---|
| Exact-PDF workflow | Upload the PDF you already generated | Supports PDFs too, but many workflows revolve around Lob mail-piece objects and templates |
| Long documents | Built for arbitrary-length PDFs | Letter pricing changes with additional PDF pages and over-6-sheet surcharges |
| Carriers | USPS, FedEx, UPS | USPS |
| Rate shopping | Automatic across 3 carriers | Not a multi-carrier workflow |
| Carrier tracking | Full tracking on every shipment | USPS tracking on Lob mail pieces |
| Certified Mail | Built into the shipment workflow with mailing summaries, evidence bundles, and staff-managed retention | Available for domestic First Class letters via add-on services |
| REST API | 3 calls to send a shipment | Mail-piece API with creative configuration options |
| High-volume automation | Sequential API workflow | Strong for direct-mail campaigns and batch mail programs |
| Web dashboard | Dashboard and API feed the same shipment record | Dashboard available |
| Pricing model | None | Plan-based billing plus piece pricing and feature limits |
| Best fit | Tracked document delivery for operational mail | Direct-mail campaigns, USPS letters, postcards, and checks |
Key differences
Document support
Ship the exact PDF your team already generated
Lob supports PDFs, but its print-and-mail platform is organized around Lob mail pieces, templates, and USPS formats. Corvo is narrower and more direct: upload the exact PDF your team already produced and send it as tracked document mail. That fits legal packets, compliance notices, closing files, and other operational documents that are already finished before they reach the mail step.
Carriers
USPS, FedEx, and UPS with rate shopping
Lob is centered on USPS mail. Corvo gives teams USPS, FedEx, and UPS in the same workflow, with rate shopping across carriers on each shipment. If a notice should go Certified Mail, you can stay with USPS. If the workflow needs a different carrier or service level, you do not need a second vendor.
Certified Mail
Certified Mail plus broader tracked-delivery options
Lob does offer Certified Mail for certain USPS letter workflows. Corvo is a better fit when Certified Mail is only one part of the job. Teams can use USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt service for the notices that need it, then keep USPS acceptance, delivery attempts, mailing summaries, evidence bundles, and other tracked document deliveries in one shipment history.
API design
Upload your PDF, not a template
Lob is powerful when you want a mail platform that renders creative, personalizes templates, and manages campaign-style mail objects. Corvo assumes the document already exists. The API is built around that assumption: upload the PDF, create the shipment, and buy it. If your case system, ERP, or internal workflow already produces the final document, Corvo removes the extra template layer.
Pricing
Per-shipment pricing instead of plan-driven packaging
Lob's billing is organized around plans, usage, and feature limits. Corvo keeps the model simpler for operational teams: pay per shipment. Pricing is based on handling, printing, and live postage. That is easier to reason about when you are sending notices, packets, and other triggered documents instead of running ongoing mail campaigns.
Which one is right for you?
Choose Lob if...
- You send postcards, brochures, or other direct-mail campaigns
- You want template rendering and variable-data mail pieces
- USPS-only delivery is sufficient for the workflow
- You need a platform built around campaign-style mail programs
Choose Corvo if...
- You send tracked documents such as notices, filings, packets, and contracts
- You need USPS, FedEx, and UPS in the same workflow
- You want USPS Certified Mail alongside other tracked-delivery options
- You already generate PDFs and want to ship them as-is
- You want dashboard and API activity in one shipment record
Ready to send tracked document mail?
Review live rates on your own document, or see how Corvo handles USPS Certified Mail, multi-carrier delivery, mailing summaries, evidence bundles, and shared tracking history.