Looking for a Forward2me Alternative?

PostUK vs Forward2me: at a glance

Forward2me operates a free account with pay-per-shipment pricing. Check their site for current rates — details may change.

PostUK or Forward2me — which fits you?

Forward2me has been around since 2009 and is one of the best-known names in UK parcel forwarding — a large, global service shipping to 200+ countries, with a free account and pay-per-shipment pricing. It's a strong choice, especially for occasional or worldwide shipping. PostUK is a different shape of service, and for some shoppers it's the better fit.

The two pricing models

Forward2me is free to register and you pay each time you ship. PostUK is a flat membership — £7.99/month or £71.90/year (3 months free) — with parcel consolidation included. If you only forward a parcel once or twice a year, a free-to-hold, pay-per-shipment service may suit you better. If you shop UK retailers regularly, a single predictable monthly fee with consolidation built in is often the simpler way to manage it. Use the shipping calculator to compare the per-parcel cost for your route.

Built around Ireland & Europe

PostUK focuses on forwarding from the UK to Ireland and Europe rather than trying to cover every country. For shoppers in Ireland in particular, that focus — and Northern Ireland's position between the UK and the EU — is the core of what we do.

Simple, and easy to try

One plan, one price, with consolidation and customs documents included — no add-ons to weigh up on the core forwarding workflow. Cancel anytime — so you can test PostUK with a real order before deciding, which helps given that switching means updating your delivery address at each UK retailer you use.

Guernsey “tax-free” vs Northern Ireland: which actually saves you more?

Forward2me's headline saving is its Guernsey tax-free warehouse. Because Guernsey sits outside the UK VAT area, UK retailers strip the 20% VAT at checkout when you ship there. It's a real saving — but for shoppers in Ireland and the rest of the EU, there's a catch that usually cancels it out.

The catch for Ireland & EU shoppers

Guernsey is outside the EU. So when your parcel is forwarded on from Guernsey into Ireland, it counts as an import into the EU — which means Irish import VAT (23% on most goods), possible customs duty, and a carrier clearance/handling fee, all charged on delivery. You save 20% UK VAT at the checkout, then pay around 23% Irish VAT plus fees on arrival. In practice the saving disappears, and you've added paperwork and a delivery-day bill.

Forward2me effectively acknowledges this: their own guidance states the tax-free (Guernsey) warehouse is available only to customers outside the EU. If you're in Ireland or the EU, it isn't a VAT route you can use anyway.

How PostUK is different

PostUK forwards from Northern Ireland, which stays inside the EU single market for goods. A parcel moving from Northern Ireland to Ireland or the EU isn't treated as an import — so there's no EU customs charge, no import VAT collected on arrival, and no carrier handling fee. You pay normal UK VAT once at the shop (as you would on any UK purchase), then nothing extra when it's delivered. No surprise bill at the door.

VAT and duty rules change and depend on the item — this is a general guide, not tax advice. Guernsey tax-free shopping is a genuine win for non-EU shoppers buying higher-value goods; for Ireland and the EU, forwarding from Northern Ireland avoids the import charges that would otherwise apply on arrival.

PostUK shipping rates — key destinations

Shipping is charged per parcel, not per month. You only pay when you ship.

Use our shipping calculator for your exact destination and weight.

Who PostUK is right for

PostUK isn't trying to be the biggest parcel forwarder — it's trying to be the most straightforward and affordable one for the core use case: you live outside the UK, you want to buy from UK shops, and you want your parcels forwarded without paying over the odds or navigating a complex plan structure.

PostUK works well if you:

• Live in Ireland, Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, or another European country
• Shop regularly at UK retailers — Amazon UK, Next, Boots, Marks & Spencer, Sports Direct, Currys
• Want a UK address for Amazon Prime UK access
• Order from multiple shops and want to consolidate into one shipment
• Want to know exactly what you're paying before you commit to shipping
• Want to try a forwarding service without a full month's subscription upfront

PostUK may not be the right fit if you:

• Need specialist services like repacking into custom boxes or photography of contents
• Are forwarding extremely high volumes (dozens of parcels per month) and need a dedicated account manager
• Need a US address as well as a UK address

For the majority of customers who just want to buy from UK shops and have things forwarded reliably and cheaply, PostUK covers everything that matters.

Switching from Forward2me to PostUK

Switching parcel forwarding services is straightforward. The main task is updating your delivery address at the UK retailers you use. Here's how to do it without losing any parcels in transit:

1. Sign up for PostUK first — create a free account, then activate membership to unlock your UK address. You don't need to cancel Forward2me yet.
2. Check for any parcels already in transit to your Forward2me address. Wait until those have been forwarded before switching.
3. Update your address at each retailer — Amazon UK, Next, Boots, and any other UK shop you use. Log in, go to your address book, and replace your Forward2me address with your new PostUK address.
4. Place a test order with a first real order to confirm everything works end-to-end.
5. Cancel Forward2me once you're happy with PostUK and have no remaining parcels stored there.

The whole process typically takes 15–20 minutes to set up and one test parcel to confirm. Most customers complete the switch within their first PostUK month.

Frequently asked questions

How is PostUK different from Forward2me?

Forward2me is a large global forwarder with a free account where you pay per shipment. PostUK is a simpler, Ireland- and Europe-focused service on one flat membership — £7.99/month or £71.90/year (3 months free) with consolidation included. It suits people who shop UK retailers regularly and want one predictable fee. Compare the per-parcel cost for your route with the shipping calculator.

Can I shop VAT-free through Guernsey like Forward2me offers?

Forward2me's 20% VAT saving comes from shipping to a Guernsey address, which sits outside UK VAT. It's a genuine saving for customers outside the EU buying higher-value goods. For Ireland and the EU it doesn't help: a parcel forwarded from Guernsey into Ireland is an EU import, so Irish VAT (around 23%) plus a handling fee apply on arrival — and Forward2me restricts its tax-free warehouse to non-EU residents anyway. PostUK instead forwards from Northern Ireland, which is inside the EU single market for goods, so there's no EU customs charge or handling fee on delivery to Ireland or the EU. You pay normal UK VAT once at the shop and nothing extra at the door.

Does PostUK offer parcel consolidation?

Yes. PostUK holds multiple parcels in your personal suite and ships them together to your destination. Consolidation is included in the standard subscription — it's not a paid add-on.

How long does PostUK take to process parcels?

Parcels are logged and notified to you the same day they're received at the warehouse. You can request forwarding immediately — there's no mandatory holding period.

Can I use PostUK for Amazon Prime UK?

Yes. Your PostUK address is a genuine UK address. Amazon recognises it as UK-eligible for Prime delivery. Add it to your Amazon UK address book and your Prime subscription applies in full — free next-day delivery to our warehouse, then we forward to you.

What happens if I want to cancel PostUK?

You can cancel at any time through your account settings. There's no minimum term and no cancellation fee. If you have parcels stored at the warehouse, you'll need to forward or instruct disposal before your account closes.

Does PostUK handle customs paperwork?

Yes. PostUK prepares all customs documentation (CN23 declarations) for every international shipment. We declare the accurate contents and value — this is both a legal requirement and the best way to avoid delays at customs.

Which UK retailers work with PostUK?

All of them. Any retailer that delivers to a UK address will deliver to PostUK. This includes Amazon UK, Next, Boots, Marks & Spencer, Sports Direct, Currys, Argos, ASOS, John Lewis, Holland & Barrett, Dunelm, and thousands more.

Is PostUK a new service?

PostUK is operated by Novastack Ltd, a UK-registered company. We focus on making parcel forwarding straightforward and affordable for customers in Ireland, Europe, and beyond.