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Pitney Bowes vs FP: Which Franking Machine Wins In 2026?
Pitney Bowes is the name most people know. FP is the one a lot of small offices end up with. If you've narrowed your shortlist to these two, you're in good company, because between them they cover almost every size of UK business, from a two person accountancy practice to a busy warehouse front desk.
This guide puts Pitney Bowes and FP side by side on the things that change your bill and your day: the machines themselves, how they handle mixed mail, what the contracts look like and where each brand tends to fall down.
Pitney Bowes vs FP at a glance
| Pitney Bowes | FP | |
|---|---|---|
| Head office | United States | Germany (Francotyp-Postalia) |
| Entry machine | DM50 | PostBase Vision 3S (about 30 letters a minute) |
| Popular mid machine | SendPro C (up to 50 letters a minute, 5kg scale) | PostBase Vision 5S (about 50 letters a minute, 5kg scale) |
| Busy office pick | Larger SendPro and DM models | PostBase Vision 7A (about 75 letters a minute, differential weighing) |
| Mailroom machine | Large mailing systems | PostBase Vision 9A (up to 120 letters a minute, dynamic weighing) |
| Mailmark | Yes on current models | Yes on current models |
Specs from manufacturer and dealer spec sheets, checked October 2026.
Postage costs are identical
Let's clear this up first, because salespeople sometimes blur it. Royal Mail sets the franking tariff, not the machine maker. A 1st Class letter costs £1.77 franked on either brand, against £1.80 with a stamp. A 2nd Class letter is 88p franked against 91p stamped. A 1st Class large letter up to 100g is £2.86 franked versus £3.30 with a stamp (Royal Mail Business Price Guide, prices from 7 April 2026).
So the brand you pick will never make your postage cheaper or dearer. What changes is the monthly lease, the ink, the software and the contract terms. That's where you should focus.
Small office machines
At the small end, the Pitney Bowes DM50 and the FP PostBase Vision 3S do the same job: hand fed, compact, fine for a few dozen letters a day.
The Vision 3S has a 2kg scale and a 5mm thickness limit, and FP dealers suggest it for up to about 200 items a day. That's generous for a small office. The catch is the thickness limit. If you post a lot of padded A4 envelopes or small packets, you'll be printing labels for most of them.
The DM50 is a long standing compact option that many offices have used for years. See our DM50 review for its detail. Both machines are perfectly capable for invoices, statements and letters. If your post is mainly flat, either will do.
Mid volume machines
This is where most of the real decisions happen. The Pitney Bowes SendPro C runs at up to 50 letters a minute and comes with a 5kg scale as standard. The FP PostBase Vision 5S is quoted at about 50 letters a minute too, with a 5kg scale, an 8mm thickness limit and automatic label dispensing.
On paper they're a close match. In practice, the differences come down to software. Pitney Bowes leans into combining letters and parcels in one system through its SendPro tools, which suits businesses that ship packets as well as post letters. FP's online account tools are simple and tidy, which suits offices that mostly frank letters and want an easy life.
If you post a lot of mixed mail, look at the FP PostBase Vision 7A. Its differential weighing means you put a stack of mixed items on the scale and the machine works out each item's weight as you lift it off. For an office posting 300 to 500 mixed items a day, that saves real time.
Mailroom machines
For high volumes, the FP PostBase Vision 9A is quoted at up to 120 letters a minute with a 10kg scale, dynamic weighing and a stacker included, suggested for over 800 items a day. Pitney Bowes has larger mailing systems for the same job, usually specified by a dealer after a site visit.
At this size, both brands will want to survey your mailroom. Push for a demo with your own post, not a pile of identical test envelopes.
Contracts and exit fees
The contract matters more than the machine. With both Pitney Bowes and FP, you'll usually be offered a lease running several years. Before you sign, check these points:
- Notice period. How many days before the end do you need to cancel, and does it have to be in writing?
- Auto renewal. Does the lease roll into a new full term if you miss the window?
- Price rises. Can the monthly fee change during the term?
- Servicing. Is it included, or charged per visit?
- Collection. Who pays to take the machine away at the end?
If you're already stuck in a lease, our guide to cancelling a franking contract walks through the options.
Ink and running costs
Both brands expect you to use genuine cartridges, and for Mailmark machines that's sensible. The barcode has to be read by Royal Mail's sorting machines, and a patchy print can cause problems. Your cost per frank depends on the cartridge size and how much artwork you print. A big advert slogan uses more ink than a plain impression.
Ask each supplier for the cartridge price, the rated yield and whether any ink is included in the lease. Then compare the cost over the full term, not just per cartridge. Our franking ink prices page has more detail.
Which should you choose?
Choose Pitney Bowes if:
- You post parcels as well as letters and want one system for both.
- Your team already knows Pitney Bowes machines.
- A dealer has offered strong service terms in your area.
Choose FP if:
- You want a clear step up path from the Vision 3S to the 9A.
- You post a lot of mixed mail and want differential weighing at a mid range price.
- You want a simple machine that a new member of staff can use in minutes.
Get a third quote too. Quadient is the other big name and having three quotes on the table sharpens everyone's pricing. Read our Pitney Bowes vs Quadient comparison.
Verdict
There's no outright winner. Both make solid Mailmark machines and the postage you pay is the same. For mostly flat letters in a small office, FP is often the simpler choice. For a mix of letters and parcels with one system to manage both, Pitney Bowes has the edge. In every case, the deciding factor is the contract.
FAQs
Is FP a reliable brand?
Yes. FP has made franking machines for a very long time and its PostBase range is widely used in UK offices.
Can I swap from Pitney Bowes to FP mid contract?
Only if your current lease allows it or the new supplier agrees in writing to settle it. Check before you sign anything.
Which is cheaper to run?
Postage is identical. Running costs depend on the lease, ink and software fees, so ask both for the total cost over the full term.
Compare quotes
Tell us roughly how much you post each day and we'll put you in touch with approved suppliers so you can compare like for like. Compare franking machine prices.
