Product Update: Business Reply Mail Envelope Support Is Now Live in Postalytics

Postalytics now supports Business Reply Mail Envelopes (BREs)—a powerful new way to increase response rates by removing every obstacle between your message and your audience’s action.

Even better? Postalytics now offers both Business Reply Envelopes and Courtesy Reply Envelopes (CREs). You can choose the option that best matches your audience, budget, and campaign goals—all within the same platform that automates, tracks, and integrates direct mail like a digital channel.

Let’s break down what this means for your campaigns—and how to choose the right envelope every time.

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What Is a Business Reply Mail Envelope?

A Business Reply Mail Envelope (BRE) is a pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope that lets your recipient respond without applying a stamp. You—the sender—only pay for postage if and when the envelope is returned.

It’s the ultimate frictionless response mechanism, ideal for campaigns where fast, easy replies matter most.

Benefits of Using a Business Reply Mail Envelope:

• Removes Friction: No stamps = no excuses
  
• Boosts Response Rates: Especially for fundraising, surveys, or lead capture
  
• Only Pay for Results: You’re billed for returned mail, not the entire list
  
• Professional & Trustworthy: BREs signal that your brand means business
  

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Courtesy Reply Envelopes

Postalytics also supports Courtesy Reply Envelopes (CREs)—another reply option that includes a pre-addressed envelope but requires the recipient to provide their own postage.

CREs are ideal for engaged audiences, such as loyal customers, donors, or members, where response is more likely and you want to keep costs low.

Benefits of Using a Courtesy Reply Envelope:

• Lower Cost: You don’t pay for unused returns
  
• Simple to Set Up: No USPS permit required
  
• Great for High-Intent Audiences: Perfect for renewals, reactivations, and more
  

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BRE vs. CRE: What’s the Difference?

Here’s a side-by-side comparison to help you decide which reply envelope is best for your next direct mail campaign:

Feature	Business Reply Envelope (BRE)	Courtesy Reply Envelope (CRE)
Postage Paid By	You (sender), only if returned	Recipient (adds their own stamp)
USPS Permit Required	Yes – Business Reply Permit	No permit required
Ease of Response	Very high – no stamp needed	Moderate – postage must be added
Available in Postalytics	All letter formats	Only with 8.5×14 format & perforated return slip
Best Use Cases	Cold leads, donations, surveys, bill pay, financial forms	Loyal customers, renewals, event RSVPs, budget-conscious mail

TL;DR:

• Use a BRE when high response rates are critical and you want to remove friction.
  
• Use a CRE when mailing to people who already trust you—and you want to save on cost.
  

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Both BREs and CREs Available in Postalytics—Here’s How to Choose

Postalytics is now one of the only direct mail automation platforms to offer both BRE and CRE support—fully integrated into your campaign builder.

That means you can:

• Build smart, automated campaigns using either or both reply options
  
• Segment by audience and offer the right envelope to the right group
  
• Track mail delivery and response just like a digital channel
  

You don’t have to choose one or the other. With Postalytics, you can use both—strategically.

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How to Use a Business Reply Mail Envelope in Postalytics – 3 Step Set Up

Step 1: Apply for a USPS BRE Permit

Step 2: Add Your Permit to Postalytics

Step 3: Create and Customize Your BRE Template

We handle the formatting, compliance, and USPS requirements—so you can focus on results.

For a more detailed overview of the steps to set up your BRE’s, check out our detailed help documentation: Business Reply Mail Envelopes BRE | Postalytics

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How to Use a Courtesy Reply Envelope in Postalytics

CREs are even easier to set up—no USPS permit needed.

Here’s how:

• Select the 8.5×14 letter format in your campaign
  
• Choose the perforation option to include a tear-off return slip
  
• The option to include a #9 Courtesy Reply Envelope will automatically appear
  
• Customize it with your return address
  
• Purchase CRE credits in advance or during campaign setup
  

CREs are only available with the 8.5×14 Letter format, and are ideal for donation forms, membership renewals, or reply slips.

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Best Practices for Using Reply Envelopes in Direct Mail

Here’s how to get the most from both BREs and CREs:

Campaign Goal	Recommended Envelope	Why It Works
Cold audience lead generation	Business Reply Envelope (BRE)	Reduces friction; maximizes response
Nonprofit fundraising appeal	BRE or CRE (test both)	Match envelope to donor type and frequency
Payment or invoice return	BRE	Easy remittance process for customers
Subscription renewal	CRE	Lower cost; high-intent audience
Survey or feedback collection	BRE	Boosts returns with no-cost barrier
Event RSVP	CRE	Engaged audience likely to respond with postage

Pro Tip: Run an A/B test with both envelope types to see what drives higher ROI for your audience segments.

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Why Business Reply Mail Envelopes Are a Game-Changer

In traditional direct mail, reply rates often come down to friction and cost. Asking someone to respond AND pay for postage can tank performance—especially in acquisition or first-touch campaigns.

BREs solve that by letting you:

• Track delivery and response inside your CRM or marketing automation
  
• Only pay for results—you’re not wasting postage
  
• Seamlessly include reply functionality inside an automated direct mail campaign
  

That’s Postalytics: making direct mail as smart, fast, and data-driven as digital.

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Available Now for Pro and Agency Plans

Business Reply Mail Envelope support is now live for Pro and Agency customers in the U.S. Courtesy Reply Envelopes are available to all plans that use the 8.5×14 format with perforation.

If you’re a Free plan user looking to upgrade, this is the feature that pays for itself in response rates.

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Ready to Use Business Reply Mail Envelopes in Postalytics?

Here’s your action plan:

1. Apply for a USPS BRE permit: Start Here
   
2. Upload your permit into Postalytics
   
3. Create your BRE template and launch
   

Or, start using CREs today by switching to the 8.5×14 format and enabling perforation.

Need help? Talk to us—we’ll walk you through every step.

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Final Thoughts: The Right Envelope Drives the Right Results

Postalytics is here to eliminate outdated direct mail thinking. Reply envelopes are a critical piece of that transformation. Whether you’re using a business reply mail envelope for broad outreach, or a courtesy reply envelope for loyal customers—you now have both tools at your fingertips.

This isn’t just about envelopes.

It’s about performance. About personalization. About automation that converts.

And it’s all happening right here, inside Postalytics.

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Want to talk reply envelope strategy? Let’s chat. Our product experts are here to help you sort through your options and put your best foot forward.