# notecardHQ

> Handwritten notes written by robots holding real pens in New York, then stamped and mailed in the US and internationally. Send them with one API call or from the web portal.

notecardHQ (notecardhq.com) is not the Noteecard iPhone app or the CardsHQ card shop. Sign up free at https://app.notecardhq.com/signup; test keys never mail a card.

## Pricing
- [Pricing](https://notecardhq.com/pricing): one all-in price per card (card, real-pen handwriting, envelope, postage); no monthly fee; the API is on every account; a card bills only when mailed
- Starter (1 to 499 cards a month): $3.25 per US card, $4.25 international
- Growth (500 to 2,499 cards a month): $2.95 per US card, $3.95 international
- Scale (2,500 to 9,999 cards a month): $2.35 per US card, $3.35 international
- Volume (10,000+ cards a month): $1.95 per US card, $2.95 international

## Compare
- [Handwrytten alternative](https://notecardhq.com/compare/handwrytten-alternative): Looking for a Handwrytten alternative? notecardHQ writes real pen cards with postage included, the API on every account and no $449 to $2,499 monthly plan.
- [Simply Noted alternative](https://notecardhq.com/compare/simply-noted-alternative): Looking for a Simply Noted alternative? notecardHQ bills per card mailed, postage included, with no prepaid credits to expire and the API on every account.
- [Scribeless alternative](https://notecardhq.com/compare/scribeless-alternative): Looking for a Scribeless alternative? How notecardHQ compares on how the writing is made, published card prices, postage, API and webhooks, and where Scribeless wins.
- [Thankster alternative](https://notecardhq.com/compare/thankster-alternative): Looking for a Thankster alternative? How notecardHQ compares on pen vs font, all-in price at your volume, API docs and international mail, and where Thankster is cheaper.
- [Sendoso handwritten notes](https://notecardhq.com/compare/sendoso-handwritten-notes): How handwritten notes work in Sendoso, a gifting platform, compared with notecardHQ's real pen cards: how the note is made, pricing, API, and when Sendoso is the better fit.
- [Real pen vs printed handwriting](https://notecardhq.com/compare/real-pen-vs-printed-handwriting): Some handwritten note services print a handwriting font instead of using a pen. How to tell the difference, which services say which, and why it matters.
- [Cost calculator](https://notecardhq.com/tools/handwritten-note-cost-calculator): Work out what handwritten cards really cost each month, postage and plan fees included, and compare notecardHQ with Handwrytten and Simply Noted.

## Product
- [Home](https://notecardhq.com/): what notecardHQ does
- [Developers](https://notecardhq.com/developers): how the API works
- [API docs](https://app.notecardhq.com/docs): full reference
- [Handwriting styles](https://notecardhq.com/handwriting-styles): four real-pen styles (Classic, Relaxed, Bold, Neat), sent as writingStyle on POST /api/v1/notes (Cursive Caroline, Chill Carl, Bold Brian, Serious Sue); Classic is the default
- [Handwriting preview](https://notecardhq.com/tools/handwriting-preview): see up to 300 characters in the robot handwriting; watermarked, never mailed, 5 an hour
- OpenAPI spec: https://<workspace>.notecardhq.com/api/v1/openapi.json
- MCP server (send_note, get_note): https://app.notecardhq.com/api/mcp with the workspace API key as a bearer token (the key picks the workspace); official MCP Registry name com.notecardhq/notecardhq
- [Use cases](https://notecardhq.com/use-cases)
- [Milestone cards](https://notecardhq.com/use-cases/milestone-cards): Send a real handwritten card the moment a customer hits a milestone: first sale, first revenue, a big number. Triggered from your code.
- [Thank-you cards](https://notecardhq.com/use-cases/customer-thank-you-cards): Thank customers with a real pen-written card after a purchase, a renewal or a big order. One API call per card, or send from the portal.
- [Welcome cards](https://notecardhq.com/use-cases/welcome-cards): Welcome new customers, members or hires with a handwritten card written by a real pen and mailed to their door, triggered when they sign up.
- [Real estate](https://notecardhq.com/use-cases/real-estate): Real pen-written cards for real estate: closing thank-yous, home anniversaries, open house follow-ups and referrals, sent from your CRM or the portal.
- [Nonprofits](https://notecardhq.com/use-cases/nonprofit-donor-thank-you-cards): Thank every donor with a real pen-written card, triggered by the gift: first gifts, recurring donors and major gifts, mailed in the US and abroad.
- [Ecommerce](https://notecardhq.com/use-cases/ecommerce-thank-you-cards): Mail a real handwritten card to first-time buyers, VIP customers and reviewers, triggered from Shopify or any store by one API call.
- [SaaS](https://notecardhq.com/use-cases/saas-customer-onboarding-cards): Send real handwritten cards to new SaaS customers, renewing accounts and champions, triggered from Stripe, your CRM or your product events.
- [Advisors and insurance](https://notecardhq.com/use-cases/financial-advisors-insurance): Real pen-written cards for advisors and agents: new client welcomes, policy anniversaries, birthdays and referral thank-yous, sent automatically.
- [Holiday cards](https://notecardhq.com/use-cases/holiday-cards): Send every client a holiday card written by a real pen, each one addressed and signed individually, on premium stationery with foil or debossing if you want it.
- [Car dealerships](https://notecardhq.com/use-cases/car-dealerships): Real pen-written cards for dealerships: delivery-day thank-yous, purchase anniversaries, service follow-ups and referral thank-yous, sent by API or from the portal.
- [B2B sales](https://notecardhq.com/use-cases/b2b-sales-follow-up): Send real pen-written cards after a first meeting, a signed contract or a renewal, to buyers and champions who already know you. One API call per card.
- [Win-back](https://notecardhq.com/use-cases/subscription-win-back): Send a real handwritten card when a subscriber cancels, pauses or stops ordering, triggered from your billing system or store by one API call. Measure it with a holdout.
- [Recruiting](https://notecardhq.com/use-cases/recruiting-candidate-thank-you-cards): Send real pen-written cards to candidates after interviews, to accepted offers before day one and to finalists you did not hire, by API from your hiring workflow or from the portal.

## Integration recipes
- [All integrations](https://notecardhq.com/integrations)
- [Quickstart](https://notecardhq.com/developers/quickstart): curl, Node.js, Python and PHP
- [Zapier](https://notecardhq.com/developers/recipes/zapier): Send a card from any of thousands of apps with a Webhooks by Zapier step. A native notecardHQ app is coming.
- [Stripe](https://notecardhq.com/developers/recipes/stripe): Thank customers after a Checkout payment with a webhook handler and one API call.
- [Shopify](https://notecardhq.com/developers/recipes/shopify): Send a card for new orders or first-time customers from the orders/create webhook.
- [HubSpot](https://notecardhq.com/developers/recipes/hubspot): Send a card from a workflow with a custom code action, on Data Hub Professional or Enterprise.
- [Salesforce](https://notecardhq.com/developers/recipes/salesforce): Call a small Apex action from a record-triggered flow, with your key in a Named Credential.
- [Klaviyo](https://notecardhq.com/developers/recipes/klaviyo): Add a webhook action to a flow; a relay step in n8n or Zapier adds the Idempotency-Key.
- [Pipedrive](https://notecardhq.com/developers/recipes/pipedrive): Send won deals from an automation's webhook action through a relay step in n8n or Zapier.
- [Attio](https://notecardhq.com/developers/recipes/attio): Call the API straight from a workflow's Send HTTP request block.
- [n8n](https://notecardhq.com/developers/recipes/n8n): Add an HTTP Request node to any workflow; retries never send twice.
- [Make](https://notecardhq.com/developers/recipes/make): Use the HTTP Make a request module in any scenario.

## Blog
- [Handwrite.io alternative: how notecardHQ compares](https://notecardhq.com/blog/handwrite-io-alternative): Handwrite.io vs notecardHQ: both write with real pens. $2.99 vs $3.25 all-in, volume pricing, custom handwriting, API docs, international mail, and where Handwrite.io wins.
- [Inkpact alternative: how notecardHQ compares](https://notecardhq.com/blog/inkpact-alternative): Inkpact vs notecardHQ: human scribes in the UK vs robots holding real pens in New York. Pricing, minimums, onboarding, integrations, and where Inkpact is the better pick.
- [PostGrid handwritten notes: a print API vs a real pen](https://notecardhq.com/blog/postgrid-handwritten-notes): Can PostGrid send handwritten notes? PostGrid is a print-and-mail API for letters. What it offers, what we could not find, and when a real pen card fits better.
- [Best handwritten note services in 2026](https://notecardhq.com/blog/best-handwritten-note-services): An honest roundup of Handwrytten, Simply Noted, IgnitePOST, LettrLabs, Scribeless, thanks.io and notecardHQ: pen or print, pricing, API access and best fit.
- [Gold foil vs debossing: choosing a finish for your cards](https://notecardhq.com/blog/gold-foil-and-debossed-cards): What gold foil and debossing each do for a thank-you or invitation card, how they pair with handwriting, and which to choose for your brand and budget.
- [Handwritten corporate holiday cards, at any volume](https://notecardhq.com/blog/handwritten-corporate-holiday-cards): How to send business holiday cards that are actually handwritten: list, copy, stationery, timing and gifts, for 50 clients or 5,000, without a signing marathon.
- [Handwritten direct mail: when it beats print](https://notecardhq.com/blog/handwritten-direct-mail): When handwritten direct mail is worth the higher cost per piece than printed mail, how to run it at scale with a real pen, and how to tell if it is working.
- [Handwritten notes API comparison for developers](https://notecardhq.com/blog/handwritten-notes-api-comparison): Handwritten card APIs compared: auth, test mode, webhooks, idempotency, address checks, docs and SDKs at Handwrytten, IgnitePOST, Scribeless and more.
- [Handwritten notes for customer retention: a practical playbook](https://notecardhq.com/blog/handwritten-notes-for-customer-retention): Where handwritten notes help customer retention, who should get one, what to write, how to trigger cards from your systems, and how to prove the lift with a holdout.
- [Handwritten notes for hotels and hospitality](https://notecardhq.com/blog/handwritten-notes-for-hotels): Where handwritten notes work for hotels: pre-arrival welcomes, post-stay thank-yous, return guests and group sales. Timing, what to write, and how to send them from your systems.
- [Handwritten notes for wedding and event vendors](https://notecardhq.com/blog/handwritten-notes-for-wedding-vendors): Handwritten notes for wedding and event vendors: thank-yous after the event, referral and review asks that do not feel pushy, first-anniversary cards and notes to referring planners.
- [Handwritten notes from Salesforce](https://notecardhq.com/blog/handwritten-notes-from-salesforce): How to send real handwritten cards from Salesforce with a record-triggered Flow and a small Apex action, for closed-won thank-yous, renewals and other moments your org already tracks.
- [Handwritten thank-you notes for Shopify stores](https://notecardhq.com/blog/handwritten-thank-you-notes-for-shopify-stores): How Shopify stores send real handwritten thank-you cards to first-time buyers, VIPs and lapsed customers, through a webhook or Zapier, plus what to write and what it costs.
- [Handwrytten pricing explained: plans, per-card fees and postage](https://notecardhq.com/blog/handwrytten-pricing): Handwrytten pricing, explained: $3.75 pay as you go or $449 to $2,499 a month plus a per-card fee, postage extra. What a card costs all-in at your volume.
- [Handwrytten vs IgnitePOST: price, API and plans compared](https://notecardhq.com/blog/handwrytten-vs-ignitepost): Handwrytten vs IgnitePOST: both write with real pens. How their plans compare at your volume, what the APIs offer, integrations, inserts, and which one fits.
- [Handwrytten vs Scribeless: pen, price, API and international mail](https://notecardhq.com/blog/handwrytten-vs-scribeless): Handwrytten vs Scribeless: how each makes its handwriting, what each publishes on price, international posting, APIs and integrations, and which one fits.
- [Handwrytten vs Simply Noted: cost, API and plans](https://notecardhq.com/blog/handwrytten-vs-simply-noted): Handwrytten vs Simply Noted compared: all-in cost at 100, 500, 2,500 and 10,000 cards a month, which plan unlocks the API, and credits vs monthly plans.
- [How much does a handwritten note service cost?](https://notecardhq.com/blog/handwritten-note-service-cost): Handwritten note service cost, explained: pay per card, monthly plans, prepaid credits and quotes, the fees that are easy to miss, and what a card costs all-in.
- [How to add handwritten notes to corporate gifts at scale](https://notecardhq.com/blog/handwritten-notes-for-corporate-gifts): A gift without a personal note feels like a shipment. How to pair corporate gifts with real handwritten cards for hundreds of recipients, without writing them by hand.
- [How to measure the ROI of handwritten notes](https://notecardhq.com/blog/measure-roi-of-handwritten-notes): Most handwritten note ROI numbers are unsourced. How to measure the lift from handwritten cards yourself with a holdout group, what to count, and how long to wait.
- [How to schedule handwritten cards for birthdays and anniversaries](https://notecardhq.com/blog/schedule-handwritten-birthday-cards): Keep birthdays and anniversaries in your CRM and send each handwritten card ahead of time with a sendOn date. notecardHQ holds it and mails it on that day. Timing, code, CSV and gotchas.
- [IgnitePOST alternative: how notecardHQ compares](https://notecardhq.com/blog/ignitepost-alternative): Looking for an IgnitePOST alternative? A fair look at notecardHQ on price, API, test mode, webhooks and international mail, including where IgnitePOST wins.
- [LettrLabs alternative: how notecardHQ compares](https://notecardhq.com/blog/lettrlabs-alternative): Comparing LettrLabs and notecardHQ: a printed plus handwritten mail platform vs a real pen card API. Pricing, Premium at $399 a month, integrations and API.
- [Scribeless pricing: what is published and what is quote only](https://notecardhq.com/blog/scribeless-pricing): Scribeless pricing, explained: postcards from £1.99 to £1.19 plus stamps at local rates, while handwritten cards, letters and subscriptions are quote only.
- [Send handwritten notes from HubSpot](https://notecardhq.com/blog/send-handwritten-notes-from-hubspot): How to send a real handwritten card from a HubSpot workflow: the enrollment trigger, a custom code action that calls the notecardHQ API, and when Zapier is the better route.
- [Simply Noted pricing explained: credits, Unlimited and postage](https://notecardhq.com/blog/simply-noted-pricing): Simply Noted pricing, explained: credit packs from $2.80 to $0.90 a card plus $0.82 postage, or $497 a month Unlimited. All-in cost at your volume, and the fine print.
- [thanks.io alternative: printed handwriting vs a real pen](https://notecardhq.com/blog/thanks-io-alternative): thanks.io prints its handwriting digitally, per its own help center. When printed handwriting is fine, when a real pen is worth paying for, and what each costs.
- [thanks.io vs Handwrytten: printed handwriting vs a real pen](https://notecardhq.com/blog/thanks-io-vs-handwrytten): thanks.io vs Handwrytten: thanks.io prints its handwriting, Handwrytten writes with a pen. What that means, what each costs all-in at your volume, and which to pick.
- [Handwritten notes API: send real pen-written cards from your code](https://notecardhq.com/blog/handwritten-notes-api): Send real handwritten cards from your code with one POST per card. Learn idempotency keys, US address checks, note statuses, and how to test with a test key.
- [How to write a handwritten note for customers](https://notecardhq.com/blog/writing-copy-for-handwritten-notes): How to write a handwritten note for customers: length for a 7x5 card, tone, personal details, sign-offs, which characters a pen can write, and how to test.
- [Quality control for robot-written cards: how we check every card](https://notecardhq.com/blog/how-we-check-every-card): How every robot-written card is checked: notes become pen strokes, OCR reads each word back, unclear words are redrawn and digits must match exactly.
- [Robot-written cards vs handwriting fonts: why real ink reads differently](https://notecardhq.com/blog/robot-handwriting-vs-handwriting-fonts): Why a card written by a robot holding a real pen reads differently from a printed handwriting font: ink, pressure, natural variation, and no repeating letters.
- [When to send handwritten thank-you cards to customers](https://notecardhq.com/blog/when-to-send-handwritten-cards): The customer milestones worth a handwritten thank you card, from first sale to renewals and churn saves, and how to wire each one to an event in your system.

## FAQ
- Is it really written with a pen? Yes. Every card is written by a robot holding a real pen on real card stock. Nothing is printed to look handwritten.
- How do I send notes? Send one API request per note from your code, or create notes in the portal. Each request carries the recipient's address and the exact message to write.
- Can I use my own card design? Yes. Upload your own front and back artwork in the portal's card studio and set the return address that goes on every envelope.
- Do you mail outside the US? Yes, to the US and internationally. US addresses are verified before a note is accepted; international addresses are mailed as you send them.
- What can the pen write? Up to 500 characters of letters, digits and common punctuation, including @ $ & % # + =. Emoji and decorative symbols are not supported.
- Can I stop a note after I send it? Yes. Every note appears in the portal, and you can cancel any note until it has been written.
- How much does it cost? From $3.25 per card in the US and $4.25 abroad, all-in: card, handwriting, envelope and postage. The rate drops with monthly volume to $1.95, with no monthly fee. See the pricing page.

Contact: inquiry@notecardhq.com