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Supported Hardware

PostalPoint is designed for compatibility with a large variety of hardware. If you have a device that isn't listed, there's no harm in trying to make it work with PostalPoint. We'd also be happy to borrow it for a week or two and certify it, releasing a PostalPoint software update to add compatibility if needed.

Computer

For hardware, any computer with sufficient performance and USB ports will work with PostalPoint.

Minimum PC Hardware

  • Intel 6th-generation i5 (or most modern x86 CPUs from the past eight years or so, excluding the extreme low end)
  • 8GB RAM
  • 30GB available storage on solid-state drive
  • Keyboard
  • Minimum 1024x768 display
  • Recommended 1280x1024 or larger touchscreen display

For full support and the best experience, we recommend Linux-based operating systems. Printers are plug-and-play with no drivers or setup required, labels and receipts print faster, and PostalPoint software updates are automatic and do not interrupt the user.

We have tested and officially support the following operating systems:

  • Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, 24.04 LTS
  • Debian 12
  • Linux Mint 22

Other (and newer) Debian or Ubuntu-based operating systems should work without issues.

It should not matter which desktop environment you use. We have tested with KDE Plasma, Cinnamon, and GNOME.

Discouraged Software/Operating System

Windows is not recommended. It is slower, less secure, less reliable, and much harder to configure than Linux.

PostalPoint provides a Windows installer as a courtesy, because many people currently have Windows on their computers. Please consider moving to a secure and modern Linux operating system as soon as possible, especially if you're still on Windows 10, which has reached its end of life.

We have tested PostalPoint on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Label Printers

PostalPoint supports any 203 or 300 DPI USB-connected thermal label printer that uses the ZPL, EPL2, or TSPL2 languages, and also Brother QL series printers. PostalPoint interfaces directly with these printers, bypassing normal printer drivers. This means if a driver is not available for your printer and computer, you can set it up in Linux or Windows as a generic/text-only printer or use any other driver, because PostalPoint doesn't use the driver at all.

While not recommended due to inferior performance, speed, and quality, PostalPoint also supports printing labels via the system's printer driver. This mode is intended to be a fallback in case you're having problems, and should not be used unless it cannot be helped.

Printers must be capable of printing at least four inches wide, as that is the standard width of shipping labels.

Certified Label Printers

The following models have been tested and certified for PostalPoint. You should experience no compatibility issues with these printers.

  • Brother QL-1050 (300dpi, using DK-2243 label rolls, available here, here, and from other suppliers)
  • Zebra/Eltron/UPS LP2844 (EPL2, 200dpi)
  • Zebra GK420d (ZPL, 200dpi)
  • Zebra GX430t (ZPL, 300dpi)
  • HotLabel A300 (TSPL2, 300dpi)
  • Gprinter GP-1324D (TSPL2, 200dpi)

Stamp Printers

A dedicated stamp printer is optional, and is only used for printing First Class postage from the Print Stamps card on the Home screen.

If your label printer is a Brother QL model, you can use it for both shipping labels and stamps, and it will automatically cut the labels down to the correct size while printing.

You can use any supported label printer of your choice as long as you load a roll of 1-1/8" x 3-1/2" labels. Search for 30252 labels online to find the right size. You can also use 4x2 inch labels, but you might have trouble finding room for them on some envelopes.

The stamp printer configuration process is almost identical to label printer configuration, except that the exact label measurements cannot be adjusted.

Receipt Printers

Any standard ESC/POS 80mm wide thermal receipt printer which presents as a serial port or raw print queue should work fine with PostalPoint. This includes most USB thermal receipt printers on the market, both name-brand ones and cheap Chinese clones.

If the horizontal bars on a printed receipt don't go all the way across, or they wrap to the next line, adjust the Receipt Width value in PostalPoint until it's just right. Start with 42 or 48, they're somewhat common values. This value can differ between printers, depending on what the printer's factory default font and font size is.

You can also configure PostalPoint to print receipts to your label printer if you don't have a receipt printer.

Scales

PostalPoint should support any USB scale following the USB HID POS (Point of Sale) specification. Most scales that have a USB connection on both sides (i.e. not using a serial port on the scale) follow this specification.

Due to postal weighing requirements, scales used should be accurate to 0.1oz, at least on the low end of their range. This is sometimes marketed as 0.005lb or 0.005kg accuracy, which are close enough to be practically equal for mailing purposes.

Note that 47 U.S. states require scales used in commerce to be NTEP certified as of 2022; using a scale in violation of state laws can result in fines or other penalties.

Certified Scales

All these scales are NTEP-certified and accurate to 0.1 ounces up to at least 7lbs. The Mettler-Toledo scales listed are very robust and long-lasting; we suggest saving a few hundred dollars by searching the used market before buying new.

  • Mettler-Toledo PS3L (70lbs max)
  • Mettler-Toledo PS6L (150lbs max)
  • Mettler-Toledo PS15 (30lbs max)
  • Mettler-Toledo BC Scale BCA-222-30U-1501-110, BCA-222-30U-1531-110, BCA-222-30U-153A-110, BCA-222-30U-U501-110 (70lbs max)
  • Mettler-Toledo BC Scale BCA-222-6LU-1501-110 (150lbs max)
  • Pitney Bowes JP85 (a rebranded Mettler-Toledo BC scale)
  • Pitney Bowes MP49 (a rebranded Mettler-Toledo PS3L scale)
  • Pitney Bowes MP30 (a rebranded Mettler-Toledo PS15)
  • Pitney Bowes JN75/JB75 (serial only, use Toledo protocol)
  • Prime Scales PS-B130 (serial only, use PS-IN202 protocol)

Barcode Scanners

As with scales, PostalPoint supports the USB HID POS specification for barcode scanners. However, unlike with scales, many scanners do not follow the specification, and the ones which do typically require additional setup. Check your scanner's manual for those instructions. Non-compliant scanners will be evaluated and support added on a model-by-model basis.

PostalPoint also supports barcode scanners which present as serial or serial-over-USB. If your scanners supports both serial and USB HID, HID is preferred as the setup within PostalPoint is automatic. If PostalPoint won't respond to your scanner, change modes and try again.

USB scanners in the certified lists should automatically work in PostalPoint once placed in the correct mode by scanning a programming barcode from the owner's manual.

If possible, pick a scanner from the first list below.

Certified Scanners, USB HID POS compliant

Other Certified USB scaners (non-compliant)

  • HZGrow GM812, GM805, GM861 (set to "HID-POS")

Serial-over-USB Certified Scanners

  • Honeywell Voyager XP 1470g (set to "USB Serial")
  • HZGrow GM812, GM805 (set to "USB Virtual serial port")

Non-certified but should work

  • Zebra Symbol DS6707 (on Linux, set to "Simple COM Port Emulation". "USB OPOS Handheld" also functions but has a limited barcode length, so some barcodes won't work.)