Why does PostboxMap show ads? How can I support it?

PostboxMap.co.uk is and will stay free to use. You don't need to pay to register, add postboxes, correct data, or use the map and API. The goal is to make UK postbox mapping accessible to everyone (enthusiasts, researchers, and the curious) without putting up a paywall.

The site is run out of my own pocket. Servers, databases, storage, and the tools that keep the map fast and reliable cost real money every month. To cover those costs without charging users, I use a small number of ad placements (for example on the help and learn pages). The ads are from trusted ad networks and are kept as unobtrusive as possible. They’re there so the project can afford to keep running, not to make a profit.

Hosting a map and API that serve thousands of postboxes and users, with images and moderation workflows, means ongoing spend on servers, bandwidth, backups, and security. Those costs add up. Ads only offset part of that; the rest comes from personal funding and from the generosity of people who choose to support the project.

If you find PostboxMap useful and want to help keep it online, you can support it via Buy Me a Coffee (linked in the site footer and on the About page). Any amount helps: it goes straight towards server and running costs. There’s no obligation: the site remains free whether you contribute or not. Thank you to everyone who has already chipped in; it genuinely makes a difference.

I’m committed to not locking core features behind a paywall. You won’t need a subscription to add postboxes, correct data, or use the API. Ads and voluntary support are the way the project stays sustainable while staying free for all.