PrimeBox vs Encarguelo: Virtual Mailbox Compared 2026

Choosing a virtual mailbox to bring your US purchases to Colombia is no small decision: a misread rate or a couple of extra transit days can completely change the final cost of an iPhone or your Amazon order. That's why this guide compares PrimeBox vs Encarguelo honestly and fairly, so you decide with data rather than marketing.

Let's be clear up front: Encarguelo is a company with over 8 years of track record and an assisted-purchase marketplace that many people know and trust. We're not here to downplay that. What we do want is to show you, side by side, where each one stands today on price, times, coverage and experience, so you can see which platform suits each situation.

Transparency note: the PrimeBox figures in this guide are real data about our own service. Encarguelo's figures were taken from its official site and calculator on July 2, 2026; they change often, so confirm them on its official site before deciding.

Quick summary

If you're in a hurry, this table sums up the essentials. We break down each point below.

The short takeaway: PrimeBox competes hard on tiered pricing, transparency (official TRM, published insurance and commissions) and a modern web experience, while Encarguelo brings track record, a marketplace with final prices in COP and the broadest range of local payments (including financing with Addi and Sistecredito). Let's look at the details.

Price difference — per-pound rate

International shipping cost is usually the factor that moves the decision most, so let's start there. The key is understanding that almost every mailbox charges per pound, but how that rate is tiered changes the result a lot depending on how much your package weighs.

PrimeBox rates broken down

PrimeBox uses a tiered rate: the heavier your shipment, the less you pay per pound. This is the real structure:

The important thing when reading this table: the first pound has a US$8 minimum charge, so very light packages (a charger, a case, a small accessory) always land on that floor. From there, the more you consolidate and the more weight you ship, the cheaper each pound gets, down to US$2.80/lb on large shipments. That's why it pays to bundle purchases when you can.

You can estimate your exact case in the PrimeBox calculator, which also adds taxes using the live TRM from Colombia's central bank (Banco de la República).

Encarguelo rates

Encarguelo publishes a different scheme from the tiered one: a US$17.00 flat rate for shipments of 0 to 4 lb, with insurance included, and above 4 lb it charges US$3.00 per pound plus US$2 insurance per US$100 declared (US$2 minimum). There's another detail that comes straight from its own calculator and terms: it uses its own internal exchange rate (at the time of checking, ~$3,510 per dollar versus the official TRM of $3,403.35), and its terms reserve the right to set it. PrimeBox, by contrast, converts with the official TRM from Banco de la República.

Here's the pound-for-pound comparison:

Let's be plain about what this table says: on light packages of 1 to 4 lb PrimeBox is clearly cheaper (US$8 to US$14 versus the US$17 flat rate). In the 5 lb range the difference is minimal —US$16.50 vs US$17.00, half a dollar, and Encarguelo's rate already includes insurance—. And at high weights the per-pound rate ties at US$3.00, with the difference that Encarguelo adds its US$2 insurance per US$100 declared. For the current rate, check Encarguelo's official site and contrast it with the PrimeBox table above.

Real example: bringing an iPhone 15

Let's see it with the most-searched case: bringing an iPhone 15 from the United States. An iPhone with its box weighs roughly 1.5 pounds, so by billable weight it lands within PrimeBox's US$8 minimum rate for the international leg.

As you can see, with PrimeBox the international leg of an iPhone lands on the US$8 floor, the last mile in Colombia is quoted separately, and taxes depend on the declared value and the day's TRM, so they're computed in the calculator. With Encarguelo that same leg falls on its US$17 flat rate —which, to its credit, already includes insurance—. If you want the full cost breakdown for this product, also read our guide on how much it costs to bring an iPhone from the US to Colombia.

Delivery times

Time matters as much as price, especially if you're buying something you need soon.

PrimeBox delivers in 3 to 8 business days once your package leaves Miami, subject to customs clearance and the destination city within Colombia. It's a realistic range that includes international transport and customs processing; we won't promise 24-hour miracles that customs doesn't allow.

Encarguelo publishes a delivery time of 5 to 10 business days on its official site. On paper, PrimeBox's range is shorter at both ends, but both depend on the same bottleneck —customs—, so compare the current figure before deciding on speed.

Geographic coverage

Both platforms run the same base corridor: a Miami address that receives your US-store purchases to forward them to Colombia. With PrimeBox you get your Miami address instantly when you open your free mailbox, and from there we ship to destinations in Colombia.

Encarguelo's city coverage, pickup points and delivery zones are not published in detail — check them on its official site, especially if you live outside major cities. If you're curious which US stores ship to a mailbox like ours, see the guide on US stores that ship to Colombia.

Included services

Beyond freight, what really changes the experience is the range of services. Here's what PrimeBox offers today:

• Virtual mailbox in Miami: free setup, instant address and package consolidation to lower your per-pound cost.
• Personal Shopper (8% commission): if a store won't accept your Colombian card or won't ship to mailboxes, we buy on your behalf with an 8% commission on the product value.
• Amazon Marketplace (coming soon): we're integrating direct Amazon purchasing with live TRM and payment in pesos.

Encarguelo is known precisely for its assisted-purchase marketplace —in fact, it's its core business—: an own store with final prices in Colombian pesos, already consolidated after over 8 years of operation. That's one of its recognized strengths. That said: its shopper commission is not published, because it's embedded in that final COP price, so you can't see how much you're paying for the service itself. If your purchase is 100% Amazon, it's also worth reading how to buy on Amazon from Colombia.

User experience and web

This is one of the differentials our customers mention most: PrimeBox was built with a modern web experience. You open your mailbox in minutes, see each package's status on a clear dashboard, get the live TRM from Banco de la República when calculating taxes, and quote your shipment without back-and-forth calls or emails. The idea is that you control everything from your phone.

Encarguelo has its own platform and a broad community built over its years of track record. How comfortable each interface feels is subjective and you should try it yourself; we won't rate its experience with figures we can't verify. The fair thing to say is that both platforms are usable and the "best" depends on what you're used to.

Payment methods

Paying in pesos, with no exchange-rate surprises, makes a difference. PrimeBox accepts:

• Stripe for charges in USD.
• Wompi, Nequi and PSE for payments in COP (Colombian pesos).

So you can pay with your preferred method in local currency, with the conversion computed on the live TRM from Banco de la República. If you want to understand how the exchange rate affects your purchase, read what the TRM is.

On this point we have to give Encarguelo credit for a real strength: it accepts cards, PSE, Nequi, Efecty, Bancolombia and financing with Addi and Sistecredito, per its official site. If you need to pay in installments, that variety works in its favor today. The flip side is the conversion: its peso prices are computed with its internal exchange rate (~$3,510 at the time of checking), not the official TRM.

Trust signals

When you send money abroad and hand your purchases to an intermediary, backing matters. These are PrimeBox's real trust signals:

• Insurance up to US$2,000 USD per shipment.
• Supervised by the SIC (Colombia's Superintendence of Industry and Commerce).
• Registered with the Bogota Chamber of Commerce.
• 1,200+ customers and a 4.9★ rating.

Encarguelo, for its part, backs its operation with over 8 years of track record in the market, which is itself a valuable trust signal. Its legal entity is ENCARGUELO.COM LLC, registered in Florida (Boca Raton, US); it doesn't publish a registration with Colombia's SIC or with a Colombian chamber of commerce. Its insurance is included in the rate, but it covers total loss only (no partial damage or customs holds) and the insurable maximum isn't published (the courier limit is US$2,000 and 110 lb per shipment).

Pros and cons of each

To keep the comparison fair, we put the good and the improvable on both sides.

PrimeBox — for: a competitive tiered rate that rewards consolidating (from US$2.80/lb), delivery in 3–8 business days, free setup with an instant Miami address, personal shopper with a clear 8% commission, a modern web experience with live TRM, insurance up to US$2,000 USD and SIC oversight.

PrimeBox — to improve: we're newer to the market than Encarguelo, and our Amazon marketplace hasn't launched yet (coming soon), so fully integrated 100% purchasing isn't available today.

Encarguelo — for: over 8 years of track record, a consolidated assisted-purchase marketplace with final prices in COP, a US$17 flat rate with insurance included that runs very close to PrimeBox in the 5 lb range, and the broadest range of local payments in this comparison (cards, PSE, Nequi, Efecty, Bancolombia, Addi, Sistecredito). For anyone who values an established brand, installment financing or a mature errands catalog, those are real strengths.

Encarguelo — to improve: it uses its own internal exchange rate (~$3,510 at the time of checking, versus the official $3,403) that its terms reserve the right to set; its shopper commission isn't published (it's embedded in the final price); its insurance covers total loss only and the insurable maximum isn't published; and it doesn't publish a registration with the SIC or a Colombian chamber of commerce.

Which one suits you?

There's no single winner; it depends on what you prioritize:

• You bring light packages (1–4 lb) or want the cheapest scale when consolidating → PrimeBox wins clearly on light packages (US$8–14 versus the US$17 flat rate) and drops to US$2.80/lb on large shipments. At 5 lb they're nearly even (US$16.50 vs US$17.00).
• You value a brand with over 8 years and a marketplace with final prices in COP → Encarguelo has that history in its favor. And if you need financing with Addi or Sistecredito, today only they offer it.
• You need someone to buy on your behalf with a clear commission → PrimeBox charges 8% personal shopper; Encarguelo's commission isn't published because it's embedded in the final COP price.
• You care about exchange-rate transparency and paying in pesos with Nequi/PSE → PrimeBox converts with the official live TRM from Banco de la República; Encarguelo uses its own internal rate (~$3,510 vs the official $3,403 at the time of checking).
• Your purchase is 100% Amazon right now → review each one's catalog; PrimeBox's Amazon marketplace is coming soon.

If you want the full picture of options in the country, the guide on best virtual mailboxes in Colombia will also help.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, PrimeBox or Encarguelo?

It depends on your shipment's weight. On light packages of 1 to 4 pounds PrimeBox is clearly cheaper (US$8 to US$14) versus Encarguelo's US$17 flat rate. At 5 pounds they're nearly even (US$16.50 vs US$17.00), and at high weights the per-pound rate ties at US$3.00, though Encarguelo adds US$2 insurance per US$100 declared. Encarguelo figures taken from its official site on July 2, 2026; verify them before deciding.

How long does PrimeBox take to deliver in Colombia?

PrimeBox delivers in 3 to 8 business days once your package leaves Miami, subject to customs and the destination city. Encarguelo publishes a delivery time of 5 to 10 business days on its official site (checked July 2, 2026).

Is opening a PrimeBox mailbox free?

No cost. Opening your PrimeBox mailbox is free and you get your Miami address instantly, with no monthly fee. You only pay shipping and taxes when you send a package.

Does PrimeBox offer a personal shopper like Encarguelo?

Yes. If a store won't accept your Colombian card, PrimeBox buys on your behalf with an 8% commission on the product value. Encarguelo also offers assisted purchasing —it's its core business—, but its commission isn't published: it's embedded in the final price in pesos.

Are my packages insured with PrimeBox?

Yes. PrimeBox insures your shipments up to US$2,000 USD, is supervised by the SIC and registered with the Bogota Chamber of Commerce. Encarguelo's insurance is included in its rate but covers total loss only (no partial damage or customs holds) and its insurable maximum isn't published; the courier limit is US$2,000 per shipment.

Conclusion: choose with data, not marketing

PrimeBox and Encarguelo solve the same problem —bringing your US purchases to Colombia— with different strengths. Encarguelo brings over 8 years of track record, a marketplace with final prices in COP and the broadest range of local payments; in the 5 lb range its rate is practically tied with ours, and we say that with no problem. PrimeBox wins clearly on light packages of 1–4 lb (US$8–14 vs US$17), on transparency (official TRM from Banco de la República, a published 8% shopper commission, insurance up to US$2,000 USD in writing), on 3–8 business-day delivery and on local backing with SIC oversight and the Bogota Chamber of Commerce. The fair move is to compare both companies' current figures before deciding.

Want to try the difference yourself? Create your free PrimeBox mailbox and get your Miami address instantly.