An honest comparison — including the option where you don't pay us anything. Prices checked July 2026.
| Option | Cost | Good | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY at the post office | ~$8.86 USPS fees (certified + electronic receipt) + printing | Cheapest. Full control. | Your time, your letterhead, your filing system. Compliance research is on you. |
| Ask a chatbot to write it | Free | Decent letter text, instantly. | Nobody prints, mails, or tracks it — and text is the easy part. You still make the post-office trip and keep the evidence yourself. |
| Dispute (getdispute.com) | $9/letter + $10/mo subscription | Established product, broad letter catalog. | The forced subscription — their most common complaint. Not landlord-specific. |
| JusticeDirect | $600/attorney demand letter | Signed by a real attorney — maximum weight. | $600. Small-claims help is CA/NY only. |
| Collection agency | 30–40% of what's recovered | They chase so you don't. | Won't touch small one-off debts; a $2,500 invoice loses $875–1,000. |
| NoticeDept | $2.50 first-class ($1.80 in 10-packs) / $11.99 certified / $39 demand package. No subscription. | State-compliant templates with statute citations, official letterhead, certified mail without the trip, and a permanent evidence archive. | Not an attorney letter (that's JusticeDirect's lane). Document preparation, not legal advice. |
Draft your letter free Download it free and DIY, or have us mail it — no tricks either way.
