Melissa is a global data quality vendor with UK address verification as one of many products. If you are benchmarking providers, the decision usually comes down to three things: the effective cost per lookup, how quickly you can integrate, and who picks up the phone when something breaks.
Cost per lookup
Melissa sells credit packs; smaller UK packs commonly work out above 4p per lookup. AutoPostcode publishes its rates openly — from about 3.8p per lookup on the entry plan down to roughly 2.2p on higher-volume annual plans — so you can do the maths before you speak to anyone.
| AutoPostcode | Melissa | |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing | Yes, on the website | Typically quote-based |
| Entry price | £19/month | Bundle or contract minimum |
| UK address data | Official UK PAF-derived data | Official UK address data |
| Address autocomplete | Included on every plan | Usually a separate product or add-on |
| WordPress / WooCommerce plugin | Free, self-updating | Varies |
| Migration support | Free, hands-on | Varies |
| Price beat guarantee | Yes | No |
Where Melissa is strong
- Global-first product, UK is one dataset
- Credit packs sold in large blocks
- US-centric support hours
Where AutoPostcode wins
- UK-only focus and UK support
- Plans from 500 lookups a month
- UK address data, UK hosting, UK team
Switching in about 15 minutes
Most migrations are a single endpoint swap. Point your autocomplete at our search endpoint, pass your API key, and render the results you already render:
const res = await fetch(
`https://autopostcode.com/api/public/autocomplete?q=${query}`,
{ headers: { "x-api-key": AUTOPOSTCODE_KEY } }
);
const { results } = await res.json();Prefer no code? Install the free WordPress plugin, paste your key and address autocomplete is live on checkout. Full instructions are in the developer documentation.
The honest summary
Melissa is a credible provider and plenty of UK businesses run on it happily. If what you want is published pricing, a UK team that answers quickly, a plugin that does the work for you and a guarantee that you are not overpaying, AutoPostcode is built for exactly that. Send us your current quote and we will beat it — see the full comparison hub for every other provider.
Frequently asked questions
Is AutoPostcode cheaper than Melissa?
In most like-for-like comparisons yes — and if you already have a written Melissa quote, our price beat guarantee means we'll beat it or tell you honestly that we can't.
Do you use the same UK address data as Melissa?
Both work from official UK Royal Mail address data, so the addresses your customers see are comparable. The differences are pricing, API design, plugins and support.
How hard is it to switch from Melissa?
Usually one endpoint change, or install our WordPress/WooCommerce plugin. Migration and integration support are included free.
We'll beat any like-for-like UK address lookup price
Send us your current quote or invoice and we'll come back the same working day with a better price — plus free migration and integration support.
- Beat any like-for-like UK quote, monthly or annual
- Free migration + hands-on integration support
- No setup fees, no lock-in, cancel any time
Ready to get started?
Add Royal Mail PAF-verified UK address lookup to your site in minutes — start free, no card required.