No. NetStamps are printable PC Postage, not physical Forever stamps. A valid NetStamp pays the amount and mail service selected when it is created. Its value does not automatically increase after a rate change the way an ordinary Forever stamp does.
What NetStamps Are
NetStamps are postage indicia printed through Stamps.com on compatible label sheets or rolls. USPS lists Stamps.com among its approved PC Postage providers. The printed label can be valid U.S. postage, but its product type is online postage rather than a USPS-issued adhesive stamp series.
NetStamps vs. Forever Stamps
| Feature | NetStamps | Ordinary Forever stamps |
|---|---|---|
| How obtained | Generated through an online postage account and printed | Purchased as physical USPS-issued postage |
| Value rule | The purchased amount or selected service | The current one-ounce stamped-letter rate |
| Rate increase | Does not automatically turn an old amount into the new price | Continues to cover its designated Forever category |
| Identification | Printed postage indicia, barcode and transaction information | Official issue design and Forever/category wording |
| Account dependency | Created and recorded through the postage provider | No online account needed to use an unused physical stamp |
Are NetStamps Real Postage?
They can be. A NetStamp printed through a legitimate funded account using an approved provider is a form of valid PC Postage. A copied image, duplicated label, refunded or voided transaction, altered indicia, or label from an unknown source should not be treated as valid simply because it resembles a NetStamp.
The label still has to match the mailpiece and selected service. Weight, shape, dimensions, destination and added services can change the required postage.
What Happens After a Price Change?
Do not assume a previously printed NetStamp now has the current Forever value. Check the amount and service represented by the printed indicia and the provider’s transaction record. If it no longer covers the finished mailpiece, use the provider’s current workflow or ask USPS how to correct the postage without altering or duplicating the original label.
How to Check a Printed Label
- Confirm it was created through your own account or another traceable, approved source.
- Read the postage amount, service and any date or mailing limitations shown.
- Check that the transaction was not voided, refunded, copied or previously used.
- Recalculate postage using the completed mailpiece, not an estimated empty envelope.
For the wider product comparison, see Stamps.com vs. Forever stamps. For discontinued photo-postage products, use the separate custom postage guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do NetStamps say “Forever”?
They are not part of the USPS Forever stamp program. Identify them by the printed postage indicia and transaction details, not by a Forever value rule.
Can I print a NetStamp on ordinary paper?
Use the compatible labels and printing workflow specified by the provider. Do not copy, resize or recreate postage indicia manually.
Can a NetStamp be reused?
No. Postage cannot be reused, and a duplicated or previously used indicia is not valid for a second mailing.
Sources: USPS postage options and approved PC Postage providers; Stamps.com NetStamps instructions; USPS Domestic Mail Manual 604. Product distinctions checked September 1, 2026.