SLOWLY

Write letters and make friends

6 followers

Write letters and make friends

6 followers

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Messaging apps

SLOWLY is created for those who yearn for meaningful conversations, lacking in the era of instant messaging. It connects people around the world at a slower but better pace – one letter at a time.

The Best SLOWLY Alternatives

The best SLOWLY alternatives are LetterMe, Lettre.app, Oom, OpnSouls, and ChatterBooth.

LetterMe

5.0 ·

Choose LetterMe if...

✓you want slow letters with existing friends
✓you prefer distance-based delivery timing
✓you want a free alternative to SLOWLY

See details ↓

Lettre.app

4.9 ·

Choose Lettre.app if...

✓you want a handwritten letter experience on iOS
✓you use iPad and Apple Pencil to write
✓you care more about crafting than collecting stamps

See details ↓

Oom

5.0 ·

Choose Oom if...

✓you want prompts that skip small talk fast
✓you like playful, game-like social connection
✓you want depth without writing long letters

See details ↓

OpnSouls

Choose OpnSouls if...

✓you want daily prompts with your friend group
✓you prefer short threads over long letters
✓you want a lightweight check-in habit

See details ↓

ChatterBooth

Choose ChatterBooth if...

✓you want anonymous real-time chat or voice calls
✓you want help with what to say
✓you want async memos when others are offline

See details ↓

What to Consider

SLOWLY is one of the best-known “digital pen pal” apps, built around delayed delivery, long-form letters, and stamp collecting that makes correspondence feel intentional. The alternatives split into distinct directions: LetterMe keeps the slow, distance-based pacing but is geared toward reconnecting with people you already know (and it’s free), while Lettre.app leans into a handcrafted, handwritten iOS/iPad experience that’s closer to the ritual of real letters. If you’re less interested in long letters, Oom replaces the format with game-like prompts designed to skip small talk, OpnSouls turns connection into daily prompt-driven check-ins with friends, and ChatterBooth goes the opposite way with anonymous real-time chat/voice plus an async “memo” fallback.

In evaluating SLOWLY alternatives, the key considerations were the communication model (delayed letters vs prompts vs live chat), whether the focus is meeting strangers or deepening existing relationships, the writing experience (text vs handwritten), platform availability and reliability, and how pricing and friction (setup, onboarding, and feature completeness) affect day-to-day use.

LetterMe

The magic of letter-sending, right from your phone.

5.0 · 1 review

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LetterMe focuses on bringing back the “magic” of messaging by adding distance-based delivery delays to conversations you already care about. Compared with SLOWLY’s pen-pal discovery and stamp-collecting loop, it’s better suited to friends and family who want a slower cadence without turning the experience into a collecting game.

The core advantage is intent: by forcing a wait, the app nudges longer, more reflective messages that feel closer to letters than chat. That pacing can make reconnecting less awkward and less demanding than real-time messaging, especially across time zones.

It’s also a strong fit when the goal is to revive dormant relationships rather than meet strangers. If the priority is “write to people you know, but more thoughtfully,” LetterMe is a cleaner match than SLOWLY’s community-first approach.

Being free lowers the barrier for groups who want to try slow messaging together without committing to purchases or add-ons.

Best for

Best for long-distance friends and families who want slow, thoughtful messages without pen-pal matching.

Standout features

✓Distance-based message delivery delays
✓Designed for existing relationships
✓Encourages longer, reflective writing
✓Free to use

Lettre.app

Slow post in the age of instant messaging

4.9 · 7 reviews

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Handwriting is the point with Lettre.app, making it a compelling alternative to SLOWLY’s typed, text-letter experience. Instead of simulating postal delays as the main hook, it emphasizes the ritual of composing something personal that looks and feels crafted.

On iOS and especially iPad, the experience is geared toward immersive writing sessions, including workflows that fit naturally with Apple Pencil. That makes it ideal for people who miss traditional letters and want the visual warmth of handwriting without going fully physical.

The payoff is emotional presence: recipients get something that feels made for them, not just sent to them. In that sense, Lettre.app can deliver more “keepsake” value than SLOWLY, even if the focus is less on meeting new correspondents.

The trade-off is that it’s more device- and experience-driven, so it shines most when the act of writing matters as much as the message itself.

Best for

Ideal for iOS users who want a handwritten, aesthetic letter-writing experience for people they already know.

Standout features

✓Handwritten-first digital letters
✓iPad and Apple Pencil friendly
✓Craft-focused, traditional letter feel
✓Immersive, calm writing experience

Oom

The chat app that skips the small talk

5.0 · 10 reviews

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Oom takes a completely different route from SLOWLY by prioritizing intimacy-building prompts over long-form letter exchange. It’s designed to get past small talk quickly through structured, randomized questions that keep conversations moving and meaningful.

Rather than waiting on delivery times, Oom creates momentum with playful mechanics and a “safe” framework for sharing. That makes it a strong fit for dating, friendships, and even couples who want conversation starters that surface topics they might not naturally reach.

The product also leans into a game-like experience, including an evolving avatar that grows as the connection deepens. That sense of progression can be more motivating than SLOWLY’s stamps for people who want emotional depth without committing to writing long letters.

If the goal is faster connection and guided dialogue instead of slow correspondence, Oom is the clearer pick.

Best for

Best for people who want guided prompts to build deeper conversations quickly in dating or friendships.

Standout features

✓Randomized conversation prompts
✓Designed to skip small talk
✓Playful, game-like connection mechanics
✓Evolving avatar tied to connection

OpnSouls

Stay connected with your friends through daily icebreakers

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OpnSouls is built around daily prompts and a friend feed, making it a lighter-weight alternative to SLOWLY’s one-to-one letter format. Instead of composing long messages to a pen pal, it encourages quick reflections and threaded replies that feel more like a shared ritual.

That structure works well for maintaining connection through small, consistent touchpoints. For many groups, a short prompt response is easier to sustain than periodic long letters, while still creating space for meaningful check-ins.

It’s also naturally social in a way SLOWLY isn’t, because the feed format can spark multiple mini-conversations rather than a single private exchange. The result is less pressure, more frequency, and a habit that fits into busy days.

If the priority is keeping up with friends through simple daily engagement, OpnSouls is a more direct match than slow-delivery correspondence.

Best for

Ideal for friend groups who want daily prompt-driven check-ins without writing long letters.

Standout features

✓Daily prompts for lightweight sharing
✓Friend feed with threaded replies
✓Asynchronous micro-conversations
✓Low-effort habit formation

ChatterBooth

Connect with likeminded people - privately and anonymously

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ChatterBooth flips SLOWLY’s slow-letter concept into anonymous real-time conversation, including voice calls. It’s aimed at people who want immediate connection with strangers, not delayed correspondence and long-form writing.

A key differentiator is the blend of live chat and an async fallback: when someone isn’t available, the Memo feature lets messages land without requiring both people to be online. That creates a more flexible rhythm than purely synchronous chat apps.

The experience also reduces “what do I say?” friction with AI suggestions, which can help conversations start and keep flowing. Combined with small touches like a waiting lounge, it’s designed to make the experience feel guided and comfortable.

For users who want spontaneity and voice-first connection, ChatterBooth is the sharper alternative to SLOWLY’s reflective, delayed format.