The Drift Journal

7 Apps Like Slowly to Meet Pen Pals Around the World (2026)

If you love Slowly's slow, thoughtful way of writing letters but want to try something new, the best alternatives in 2026 are DriftNote, Bottled, InterPals, and Meeff. Each one connects you with pen pals or strangers around the world without the pressure of instant messaging, endless feeds, or swipe-to-match dating. Below we compare seven apps like Slowly, what each is best for, and which platforms they run on.

What makes a good alternative to Slowly?

Slowly built a global following by doing the opposite of every other social app. Instead of feeds, followers, and likes, it delivers hand-written digital letters based on real geographic distance, so a note to someone across the ocean takes days to arrive. That deliberate slowness is what people mean when they search for Slowly alternatives — they want depth, not dopamine.

So the best pen pal apps and apps to meet strangers tend to share a few traits: they match you with real people worldwide, they reward writing over swiping, they keep interactions calm and low-pressure, and they take safety seriously with moderation, reporting, and age ratings. The seven apps below all fit that spirit in different ways.

The 7 best apps like Slowly in 2026

1. Slowly

The original letter-writing app that turned "slow" into a movement.

Slowly delivers your letters based on the real distance between you and your pen pal, so writing to someone far away genuinely takes time to arrive — just like postal mail. You collect stamps, match on shared interests, and build long correspondences that can last for years.

2. DriftNote

The app most devoted to the pure message-in-a-bottle idea.

DriftNote is the closest thing to tossing a bottle into the sea. You write one short note, and it drifts to a single random stranger somewhere in the world. Each day you receive a few notes from other people, swipe to reply, and when someone accepts your reply a private 1:1 chat opens. It is newer and smaller than Slowly, and it does not pretend otherwise — but that narrow focus is exactly the point: one honest note at a time, with no feed, no followers, and no likes. Built-in translation, keyword and image moderation, reporting and blocking, and a 17+ rating keep it calmer than most apps to meet strangers. It is free.

  • Best for: People who miss the romance of a real message in a bottle and want genuine, unhurried conversations.
  • Platform: iOS (free).

You can download DriftNote on the App Store or read more about how a message-in-a-bottle app works before you write your first note.

Try DriftNote →

3. Bottled

A literal digital message-in-a-bottle community.

Bottled lets you throw a written bottle into a virtual ocean for strangers to pick up and reply to. It leans playful and anonymous, which makes it a light, low-commitment way to reach people you'll never otherwise meet.

4. InterPals

A long-running pen pal network from before the app era.

InterPals is a web-first community, accessible on mobile browsers, for finding pen pals by country, language, and interests. It is a favorite among language learners who like to read detailed profiles before writing.

5. Meeff

A global friend-making app with a language-exchange twist.

Meeff shows you a daily card of people from around the world and lets you say hi. It is more chat-forward than letter-based, so it moves faster than Slowly but still centers on meeting international friends rather than dating.

6. PenPal Schools

A structured, educational pen pal program.

PenPal Schools connects students and lifelong learners through guided projects on real-world topics, with safety and moderation designed for classrooms. It is less about idle chat and more about learning alongside a partner across the globe.

7. Hey! VINA

A friendship app built for women.

Hey! VINA helps women find platonic friends both nearby and around the world, matching on interests and life stage. It is squarely about friendship rather than romance, which makes it a comfortable place to meet new people.

Pen pal apps vs. dating apps: what's the difference?

It's easy to lump every "meet strangers" app together, but pen pal apps and dating apps optimize for opposite things. Dating apps reward speed — fast swipes, fast matches, fast replies. Apps like Slowly reward patience: a good letter, a thoughtful reply, and a connection that grows over weeks instead of minutes. If you have ever felt burned out by the swipe treadmill, a slower pen pal app is often the fix. DriftNote pushes this the furthest by limiting how many notes you get each day, so the app can never turn into an endless feed.

How to choose the right pen pal app for you

There is no single best app for everyone, so match the tool to what you actually want:

Whichever you pick, the habits that lead to a lasting connection are the same everywhere. If you're new to this, our guide on how to find a pen pal walks through writing a first note that actually gets a reply. And if you want more comparisons and slow-social ideas, browse the rest of The Drift Journal.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free alternative to Slowly?

For a free, slow-social experience, DriftNote is one of the closest alternatives to Slowly. It uses a message-in-a-bottle model — you write a short note, it drifts to a random stranger, and you receive a few notes each day. Bottled and Meeff are also free to start, and InterPals is a free web-based pen pal community.

Are pen pal apps safe for meeting strangers?

Reputable pen pal apps include safety features such as content moderation, reporting, blocking, and age ratings. DriftNote, for instance, uses keyword and image moderation, reporting and blocking, and a 17+ rating. As with any app to meet strangers, share personal details slowly and keep early conversations inside the app.

What is a message-in-a-bottle app?

A message-in-a-bottle app is a digital version of tossing a note into the sea: you write a short message and it drifts to a random stranger somewhere in the world, who can choose to reply. DriftNote and Bottled are two apps built around this idea.

Do apps like Slowly have translation for pen pals in other countries?

Yes. Many pen pal apps include built-in translation so you can write to strangers who speak other languages. DriftNote has translation built in, and language-focused apps like Meeff and InterPals are popular specifically for language exchange.