# Sea Pals vs Slowly: pen pal apps compared

[Sea Pals](https://seapals.app/) › [Guides](https://seapals.app/guides) › [Sea Pals vs Slowly](https://seapals.app/guides/sea-pals-vs-slowly)

Updated 11 October 2026

Sea Pals and Slowly both start friendships through letters, but they differ in how you meet people and what follows. Slowly uses search filters and delivery times based on distance; Sea Pals has Mochi carry a letter to a few people with shared interests, then offers chats and shared island activities when someone replies.

## The differences at a glance

Sources: Slowly’s US App Store listing (checked 11 October 2026) and help pages (checked October 2026). App Store age ratings are separate from account minimum ages and contact rules. Read [how we check comparisons](https://seapals.app/about).

Sea Pals and Slowly — checked October 2026

| What matters to you | Sea Pals | Slowly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starting a conversation | Mochi carries a bottle letter to a few people with shared interests | Letters take hours to days to arrive, depending on distance |
| Choosing who to meet | Mochi finds recipients using shared interests and shared or learning languages | Search with interest, region and age-range filters |
| Age rules | 13+ (14+ in South Korea, 16+ in Australia); teens meet only teens as strangers | App Store: 17+ |
| Price | Free; nothing sold | Free use; optional paid extras, including stamp coins |

## Delivery times or shared-interest introductions?

In Slowly, a letter’s delivery time depends on the distance between you and your pen pal. It can take hours to days, making the wait part of writing to someone far away. This is a reason to choose Slowly if you enjoy taking time over a reply.

In Sea Pals, you write a bottle letter and Mochi looks for a few people who love what you love. Shared and learning languages also help with matching. A reply begins a friendship, so you can keep talking in a chat.

## Search filters or letting Mochi find people?

Slowly lets you search with interest, region and age-range filters. You set the search criteria yourself.

In Sea Pals, choose interests you enjoy and the languages you use or are learning. Mochi uses those to look for people who may have something in common with you. A question about a shared hobby gives someone a way to reply.

## Store age ratings and the teen sea

Slowly’s US App Store listing (checked 11 October 2026) has a 17+ rating. That rating is separate from an account minimum age.

Sea Pals’ account minimums are 13 generally, 14 in South Korea and 16 in Australia, and it keeps teen and adult strangers in separate seas. This stranger rule does not prevent people who already know each other connecting by link or code.

Strangers never see your birthday, exact location or username, and letters cannot include links or social handles. Photos between friends who met by letter need 5 messages from each person and the receiver’s permission.

## What happens after a reply?

Sea Pals has chats and lagoons for up to 6 people, a shared hermit crab called Doori, iPhone widgets and booth strips. You can explore [group chats](https://seapals.app/lagoons), the [shared pet](https://seapals.app/doori), [friend widgets](https://seapals.app/widgets) and the [photo booth](https://seapals.app/booth).

## Which should you choose?

Slowly may suit you if you enjoy waiting for a letter from far away and searching for pen pals with filters. Its stamp collection offers something to keep alongside the letters, with optional paid extras.

Sea Pals may suit you if you want an introduction through shared interests and things to do together after a reply. Chats and lagoons bring friends into everyday life on your island. It is free on iPhone, Android and the web.

For language exchange tools, read [apps like HelloTalk](https://seapals.app/guides/apps-like-hellotalk). You can also compare more options in [best pen pal apps in 2026](https://seapals.app/guides/pen-pal-apps).

## Sea Pals at a glance

- Price: Free

- Works on: iPhone, Android and the web

- App languages: English · 한국어 · 日本語 · Deutsch · Português (Brasil) · Español · Русский · Türkçe · Bahasa Indonesia · Tiếng Việt · ไทย · Italiano · Français · Polski

- Minimum age: 13+ · 14+ in South Korea · 16+ in Australia

- Translation: Built-in, on supported devices and language pairs

## Questions

### Is Sea Pals the same as Slowly?

No. Both start with letters, but Slowly uses distance-based delivery and search filters; Sea Pals sends letters to a few people with shared interests and supports chats and shared island activities after a reply.

### Can I choose a country or person in Sea Pals?

You cannot choose a country or person. Mochi looks for shared interests and shared or learning languages.

### How do the age rules compare?

Slowly’s US App Store listing (checked 11 October 2026) has a 17+ rating. Sea Pals’ account minimums are 13 generally, 14 in South Korea and 16 in Australia, and teen and adult strangers are kept apart.

### Are Sea Pals and Slowly free?

Sea Pals is free. Slowly offers free use with optional paid extras, including coins for stamps; check its current paid options before spending.

## Try it

[Explore pen pals](https://seapals.app/pen-pals)

[Get Sea Pals](https://seapals.app/#get)

## More guides

- [Guides](https://seapals.app/guides)

- [First pen pal letter](https://seapals.app/guides/first-letter)

- [Making friends online](https://seapals.app/guides/make-friends-abroad)

- [How to make Korean friends](https://seapals.app/guides/korean-friends)

- [How to make Japanese friends](https://seapals.app/guides/japanese-friends)

- [Pen pal safety for teens](https://seapals.app/guides/pen-pal-safety)

- [Korean letter phrases](https://seapals.app/guides/korean-phrases)

- [Japanese letter phrases](https://seapals.app/guides/japanese-phrases)

- [Pen pal questions](https://seapals.app/guides/pen-pal-questions)

- [Pen pal apps compared](https://seapals.app/guides/pen-pal-apps)

- [K-pop words](https://seapals.app/guides/kpop-words)

- [Reading Hangul](https://seapals.app/guides/learn-hangul)

- [Korean names for friends](https://seapals.app/guides/korean-honorifics)

- [BTS concert tips](https://seapals.app/guides/bts-concert)

- [K-drama words](https://seapals.app/guides/kdrama-words)

- [Korean comfort food](https://seapals.app/guides/korean-comfort-food)

- [Pepero Day](https://seapals.app/guides/pepero-day)

- [Photo booth poses](https://seapals.app/guides/photo-booth-poses)

- [Apps like HelloTalk](https://seapals.app/guides/apps-like-hellotalk)

- [Pen pal meaning](https://seapals.app/guides/what-is-a-pen-pal)

- [Apps to make friends](https://seapals.app/guides/apps-to-make-friends)

- [Apps for teens to make friends](https://seapals.app/guides/apps-for-teens-to-make-friends)

- [Long distance relationship ideas](https://seapals.app/guides/long-distance-relationship-ideas)

- [Letter to a best friend](https://seapals.app/guides/letter-to-best-friend)

- [Friendship quotes](https://seapals.app/guides/friendship-quotes)

- [Cozy apps](https://seapals.app/guides/cozy-apps)

## Find pen pals

- [Korean pen pals](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/korean)

- [Japanese pen pals](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/japanese)

- [Group chats](https://seapals.app/lagoons)

- [Shared pet](https://seapals.app/doori)

- [Friends widget app](https://seapals.app/widgets)

- [Four-cut photo booth](https://seapals.app/booth)

## Related pages

- [Korean pen pals](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/korean)

- [Japanese pen pals](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/japanese)

- [Group chats](https://seapals.app/lagoons)

- [Shared pet](https://seapals.app/doori)

- [Friends widget app](https://seapals.app/widgets)

- [Four-cut photo booth](https://seapals.app/booth)

[Open in your browser](https://seapals.app/app)
## Pen pals for…
- [BTS fans](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/bts)
- [K-pop fans](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/kpop)
- [Korean pen pals](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/korean)
- [Korean practice with friends](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/learn-korean)
- [K-drama fans](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/kdrama)
- [Anime fans](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/anime)
- [Japanese pen pals](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/japanese)
- [Learn Japanese](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/learn-japanese)
- [English practice](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/learn-english)
- [Adult pen pals](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/adults)
## Legal
- [Otter maker](https://seapals.app/make/otter)
- [Four-cut photo booth](https://seapals.app/booth)
- [Friendship book](https://seapals.app/book)
- [Sea creature quiz](https://seapals.app/quiz)
- [Letter paper](https://seapals.app/letter)
- [Friendship quiz](https://seapals.app/friendship-quiz)
- [Virtual pet app with friends](https://seapals.app/doori)
- [Friends in other countries](https://seapals.app/lagoons)
- [Pen pals](https://seapals.app/pen-pals)
- [Safety](https://seapals.app/safety)
- [Guides](https://seapals.app/guides)
- [Friends widget app](https://seapals.app/widgets)
- [Memory book & photo journal](https://seapals.app/memory-book)
- [Long-distance friends](https://seapals.app/long-distance-friends)
- [Culture](https://seapals.app/culture)
- [Long distance relationship app](https://seapals.app/long-distance-relationship-app)
- [BTS fans](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/bts)
- [K-pop fans](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/kpop)
- [Korean pen pals](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/korean)
- [Korean practice with friends](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/learn-korean)
- [K-drama fans](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/kdrama)
- [Anime fans](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/anime)
- [Japanese pen pals](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/japanese)
- [Learn Japanese](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/learn-japanese)
- [English practice](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/learn-english)
- [Adult pen pals](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/adults)
- [Help](https://seapals.app/help)
- [Privacy](https://seapals.app/legal/privacy)
- [Terms](https://seapals.app/legal/terms)
- [Community guidelines](https://seapals.app/legal/guidelines)
- [Child safety](https://seapals.app/legal/child-safety)
- [About](https://seapals.app/about)
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