Comparison

Empath vs Slowly

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Empath

Share your true feelings anonymously in a supportive community. Connect authentically with friends who show you love, and track your emotional journey over time. Build deeper relationships by opening up when you feel comfortable.

Highlights
  • Anonymous emotional posts
  • Friend-initiated connection
  • Emotional journal tracking
  • Profile with minimal info
  • Express a range of emotions
  • Community emotional trends
Features
Read full description

Tired of social networks that make you feel worse about yourself? Empath is all about sharing how you actually feel and building deeper connections with people you really care about. Every feeling you post is anonymous, but when a friend hearts one of your posts, Empath tells you who is showing you love. Then if you feel comfortable, you can open up and let that friend know it was you all along. Empath tracks all your posts in an emotional journal, so you can see how your feelings change over time and remember important moments. When we share our feelings, the world feels a whole lot friendlier. Highlights: -Create a profile with only your photo and first name – Empath doesn’t ask for any other information
 -Express how you’re feeling: Calm, Happy, Excited, Angry, Afraid, Sad, or anything in between
 -Anonymously share emotional posts within a supportive online community -Be notified when a friend or loved one hearts your post
 -Open up with people you trust to build deeper, more authentic relationships
 -Track how your feelings change over time -Watch for emotional community trends in the your area and around the globe Neither the Empath app nor the Empath community is qualified to diagnose mental health issues. Please seek the help of professionals for therapy and suicide prevention if needed. You can reach a 24-hour suicide prevention hotline at 800-273-8255. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, dial 911.

About

Slowly

This app facilitates making friends globally through a unique letter-writing experience. It emphasizes thoughtful correspondence and cultural exchange, with letters arriving based on distance, fostering anticipation and deeper connections.

Highlights
  • Distance-based letter delivery
  • Collect unique regional stamps
  • Safe and secure communication
  • Unlimited free letters
  • Focus on thoughtful correspondence
Read full description

Slowly: Build Authentic Friendships at Your Own Pace "In a world dominated by instant messaging, meaningful connections have become a rare luxury." Slowly reimagines the art of correspondence, offering a unique way to make friends. Connect with penpals around the world and explore the beauty of cultural and linguistic exchange through thoughtfully written letters. Rediscover the joy of anticipation and dive into heartfelt, written conversations. Designed for those who prefer to take their time and focus on genuine connections, Slowly brings back the charm of traditional penpals. Each letter takes time to arrive—anywhere from a few hours to a few days—depending on the distance between you and your new friend. Whether you’re looking for foreign friends, a language exchange partner, or simply a quiet space to write a meaningful letter, Slowly is here for you. Key Features: ► Distance-Based Letter Delivery Each letter travels at a speed that reflects the physical distance between you and your friend, creating a sense of anticipation. With no pressure to respond instantly, you have time to reflect, compose your thoughts, and share your story. This slower pace nurtures deeper and more meaningful connections. ► Collect Over 2,000 Unique Stamps Turn every letter into an adventure by collecting unique regional stamps from across the globe. These stamps add a personal and cultural touch to your correspondence, serving as reminders of the friendships you create. ► A Safe and Secure Space for Everyone No photos, no real names—just your thoughts, shared in a secure and stress-free environment. Whether you're an introvert looking for deeper conversations or someone who values privacy, Slowly offers a safe place to express yourself and connect authentically. ► Unlimited Letters, Always Free Enjoy the art of writing without limits—send and receive as many letters as you like, completely free. Optional premium features are available to enhance your experience and meet your unique needs. Who Is Slowly For? - Anyone looking to make friends at their own pace, free from the rush of instant communication. - Language learners seeking partners for meaningful language exchange. - People who love writing letters and want to explore different cultures. - Introverts and thoughtful individuals who prefer calm, meaningful interactions. - Anyone hoping to meet new friends from all over the world. Slowly: Authentic Friendships, at Your Speed. Whether you’re looking to reconnect with the joy of letter writing, discover new perspectives, or simply build friendships that matter, Slowly is your perfect companion for creating meaningful connections in a fast-paced world. Terms of Service: https://slowly.app/terms/

Screenshots

Empath4 screens
Slowly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Slowly at 4.7 against Empath's 3.1. Slowly also leads on ratings volume (11K vs 70) and review sentiment (72% vs 49%). Empath's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Slowly sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Empath asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Slowly holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Slowly has 11K ratings behind it against 70, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of Empath's written reviews are positive against 72% of Slowly's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Empath ships an update monthly, Slowly every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Empath versus Slowly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEmpathSlowly
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (70 ratings)4.7 (11K ratings) — better
Positive reviews49.2% of reviews72.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7011K — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 10 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.7 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB95 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperInspiringAppsSlowly Communications Ltd.

Customer experience

Empath

All ratings69 ratings
Positive49.3%
Neutral15.9%
Negative34.8%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive49.2%
Neutral13.6%
Negative37.3%

Slowly

All ratings11,167 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral2.8%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews1,705 reviews
Positive72.4%
Neutral9.3%
Negative18.2%

Bugs and requests

Empath

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Slowly

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login issues and system errors
  • Inconsistent real-time updates
  • Crashes when replying to messages
  • Incorrect sent/received message counts

Requested features

7 requests
  • Ability to organize/categorize pen pals
  • Option to save draft letters
  • Customizable fonts and formatting for letters
  • Offline mode or message queuing
  • Ability to delete sent messages
Show 2 more
  • More age range filter options
  • Localization in multiple languages

In-app purchases

None

Empath

No in-app purchases

13 purchases

Slowly

Subscriptions6
  • Slowly Plus$7.991 Month
  • Slowly Plus3 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • SLOWLY PLUS (6-month)$32.996 Months
Show 3 more
  • Slowly Plus$42.991 Year
  • Slowly Plus3 Months trial2 variants$42.991 Year
  • Slowly Plus7 Days trial$42.991 Year
One-time7
  • 50 SLOWLY COINS$0.99
  • Starter Pack$0.99
  • 100 SLOWLY COINS$1.99
Show 4 more
  • 150 SLOWLY COINS$2.99
  • 200 SLOWLY COINS$3.99
  • 500 SLOWLY COINS$7.99
  • 800 SLOWLY COINS$11.99

Questions

Is Empath free?
Empath is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Slowly free?
Slowly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Empath or Slowly?
Slowly is rated higher. Empath averages 3.1 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while Slowly averages 4.7 from 11K ratings.
Do Empath or Slowly have ads?
Slowly shows ads; Empath does not.
Which is updated more often, Empath or Slowly?
Empath ships an update monthly, and Slowly every 10 days. Most recently, Empath was updated on October 24, 2026 and Slowly on October 25, 2026.

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