Softly vs Pause Text
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Softly
This keyboard app helps you rephrase hurtful text messages into kinder, more constructive ones before you send them. It works across all your messaging platforms, offering a private way to improve your communication and reduce conflict.
- Keyboard works in all messaging apps
- One-tap message softening
- Reduces blame in texts
- Based on Nonviolent Communication
- Private communication tool
- Unlimited transformations with Premium
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79% of couples fight over text. It's called fexting — and it makes everything worse. You type something hurtful at 11 pm. You hit send. You spend the next two hours escalating. By morning, a small misunderstanding has become a full-blown fight. Softly stops that cycle — right inside your keyboard. HOW IT WORKS Softly is a keyboard for iPhone that works in every messaging app. Type what you feel. Tap "Soften." See a kinder version that says the same thing without the blame. • Works in iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram DMs, Slack, Email — everywhere you type • One tap to soften — no copy-pasting, no switching apps, no awkward AI workarounds • Your feelings stay. The blame disappears. • Based on Nonviolent Communication (NVC) — the same framework therapists use WHAT MAKES SOFTLY DIFFERENT Unlike couples apps that require both partners to sign up, Softly works for you alone. It's your personal communication tool — like Grammarly for your relationship. No shared accounts. No partner onboarding. No one needs to know you use it. WHO IT'S FOR • You've been in therapy and know "I feel" statements work — but can't access them at midnight when you're exhausted • You've caught yourself using AI to rewrite messages — but it's awkward, and your partner might find out • You fight over text 3-5 times a month and regret what you send minutes after • You're in a long-distance relationship where 90% of conflict happens in chat BUILT ON SCIENCE Softly uses principles from Nonviolent Communication (Marshall Rosenberg) and research by the Gottman Institute. Studies show text-based conflicts resolve only 35% of the time vs 85% face-to-face. When you can't talk in person, Softly bridges the gap. PRICING Free: 5 message transformations per day. Softly Premium: $9.99/month or $59.99/year — unlimited transformations, full history, priority speed Your words shape your relationship. Make them count. Privacy Policy: https://softly.pulsecircle.studio/privacy Terms of Use: https://softly.pulsecircle.studio/terms
Pause Text
This app helps you pause before sending texts. Schedule messages for later delivery, giving you time to reconsider. It opens your default messaging app when the time comes, allowing a final review before sending.
- Schedule messages for later
- Set custom delays
- Review messages before sending
- Edit or cancel queued messages
- Select recipients from contacts
- Local notifications for readiness
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Pause Text helps you slow down before sending a text. Type your message, pick a delay: 10 minutes, an hour, a day, or a specific future date. Pause Text holds it for you! When the time comes, you'll get a gentle notification. You decide whether to send it or not. It's not a messaging app. Pause Text doesn't send texts on your behalf. When a queued message is ready, it opens the standard iMessage / SMS composer with your message pre-filled, so you can review it one more time and tap Send yourself. Why this exists: For the moments you might regret what you're about to send. For the texts you wrote at 2am that maybe shouldn't go out at 2am. For the birthday wishes you keep forgetting. For the messages you want to think about for one more day. Features: • Quick delay slider — anywhere from 5 minutes to 24 hours • Pick a specific date — schedule birthday messages weeks or months out • See all queued messages with live countdowns • Edit, reschedule, or cancel anything in your queue • Pick a recipient from your Contacts or type a phone number • Optional cooldown — gently prevents queuing multiple messages to the same person • Local notification when each message is ready • No accounts, no servers, no tracking — everything stays on your device Pause Text is a calm tool, not a controlling one. The language inside the app is intentional: "give it space," "send when ready," "stillness is the move." There's no scolding, no streaks, no judgment. Privacy first: Pause Text doesn't collect or transmit any of your data. Your messages and contacts stay on your device. There are no analytics, no ads, no third parties. Built for the moment between feeling and action.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pause Text at none against Softly's 2. Pause Text also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). Softly's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.4). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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
Both are free to download. Softly sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Pause Text asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Softly against 5.0 for Pause Text. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.
Softly ships an update fortnightly, Pause Text every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Softly | Pause Text |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 26.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pulse Circle L.L.C-FZ | Cassidy Robinson |
Customer experience
Softly
Pause Text
In-app purchases
Softly
- Softly Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Softly Annual7 Days trial$59.991 Year
Pause Text
No in-app purchases









