Comparison

StudyBuddy vs Slowly

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

Head to head
About

StudyBuddy

Connect with nearby students to study together. Find a study partner for exams, projects, or casual academic discussions. Make learning more social, fun, and collaborative.

Highlights
  • Find nearby study buddies
  • Collaborative studying
  • Social learning
  • Exam preparation
  • Academic discussions
Read full description

How does it work? 1. Enter what you’re studying 2. Find a buddy nearby 3. Team up to crush it together Make studying social, fun, and collaborative. Whether you’re prepping for exams, want to make a connection with another student in your city, discuss the logic behind Pythagorean theorem, or just need to borrow a pen, it starts with StudyBuddy! Follow us for tips, motivation, and fun study hacks: Facebook: @TheStudyBuddyApp Instagram: @TheStudyBuddyApp TikTok: @TheStudyBuddyApp Twitter: @TheStudyBuddyApp #STUDYBUDDY

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

StudyBuddy4 screens
Slowly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: StudyBuddy at none against Slowly's 14. StudyBuddy also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Slowly's advantage is ratings volume (11K vs 5) and update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). On price 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. StudyBuddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

StudyBuddy holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Slowly has 11K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of StudyBuddy's written reviews are positive against 72% of Slowly's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StudyBuddy ships an update monthly, Slowly every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
StudyBuddy versus Slowly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStudyBuddySlowly
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (5 ratings) — better4.7 (11K ratings)
Positive reviews91.9% of reviews — better72.3% of reviews
Number of ratings511K — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.115.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB89 MB
Age rating9+17+
DeveloperNathaniel BlumerSlowly Communications Ltd.

Customer experience

StudyBuddy

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive91.9%
Neutral5.4%
Negative2.7%

Slowly

All ratings10,995 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral2.8%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews1,678 reviews
Positive72.3%
Neutral9.4%
Negative18.4%

Bugs and requests

StudyBuddy

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

StudyBuddy

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 StudyBuddy free?
StudyBuddy 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, StudyBuddy or Slowly?
StudyBuddy is rated higher. StudyBuddy averages 5.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Slowly averages 4.7 from 11K ratings.
Do StudyBuddy or Slowly have ads?
Slowly shows ads; StudyBuddy does not.
Which is updated more often, StudyBuddy or Slowly?
StudyBuddy ships an update monthly, and Slowly every 9 days. Most recently, StudyBuddy was updated on September 22, 2026 and Slowly on September 28, 2026.

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