# StudyBuddy vs Slowly

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 10 days vs monthly). On price there is nothing between them.

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

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | StudyBuddy | Slowly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/studybuddy/id948997336/reviews)** | [4.7 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/slowly-make-global-friends/id1199811908/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **11K** |
| Positive reviews | **91.9% of reviews** | 72.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 16 MB | 95 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.1 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Nathaniel Blumer](https://appshunter.io/developer/859778029) | [Slowly Communications Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1457942244) |

## What reviewers say

### StudyBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/studybuddy/id948997336)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Slowly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/slowly-make-global-friends/id1199811908)

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

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Slowly Plus | $7.99 | per month |
| Slowly Plus | $7.99 | per month |
| SLOWLY PLUS (6-month) | $32.99 | per 6 months |
| Slowly Plus | $42.99 | per year |
| Slowly Plus | $42.99 | per year |
| Slowly Plus | $42.99 | per year |
| 50 SLOWLY COINS | $0.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| 100 SLOWLY COINS | $1.99 | one-time |
| 150 SLOWLY COINS | $2.99 | one-time |
| 200 SLOWLY COINS | $3.99 | one-time |
| 500 SLOWLY COINS | $7.99 | one-time |
| 800 SLOWLY COINS | $11.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Innovative concept
- 🌍 Connect with people worldwide
- 📝 Meaningful conversations
- 📨 Authentic pen pal experience
- 🎨 Customizable avatars

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🔍 Limited age range filter
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🕰️ Long wait times for messages
- 🧑‍💻 Lack of horizontal mode on iPad

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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 10 days. Most recently, StudyBuddy was updated on October 24, 2026 and Slowly on October 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*