Write letters to people in other countries, in your own language.
Lettie is a free pen pal app for iPhone and Android. Each letter takes the real distance to arrive, from about an hour inside one country to up to a day across the world, and translates into 70+ languages with one tap.
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Letters by distance | A letter flies across a globe and arrives 1 to 24 hours later, depending on the distance between the two countries. |
| Discover | Pick up letters strangers released into the sky and reply to the ones that speak to you. |
| Translation | A translate button in every letter, 70+ languages, free, with the original shown beside it. |
| Profiles | You start as a pixel character (16 free ones) instead of a photo. A selfie or a few words about your look become your own character (the first is free; the photo isn’t stored). |
| Stamps | Each country your letters reach adds a stamp to your album and paints the globe. |
| Introductions | A few introduction cards a day. No swiping, no scores. |
Delivery time comes from the distance between the two countries' centre points. These are the bands the app uses, as of 2026-09-30. See delivery times by city for examples.
| Distance | Delivery time |
|---|---|
| Same country | 1–2 hours |
| Under 3,000 km | 3–6 hours |
| 3,000–8,000 km | 6–12 hours |
| Over 8,000 km | 12–24 hours |
| Free | Optional (gems or Lettie Plus) |
|---|---|
| Write, read and reply to letters | More letters released per day |
| Translate any letter into 70+ languages | Unlimited back-and-forth with one person |
| 16 base pixel characters + your first custom character (photo or words) | A second custom character onward |
| Discover: three new envelopes a day | Stamp draws and extra envelopes |
If you are choosing between apps, read Lettie vs Slowly and the best pen pal apps in 2026. Both list what each app does better, including where Lettie is weaker.
Yes. Writing, reading and replying to letters, translating them, the 16 base characters and your first custom character are free on iOS and Android. Optional gems and the Lettie Plus subscription add extras such as more letters per day, unlimited back-and-forth with one person, stamp draws and a second custom-drawn character.
Lettie is on the Apple App Store for iPhone and on Google Play for Android. Search for "Lettie" or use the store links on this page.
It depends on the distance between the two countries: 1–2 hours within one country, 3–6 hours under 3,000 km, 6–12 hours under 8,000 km, and 12–24 hours for anything farther.
No. Every letter has a translate button covering 70+ languages, and the original stays next to the translation, so you can write in your own language.
Lettie is small: 917 people in 79 countries had signed up as of October 3, 2026. The app is built by one developer in Seoul.
Both deliver letters by distance. Lettie adds picking up letters strangers released (Discover), free built-in translation in 70+ languages, and pixel characters drawn from a photo or a written description.
Last updated: 2026-09-30