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Pen pals

Pen Pal Directory

Find a pen pal to write real letters back and forth with, matched by a hand-checked service, society, or community. No apps, no email, just mail. Looking to write to someone who needs a little kindness instead? That lives in the Kindness Letter Directory.

For an ongoing correspondent

Find a pen pal

Matching services, societies, communities, and exchanges that connect you with a person to write real letters back and forth.

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New to this? Start here

How to find and keep a pen pal

Picking a service is the easy part. Here is how to write the first letter, stay safe, and keep a correspondence going for years.

The complete guide The Ultimate Guide to Pen Pals Where to look, how to stay safe, what to write, and how to keep it alive for years. The whole thing in one place, for beginners and returners.
How to Find a Pen Pal as an Adult What to Write When You Don't Know What to Say Pen Pal Safety: Protect Your Address Pen Pal Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules International Pen Pals Pen Pals for Kids: A Parent's Guide Free vs. Paid Pen Pal Sites How to Keep a Pen Pal Friendship Going
Good to know

Pen pal questions

What's the difference between a pen pal and a mail club?
A pen pal is a real person you write back and forth with. A mail club is a paid subscription that mails art, letters, or stationery to you. This is the pen pal directory. For a monthly surprise in your mailbox instead, browse the mail club directory.
I don't want an ongoing pen pal, I just want to send a nice letter. Where do I start?
Head to the Kindness Letter Directory. Pick who you'd like to write to (a senior, a sick child, a soldier, someone having a hard time) and follow the program's instructions. Most are free and take one letter.
Are these real snail mail, or online?
Real snail mail only. Every resource here connects you with a person to exchange physical letters or postcards. We leave out app-based and email-only services on purpose.
Is having a pen pal safe?
Yes, with a few sensible habits, mostly around how you share your address. Read Pen Pal Safety before you send that first letter.
Can kids have pen pals?
They can, with a parent helping. It's one of the best screen-free thrills there is. See our parent's guide to pen pals for kids.