Support

We hold each message for a few days before delivering it to the recipient’s real inbox. The delay is the whole point. It gives both sides time to think, write carefully, and look forward to what comes next.

No. Dear Patience works with the email you already use. You get an address on our domain, like you@dearpatience.com, and mail sent there is delivered to your real inbox after the holding period. You read and reply the same way you always have.

There are a few ways. The simplest is to invite them from your desk: open Invite a correspondent, write them a first letter, and we’ll let them know it’s on the way. You can also share your @dearpatience.com address directly, or send them the sign-up link so they can get an address of their own.

Some email providers don’t let us check that a letter really came from the address it claims to, so we email that address and ask the sender to confirm it before we send it on. If it isn’t confirmed within three days, we throw it away. Replies to letters you’ve received through Dear Patience don’t need confirming.

Yes. Dear Patience is for adults 18 and over. While we believe those of all ages benefit from the slower pace of letters, corresponding online takes special care for children and teenagers. If there is enough interest we may lower the age requirement in the future.

There are two plans. The free one carries thirteen letters a quarter, which is a letter a week with a few spare. The paid one is $8 a quarter and takes the limit away, so you can write as often as you like. A few gentle safeguards against spam apply to everyone, such as how many new people you can write to in a day. Some letters don’t count against the thirteen: the letter you send with an invitation, letters to people who aren’t on Dear Patience yet, and anything that arrives for you. Your desk shows where you stand and when your next thirteen arrive.

Nothing. Dear Patience is free, and you can send as many letters as you like. A few gentle safeguards against spam apply to everyone, such as how many new people you can write to in a day.

Dear Patience isn’t built for urgent messages. If something truly can’t wait, ask the sender to use your regular email address. Anyone who needs to reach you quickly should have another way to do it.

We don’t sell your letters, and we read one only when we have to, such as to look into a report of abuse. We delete a letter’s text once it’s delivered, though our email provider keeps a copy for 7 days. For the full picture, see our Privacy Policy.

Yes, anytime. You can cancel a paid plan from your desk, and it keeps going until the end of the quarter you’ve already paid for — after that the account carries on with the free thirteen a quarter. To delete the account altogether, there’s a button at the bottom of your desk, or email us at support@dearpatience.com and we’ll take care of it.

Yes, anytime. There’s a button at the bottom of your desk, or email us at support@dearpatience.com and we’ll take care of it.