FutureMe has been around since 2002, and it does one thing simply: you type a letter, pick a date, and it emails the letter to you then. Millions of people have used it, and if you want to write to your future self, it's a perfectly good way to do it.
This page is for the moment when typing isn't quite what you want — when the thing you'd like to send forward is how you sound right now, not just what you'd say. That's the gap ttyl was built for. Here's an honest comparison.
futureme vs. ttyl
Details about FutureMe are as we understand them at the time of writing — check their site for current features and pricing.
| FutureMe | ttyl | |
|---|---|---|
| What you send | A typed letter | A voice recording |
| How it arrives | Email on the date you chose | Email reminder on the date you chose, plus the app |
| Who can receive it | You, or another email address | You, or friends you tag on the recording |
| What you get back | Your words | Your words and your voice — the pauses, the mood, the laugh |
| Public option | Yes, letters can be shared anonymously | No — recordings are private unless you choose to share one later |
| Cost | Free for the basics; check their site for paid options | 3 free recordings at sign-up, then stamp packs. No subscription. |
| Where it runs | Web | Web and iOS app |
when futureme is the right choice
If you want to write — properly write, edit, and reread before you send — FutureMe is built for that. It's also the better option if you'd like to browse other people's public letters for inspiration, or if you specifically want an email with the text in it that you can search for later.
There's nothing wrong with a typed letter to your future self. It's the classic version of the exercise. We just think the recorded version is the one you'll be gladder you made — and it's at the top of this page.
when ttyl is the better fit
Choose ttyl when what you want to keep is the moment rather than the message. A recording made the week you started a job, the night before a big decision, or in the middle of something hard carries information a letter can't: how tired you were, how excited, how much you were trying not to laugh at your own worry. When it comes back a year later, that's usually the part that gets you.
It's also the better fit if you don't want to write. A lot of people mean to write a letter to their future self and never do, because a blank page is work. Talking for a minute isn't. You open ttyl, hit record, say what today was like, pick a date, and you're done.
And it works between people, not just for yourself. You can tag friends on a recording, so a message from the trip, the wedding, or the last night of college arrives for all of you on the same day next year.
how to send your first voice message to the future
- Scroll to the top of this page and tap record. No app required; it works in the browser.
- Talk for a minute. If you're stuck, start with what today was like, or tap one of the prompts below and it loads into the recorder.
- Pick a date — or let ttyl surprise you with one.
- Enter your email. That's where the reminder arrives when the day comes.
FAQ
try the voice version
Record one minute for your future self and pick the date it comes back. Three recordings are free — no app required.
