Best Afterlife Message Services Compared (2026)

If you've decided to leave a message for your loved ones after you're gone, the next question is practical: which service should you use? There are now several platforms designed specifically for this purpose, each with different features, pricing, and trade-offs. This guide compares the major afterlife message services side by side — so you can choose the one that fits your needs without spending hours on research.

We evaluated each service on six criteria that matter most for this category: supported media formats, delivery method, pricing model, security and encryption, platform availability, and how long your content is stored. All pricing and feature information was gathered directly from each service's public website as of early 2026.

Which afterlife message services did we compare?

This comparison covers five active afterlife message services: LastWithYou, ForKeeps, My Heartspace, Evaheld, and Gone Not Gone. We also briefly address SafeBeyond, a well-known early entrant that was acquired and is no longer independently operated.

Each of these services solves the same core problem — letting you create messages now that will be delivered to your loved ones after you die — but they approach it differently. Some are mobile apps. Some are web-based. Some focus purely on messaging. Others bundle messaging inside a larger suite of tools for wills, estate planning, or memorial pages.

How do the services compare side by side?

What makes each service different?

What does LastWithYou offer?

Best for: People who want a simple, one-time purchase with no app installation required.

LastWithYou is a web-based service that works on any device with a browser — no app download needed. The free Basic plan gives you 500 MB of storage, one video message, and up to three recipients. The Premium plan costs $29.99 as a one-time payment (no subscription) and increases storage to 2 GB, allows multiple videos, up to ten recipients, and includes a dedicated memorial page that gathers all your messages in one place for your loved ones to visit.

Messages are delivered by email on your chosen date as password-protected links. Files are stored on isolated servers outside the public web directory, with HTTPS encryption on all connections. The service supports a wide range of media formats: MP4, MOV, WebM, and AVI for video; JPG, PNG, WebP, and GIF for photos; MP3, M4A, WAV, and OGG for audio. You can edit or delete any message before its delivery date. Content is retained for one year after delivery, with reminder notices sent 30 days and 7 days before removal.

LastWithYou supports both English and Korean, making it the only service in this comparison with Korean-language support. The interface is clean and straightforward — there is no AI assistant, no social features, and no album-creation tools. It does one thing and does it well: store your messages securely and deliver them on time.

What does ForKeeps offer?

Best for: Mobile users who also want digital photo albums alongside afterlife messages.

ForKeeps is an award-winning mobile app (iOS and Android) that combines two products: AfterLife Messages and Forever Digital Photo Albums. Your first afterlife message is free. After that, pricing is one-time: $4.99 for a single additional message, $29.99 for up to 10 messages, or $49.99 for unlimited messages. Photo albums follow a similar model — the first album is free, then $4.99 per additional album.

AfterLife Messages support video, audio, and text, and can be delivered directly to recipients or routed through a "Message Guardian" — a trusted person who confirms your passing before the message is released. This adds a human verification layer that some users find reassuring. The photo album feature is a separate product that lets you create shareable digital albums for events like weddings, birthdays, and memorials, with privacy controls and collaborative contributions from multiple people.

ForKeeps has been around since 2019 and is primarily app-based, which means it requires a download and an account. The focus on photo albums makes it a good fit for people who want both messaging and photo preservation in one place. However, it does not appear to offer a web-only option — you need the app to create and manage content.

What does My Heartspace offer?

Best for: People who want guided prompts and the option to send physical printed cards.

My Heartspace is available as an app (iOS, Android) and through a web version. There is no free message — the app itself is free to download, but creating a message costs one "credit." Credits are purchased in packs: €2.99 for 1, €12.99 for 5, or €19.99 for 100. Once purchased, you can edit a message as many times as you like at no additional cost.

The service includes an "Inspire" section with over 350 guided questions across 15 themes — from parenting advice to life lessons to messages for specific milestones. This makes My Heartspace particularly useful for people who struggle with the "what should I say?" question. Each message can include text, photos, voice notes, or video.

Delivery is triggered by a "Guardian Angel" (a trusted person you designate) who submits a death certificate to the My Heartspace team. Messages are then released according to the schedule you set — immediately after death, on specific dates, or on milestones like a child's birthday. Recipients need to download the free My Heartspace app to view messages, which adds a step but also provides end-to-end encryption within the app environment. The service promises 10-year active storage after your death, with archived access after that.

A unique feature is the physical card option: you can order a printed card for €2.99 (shipping included worldwide) to be sent to someone on a future date. My Heartspace supports English and Dutch.

What does Evaheld offer?

Best for: People who want a comprehensive vault that combines messaging with wills, care plans, and family collaboration.

Evaheld positions itself as an "all-in-one" platform covering afterlife messages, advance care directives, will storage, and family story preservation — all inside a "Legacy Vault." The free plan includes core features: capturing memories, documenting wishes, storing documents, and creating shared "rooms" for family collaboration. Premium plans add unlimited storage, priority support, enhanced security, and advanced care coordination tools. Evaheld does not publish specific premium pricing on its website, instead describing plans as "affordable monthly rates."

The platform is web-based and includes "Charli," an AI assistant designed to guide you through the vault setup process — from writing stories to organizing documents to inviting family members. This makes it the most feature-rich option in the comparison, but also the most complex. If you only want to leave a few messages and don't need will storage, care directives, or family collaboration, the breadth of features may feel like more than you need.

Evaheld also offers QR Emergency Access Cards that let first responders scan a physical card to access your advance care directives in an emergency. The platform is available in English and is based in Australia.

What does Gone Not Gone offer?

Best for: People who only want to send text-based emails after death.

Gone Not Gone is a simpler, text-focused service that uses a dead man's switch model: you write email messages, and the system checks in with you periodically. If you stop responding, it sends your emails to the designated recipients. Plans start at $20 as a one-time payment.

The main limitation is format: Gone Not Gone supports email text only — no video, no audio, no photos. This makes it the most limited option in terms of what you can leave behind, but also the simplest to set up if all you need is a few written messages. The dead man's switch delivery model carries a known risk: false triggers are possible if you miss a check-in due to travel, illness, or simply forgetting.

What happened to SafeBeyond?

SafeBeyond launched in 2015 as one of the first dedicated posthumous message delivery platforms, supporting video, audio, and text messages with location-based triggers. The service was acquired approximately six years after launch by an American company. SafeBeyond is no longer independently operated, and its current availability is uncertain. We include it here because it appears frequently in older articles and "best of" lists. If you're considering a service for long-term message storage, the SafeBeyond story is a useful reminder to evaluate the financial stability and longevity of any platform you choose.

How should you choose the right service?

With five active services to choose from, the right pick depends on your priorities. Here's a framework based on the most common use cases.

If simplicity is your priority — you want to record a message, set a date, and be done — LastWithYou or ForKeeps are the best fit. Both offer a free first message, both use one-time pricing, and both focus on the core task without unnecessary complexity.

If you need help knowing what to say — My Heartspace's 350+ guided prompts across 15 themes give you structured inspiration. This is especially valuable if the blank page feels overwhelming.

If you want everything in one place — wills, care directives, family stories, and messages — Evaheld's vault approach covers the broadest range of needs. It's the most comprehensive option, but also the most complex.

If you only need text emails — Gone Not Gone is the simplest and cheapest option, though it lacks multimedia support and uses a dead man's switch model that can misfire.

If you need Korean-language support — LastWithYou is currently the only service in this category that offers full Korean-language interface and content support.

If you want to send physical cards — My Heartspace is the only service that offers printed cards mailed to a recipient on a future date.

How does pricing compare across all services?

What should you watch for when choosing a service?

Beyond features and price, there are several less obvious factors that can make or break your experience with an afterlife message service. These are the questions worth asking before you commit.

Will the service still exist when your messages need to be delivered? This is the biggest risk in the category. Your messages might need to be stored for 10, 20, or 50 years. Look for services with clear retention policies, transparent business models, and a track record. SafeBeyond's acquisition is a cautionary example. Consider using more than one method as a backup.

Does the recipient need to install an app? Some services (My Heartspace, ForKeeps) require the recipient to download an app to view messages. Others (LastWithYou, Gone Not Gone) deliver via standard email with no app required. If your recipient is elderly or not tech-savvy, an app-free delivery method may be more reliable.

How is death verified? Services use different triggers: scheduled dates (LastWithYou), guardian verification with a death certificate (My Heartspace, ForKeeps), trusted contact activation (Evaheld), or dead man's switch check-ins (Gone Not Gone). Each has trade-offs. Scheduled dates are the most predictable. Guardian verification is the most secure. Dead man's switches can false-trigger.

Can you edit messages after creating them? Your feelings, circumstances, and relationships will change over time. Make sure the service lets you update, edit, or delete messages at any time before delivery. All five services in this comparison support editing before delivery.

What happens to your data if you stop paying? For services with subscription models, understand what happens to your stored messages if you cancel or your payment method expires. One-time payment models (LastWithYou, ForKeeps, My Heartspace) avoid this risk entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

There is no single "best" afterlife message service — only the best service for your situation. For most people who want to leave a few heartfelt video, letter, or voice messages with minimal friction, LastWithYou or ForKeeps offer the best balance of simplicity, media support, and fair pricing. If you need guided prompts to help you figure out what to say, My Heartspace is worth the per-message fee. If you want a comprehensive vault for your entire end-of-life planning, Evaheld covers the most ground. And if you only need text-based emails, Gone Not Gone is the simplest option.

Whatever you choose, the most important step is to start. The difference between the services is smaller than the difference between leaving a message and leaving silence.