Show HN: I built a free alternative to FutureMe after greed ruined it
futurepost.appI've been using Futureme since I was 16, it was this pure, simple corner of the internet where I'd write letters to my future self, getting those time-capsule emails that hit like a gut punch of nostalgia and growth. It was free, and ran on the founder's goodwill for 20 years, costing him peanuts compared to the joy it brought to millions.
After being acquired, it they slapped it with a $9/year subscription or a $120 lifetime fee for storing text and sending an email? It's a total scam. As a founder who's built multiple companies from scratch, I know the real cost is pennies per user. This isn't innovation, it's lazy, soul-sucking greed turning our personal promises into a "luxury item." I'm gutted, offended, and pissed off. Hell no, I'm not accepting this.
So, I channeled that rage into building FuturePost.app, not some half-assed copy, but a superior, free-forever beast designed to outlast us all. It's my legacy: ultra-efficient, no ads, no data selling.
I'm using the old school tech stack - Ruby on Rails with Postgres hosted on Heroku that will outlive most of us.
It hurts to see a project soo good getting destroyed overnight, I've used it for everything, birthday wishes to my kid self, pep talks during tough times. Now it's "premium"? If you've ever felt that sting of a beloved free tool turning greedy, share your story. I promise FuturePost will stay here forever without looting you.
Great stuff, I like the idea! Haven't heard of FutureMe before.
What are you using for email? It seems like Sendgrid/Mailgun bill would ramp up quickly with a large userbase.
I'm using some other service, I use it for my other saas apps too, I'm not worried about the bill ramping up, it won't be that much plus I'm happy to fund it myself even if I don't get enough community contribution.
I'm glad you liked the idea, give it a try!
The good approach! appreciate it. Loved the UI and also the magic link login.
You’ve earned a user for FuturePost.