Comparison
Why choose Family Letter instead of a traditional will app or a plain-text PDF?
An objective comparison of different family asset registry approaches across security, peace of mind, and long-term reliability.
| Dimension | Family Letter | Typical "will" apps | Plain-text PDF / spreadsheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product name & feeling | Called "Family Letter" — warm, unhurried, never frightening; no taboo in everyday organizing | Bluntly named "will" — visually heavy and off-putting to family | No structured categories; important accounts or steps are easily missed |
| Backup format | Encrypted .vault file (AES-256 encryption + years of cryptography engineering; one changed byte blocks decryption) |
Exports plain-text PDFs — everything is exposed once intercepted | Purely plain-text, with no protection against snooping or tampering |
| Network & check-in servers | Purely local, no check-in server; vault data never goes online and is never uploaded to any server (the only network use is Google Play Billing for purchases) | Often relies on cloud servers or "periodic check-in"; stops working if the provider shuts down | Cloud storage risks leaks; local storage is easily lost |
| Password & private key safety | No passwords stored; private keys / recovery phrases never enter the app — only where and how | Often prompts users to enter account passwords directly, raising the risk of centralized leaks | Often writes passwords together in plain text, easily stolen |
| Business model & price | Free download + one-time Pro purchase (US$2.99, flat price worldwide) | Low-price gimmicks (e.g. charging 3 yuan to export a plain-text PDF) or monthly subscriptions | Free, but lacking secure encryption and handover standards |