Friendie
Guides / Comparison
Personal CRM apps compared
A fair look at popular tools for staying in touch, and how to pick the one that fits the way you live.
What to look for
- Simplicity. If it feels like work, you will stop using it.
- Notes and context. The value is in remembering details about people.
- Reminders. You need a prompt to reach out before a friendship goes quiet.
- Your devices. Check it works on the phone and computer you actually use.
- Price and privacy. You are storing sensitive details about people you love.
| Friendie | Clay | Dex | Monica | Covve | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Friends, family and thoughtful networking | Apple users who want conversation history synced | LinkedIn-heavy networkers who like AI help | Privacy-focused people who like to self-host | Mobile professionals who meet people at events |
| Starting price | Free | Free tier, paid plans from about $10/month billed annually | Trial, then from about $12/month billed annually | Free to self-host, hosted plan from about $9/month | Free for 20 contacts, from about $9.99/month billed annually |
| Platforms | Web and Android | Best on iPhone, no Android app | See their site | Web, self-hosted or hosted | iOS and Android only |
| Notes and reminders | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Standout strength | Closeness ranking that shows who to contact today | Syncs conversations from messaging apps | Integrations with LinkedIn, email and calendar | Open source | Business card scanning |
Friendie
Friendie is for people who want a calm, human way to stay close. Your people are ranked by closeness so you always know who to reach out to today, notes become reminders with a date, and groups let you give priority to the circles you care about. It is free, with unlimited people, and you can take a full copy of your data at any time. Friendie does not (yet) pull in your messages or social profiles, which is a deliberate choice: you decide what is worth remembering.
Clay
Clay can sync iMessage and WhatsApp conversations into one history and is a strong choice if you live in the Apple ecosystem. It has no Android app, and its paid plans cost more than free alternatives.
Dex
Dex integrates with LinkedIn, email, calendars and contacts and adds AI assistance. If your relationships are mostly professional and you want automation, it is worth a look. It is a paid product after the trial.
Monica
Monica is an open-source personal relationship manager. It suits people comfortable with self-hosting or who value open source, with a paid hosted option for everyone else.
Covve
Covve is mobile-first and known for business card scanning, which suits frequent event-goers. It has no web or desktop app, and the free plan is limited to 20 contacts.
So, which should you choose?
If you want something simple, free and focused on the personal side of relationships, start with Friendie. If you need heavy automation or deep integrations, one of the paid tools may suit you better. Whichever you choose, the habit matters more than the tool. See why staying in touch matters and what Friendie offers.
All product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Friendie is not affiliated with them.
Frequently asked questions
What is a personal CRM?
A personal CRM is an app that helps you manage relationships with the people in your life, such as friends, family, mentors and professional contacts. It keeps notes, reminders and context so you remember what matters and stay in touch.
Which personal CRM is best for friends and family?
Look for something calm and simple that focuses on notes and reminders rather than sales features. Friendie is built for that: it is free, easy to start and designed around friendship and thoughtful networking.
Do I need a personal CRM if I have a contacts app?
A contacts app stores phone numbers and emails. A personal CRM remembers the human side: what you talked about, what to ask next time, and when to reach out again.
Is there a free personal CRM?
Yes. Friendie is free to use with unlimited people, notes and reminders. Some other tools offer limited free plans or trials.