We are living in an extremely busy world with tons of personal responsibilities and appointments. The speed of life is increasingly rising, which forces us to limit the time we spend with our friends and family. At the same time, the modern world has given us a variety of helpful tools to manage our business and personal relationships. While traditional CRM (Customer Relationship Management) refers to dealing with business clients, a personal CRM helps people organize their private relationships, such as friends and family.
If you are the kind of person who keeps forgetting your friends’ birthdays, misses personal appointments, or has troubles maintaining a healthy work-life balance, dive into our guide. In this article, we will go over the top 12 best personal CRM tools that will help you manage a fruitful social life, without jeopardizing your business schedule.
In 2023, the personal CRM market reached $11.6 billion. Forecasts say it will grow at 12.5% CAGR and hit $37.6 billion by 2033. Today, personal CRM apps are already adopting new trends for growth. The latest are mobile wallet compatibility, enhanced security measures, and AI integrations.
Before we take a look at every personal CRM tool individually, let’s learn more about this type of app and its business logic. What is a personal CRM and why would you need one?
A personal CRM is a suite of tools and features to streamline your communications, organize your day, and receive reminders about upcoming events. Also used for individual entrepreneurship, personal CRM systems allow users to organize their private and professional network circles. This tool provides an address book to preserve important contact information, manage LinkedIn connections, a calendar to organize personal and work events and deadlines, as well as a notebook for creating to-do lists.
Specifically tailored to the needs of sole proprietors, freelancers, and just plain busy people, a personal CRM is a great way to nurture relationships and find the much-needed work-life balance. Besides storing your important information, a personal relationship manager can send you reminders of upcoming events, deadlines, meetings, personal affairs, birthdays, etc.
A personal CRM can also be an effective way to send out just checking in emails to your network. Using the reminder feature, you can set up regular check-ins with important contacts, clients, or potential leads. This can help you maintain strong relationships and build a consistent and organized outreach strategy.
Finally, personal CRM software can optimize your small business by unifying all of your communication channels. Users no longer need to check their professional and personal emails and text messages separately, which saves a ton of time and effort. Some programs will also help you keep track of your business performance, such as sales revenue and marketing campaigns.
How can a personal CRM tool improve your life? What are the benefits that you will get from employing such an app?
Small business owners and individual entrepreneurs will gain process optimization benefits. Keeping all your appointments in a consolidated format increases productivity and adds structure to one’s business. Freelancers can manage several clients at the same time, online teachers can organize their schedules, and remote workers can set reminders so as to never miss deadlines. A personal CRM app installed on business tablets or even mobile phones can streamline the processes and allow users to be more thoughtful in communications.
A unified inbox redirects all the mail and texts to one location which helps users to keep track of their last correspondence activity. Some of the best personal CRM platforms offer reminders to contact a person based on the last activity or the frequency of contact. This helps people to stay in touch and nurture their business relationships.
For example, consider the banking industry, where effective relationship management is crucial. A banking CRM can centralize communication and provide timely reminders, ensuring that customer interactions are consistent and personalized. By leveraging these tools, banks can strengthen customer loyalty and enhance their overall service experience.
The personal contact management features help customers to keep in touch with friends and family members. Besides professional events and appointments, you can add holidays, family gatherings, friends celebrations, birthdays, and other important dates to the calendar. The reminders will let you know of these dates and make sure you will never forget a significant personal appointment.
Personal CRM software encompasses features for both professional and personal activities. Having a CRM for one person at your disposal supports you in maintaining a work-life balance and avoiding burnout. Many sole proprietors experience stress due to high levels of responsibility and a large workload. And this is where a user-friendly CRM can step in and help people manage their busy lives.
The short answer would be that everyone could benefit from using a contact management software solution in their daily lives. However, as mentioned earlier, a personal contact relationship manager mostly caters to the needs of sole proprietors, small business owners, freelancers, and individual entrepreneurs.
If you are asking yourself how to keep track of networking contacts and stay in touch with friends and family, getting a personal CRM tool might be the answer. Personal CRM systems can be very helpful to many people from various industries and occupations. In this section, we will focus on the top 12 best personal CRM systems for individual use. We will touch on the features, benefits, use cases, and pricing of each system.
Dex works as an extension that collects contact data from social media accounts and stores it in the app. Based on your contact book, the Dex personal CRM will even suggest new potential contacts that might be helpful. The main focus of the app is building and nurturing relationships. You can set up and trigger reminders to get in touch with someone, as well as notifications about important events and appointments. The tool works on both web and mobile devices, including iOS and Android.
Dex Features:
The Dex app is the best CRM for individuals such as students, investors, and creators. The Dex team claims they cater to the needs of these three groups as networking is a crucial part of their lives that helps them expand their career potential.
Elegant UI/UX design and usability
Lack of features for sales and marketing
Seamless contact data collection via a browser extension
Lack of automatic data synchronization
Free personal contact management software comes with limited reminders, events, and keep-in-touch contacts. Unlimited Dex application is $13.50 per month ($108 annually).
Available on iOS devices only.
Queue is a brand-new personal CRM tool that so far only works on iOS mobile devices. The application is still in the beta version and has been extensively tested and improved. The creator shared his story on the website, saying how he was failing to stay in touch with important people in his life and wanted to build an app that solves this problem. Users can import contact data from Gmail, Google Calendar, Twitter, and iPhone contacts. The social media and phone contact organizer then sorts out the contacts and queues them up in the order of priority so that users know who is next to catch up.
Queue Features:
The Queue application is not the most extensive CRM networking system. The creator himself promotes the app as a personal relationship management tool that helps busy people stay in touch with their loved ones.
Ease of use and multiple integrations
Not great for note-taking
Secure data protection policy
Lack of desktop and Android app versions
The application is $7.99 per month or $79.99 annually.
Available on iOS devices only.
Garden App is another contact management software app backed up by a personal story of the creator. The app owner has shared that he decided to create a personal CRM after losing touch with friends while working on his previous startup. The creator thought that such an app would help him and people like him to nurture important relationships and stay in close touch with friends and family. He believes that many people wait till life calms down to contact their old friends, but in reality, life gets busier and busier. Garden is a great contact organizer that helps people to stay close with their loved ones without jeopardizing their career ambitions.
Garden App Features:
The idea was to support people with multiple projects and responsibilities, at managing their personal and professional networks, just like the creator himself. This personal relationship management software is built for any Apple device owner who feels that they are losing touch with friends and family, as well as overwhelmed by the number of their business contacts.
Ease of use and intuitive navigation
Lack of integration with social media and emails
Excellent reminder options
Lack of web and Android versions
Calendar synchronization
This application is a free contact management tool for iOS device users.
UpHabit is one of the best personal CRM systems for professional networking and for maintaining business contacts. The tool can also be used for storing and managing personal affairs, but mostly caters to business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. This professional and personal relationship management app provides a unique feature that allows users to quickly introduce contacts to each other using premade templates. You can also set reminders, take notes, as well as categorize contacts by choosing different tags.
UpHabit Features:
The UpHabit is a personal CRM tool with a large focus on professional networking. The application is a great help for entrepreneurs and business owners who get overwhelmed with the number of contacts in their business and personal lives.
Easy to use various introduction templates
High price tag compared to the competition
Automated data entry
Larger focus on business relationships rather than personal
Custom tagging options
UpHabit offers a free personal CRM with some limited functions such as) relationship management and introductions. The business version is $49.99 per month and has unlimited relationships, but only five introductions. The Super Connector tier is $69.99 per month and provides all the unlimited features, including personal onboarding via Zoom.
Covve is another prominent relationship manager app that helps users organize their contacts, expand professional circles, and nurture personal relationships. The application also includes a business card scanner that transfers data from physical business cards and keeps it in the app. Besides that, the follow-up personal CRM tool analyzes your contacts to find and share related information to give you a good icebreaker to start a conversation. Finally, the application comes with a great note-taking feature including call recording functions.
Covve Features:
The Covve personal CRM tool is mainly built for business owners and entrepreneurs to manage their professional relationships and broaden their network circles.
Suggested articles help stay in touch
No integration with social media platforms
Business card scanner keeps contacts in order
Performs better on iOS than Android
Great note-taking functions
Covve provides a personal CRM free version with limited access to some features. The next tier comes at $9 per month and allows unlimited use of all functions.
Monica is one of the best CRM apps for personal use that helps customers organize their busy lives. The main message behind Monica’s mission is to support overwhelmed people with a ton of responsibilities who feel guilty about letting down their friends, forgetting important dates, and even sometimes their names. Basically, in the Monica CRM app, every person gets an extensive profile that can be filled out with all the information you know about them, such as contact data, close relatives, and friends. You can also keep track of your last encounters, upcoming events, birthdays, and you can set reminders.
Monica Features:
Monica is a CRM for a personal life that solely focuses on maintaining private relationships. Anyone who feels overwhelmed with keeping up with their friends and family and remembering dates and events will benefit from the app.
An open-source app that allows for continuous improvements from the community
Individual import only, not in bulk
Simple and easy to use navigation and interface
No mobile versions of the app are available
Private journal feature to record your daily events, dreams, thoughts, etc.
You can either host the personal contact management software on your server for free or pay $9 per month to access all features.
Circles by ZooWho is the best personal contact manager app for data visualization. Not only does the app collect and store all the important data associated with a person, but it builds dashboards, graphs, and charts to visualize the progress of the relationship. Circles is a personal CRM with an emphasis on building and maintaining professional ties. However, you can also store and manage information about friends and relatives, as well as keep track of personal appointments such as doctors, plumbers, dentists, etc.
Circles Features:
Circles by ZooWho is a great CRM system for keeping track of friends and family, as well as managing business contacts, leads, and clients. Freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners can all benefit from using the app and streamline their communication channels.
Upload images to personalize contacts
High price tag for unlimited features
Personalized gifting suggestions
Poor performance on Android devices
The free personal contact management software is available with quite a few restrictions like the lack of a calendar, dashboards, and communication timelines. The full-featured version comes at $49.99 per month and provides unlimited access to all features.
Nimble is a contact relationship management system that lies on the more professional side of the spectrum. The app integrates with over 160 tools like MailChimp, Facebook, Twitter, QuickBooks, etc. Users can unify all their contacts and communication data from various sources and keep track of their incoming mail in one location. The timelines allow you to stay up to date with the recent conversations and events and not lose track of contacts. A variety of personalized templates ensures quick and effortless communication. On top of that, the personal relationship manager allows users to create to-do lists, unify several calendars, and boost email marketing engagement.
Nimble Features:
Nimble is the best personal contact management software for business owners who need to store and organize hundreds of contacts. The tool is diverse and robust and is suitable for users with a large base of clients, colleagues, relatives, and friends they would like to stay in touch with.
Large variety of features for marketing, sales, CRM, planning, etc.
Steep learning curve due to the number of features
Great for email marketing activities
No free app version
Automatic contact information updates
The Nimble personal CRM app costs $19 per month with a 14-day trial period and includes all the available features.
Clay is another single-user CRM system for managing large amounts of contacts. The application imports data from Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails and keeps the information in a consolidated format. The profiles are generated automatically based on the imported data and regularly updated to include the latest details. Clay also fills out information about work, holidays, events, and even photos and videos to paint the full picture. The personal CRM comes with a smart search engine that allows you to find the person based on notes, contact data, place of work, etc.
Clay Features:
Clay is a personal CRM app that suits many potential users. The features are diverse and helpful, but at the same time the tool is not saturated with professional marketing and sales functions, which makes it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs.
Automatic data synchronization
No consolidated inbox
Ease to use design and navigation
The price is relatively high compared to most solutions with similar features
Advanced search features that recognize keywords from any place in the profile
The Clay personal CRM comes at $20 per month without a free version.
Available on the web only.
NAT is one of the best CRM for solopreneurs, freelancers, and small business owners who would like to organize their personal and work contact base. The app creators put a huge emphasis on data privacy and claim that user data is being collected and analyzed only by machines. The interface resembles a Trello-like Kanban board with concise overviews of each contact via personal networking cards. The AI-powered features analyze the information and remind you of people you have not been in touch with the longest. Finally, the personal CRM tool comes with advanced automation features which streamline the processes.
Nat Features:
The Nat application is a perfect fit for freelancers, entrepreneurs, consultants, and salespeople. Basically, anyone who extensively uses email accounts will benefit from the app.
Deep email integration
Lack of a mobile solution
Audio messages via emails
Only caters to Gmail users
The starting price for Nat application is $9 per month but comes with limited memory, no calendar sync-up and no real-time updates. The next tier costs $12 per month and includes executive memory storage and sync-ups. The business plan is $29 per month and gives access to all features including the Nat team slack threads.
Web-based access on all devices
BIGContacts is a powerful customer relationship management (CRM) system designed to simplify contact management tasks for individual users. It converts scattered information into an integrated, organized system, making it perfect for freelancers, entrepreneurs, or professionals who want to stay on top of their personal contacts and relationships. Offering a consolidated platform for centralizing contact apps, calendars, emails, and documents, BIGContacts equips its users with all the necessary tools to establish efficient personal CRM management.
BIGContacts Features:
BIGContacts is ideal for freelancers, self-employed individuals, solopreneurs, or professionals who need an affordable personal CRM tool to manage their contacts, track engagements, and enhance their personal and professional relationships.
Offers the flexibility to manage contacts and tasks from practically anywhere, at any time
Lacks AI-powered lead scoring
Automated reminders and workflows ensures key activities and follow-ups are not missed
Could use more integration options
Pre-built reports templates that can be easily customized
The starting price for BIGContacts application is $5/user/month. They also offer seats for $15/user/month, and $25/user/month and have custom pricing for enterprises.
Personal relationship management is about taking care of the people in your life and not letting work and other responsibilities separate you from old friends and close relatives. CRM tools allow you to keep track of important dates and events, make sure you make time for your loved ones, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Finally, a personal CRM can also expand your professional networking circles and provide you with more career opportunities.
As you can see, the personal CRM tools vary from business-centric to solely personal ones. If you are someone who is building a business and requires constant networking access, maybe go for a personal network relationship manager with more professional features like Dex or Nimble. However, if you want to deepen and tighten your relationships with loved ones, a tool like Monica or Circles is a great choice. Share your experience using personal CRM tools with us at contact@doit.software. What features are the must-haves for your needs and should be implemented within a personal CRM app?
Transform your idea into a successful product with the DOIT Software team.
Contact usA personal CRM should help users to nurture relationships in the most convenient way: group contacts, set reminders, take notes, etc. Additionally, a personal network relationship manager should include integrations with Gmail or social media accounts to import data from, calendar sync-ups, and consolidated inbox. Also, a user CRM can offer advanced AI-powered features. It allows users to get relevant recommendations for the growth of personal relationships with existing and potential contacts.
If you are someone who would like to pay more attention to people in your life and nurture important relationships, having a friendship CRM would be a good idea.
Queue, Garden, and Monica personal CRM apps are known for being very user-friendly and provide a short learning curve.
Personal CRM tools help users to keep up with their personal relationships and stay in touch with people who matter in their lives.
