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Ask HN: In 2024 what's the best way to manage contacts?

54 points raleighm | 6 comments | 19 Oct 24 04:41 UTC | HN request time: 0.891s | source | bottom

How do people sync and manage contacts across so many apps and contexts?

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UPDATE: Thanks for the comments so far. To clarify my situation:

My main use cases are: Gmail (personal): For personal contacts. Gmail (work): For professional contacts related to my role. Outlook (work): For internal and external business communication. LinkedIn: Managing professional connections. Messaging apps (WhatsApp, Messenger, etc.): Keeping in touch with a wide range of contacts.

I’ve tried syncing across these platforms using Google Contacts, vCard exports, and a few automation tools, but the results have been inconsistent. Either the syncing doesn't work as expected, or there’s a lot of manual cleanup involved—especially when contacts change roles or details across different apps.

I’m wondering if anyone has found a more seamless way to manage contacts across all these different contexts? I’d love to hear any recommendations for more advanced tools, automations, or strategies that have worked for you.

1. tensorfloww ◴[22 Oct 24 01:37 UTC] No.41910335[source]▶
Word of warning: I tried Marissa Mayer's Sunshine contacts and it nuked my phone's contacts. Luckily I had a backup vcard export from way back I could restore from.

Others I've tried:

* Clay (https://clay.earth) is a great option for "batteries included". Based on what you described, it can pull from Google/Outlook, Linkedin, and messaging apps. Doesn't get all the duplicates but gets close enough, and they offer carddav for 2-way sync to phone.

* Monica (http://monicahq.com) works for more barebones and self-hosted. They were working on a new version, not sure if it was ever merged into main product. I tried it once and it ended up being more of a gift and birthdays-focused notes app for me, but YMMV.

* Otherwise a Notion doc or spreadsheet might be enough! Especially if you start with an export from something else.

replies(2): >>41910378 #>>41911325 #
2. jeanlucas ◴[22 Oct 24 01:47 UTC] No.41910378[source]▶
are you somehow related to any of these products?
replies(1): >>41910419 #
3. tensorfloww ◴[22 Oct 24 01:55 UTC] No.41910419[source]▶
Some of my team worked with Marissa at Google, and I worked with the former CTO of Sunshine which is why I originally tried it.
4. Semaphor ◴[22 Oct 24 05:00 UTC] No.41911325[source]▶
> They were working on a new version, not sure if it was ever merged into main product.

It’s still in development, v4 is getting only bugfixes, v5 is in beta.

replies(1): >>41911381 #
5. TheCapeGreek ◴[22 Oct 24 05:13 UTC] No.41911381[source]▶
This seems to have been the case for quite a while now, with very little news coming out of the team.

Their "OfficeLife" tool banner is still on the main site as well, with an expected release of May 2022.

Development seems to be quite slow overall.

replies(1): >>41911583 #
6. Semaphor ◴[22 Oct 24 05:59 UTC] No.41911583{3}[source]▶
[delayed]