Best CRM Software for Individuals
In a Nutshell
There are a number of CRMs for individuals, and even many of the more general CRMs have features that can be used to build and manage your personal relationships. However, they might not all be equally good at everything.
During our evaluation, it became apparent that some tools, like Streak and FollowUp, are especially useful in email management. Alternatively, GetDex and Gethippo are great for integrating social media. However, of all the tools I reviewed, ClickUp gave the most value as a CRM for individuals.
10 Best CRM for Individuals
As an experienced CRM reviewer, I took on the challenge of finding the top CRM for individuals. After evaluating many different tools, here’s my list of the best CRM for personal use.
- ClickUp: Best overall personal CRM
- Contacts+: Most affordable personal CRM
- FollowUp: Best for email management
- Monica: Best for customization
- Streak: Best for solopreneurs
- Gethippo: Best for personal relationships
- Cloze: Best for AI assistance
- Airtable: Best for kanban-views
- Nection: Best for sending gift cards
- Getdex: Best for social media management
Why Individuals Need Personal CRM Tools
Walking around with an address book to note all your important contact details is a thing of the past. With the advancement of technology, we’re all looking for a more effective way to manage our contacts. Additionally, most of us are so busy that keeping track of personal relationships can be challenging. This is where CRM for individuals comes in.
Personal CRM tools make it easy for individuals or solo business owners to stay on top of their relationships. It helps users maintain their relationships in the most effective ways possible. Personal CRM tools are also a great way to keep your network updated.
Busy individuals can even utilize their personal CRM tools to create a better work-life balance. When using a tool like this, you can limit distractions between personal and professional communications more effectively. Setting reminders will ensure you connect with the right people at the right times without sacrificing work or personal time.
The Top 10 Best CRM for Personal Use
ClickUp is a great overall CRM for individuals as it offers a robust set of features ideal for managing personal relationships.
Why We Like It
When it comes to personal relationships and productivity, ClickUp is a great CRM solution. I like that you can view your contacts in a list system and group them according to your needs. I also appreciated how you can arrange tasks, subtasks, and checklists to help you hit your productivity goals.
Most Important Features for Individuals
Some of the most valuable features of ClickUp for individual use include:
- Contact management
- Tag contacts for better filtering
- Note-taking
- Add geographical data
Pros
- Free plan available
- Available offline
- Mobile app available
- AI available on higher-tiered plans
Cons
- Learning curve
Contacts+ is a valuable CRM for individuals when you consider the price tag and features included.
Why We Like It
Contacts+ is an affordable beginner tool. The free version includes all the features, and you’re only limited to 1000 contacts. I also love that your contacts sync automatically, and you can scan business cards. I also like that it automatically removes duplicate entries.
Most Important Features for Individuals
Some of the most valuable features of Contacts+ for individual use include:
- Add notes and tags to contacts
- Granular search functions
- Deduplication
- Business card scanning
Pros
- Free plan available
- Contacts sync automatically
- Business card scanning
Cons
- Limited personalization
FollowUp is a good personal CRM solution if you require robust email management. It allows you to manage relationships straight from your inbox.
Why We Like It
I like how easy it is to set follow-ups and reminders with FollowUp. It also stood out for its email management features. These features enable you to manage your email relationships directly from your inbox. FollowUp also lets you see when/if your emails are opened with real-time notifications.
Most Important Features for Individuals
Some of the most valuable features of FollowUp for individual use include:
- Reminders
- Automatic follow-ups
- Email open tracking
- Gmail inbox integration
Pros
- Great email management features
- Robust reminder and follow-up features
Cons
- Lacks task list and contact grouping
- Limited to contacts on Gmail
Monica is the best CRM for personal use if you’re looking for an open-source solution that you can customize and build on yourself.
Why We Like It
Monica is the only open-source personal CRM on this list, and since the code is publicly available for free, this is the best option for customization. If you have some coding knowledge, you can truly adapt this CRM to meet your needs.
Most Important Features for Individuals
Some of the most valuable features of Monica for individual use include:
- Contact organization and tracking
- Note-taking
- List of events
- Personal journal feature
Pros
- Highly customizable
- Completely free
- Intuitive UI
Cons
- The user is responsible for maintaining data security and privacy
Streak is a valuable CRM solution if you’re looking for workflow and productivity features to help manage your personal relationships.
Why We Like It
I like Streak for its robust feature offering. It’s great for solopreneurs because of its features related to sales, HR, product, and support. I also like the number of personal use features that the tool includes.
Most Important Features for Individuals
Some of the most valuable features of Streak for individual use include:
- Robust email management, including view tracking, mail merge, schedule send, and thread splitting.
- Customizable views
- Timeline of communications and events
- Detailed contact information
- Customizable workflows and automation
Pros
- Mobile app available
- Free plan available
- Robust email management
Cons
- Slow to use
Gethippo is a useful personal CRM if you want to easily remember minute details regarding your contacts.
Why We Like It
I liked how easy Gethippo is to use. The developers focused on creating a simple personal CRM that makes it easy to stay on top of your relationships. The software is particularly useful for managing events and to-do lists, and you can set reminders.
Most Important Features for Individuals
Some of the most valuable features of Gethippo for individual use include:
- Notes
- Event management
- To-do lists
Pros
- Simple and intuitive design
- Mobile app available
- Affordable solution
Cons
- No integrations
- Not suited for business purposes
Cloze is a great CRM for individuals who require an AI assistant to help gain insights quickly while also automating repetitive tasks.
Why We Like It
I like the AI assistant that comes with Cloze. This technology makes it easier than ever to stay on top of your personal relationships. The AI also reduces the number of manual entries you need to make as it syncs with your emails, messages, and social media. I also enjoyed using the scheduling, event reminders, and follow-up features since they were so intuitive.
Most Important Features for Individuals
Some of the most valuable features of Cloze for individual use include:
- Meeting logs
- Notifications and follow-up reminders
- Gmail integrations
- Cloud syncing
Pros
- Easy to use for personal relationships
- AI assistant
- Scheduling and reminders
Cons
- Pricey
- UI is slightly dated
Airtable is a great option if you’re looking for a personal CRM that lets you build personalized workflows.
Why We Like It
I liked how Airtable allowed me to build my own workflows through their spreadsheet-based app. This was useful for personalizing my workflows to meet my needs. While not built as a personal CRM, this tool has many features that can prove useful to manage your individual relationships, such as contact and communication management.
Most Important Features for Individuals
Some of the most valuable features of Airtable for individual use include:
- Customizable workflows
- Simple kanban views
- Create, modify, publish, and share forms through the platform
Pros
- Free option available
- Highly customizable
- Offer kanban views
Cons
- Steep learning curve
Nection is a great mobile-only personal CRM that works well if you also want to simplify gift-giving while managing your relationships.
Why We Like It
I really enjoyed Nection as a CRM for individuals because of its robust features and clever design. Using the tool feels like fun instead of work. I liked using the AI to create personalized messages while on the run. Also, being able to send gift cards straight through the platform was another big bonus.
Most Important Features for Individuals
Some of the most valuable features of Nection for individual use include:
- AI-generated messages
- Gift cards
- Event reminders
- Deduplication
Pros
- Completely Free
- Easy to use
- Integrates with social media, email, and WhatsApp
Cons
- Only available on mobile
Getdex is a great platform for managing various contacts, including email, social media, and mobile contacts, in one platform.
Why We Like It
One of the biggest reasons I like Getdex is its robust contact syncing and management abilities. The tool synchronizes your contacts from email, social media, and LinkedIn. Additionally, the tool also automatically updates if a contact makes changes to their LinkedIn profile.
Most Important Features for Individuals
Some of the most valuable features of Getdex for individual use include:
- Communication reminders
- Syncs with LinkedIn
- Available as a browser extension and app
Pros
- Mobile app available
- Browser extension available
- Synchronizes with various contact databases
Cons
- Slow and buggy
Features to Look for in Personal CRM Tools
When it comes to choosing personal CRM tools, there are a few features you want to look for. Some of these key features include the following:
Contact Organization
A personal CRM should store and update your contacts in a single platform. Ideally, the tool should be able to integrate with different platforms like email, social media, and messaging apps. Another benefit would be if the CRM tool updated these contacts automatically.
Tagging and Grouping
Tagging or grouping your contacts according to different levels, such as personal and professional, is essential in personal CRM tools. This also helps make it easier to find specific contact groups for more personalized communications.
Customizable Views
CRM should offer ways to customize or personalize your views to ensure you see the information most important to you. Seeing the most important information to you ensures you don’t miss anything when communicating with your contacts.
Remote or Offline Access
A personal CRM must be able to work offline and then sync data once an internet connection is established. This is especially relevant for individuals who manage their relationships on the go or while traveling.
Scheduling, Follow-Ups, and Reminders
Being able to schedule communications follow-ups and set reminders is another essential feature for personal CRM tools. These features help you stay on track with important events such as birthdays or anniversaries.
Workflows and Task Management
Another beneficial feature of personal CRM tools is the ability to create custom workflows and task lists. These CRM tools can help you stay on top of your tasks while still building relationships.
Conclusion
Choosing a CRM for individuals can be a challenge as most general CRMs have too many features that you may not need. When it comes to managing your personal relationships, you only need a few simple features that work well. I’ve explored the realms of personal CRM tools, and the 10 tools in this list came out on top for their ease of use, affordability, and required features.