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Dex alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rankAll contact managers

Top picks

Common reasons people leave Dex: no free plan, only a short trial that needs a card, and linkedIn sync is capped by plan. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Dex, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Cardhop currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Cardhop logoCardhopFree plan + paid—NomacOS, iOS4 of 464.8
2Google Contacts logoGoogle ContactsFree—NoWeb, Android4 of 461.8
3Covve logoCovvePaid$12 per seat/month or $119 per seat/year (Essential)NoiOS, Android, Web6 of 659.4
4folk logofolkPaid$24 per member/month billed yearly ($30 monthly)NoWeb, Browser extension, iOS +16 of 656.8
5Nimble logoNimblePaid$24.90 per seat/month, billed annuallyNoWeb, Browser extension, iOS +17 of 750.0
  1. Cardhop logo

    1. CardhopTop pick

    Best for: Mac and iPhone users who want a quicker way to find, edit and act on contacts

    Free plan + paidmacOS, iOS

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Dex

    Mac and iOS contacts app that works on your existing address book, for quick lookups and adding contacts.

    Pros

    • Natural-language input for adding, editing and acting on contacts
    • Works with existing iCloud, Google and Exchange accounts
    • Business card scanning on iPhone and iPad
    • One subscription also covers Fantastical

    Cons

    • Apple platforms only, no Windows, Android or web app
    • Several features sit behind the Premium subscription
    • Relies on your existing contact accounts for storage and sync
    Visit Cardhop Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Cardhop a good Dex alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Platforms
    Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro
    Checked Nov 8, 2026flexibits.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026flexibits.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business card scanning
    Yes (iPhone, iPad)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026flexibits.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Google Contacts search
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026flexibits.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Google Contacts logo

    2. Google Contacts

    Best for: Gmail and Android users who want their contacts synced everywhere at no cost

    FreeWeb, Android

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Dex

    Free and already synced to Gmail and Android, if reminders and LinkedIn sync aren't needed.

    Pros

    • Free and built into every Google Account
    • Syncs automatically with Gmail and Android phones
    • Suggests duplicate contacts to merge
    • Exports to CSV or vCard for easy moving

    Cons

    • No standalone iPhone or desktop app
    • Auto-saving everyone you email can clutter the list
    • Few relationship features such as reminders or notes timelines
    Visit Google Contacts Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Google Contacts a good Dex alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Android sync
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Duplicate merging
    Yes (Merge & fix)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Export formats
    CSV, vCard
    Checked Nov 8, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Groups
    Labels, usable as Gmail groups
    Checked Nov 8, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Covve logo

    3. Covve

    Best for: Sales and event teams scanning business cards and badges into contacts or a CRM

    PaidiOS, Android, Web

    59.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from Dex

    Contact app built around scanning business cards and capturing event leads, for people who mostly use Dex to log new contacts.

    Pros

    • Offline card scanning with recognition in 60+ languages
    • Syncs with Outlook, Google Contacts and Zapier on the base plan
    • Pro plan adds event badge scanning and a team web portal

    Cons

    • No free plan beyond the trial
    • Native CRM integrations cost extra unless you are on Enterprise
    • Little left of the old personal-CRM reminders; focus is now lead capture
    Visit Covve Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Covve a good Dex alternative?

    Verified facts

    6 of 6 verified
    Starting price
    $12 per seat/month or $119 per seat/year (Essential)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026covve.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days on annual plans
    Checked Nov 8, 2026covve.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Offline scanning
    Yes, 60+ languages
    Checked Nov 8, 2026covve.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Integrations
    Outlook, Google Contacts, Zapier
    Checked Nov 8, 2026covve.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Payment
    App Store, Google Play or website
    Checked Nov 8, 2026covve.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro plan
    $20 per seat/month or $199 per seat/year
    Checked Nov 8, 2026covve.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. folk logo

    4. folk

    Best for: Founders, agencies and small teams managing networks and partnerships

    PaidWeb, Browser extension, iOS, Android

    56.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Dex

    Contact-centred CRM with a free tier, better suited if the network is shared with a small team.

    Pros

    • Quick to learn with a spreadsheet-like interface
    • Imports contacts from LinkedIn, Gmail and WhatsApp
    • Built-in enrichment and email campaigns

    Cons

    • Custom objects and API access need the Premium plan
    • Basic forecasting and reporting
    • No free plan on the pricing page
    Visit folk Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.360
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is folk a good Dex alternative?

    Verified facts

    6 of 6 verified
    Starting price
    $24 per member/month billed yearly ($30 monthly)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026folk.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Premium plan
    $48 per member/month billed yearly ($60 monthly)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026folk.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Integrations
    5,000+
    Checked Nov 8, 2026folk.app(opens source in a new tab)
    API
    Premium plan and up
    Checked Nov 8, 2026folk.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Enterprise plan
    From $80 per member/month billed yearly
    Checked Nov 8, 2026folk.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days, no card required
    Checked Nov 8, 2026folk.app(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Nimble logo

    5. Nimble

    Best for: Consultants and small teams who want enriched contact context inside their inbox

    PaidWeb, Browser extension, iOS, Android

    50.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Dex

    Relationship CRM that builds contact profiles from email and social accounts, with light pipelines on top.

    Pros

    • Works with both Google Workspace and Microsoft 365
    • Contact enrichment and a sidebar that follows you across sites
    • Sequences and web forms included

    Cons

    • Reporting is basic
    • Smaller integration ecosystem than mainstream CRMs
    • Interface can feel cluttered
    Visit Nimble Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.338
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Nimble a good Dex alternative?

    Verified facts

    7 of 7 verified
    Mobile apps
    iOS and Android
    Checked Nov 8, 2026support.nimble.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Microsoft 365
    Yes, Outlook integration
    Checked Nov 8, 2026support.nimble.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Google Workspace
    Yes, Gmail integration
    Checked Nov 8, 2026support.nimble.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Web forms
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026support.nimble.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $24.90 per seat/month, billed annually
    Checked Nov 8, 2026nimble.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Monthly plan
    $29.90 per seat/month, billed monthly
    Checked Nov 8, 2026nimble.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days, no credit card
    Checked Nov 8, 2026nimble.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Dex alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Cardhop logo

Best Dex alternative for most people

Cardhop

Mac and iOS contacts app that works on your existing address book, for quick lookups and adding contacts.

Google Contacts logo

Best Dex alternative for a free option

Google Contacts

Free and already synced to Gmail and Android, if reminders and LinkedIn sync aren't needed.

Cardhop logo

Best Dex alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Cardhop

Mac and iOS contacts app that works on your existing address book, for quick lookups and adding contacts.

Cardhop logo

Best Dex alternative for Mac

Cardhop

Mac and iOS contacts app that works on your existing address book, for quick lookups and adding contacts.

Covve logo

Best Dex alternative for iPhone and Android

Covve

Contact app built around scanning business cards and capturing event leads, for people who mostly use Dex to log new contacts.

folk logo

Best Dex alternative for working in the browser

folk

Contact-centred CRM with a free tier, better suited if the network is shared with a small team.

Dex alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Dex?

Cardhop ranks first right now. Mac and iOS contacts app that works on your existing address book, for quick lookups and adding contacts. Google Contacts and Covve follow it in our ranking.

Dex vs Cardhop: what's the difference?

Dex is a paid product; Cardhop is free with paid plans. Only Dex runs on Web, Windows, Android and Browser extension.

Is Dex free?

Dex is a paid product. Starting price: $12/month (Premium); Team plan: $40 per user/month; Student discount: 50% off for a year. Checked on Dex's own site, November 2026.

How much do Dex alternatives cost?

Verified prices for the top-ranked Dex alternatives: Covve, $12 per seat/month or $119 per seat/year (Essential); folk, $24 per member/month billed yearly ($30 monthly); Nimble, $24.90 per seat/month, billed annually. Each price was checked on the app's own site; see each card below for the date and source.

Is there a free alternative to Dex?

Yes. Cardhop (free plan + paid) and Google Contacts (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Dex?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Dex?

The complaints we hear most: no free plan, only a short trial that needs a card; linkedIn sync is capped by plan; pricier than built-in contacts apps for simple address book needs.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Dex, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.