I want a Contacts App alternative

[TechnoBish]

I've been using Apple since the Apple 1. I love my Macs, IPads, Minis etc., But I don't like the Contacts App. It's buggy even to the point that when I try to add a new contact, it suddenly bugs out. I have to scroll down to the no-name contacts and edit one of them to add a new contact. I need some recommendations for the Contacts App alternative. That will sync with my other Apple devices and work reliably. Any recommendations?

Thanks
Clifford L. Frazier

 

[Randy B. Singer]

...I need some recommendations for the Contacts App alternative. ...

Here are some suggestions. You will have to check out their Web sites, and try the free demos, and decide which you like best:

BusyContacts
http://www.busymac.com/busycontacts/

Studiometry
http://www.oranged.net/studiometry/

Daylite
http://marketcircle.com/daylite/

Outlook

Microsoft Outlook for business - Microsoft

Connect and stay organized with your email, calendar, and contacts all in one place with the latest version of Outlook for or business.

products.office.com

Microsoft now offers a free version of Outlook!
The free version of Outlook is a fully functional version that does not require that you subscribe to Microsoft Office! However, it doesn't offer the "classic view", it doesn't support Exchange, and it displays ads.

https://aka.ms/OutlookMacDirectDownload

ContactMate
http://www.cisdem.com/contact-manager-mac.html

 

[Slydude]

Randy has provided several good suggestions for alternative contact managers. I'd want to take a bit of a detour if you don't mind and perhaps figure out the source of your issues with Contacts. I've had very few problems with Contacts although my needs are minimal.

If you don't mind me asking the following questions occur to me:
1. How long have these issues been occurring? Did it ever work reliably?
2. Which version of macOS are you using?
3. What exactly happens when it "bugs out"?

 

[IWT]

Yes, Sly, we need to know exactly what the problems are because I think it fair to say that most of us have found the Contacts app to be reliable.

I may be just a lucky one, but I’ve never encountered any real difficulty.

Ian

 

[Randy B. Singer]

...I think it fair to say that most of us have found the Contacts app to be reliable...

I have heard from folks who have had Contacts' index to it's database become corrupted, which can cause all sorts of havoc.

The fix (aside from restoring the entire database from a backup) is to turn off all syncing, quit Contacts, then in:
~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook
(this is in the user library, you may need to hold down the Option key while accessing the Go menu in the Finder to get to it)
delete the file named:
AddressBook-v22.abcddb
(you can just move it temporarily to the desktop, if you prefer, so that you can restore it if things don't work as expected)
When you next launch Contacts, a fresh new index will be re-built based on the entries found.

It should go without saying that you should have a full backup before doing the above.

 

[Slydude]

The Contacts app has been reliable for me though, as I say, my needs for such a program are pretty basic. IIRC I have seen reports of the problems Randy described. The culprit does seem to be a corrupted database.

 

[pm-r]

The culprit does seem to be a corrupted database.

And if you really want to change to a new contact or address book here are some suggestions to peruse over and then grab a copy from the developer if you need a new one you want to use:

MacUpdate Search

www.macupdate.com

MacUpdate Search

www.macupdate.com

Like many other of the members here, I'm intrigued to know what is actually wrong with the Apple Contacts.app you are using actually is, unless it is just not working correctly. Anyway lots of alternative choices out there if you want to try any of them. Maybe try several and pick one permanently from them.




- Patrick
=======