The short version. Google Contacts and iCloud Contacts are free, built into your phone and very convenient. Dex is a personal CRM with many integrations and AI features. Privilio is the one where the server can't read your contacts, and it is smaller and earlier. Pick based on what you need to protect.
At a glance
Based on each vendor's public website, pricing and help pages, checked October 2026. Products change, so check each vendor's own site for the latest.
| Privilio | Google Contacts | iCloud Contacts | Dex | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Private contact manager with notes and tags | Address book built into Google accounts and Android | Address book built into Apple devices | Personal CRM that pulls in 15+ sources |
| End-to-end encrypted | Yes. Zero-knowledge: encrypted on your device with a passphrase only you know | No. Encrypted in transit and at rest; Google manages the keys | No. Apple lists Contacts as not end-to-end encrypted, even with Advanced Data Protection | Not claimed. Dex describes TLS in transit and AES-256 at rest |
| Can the provider read your contacts? | No, only ciphertext (they can see account, record count, size and timing) | Yes, technically | Yes, technically (Apple holds the keys) | Yes, technically (no E2EE claimed) |
| Platforms | iPhone, web. Android coming soon | Android, web, iOS via account sync | iPhone, iPad, Mac, web | Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Chrome |
| Built into your phone's dialer and Messages | No. Separate app | Yes on Android | Yes on Apple devices | No. Separate app |
| Automatic import from other sources | No. One-time CSV and vCard file import | Syncs with your Google account | Syncs with your Apple account | Yes, many sources |
| Notes per contact | Yes, encrypted along with the contact | Basic notes field | Basic notes field | Not assessed |
| AI assistant access | Coming soon, read-only and by your choice | Not assessed | Not assessed | Yes: official MCP and REST API |
| Voice notes | Coming soon | Not a contacts feature | Not a contacts feature | "Voice mode" on Pro (scope not verified) |
| Data location | Database on Supabase in AWS ca-central-1 (Canada), ciphertext only | Google data centres | Apple data centres | US hosting, per Dex's materials |
| Cost | Free to start; Pro adds the Vault | Included with a Google account | Included with an Apple Account | Paid tiers; see Dex's pricing page |
Where Privilio is the better fit
- You don't want a provider to be able to read your address book. That is the one thing the others can't offer. Even if our database were breached or subpoenaed, what's in it is ciphertext.
- You keep private notes about people. Notes are encrypted along with the contact, rather than sitting readable in a CRM.
- You want a small, individual-focused tool. No team seats, pipelines or marketing features. Privilio is not for sales teams.
Where the others are the better fit
- Google Contacts or iCloud Contacts if you want contacts that just work with your phone's calls, Messages, email and caller ID, on every device you own, at no extra cost, with multiple emails and phone numbers, photos, birthdays and addresses. Privilio doesn't integrate with the built-in dialer or Messages, and it keeps one email and one phone per contact.
- Dex if you want a relationship-management tool that automatically gathers people from many sources, has desktop and browser apps, and already offers an AI assistant connector today. Privilio's AI connector and voice notes are not available yet.
Where Privilio is still limited
- No independent security audit yet, and the apps are not open source.
- The Vault is a PIN lock on the interface, not separate cryptography. Your passphrase protects all contacts equally.
- Metadata is visible: account existence, record count, size and timing.
- You can lose access. If you lose both your passphrase and your recovery code, nobody, including us, can recover your data.
- It's young. There's an iPhone app and a web app, with Android coming soon. Voice notes and the AI connector are coming soon and are not available today.
A practical middle path
You don't have to choose just one. Many people keep everyday numbers in the built-in app so calls and caller ID work, and keep sensitive or professional relationships, with private notes, in an end-to-end encrypted app. Privilio imports CSV and vCard files, so you can pull a selected set across. Follow the step-by-step guide to moving your contacts, or read the Privilio overview and the security page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Privilio more private than Google Contacts or iCloud Contacts?
For contact content, yes. Privilio encrypts your contacts on your device with a key only you hold, so our servers store only ciphertext. Google and iCloud encrypt in transit and at rest, but they hold the keys and can technically read the data.
Is iCloud Contacts end-to-end encrypted?
No. Apple's documentation lists Contacts as encrypted in transit and on the server with keys held by Apple, and not covered by end-to-end encryption even when Advanced Data Protection is on.
Is Google Contacts end-to-end encrypted?
No. Google encrypts data in transit and at rest and manages the keys, and does not offer end-to-end encryption for Contacts.
Is Dex end-to-end encrypted?
Dex does not claim end-to-end encryption. Its materials describe encryption in transit (TLS) and at rest (AES-256), with US hosting.
Can I use Privilio and my phone's Contacts app together?
Yes. Privilio is a separate app and doesn't sync with your built-in Contacts, so many people keep everyday contacts in the built-in app and sensitive ones in Privilio.
Does Privilio have an AI assistant connector like Dex?
Not yet. An AI connector for assistants such as Claude, ChatGPT and Grok Bot is coming soon. It is not available today. Anything an AI assistant retrieves would be visible to that AI provider.
Is Privilio free?
It is free to start. Pro adds the PIN-protected Vault.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Email smartin@adapting-services.ca.
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