Contactually vs Relatable: What Changed and What Stayed
Relatable is built by the founder of Contactually. Here is what he kept, what he changed, and why.
Contactually was a relationship CRM used by thousands of professionals — primarily real estate agents — before its acquisition by Compass in 2019 and eventual shutdown in 2022. Relatable is the next product from the same founder, Zvi Band, built on the same philosophy with modern technology.
What Stayed the Same
The core philosophy is identical: professionals who systematically maintain their relationships outperform those who do not. Everything in Relatable is built around this principle, just as Contactually was.
- Contact grouping with cadences — Contactually had Buckets. Relatable has Spheres. The concept is the same: organize contacts by priority and set follow-up frequencies for each group.
- Relationship-first design — Neither product is a pipeline CRM. Both are designed for tracking people and relationships, not deals and stages.
- Focus on the relationship-driven professional — Realtors, advisors, consultants, and anyone whose business depends on who they know.
What Changed
- AI-powered assistance — Contactually did not have AI. Relatable has Wiz, an AI assistant that recommends who to contact, prepares you for meetings, and helps draft messages.
- Modern integrations — Relatable connects with Gmail, Outlook, LinkedIn, calendars, iMessage, WhatsApp, and more. Contactually was limited primarily to email.
- Mobile apps — Full iOS and Android apps that Contactually lacked in its later years.
- Pricing — Contactually was /month for the professional plan. Relatable is /month with no per-seat charges.
For Former Contactually Users
Relatable offers an extended 30-day trial (instead of the standard 10 days) for former Contactually users. The Spheres model will feel immediately familiar if you used Buckets, and the done-for-you CSV import means you can bring your existing contact data with you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Relatable made by the same people as Contactually?
Relatable was founded by Zvi Band, who also founded Contactually. While the two products share a philosophical DNA — sphere-based relationship management with engagement cadences — Relatable is a completely new product built from scratch with modern AI capabilities that were not available when Contactually was developed.
Can I import my Contactually data into Relatable?
Yes. If you exported your Contactually contacts as a CSV before the shutdown, you can import them directly into Relatable. The transition is natural because Relatable's Spheres map to Contactually's Buckets, so your organizational structure carries over.
How are Spheres different from Buckets?
Spheres in Relatable serve a similar purpose to Contactually's Buckets — grouping contacts by relationship priority — but they are more powerful. Spheres integrate with Wiz AI to provide intelligent follow-up recommendations, communication analysis, and personalized message drafting. Think of Spheres as Buckets with an AI brain attached.
Is Relatable more expensive than Contactually was?
Relatable costs $44/month with flat pricing and no per-seat fees. Contactually's pricing varied over the years but typically ran $69 to $119 per user per month for professional tiers. Relatable is less expensive while offering more advanced AI features than Contactually ever had.
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