The Vault vs Monica
Monica is a free, open-source, self-hosted personal CRM built around journaling and privacy. Here's how it compares to The Vault, built around calendar sync, relationship health, and an AI assistant that does the logging for you.
| The Vault | Monica | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free during early access, then a one-time fee plus an optional AI add-on | Free to self-host (needs your own server), or $9/mo hosted |
| Setup | Sign up and go - nothing to host or maintain | Self-hosting requires running and maintaining your own server |
| Apple & Google sync | Real two-way Apple Calendar sync, plus Google and iPhone Contacts import | Manual entry - no native calendar or contacts sync |
| AI assistant | Ask Vault logs conversations and finds who's gone quiet, always asking before it saves | Not a core feature |
| Relationship health status | Every contact gets a simple green/amber/red status | Manual tracking via notes and journal entries |
| Data control | Hosted, with data isolated to your account | Full control if self-hosted - your data never leaves your own server |
What Monica does well
Monica is genuinely one of the most privacy-respecting options out there - open-source, and free to self-host with no feature restrictions if you're comfortable running your own server. For anyone who wants full control over their data above everything else, it's a serious option.
Why people choose The Vault instead
No server to run
Sign up and your network is organised in minutes, with real Apple and Google sync doing most of the manual entry for you.
An AI assistant that does the logging
Ask Vault can log a catch-up or find who's gone quiet in seconds, always showing you the change before it saves anything.
Relationship health, not just a journal
A simple green, amber, or red status on every contact, so you don't have to review journal entries to know who needs attention.
See your network at a glance, not in a journal
The Vault is free during early access. Request an invite to see how it compares for yourself.