--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "Lyst - Contacts sharing" developer_entity: "Hanno ter Hoor" bundle_id: "com.lyst.Lyst" app_store_id: "882281918" google_play_id: "com.google.android.contacts" category: "Productivity" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Free" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS & Android" app_last_updated: "2026-04-15" report_date: "2026-04-19" report_version: "2014.4" total_reviews: 1865610 overall_rating: 4.3 sentiment: "Excited" sentiment_score: 65 confidence: "high" confidence_score: 0.95 data_age_days: 73 intelligence_version: 3 nemesis: "My Contacts Backup" competitor_count: 7 tags: ["productivity", "free", "excited sentiment", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "android", "users", "seeking"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/lyst-contacts-sharing" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" last_verified: "2026-04-19T22:22:10.360Z" --- # Lyst - Contacts sharing App Audit > **TL;DR:** Lyst - Contacts sharing is a productivity app by Hanno ter Hoor, rated 4.3/5 by 1.9M users, with Excited user sentiment (65/100), available on iOS & Android. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** โ€” Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** Lyst - Contacts sharing maintains Excited user sentiment (4.3/5 from 1.9M reviews), with users consistently praising general utility. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 4.3/5 (1.9M reviews) | | **User Mood** | Excited | | **Category** | Productivity | | **Developer** | Hanno ter Hoor | | **Pricing** | Free | | **Platforms** | iOS & Android | | **Confidence** | High (0.95/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 0d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** Hanno ter Hoor - **Category:** Productivity - **Target Audience:** Android users seeking a reliable, centralized way to manage, back up, and sync their contact information across multiple devices and wearables. - **Platforms:** iOS & Android - **Version Audited:** 2014.4 - **Audit Date:** 2026-04-19 - **Signal Count:** 1865610 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** High (0.95/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 882281918 - **Bundle ID:** com.lyst.Lyst - **Google Play ID:** com.google.android.contacts - **Performance Trend:** Mixed - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-04-19 - **Short Description:** Back up your contacts & access them anywhere ## Executive Snapshot Lyst is a core productivity utility focused on contact synchronization and backup within the Google ecosystem. It targets Android users who require seamless data portability across devices and wearables, distinguishing itself through a 30-day Trash Recovery feature and deep Wear OS integration. While positioned as a reliable, free utility, it currently faces technical challenges regarding sync stability following system updates. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Standard] Cloud Backup and Sync:** Safely backs up contacts to a Google Account for access across all devices * *User Intent:* Users expect seamless access across multiple devices. - **[Standard] Duplicate Merging:** Automatically identifies and merges duplicate contact entries to keep lists clean - **[Differentiator] Trash Recovery:** Allows recovery of contacts deleted within the last 30 days - **[Differentiator] Wear OS Integration:** Provides dedicated tiles and complications for quick access to favorite contacts on smartwatches * *User Intent:* Users seek enhanced value through premium features. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Free - **Tiers:** Completely free to use - **Analysis:** The app serves as a utility tool within the Google ecosystem, focusing on user retention and data synchronization rather than direct monetization. ## ๐ŸŸข User Sentiment (High Confidence: 1.9M reviews) {#user-sentiment} - **Overall Rating:** 4.3/5 - **Platform Split:** Android 4.3/5 (1.9M ratings) - **Overall Sentiment:** Excited ### Top Praises - **General Utility** - **Reliability** ### Top Complaints (Impact Areas) - **Syncing and Visibility Issues** - **UX and Permission Confusion** ## SWOT Analysis **Core Strengths:** - Google Account cloud synchronization - 30-day Trash Recovery safety net - Advanced Wear OS integration (tiles/complications) **Critical Frictions:** - Post-update sync failures causing contact invisibility - Confusing dual-widget and permission setup - Outdated iOS version (2014) **Growth Levers:** - Social data enrichment (LinkedIn/Facebook integration) - Business card scanning functionality - Offline VCF/Excel export options **Market Threats:** - Privacy-first offline competitors (My Contacts Backup) - Feature-dense communication hubs (Truecaller) - AI-driven relationship managers (Cloze) ## What's Changed (v2 โ†’ v3) {#recent-changes} The report now identifies significant technical debt regarding sync stability and classifies the app as having 'zombie' development momentum, despite maintaining its core feature set. - **[HIGH]** **[Declined] Emergence of Sync Stability Complaints:** Users are reporting critical sync failures and visibility issues following system updates, undermining the app's core reliability. - **[HIGH]** **[Shifted] Classification as 'Zombie' Product:** The app is now identified as being in maintenance mode with no major updates since 2014 on iOS, indicating a lack of active product evolution. - [MED] **[Improved] Repositioning of Key Features:** Trash Recovery and Wear OS Integration have been explicitly categorized as competitive differentiators rather than standard features. - [MED] **[Added] Formal SWOT and Competitive Analysis:** New intelligence identifies specific weaknesses (outdated iOS, dual-widget confusion) and threats from modern, feature-dense competitors. ## Rivals Landscape {#rivals} > Competitive positioning identified by AI analysis of app features, category, and market signals. ### Lyst - Contacts sharing vs My Contacts Backup โ€” Head to Head - **[My Contacts Backup](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/my-contacts-backup)** by GLOBILE BILISIM BILGISAYAR HIZMETLERI ILETISIM DANISMANLIK SANAYI TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI: Direct functional equivalent focusing on the backup/restore niche with a massive, comparable user base. - **Key differences:** - Focuses on offline portability via VCF (vCard) and Excel exports sent via email, whereas target relies on Google Account cloud syncing. - Operates without requiring a login or account creation, positioning as a privacy-first utility compared to target's account-centric model. - Provides a dedicated 'Restore' workflow for legacy file formats that target's Google-sync approach doesn't prioritize. ### Contenders (Strong Challengers) - **[Sync.me - Caller ID & Contacts](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/social-networking/sync-me-caller-id-contacts)** by Sync.ME LTD: High-velocity rival (16 releases in 6 months) that expands contact management into social enrichment. - Automatically pulls profile photos and social data from LinkedIn and Facebook to enrich contact cards, a feature absent in target's basic sync. - Includes a 'Merge' engine specifically for deduplicating contacts across multiple social sources, going beyond target's basic organization. - **[Truecaller: Premium Caller ID](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/utilities/com-truesoftware-truecallerother)** by True Software Scandinavia AB: Dominant utility in the contact space with extreme update frequency (20 releases) and high feature density. - Features a community-based spam reporting system that identifies unknown numbers before they are saved to the contact list. - Offers 'Flash Messaging' for quick status updates to contacts, moving into the communication space while target remains a productivity utility. - **[Cloze Relationship Management](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/cloze-relationship-management)** by Cloze: A prosumer alternative that automates the 'organization' aspect the target app promises through AI-driven context. - Automatically maps interaction history (emails, calls, meetings) to contacts, whereas target requires manual editing of information. - Uses an 'Agenda' view to prompt users to reach out to contacts they haven't spoken to recently, shifting from storage to relationship maintenance. ### Peers (What They Do Better) - **Cardhop Contacts** by Flexibits Inc.: A UX-focused peer that reimagines how users interact with their contact list through natural language. - Uses a 'Parser' engine allowing users to type 'Call John S' or 'Email Sarah' directly into a command bar to execute actions. - Includes a business card scanner to digitize physical contacts directly into the sync engine, a hardware-software bridge target lacks. - **[Covve - Personal CRM](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/covve-personal-crm)** by Covve: Niche peer focusing on the networking and 'stay in touch' workflow. - Features a 'News' engine that alerts users when a contact's company is mentioned in the press, providing a reason to reach out. - Provides a 'Contact Mapping' visualization to show geographic distribution of the user's network. - **Eyecon Phone + Reverse Lookup** by Eyecon Global: Visual-first peer that prioritizes photos and icons over the target's text-heavy list view. - Replaces the standard list with a visual grid of contact photos pulled automatically from social networks. - Integrates one-tap shortcuts to WhatsApp, Messenger, and Viber directly from the contact card. ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} Lyst - Contacts sharing is a market-leading productivity app that is completely free. With a 4.3/5 rating from 1.9M reviews, it delivers strong user satisfaction. > **Bottom Line:** If I were the PM, I would immediately pivot engineering resources to resolve the post-update sync failures, as they undermine the app's primary promise of data safety. While the Wear OS integration is a brilliant competitive differentiator, it cannot compensate for a core address book that occasionally fails to display contacts. **Best for:** Android users seeking a reliable, centralized way to manage, back up, and sync their contact information across multiple devices and wearables. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [HIGH] Prioritize a hotfix for Android sync visibility โ€” *Syncing and Visibility Issues are the #1 medium-frequency complaint theme, directly threatening the core value of 'Reliability'.* - [ ] [MEDIUM] Consolidate widgets and simplify permission requests โ€” *Users report confusion over the current dual-widget setup and complex permissions, impacting the 'Organization' messaging.* - [ ] [MEDIUM] Expand Wear OS feature set โ€” *The v2026.04 update shows active investment here; further differentiation in wearables protects against mobile-only competitors.* ### Feature Gaps vs Competitors - Offline VCF/Excel export (available in My Contacts Backup) - Social profile enrichment (available in Sync.me) - Community-based spam blocking (available in Truecaller) - Business card scanner (available in Cardhop) ### Outlook: Stable - ๐ŸŸข v2026.04 added Enhanced Wear OS support โ€” indicates active feature investment in hardware synergy. - ๐Ÿ”ด Recurring 'Mixed' sentiment regarding sync reliability after system updates โ€” a persistent technical debt signal. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 4.3/5 | | Total Reviews | 1.9M | | Sentiment | Excited (65/100) | | Confidence | High | | Pricing Model | Free | | Platforms | iOS & Android | | Key Features | 4 analyzed | | Trend | Mixed | | Outlook | Stable | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Lyst - Contacts sharing** (this app) | 4.3/5 | Excited | Hanno ter Hoor | | [Truecaller: Premium Caller ID](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/utilities/com-truesoftware-truecallerother) | 4.5/5 | N/A | True Software Scandinavia AB | | [My Contacts Backup](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/my-contacts-backup) | 4.5/5 | N/A | GLOBILE BILISIM BILGISAYAR HIZMETLERI ILETISIM DANISMANLIK SANAYI TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI | | [Cloze Relationship Management](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/cloze-relationship-management) | 4.6/5 | N/A | Cloze | | [Covve - Personal CRM](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/covve-personal-crm) | 4.5/5 | N/A | Covve | | [Sync.me - Caller ID & Contacts](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/social-networking/sync-me-caller-id-contacts) | 4.4/5 | N/A | Sync.ME LTD | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** Hanno ter Hoor - **Website:** [https://www.android.com/](https://www.android.com/) - **Social:** [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/android) ยท [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AndroidOfficial) ยท [X/Twitter](https://twitter.com/android) ยท [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch) ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store:** [View on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lyst-contacts-sharing/id882281918?uo=4) - **Google Play:** [View on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.contacts&hl=en&gl=us) - **Dev Site:** [Official Website](https://www.android.com/) - **Sources:** Developer website content, About us / company information, App store metadata, User reviews. ## Related Intel Reports - [*Truecaller: Premium Caller ID*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/utilities/com-truesoftware-truecallerother) (True Software Scandinavia AB) โ€” 4.5/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*My Contacts Backup*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/my-contacts-backup) (GLOBILE BILISIM BILGISAYAR HIZMETLERI ILETISIM DANISMANLIK SANAYI TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI) โ€” 4.5/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Cloze Relationship Management*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/cloze-relationship-management) (Cloze) โ€” 4.6/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Covve - Personal CRM*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/covve-personal-crm) (Covve) โ€” 4.5/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Sync.me - Caller ID & Contacts*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/social-networking/sync-me-caller-id-contacts) (Sync.ME LTD) โ€” 4.4/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Mitsu: AI Life Coach*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/mitsu-ai-life-coach) (C2 Insights) โ€” N/A Rating | Mixed Sentiment - [*Pattrn - Discipline Tracker*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/pattrn-discipline-tracker) (Pedro Schott) โ€” 4.8/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment - [*ChatGPT*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/chatgpt) (OpenAI OpCo, LLC) โ€” 4.8/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment - [*Today I Done: Habit Tracker*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/today-i-done-habit-tracker) (Shriansh Shrivastava) โ€” 4.3/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Xmind - Mind Map & Brainstorm*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/xmind-mind-map-brainstorm) (Xmind Ltd.) โ€” 4.8/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I use this app to keep work and personal contacts separate? Yes. The app allows you to view contacts by account, such as work or personal, ensuring your lists stay organized while remaining accessible in one place. ### How is this different from My Contacts Backup? Lyst relies on Google Account cloud syncing for multi-device access, whereas My Contacts Backup focuses on offline portability via VCF/Excel exports without requiring a login. ### What happens if I accidentally delete a contact? The app includes a Trash Recovery feature that allows you to recover contacts deleted within the last 30 days, providing a safety net for accidental deletions. ### Is there a way to see social media photos for my contacts? Lyst focuses on basic contact info and Google sync. For social enrichment like LinkedIn or Facebook photos, consider alternatives like Sync.me or Eyecon. ## Methodology {#methodology} This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 3-stage AI intelligence pipeline: 1. **Feature & Positioning Extraction** โ€” Analyzes app metadata, developer website content, and version history to identify key features, target audience, and competitive positioning. 2. **Sentiment Analysis** โ€” Processes user reviews (minimum 5 reviews required) to extract praise themes, complaint themes, and overall sentiment with evidence quotes. 3. **Intelligence Synthesis** โ€” Combines stages 1 & 2 with App Store rankings to produce SWOT analysis, executive summary, and actionable insights. - **Confidence Score:** 0.95/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 1.9M - **Data Sources:** user reviews, developer website, company about page, App Store metadata - **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform - **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence. - **Report Age:** 0 days since last refresh --- ยฉ 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/lyst-contacts-sharing) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.