FastMail versus iCloud for contacts

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Level 1

22 points

FastMail versus iCloud for contacts

So, this is pretty cool. For those here who appreciate FastMail, looks like they recently updated their side to allow for iOS/macOS push support for calendaring and contacts via CalDAV and CardDAV, respectively.

Their blog post: https://blog.fastmail.com/2016/10/10/push-sync-for-contacts-calendars-now-availa ble-on-ios/

In conjunction with their support of push mail on iOS as of last summer or so, they now support push mail, contacts, and calendars on Apple hardware -- just like iCloud and, in some respects, if we're being honest, better than iCloud. Unlike Apple's own implementation, FastMail also synchronizes message state (e.g., read, unread, so forth) via push.

I currently use FastMail for mail, but iCloud for everything else -- contact info, calendars, notes, photos, reminders. I am not a heavy user of iCloud Pages/Numbers/Keynote nor do I use Find Friends. I haven't been using iCloud Drive but have considered it with the changes that came with Sierra.

I occasionally use the FastMail web interface versus the Apple Mail client.

I don't like having split services. However, I'm curious what the technical folks of the forum think -- any inherent pros/cons to switching PIM-type information over to FastMail entirely?

Posted on Oct 19, 2016 8:00 PM

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Answer 1

exigence Author

Level 1

22 points

Mar 29, 2017 11:23 PM in response to exigence

Updating my own thread from way back when because, hey, nobody does that anymore.

Have been using Fastmail for mail for quite some time. Transitioned to FM for contacts and calendars within the last few months.

It has been working flawlessly. Near-instant push. No weird issues. Fastmail contacts storage is non-destructive even if they don't display quite everything that iCloud displays for contacts, so there is that.

Photos and a couple other iCloud services remain on iCloud.

As much as I like iCloud in general aside from the mail reliability issues and "little things" that made me go elsewhere for PIM, Fastmail has worked beautifully as a push-enabled alternative to iCloud for contacts/calendars.

That's my experience. Perhaps an option for some.

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Answer 2

exigence Author

Level 1

22 points

Oct 19, 2016 8:20 PM in response to zinacef

I don't care what people use. I still primarily use iCloud as above. I'm asking for thoughts of those who may think of more subtle or technical pros/cons for either service, other than the obvious, which I may be overlooking.

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Answer 3

zinacef

Level 10

88,798 points

Oct 19, 2016 8:17 PM in response to exigence

So, in other words, you're here to shill, on an Apple Support Community Forum, for FastMail? 😐

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Answer 4

zinacef

Level 10

88,798 points

Oct 19, 2016 8:35 PM in response to exigence

Folks on this site are very much Apple-centric so good luck with those pros/cons. 😉

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Answer 5

oplust

Level 1

4 points

May 14, 2017 3:11 AM in response to exigence

I am actually having kind of the same issue. I'm currently using G suite for my freelance work and iCloud for personal emails. I do have a FastMail account though but I haven't used it in a awhile. May I ask what's your plan in regards of the email address you are using with FastMail? Are you forwarding your existing iCloud email to FM or just started to use a new one under your own domain? As for contacts and calendars I love iCloud but it makes more sense to me to keep email and contacts and calendar within the same space.

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Answer 6

Jul 7, 2017 1:26 AM in response to exigence

I have the same issue.

I use iCloud for everything except mail - my reasoning being that Fastmail allows me to use my own domain (iCloud does not) and that Fastmail is very good at what it does (worth paying for).

I have my contacts in iCloud and have never had an issue with it (other than I cannot use them when using the Fastmail web interface).

I have considered moving contacts across for completeness but, as exigence mentioned, iCloud does have more contact fields (eg: prefix, suffix etc) and I like that. On the occasion that I tested Fastmail contacts, I had sync issues to my Mac's Contacts - I had to quit and reopen the app to get updates from Fastmail (Fastmail web interface showed changes from the Mac almost instantaneously).

I have therefore been searching for a decent sync app between Fastmail contacts and iCloud contacts but have not found anything so far.

J.

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Answer 7

exigence Author

Level 1

22 points

Jul 7, 2017 5:51 AM in response to James CH Henderson

How long ago did you test contacts like that? I ask because ever since Fastmail enabled push support for contacts/calendars in October of last year (https://blog.fastmail.com/2016/10/10/push-sync-for-contacts-calendars-now-availa ble-on-ios/), it actually has been flawless for me.

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Answer 8

Jul 7, 2017 6:07 AM in response to exigence

...hmmm, could well have been before then. I'll give it another go - thanks :-)

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