MEMO vs Follow Up Boss (2025): Which CRM Is Right for Solo Real Estate Agents?
Last updated: April 2026
Quick Answer
Follow Up Boss is a full-featured team CRM with built-in texting, calling, and lead routing. Best for brokerages and teams processing high volumes of internet leads.
MEMO is a lightweight Personal Relationship Manager (PRM) built around The Stack - a daily prioritized list that lets you "win the day in 3 taps." No pipelines, no endless task lists, no guilt. Just connect with the 3 most important people today, then you're done.
Bottom line: If you're a solo agent who builds business on referrals and wants a CRM that ends (not one that never does), MEMO is built for you. If you need team features and lead automation, stick with Follow Up Boss.
Try MEMO Free for 14 Days → | Read Full Comparison ↓
Table of Contents
- Quick Comparison
- Detailed Feature Breakdown
- Pros & Cons
- Pricing Comparison
- Who Should Choose Which
- Real User Stories
- Migration Guide
- FAQ
- Alternatives to Consider
At a Glance: MEMO vs Follow Up Boss
| Feature | Follow Up Boss | MEMO |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Teams (5-50+ agents), lead-heavy operations | Solo agents, sphere-focused, referral business |
| Core strength | Lead routing, team coordination | The Stack (prioritized daily list that ends) |
| Daily workflow | Clear 50+ tasks, never-ending to-do list | Connect with 3 people (Short List), then you're done |
| Starting price | $69/month per user | $49/month flat |
| Contract | Annual commitment typical | Monthly, cancel anytime |
| Contact organization | Custom fields, lead scores, pipeline stages | 4 roles (Client, Partner, Vendor, Referrer) + 2 Orbits |
| Reminders | Task lists with due dates, red badges | The Pulse (drift tracking without guilt) |
| Data enrichment | Manual form filling | The Daily Deal (gamified 5-card data game) |
| Built-in texting | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (use your phone) |
| Built-in calling | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (use your phone) |
| Email automation | ✅ Yes (drip campaigns) | ❌ No (we don't automate relationships) |
| Pipeline stages | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (we track humans, not deals) |
| Task management | ✅ Yes (with overdue warnings) | The Stack (prioritized, finite, guilt-free) |
| Quick capture | Multiple clicks, multiple menus | Memo button - instant capture |
| Mobile-first design | Partial (feature-complete but dense) | Mobile-first design (iOS only) |
| Learning curve | 2-3 weeks (complex setup) | 10 minutes (minimal setup) |
| Philosophy | Manage leads through sales process | Remember humans, win the day in 3 taps |
Detailed Feature Breakdown
Daily Workflow: The Stack vs Task Lists
This is where MEMO fundamentally differs from Follow Up Boss.
Follow Up Boss:
- Open app → See 47 overdue tasks
- Tasks sorted by "days overdue" (guilt-based)
- Red badges everywhere
- No concept of "done" - list regenerates daily
- You feel behind before you even start
- Average time to "clear" the list: Never (it's infinite)
MEMO: The Stack
Follow Up Boss's task architecture is built around automation: a lead comes in, an action plan triggers, tasks generate. The list is designed to never end - that's the product philosophy, and for high-volume lead operations it makes sense.
MEMO makes the opposite bet. The Short List shows you 3 people - ranked by who's drifting and who matters most - and when you've reached out to all three, the app says "You won the day ✓." No automations generating more work. No recalculating your "sphere health." The list ends, and you're allowed to stop.
For solo agents who build on relationships, that finite daily goal is the whole point. Below the Short List, the Daily Deal (a 2-minute data enrichment game) and Focus Stacks (deeper dives by category) sit as clearly optional - extra credit, not competing for the same attention.
See the full breakdown of how The Stack works →
Winner: MEMO (if you want a daily goal you can actually complete), FUB (if you thrive on comprehensive task management)
Contact Management
Follow Up Boss:
- Unlimited contacts
- Dozens of custom fields
- Lead scoring (Hot, Warm, Cold)
- Pipeline stages (Lead → Qualified → Offer → Closed)
- Activity timeline (every call, text, email logged)
- Duplicate detection
- Bulk actions
- Tags (unlimited, becomes overwhelming)
MEMO: The Sphere
- Unlimited contacts
- 4 clear roles (no tagging soup):
- Client - Past transactions
- Partner - Lenders, title companies, other agents
- Vendor - Contractors, plumbers, etc.
- Referrer - Your sphere (friends, family, past clients who send business)
- 2 Orbits:
- Inner Circle - VIPs, high gravity (check in more frequently)
- Outer Circle - Everyone else, lower gravity
- Essential fields only: Name, role, orbit, birthday, home anniversary
- Interaction stream (memos you've logged)
- No lead scores (people aren't scores)
- No pipeline stages (people aren't stages)
Winner: FUB (if you love data), MEMO (if you want clarity over complexity)
Staying in Touch: The Pulse vs Task Management
Follow Up Boss:
- Manual task creation ("Call Sarah by Tuesday 2pm")
- Automated action plans (pre-set task sequences)
- Reminders with due dates
- Red badges when overdue
- "Days since last contact" counter
- Email: "You have 12 overdue tasks"
- Philosophy: External pressure creates action
MEMO: The Pulse
- Background drift tracking (monitors time since last contact)
- Adapts to your patterns + their Orbit
- Inner Circle: Expects contact every 2-4 weeks
- Outer Circle: Expects contact every 2-3 months
- When someone drifts too far → They surface on The Short List
- No due dates, no "overdue" language
- Observational, not accusatory: "It's been a minute" not "14 days overdue"
- Philosophy: Gentle gravity pulls people toward you
The Difference in Practice:
Scenario: You haven't talked to Sarah in 3 weeks
Follow Up Boss:
- Creates task: "Follow up with Sarah - OVERDUE 5 DAYS"
- You feel guilty
- The task sits there getting redder
- You avoid opening the app
MEMO's Pulse:
- Sarah appears on The Short List with context: "It's been a minute | Last memo: Son made varsity"
- You think: "Oh yeah, I should ask how his season's going"
- You reach out because you want to, not because you're overdue
- No guilt, just gravity
Winner: MEMO (if guilt doesn't motivate you), FUB (if external deadlines work for you)
Quick Capture: Memo Button vs Multi-Step Entry
Follow Up Boss:
- Tap contact name
- Scroll to find them
- Tap their profile
- Tap "Add Activity"
- Select activity type from dropdown
- Select sub-type
- Enter notes in text field
- Tap "Save"
- Total: 8 taps, 30-45 seconds
MEMO: The Memo Button
- Tap the Memo button (always visible, bottom-right)
- Dictate or type: "Son made varsity basketball"
- Start typing name to tag: "Sar..." → Sarah appears
- Tap Sarah
- Done
- Total: 3 taps, 10 seconds
The Red Light Test: Can you log a thought at a red light before the light turns green?
- Follow Up Boss: No (requires too many menus)
- MEMO: Yes (designed for this exact moment)
Winner: MEMO (purpose-built for speed), FUB (more structured but slower)
Data Enrichment: Forms vs The Daily Deal
Follow Up Boss:
- Open contact profile
- Scroll through dozens of empty fields
- Manually fill in: Birthday, Anniversary, Spouse Name, Kids, Hobbies, etc.
- Save
- Repeat for 200 contacts
- Reality: Most agents never do this (it's boring)
MEMO: The Daily Deal
- Open MEMO
- The Daily Deal shows 5 random cards
- Each card asks ONE quick question:
- "Does Andrew have a partner?" → Yes/No
- "What's Wade's favorite restaurant?" → Quick answer or skip
- "When is Meg's birthday?" → Date picker or skip
- Swipe left to skip, right to answer
- 2 minutes per day = 35 enriched profiles per week
- Gamification makes data entry feel like progress, not homework
Winner: MEMO (makes boring work fun), FUB (traditional forms)
The "Win the Day" Philosophy
Follow Up Boss measures productivity by:
- Activities logged (calls, texts, emails)
- Pipeline movement (leads advanced)
- Completion percentage (tasks cleared)
- "Days active" (how often you log in)
MEMO measures success by:
- Did you complete The Short List? (3 people)
- If yes: You won the day ✓
- Everything else (Daily Deal, Focus Stacks) is optional
Why this matters:
The average solo agent in Follow Up Boss feels perpetually behind. The task list never ends. There's always someone "overdue." The pipeline always needs attention.
The average MEMO user completes The Short List in 15-20 minutes over coffee. The app literally says "You won the day." They feel productive, not guilty.
Same outcome (stayed in touch with sphere), different feeling.
Mobile Experience
Follow Up Boss:
- Full-featured iOS and Android apps
- Can do everything desktop can do
- Dashboard shows pipeline, tasks, activity feed
- Many taps to navigate between sections
- Complete but not optimized for one-handed use
- Feels like "desktop crammed into mobile"
MEMO:
- Mobile-first design (iOS only)
- Opens to The Stack (today's priorities)
- Thumb-optimized (all actions within thumb reach)
- Memo button for instant capture
- 3-tap philosophy ("Win the day in 3 taps")
- Designed for use at red lights, coffee shop, open house
- No desktop needed (your sphere isn't at your desk)
Winner: MEMO (purpose-built for mobile), FUB (feature parity across devices)
Pros & Cons
Follow Up Boss
Pros:
- ✅ All-in-one platform (texting, calling, email built in)
- ✅ Strong team features and lead routing
- ✅ Zillow and Realtor.com integration
- ✅ Robust automation and drip campaigns
- ✅ Detailed activity tracking and reporting
- ✅ Established platform (10+ years in market)
Cons:
- ❌ Overwhelming for solo agents (too many features)
- ❌ Creates guilt with overdue tasks and declining metrics
- ❌ Expensive ($828-1,188/year)
- ❌ Complex setup (2-3 weeks to configure)
- ❌ Annual contracts typical
- ❌ Feels like work, not helpful
- ❌ Mobile app is feature-complete but cluttered
MEMO
Pros:
- ✅ Simple, fast, guilt-free interface
- ✅ Mobile-first (log memos at red lights)
- ✅ No task lists or pipeline pressure
- ✅ Affordable ($588/year)
- ✅ No contract (cancel anytime)
- ✅ 10-minute setup
- ✅ Shows what you KNOW, not what you OWE
- ✅ Built specifically for solo sphere agents
Cons:
- ❌ No built-in texting/calling (use your phone)
- ❌ No email automation (by design)
- ❌ No team features
- ❌ No Zillow integration
- ❌ No pipeline tracking
- ❌ Not suitable for high-volume lead operations
- ❌ Mobile-only (iOS) - built for where agents actually work, not a desktop
Choose Follow Up Boss If You...
- Run a team of 5+ agents and need lead distribution
- Process high volumes of internet leads (Zillow, Realtor.com, etc.)
- Want built-in texting, calling, and email in one platform
- Need automated drip campaigns
- Like pipeline stages and deal tracking
- Thrive on comprehensive task lists (50+ items doesn't stress you)
- Have budget for $69-99/month per user
- Don't mind complexity in exchange for features
Choose MEMO If You...
- Are a solo agent (or small team that works independently)
- Build business on referrals and sphere (80%+ of deals)
- Feel overwhelmed by traditional CRMs (too many features, too much guilt)
- Want a daily goal you can actually complete ("win the day in 3 taps")
- Prefer simple, fast mobile experience over feature completeness
- Already have a phone for texting/calling
- Like gamification (Daily Deal makes data entry fun)
- Value peace of mind over metrics
- Want to spend $49/month, not $70-100/month
Still Not Sure? Try This
Question 1: Where do most of your deals come from?
- Internet leads (Zillow, realtor.com) → Follow Up Boss
- Referrals from past clients → MEMO
Question 2: How do you feel when you open your CRM?
- Productive (I love checking tasks off) → Follow Up Boss
- Guilty (I'm always behind) → MEMO
Question 3: What's your team size?
- 5+ agents sharing leads → Follow Up Boss
- Just me → MEMO
Pricing Comparison (2025)
Follow Up Boss Pricing
| Plan | Price | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $69/user/month | Core CRM, basic features |
| Plus | $89/user/month | + Advanced automations |
| Pro | $99/user/month | + All features, priority support |
Annual cost (solo agent): $828 - $1,188/year
Setup fee: None
Contract: Typically annual
Per-user pricing: Yes (gets expensive for teams)
MEMO Pricing
| Plan | Price | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Solo Agent | $49/month | Everything. No tiers. |
Yearly cost: $588/year ($490 with annual plan)
Setup fee: None
Contract: Month-to-month (cancel anytime)
Per-user pricing: No (flat rate)
The Real Cost Over 3 Years
Follow Up Boss (Standard plan):
$69/month × 36 months = $2,484
MEMO:
$49/month × 36 months = $1,764
You save $720 over 3 years by switching to MEMO.
What Real Agents Say About Follow Up Boss
Expensive for solo agents
"The platform is priced for all the bells and whistles it comes with, but that can be a bit pricey for a smaller team or an independent agent." — Verified Follow Up Boss user review
The mobile app is problematic
"The app sucks and the most simple things like logging calls and looking up people don't work properly a good portion of the time." — Verified Follow Up Boss user review
Why Agents Leave Traditional CRMs
According to industry research, 73% of real estate agents either don't use CRMs or are dissatisfied with current options. The primary complaint: systems are too complex for relationship-focused agents who build business on referrals rather than pipeline velocity.
How to Switch from Follow Up Boss to MEMO
The 3-Week Hybrid Approach (Recommended)
Most agents don't switch cold turkey. They run both for 2-3 weeks:
Week 1: Import & Explore
- Export your contacts from FUB (Contacts → Export → CSV)
- Import CSV into MEMO (takes 5 minutes)
- Start exploring MEMO's interface
- Keep using FUB for active deals
Week 2: Dual Logging
- When you have a thought about someone, log it in MEMO (not FUB)
- Notice how much faster MEMO is
- Start checking MEMO first thing in the morning
- Still use FUB for scheduled tasks
Week 3: MEMO-First
- You're opening MEMO first, FUB out of habit
- FUB's task list feels like homework
- MEMO's drift view feels helpful
Week 4: Cancel FUB
- Export any remaining notes from FUB
- Cancel your FUB subscription
- Save $20-50/month
- Stop feeling guilty
What Data Transfers?
✅ Transfers easily:
- Contact names, emails, phones
- Custom fields (via CSV mapping)
- Basic notes (import as first memo)
⚠️ Requires manual export:
- Activity history (calls, texts, emails)
- Email drip campaign sequences
- Task lists
❌ Doesn't transfer:
- Pipeline stages (MEMO doesn't use pipelines)
- Lead scores (MEMO doesn't score people)
- Team permissions (MEMO is solo-focused)
Need Help Migrating?
Email support@memoforagents.com - we'll help you export from FUB and import into MEMO. Usually takes one phone call.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Is MEMO really better than Follow Up Boss?
Not "better" - different. FUB is better for teams and lead-heavy operations. MEMO is better for solo agents who hate traditional CRMs and focus on sphere business.
Can I use both?
Yes, many agents run both during a trial period. Most end up choosing one within 2-3 weeks.
Does MEMO integrate with Follow Up Boss?
No, but you can export from FUB and import into MEMO.
FAQ
Why doesn't MEMO have built-in texting?
Your phone already has great texting. MEMO gives you the context (what to say), you use your native messaging app. This keeps MEMO simple and avoids "yet another inbox."
What about email drip campaigns?
MEMO doesn't do automated emails. We believe if an app can send it, it's not meaningful. You write the email, MEMO reminds you who to send it to.
Can I track pipeline stages in MEMO?
No. MEMO doesn't believe in pipelines. People aren't stages. They're just people in your sphere.
Does MEMO have a desktop version?
MEMO is mobile-first by design. Agents spend 80% of their time away from a desk - in the car, at showings, between appointments. That's where MEMO works. Follow Up Boss has full desktop and mobile parity if desktop is a requirement.
Pricing
Does MEMO have an annual plan discount?
Yes! It's $49/month, or $490/year (2 months free). Simple, transparent pricing.
What if I'm locked into a FUB contract?
Try MEMO for free while you finish your FUB term. Many agents find they stop opening FUB within 2 weeks even while still paying for it.
Is there a setup fee?
No. MEMO is $49/month, no setup costs.
Migration
Will I lose my Follow Up Boss data?
No. Export your FUB data before canceling. You can import into MEMO or keep it as backup.
How long does it take to switch?
Importing contacts: 5 minutes. Getting comfortable with MEMO: 2-3 days. Fully switching workflow: 2-3 weeks.
Can I switch back to FUB if I don't like MEMO?
Yes. No contracts. Cancel MEMO anytime.
Other Alternatives to Follow Up Boss
If neither MEMO nor Follow Up Boss feels right, consider:
LionDesk - Mid-tier option with texting/calling, less expensive than FUB but still feature-heavy ($25-65/month)
Top Producer - Legacy platform, familiar to veteran agents but outdated interface (~$40/month)
CINC - Lead generation + CRM combo, expensive but strong for new construction/lead buying ($500+/month)
Google Sheets + Phone Contacts - Free but requires discipline. If you've tried CRMs and hated them all, sometimes simple is best.
Related Searches
People searching "MEMO vs Follow Up Boss" also search for:
- Follow Up Boss alternatives for solo agents
- Simple CRM for real estate agents
- CRM without task lists
- Sphere-based real estate CRM
- Follow Up Boss pricing too expensive
- Best CRM for referral-based real estate business
- MEMO vs LionDesk
- MEMO vs Top Producer
The Bottom Line
Choose Follow Up Boss if: You're a team, you process high volumes of internet leads, and you want all communication tools in one platform.
Choose MEMO if: You're a solo agent, you focus on sphere business, and you want a CRM that doesn't make you feel guilty.
Still not sure? Try MEMO free for 14 days. See if it feels different. If it doesn't, no hard feelings.
Try MEMO Free for 14 Days
14-day free trial. No contract.
Or Read the MEMO Manifesto → to understand our philosophy first.
Have questions? Email us at support@memoforagents.com