Folk vs Freshsales
Short version: Folk is the better fit for agencies, founders, and networkers who want a simple relationship CRM, while Freshsales is built for SMBs that want an easy, affordable CRM with built-in AI and phone.
Folk
Lightweight, relationship-first CRM
$24/mo
From ~$24/seat/mo annual; contact-centric, LinkedIn-friendly
Freshsales
Freshworks' sales CRM with built-in AI
$9/mo
Free plan; paid from ~$9/seat/mo, AI on higher tiers
At a glance
| Spec | Folk | Freshsales |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $24/mo | $9/mo |
| Budget tier | Budget-friendly | Budget-friendly |
| Complexity | Beginner-friendly | Beginner-friendly |
| Primary category | CRM | CRM |
| Integrations | 30+ | 100+ |
| Founded | 2019 | 2017 |
Feature comparison
Folk offers 6 of 11 tracked crm features; Freshsales offers 10.
| Feature | Folk | Freshsales |
|---|---|---|
| Visual pipeline management | ||
| Contact & company records | ||
| Email sync & tracking | ||
| Workflow automation | ||
| Reporting & dashboards | ||
| Built-in dialer | ||
| Sales forecasting | ||
| Mobile app | ||
| Free plan | ||
| API & webhooks | ||
| Priority / 24-7 support |
Folk
Pros
- Beautiful, easy contact-centric interface
- Strong LinkedIn capture extension
- AI enrichment and message drafting
Cons
- Lighter on pipeline/forecasting depth
- Less suited to large sales orgs
- Younger product
Freshsales
Pros
- Clean UI with built-in phone and email
- Freddy AI lead scoring and insights
- Generous free plan
Cons
- AI value depends on data volume
- Deeper customization needs higher tiers
- Smaller ecosystem than Salesforce
Which should you choose?
Choose Folk if…
- you want beautiful, easy contact-centric interface
- you want strong LinkedIn capture extension
- you want AI enrichment and message drafting
Choose Freshsales if…
- you want clean UI with built-in phone and email
- you want freddy AI lead scoring and insights
- you want generous free plan
The verdict
Both are solid crm tools. The best choice comes down to fit: Folk for agencies, founders, and networkers who want a simple relationship CRM, and Freshsales for SMBs that want an easy, affordable CRM with built-in AI and phone.
Browse all tools →Frequently asked questions
Is Folk or Freshsales cheaper?
Freshsales is the more affordable option ($9/mo versus $24/mo). The lower sticker price isn't always the better value, though, weigh the tier your team will actually land on and any add-ons.
Which is better, Folk or Freshsales?
Neither is strictly better, they're built for different priorities. Folk is the stronger pick for agencies, founders, and networkers who want a simple relationship CRM, while Freshsales suits SMBs that want an easy, affordable CRM with built-in AI and phone.
What's the main difference between Folk and Freshsales?
Folk is beginner-friendly and budget-friendly, while Freshsales is beginner-friendly and budget-friendly. On tracked crm features, Folk covers 6 and Freshsales covers 10.