Softwr

Software · head to head

Folk vs Melio

Folk logo

Folk

Software

The CRM that works for you, not the other way around

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Melio logo

Melio

Software

Simple business payments

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Folk no native mobile app, only works through mobile browser which is not optimized for phones; Melio go (free) plan limited to one user only
  • They diverge on capability: Folk covers Contact management, Melio covers Vendor payments.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Folk and Melio actually diverge.

Attributes where Folk and Melio differ
AttributeFolkMelio
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile app
Founded20202018

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Folk

  • Contact management
  • Email tracking
  • Mail merge
  • Chrome extension
  • Tags & groups
  • Notes & activities
  • Import/export
  • Search & filters

Only in Melio

  • Vendor payments
  • Card to check
  • Payment scheduling
  • Approval workflows
  • QuickBooks sync
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero
  • FreshBooks

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Folk

  • Contact managementnot Melio
  • Sales outreachnot Melio
  • Networkingnot Melio
  • Recruitmentnot Melio
  • Investor relationsnot Melio

Melio

  • Accounts payable automationnot Folk
  • Bill management and payment schedulingnot Folk
  • Multi-vendor payment processingnot Folk
  • Invoice receivables and payment collectionnot Folk

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Folk

  • No native mobile app, only works through mobile browser which is not optimized for phones
  • Limited workflow automation capabilities compared to enterprise CRMs
  • No automatic phone call tracking, requires manual entry
  • Limited reporting and analytics features
  • Monthly caps on email sends and enrichment credits on lower tiers
  • LinkedIn Chrome extension sometimes has synchronization problems
  • Email sent through Folk sometimes doesn't appear as sent in user's Outlook account

Melio

  • Go (free) plan limited to one user only
  • ACH charges £0.50 per transaction beyond monthly allowance (5-50 free depending on plan)
  • Card payment fees range from 2.9% to 2.9% plus £75 maximum
  • International payments limited to select currencies only
  • NetSuite integration only available in Unlimited plan (£80/month minimum)

Pricing, plan by plan

Folk

Free
  • Standard$24/month
    • Pipeline management
    • Email campaigns
    • Contact enrichment
  • Premium$48/month
    • Custom objects
    • Email sequences
    • Dashboards
  • Enterprise$80/month
    • Dedicated account manager
    • Custom integrations
    • Priority support

Melio

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Melio review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Folk if

  • You need contact management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want email tracking.
Folk review

Choose Melio if

  • You need vendor payments.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app.
  • You also want card to check.
Melio review

Questions people ask

Is Folk or Melio better?
Neither clearly leads. Folk starts at Free and Melio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Folk or Melio?
Folk starts at Free and Melio at Free.
Does Folk or Melio run on more platforms?
Folk runs on Web. Melio runs on Web, Mobile app.
Can I use Folk for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Folk best used for?
Folk is most often used for contact management, sales outreach, networking, recruitment. Of those, contact management and sales outreach are not what Melio is typically brought in for.
What can Folk do that Melio cannot?
Folk covers Contact management, Email tracking, Mail merge, Chrome extension. Melio covers Vendor payments, Card to check, Payment scheduling, Approval workflows. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Folk: What are Folk's pricing plans?

Folk offers three plans: Standard at $24/month per member (billed annually), Premium at $48/month with custom objects and email sequences, and Enterprise from $80/month with advanced security and dedicated support. New workspaces get a 2-week free trial with all Premium features.

Source
Folk: Does Folk offer a mobile app?

Folk does not have native iOS or Android apps. The web interface technically works on mobile browsers but is built primarily for desktop use.

Source
Folk: Does Folk track phone calls automatically?

No, Folk does not automatically track phone calls. All call interactions must be manually entered into the system.

Source
Folk: What integrations does Folk support?

Folk supports over 5,000 integrations through platforms like Zapier and Make. It includes native email, calendar, and WhatsApp sync, LinkedIn extension, and can enrich contact data using its built-in enrichment tool.

Source
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Related pages

More on Folk

More on Melio

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