Softwr

Software · head to head

Folk vs PlanetScale

Folk logo

Folk

Software

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PlanetScale logo

PlanetScale

Software

The MySQL-compatible serverless database

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Folk has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Folk no native mobile app, only works through mobile browser which is not optimized for phones; PlanetScale eBS High Availability requires 3-node configuration with replication overhead
  • They diverge on capability: Folk covers Contact management, PlanetScale covers Database Branching.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Folk and PlanetScale actually diverge.

Attributes where Folk and PlanetScale differ
AttributeFolkPlanetScale
Starting priceFree$15/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebCloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure)
Founded20202018

Identical on both: 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 PlanetScale

  • Database Branching
  • Non-blocking Schema Changes
  • Insights
  • Horizontal Scaling
  • Connection Pooling
  • Query Caching
  • Automatic Backups
  • Global Replication

Both cover

  • GDPR
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Folk

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

PlanetScale

  • MySQL database hosting with automatic failover and replicationnot Folk
  • Vitess-based sharding for horizontal scaling across large datasetsnot Folk
  • Cloud provider flexibility across AWS, GCP, Azure with 60+ regionsnot Folk
  • Cost-effective database clusters using ARM64 architecture optionsnot 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

PlanetScale

  • EBS High Availability requires 3-node configuration with replication overhead
  • EBS Non-HA single-node option lacks redundancy and automatic failover
  • Pricing varies by cloud provider and region, requiring queries for specific rates
  • ARM64 architecture only available on EBS tier, not Metal deployments

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

PlanetScale

$15/month

No published plan breakdown. See the PlanetScale 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 PlanetScale if

  • You need database branching.
  • You work on Cloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure).
  • You also want non-blocking schema changes.
PlanetScale review

Questions people ask

Is Folk or PlanetScale better?
Neither clearly leads. Folk starts at Free and PlanetScale at $15/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Folk or PlanetScale?
Folk has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Folk and $15/month for PlanetScale.
Does Folk or PlanetScale run on more platforms?
Folk runs on Web. PlanetScale runs on Cloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure).
Can I use Folk for free?
Yes. Folk has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PlanetScale starts at $15/month.
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 PlanetScale is typically brought in for.
What can Folk do that PlanetScale cannot?
Folk covers Contact management, Email tracking, Mail merge, Chrome extension. PlanetScale covers Database Branching, Non-blocking Schema Changes, Insights, Horizontal Scaling. Both handle GDPR, Cloud deployment, 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
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Folk

More on PlanetScale

Keep looking

Other head to heads