Resources
Quick Summary
Folk CRM alternatives automate workflows, manage pipelines, and integrate with existing tools. The best options simplify CRM processes, reduce manual effort, and let teams focus on closing deals and driving growth.
Here are our top three picks:
- Lightfield: Best for venture-backed start-ups.
- Close: Best for sales teams looking for built-in communication tools and task automation
- Pipedrive: Best for SMB sales teams
Need a Folk alternative?
Folk CRM is known for its straightforward, relationship-focused contact management. However, as teams scale and workflows become more complex, users often encounter limitations with automation, integrations, and tracking, which slow down operations.
In this Lightfield guide, we cover the top 10 Folk CRM alternatives, focusing on tools with stronger automation, improved task management, and optimized workflows for increased efficiency.
Why Teams Look for Folk CRM Alternatives
Folk CRM simplifies contact management but falls short in key areas that drive teams to seek alternatives. User feedback highlights three primary concerns:
1. Limited Integration with CRM and Workflows
Some reviewers note that Folk lacks deeper integrations with certain onboarding and productivity platforms, restricting how data flows between systems. Users point out that integrations beyond core connections (like Google Calendar or additional prospect platforms) feel limited, which can lead to manual work around syncing and data transfer.
From G2 reviews:
- Users require more integration options with onboarding and external apps.
- Reviewers note that enriched data and connected workflows are limited for complex stacks.
For founder-led teams using multi‑tool stacks, these integration gaps mean extra steps to sync work across platforms, increasing administrative workload and reducing efficiency.
2. Limited Email Automation and Tracking
Users report that Folk’s email capabilities lack deeper automation and tracking insights, such as open and click metrics or bulk outreach performance. These limitations can make it harder to manage and measure outreach directly within the CRM.
From G2 reviews:
- Email tracking does not provide clear open and click rate analysis.
- Users want improved bulk email management and integration with external channels.
Automated and measurable email workflows are hindered by these gaps, leading to more manual tracking outside the CRM. This increases administrative work and reduces visibility into outreach performance.
3. Feature Limitations for Growing Teams
Users report that Folk’s feature set feels limited as requirements grow beyond basic contact management. Several reviewers note missing features like reminders, bulk messaging, task automation, and deeper workflow capabilities, which can constrain more complex sales use cases.
From G2 reviews:
- Absence of essential features like reminders and bulk messaging impacts workflow.
- Limited task and integration features restrict expandability for larger teams.
For growing teams that need structured automation and broader CRM capabilities, these limitations can slow execution and force manual steps outside the platform.
The Top 10 Folk CRM Alternatives
- Lightfield
- Close
- Pipedrive
- Monday CRM
- Bigin by Zoho CRM
- HubSpot CRM
- Airtable
- Copper
- Salesforce Sales Cloud
- Attio
1. Lightfield — Best for: Venture-backed SaaS teams that want the CRM to think, not just store data
What it is
AI-native CRM that captures emails, meetings, and calls and turns them into structured, continuously updated records — then makes that data queryable, searchable, and actionable without manual input.
Most CRMs marketed as "AI-powered" bolt on surface-level features — a chatbot that summarizes a record, or a scoring model that requires clean data to function. Teams quickly discover the AI doesn't go deep enough. They end up copying call notes into ChatGPT, building Google Sheets scripts to get the reporting they need, or abandoning the CRM altogether because the data inside it is stale.
Lightfield takes a different approach. The AI isn't a feature layered on top — it's the foundation. Every email, call, and meeting is automatically captured, structured, and used to keep accounts, contacts, and opportunities current. The system generates summaries, action items, and follow-ups from real conversations. And when a team member needs context — on a deal, a relationship, or a conversation from three months ago — they can search in natural language and get cited answers drawn from actual customer history.
Key Features
- Auto-captures email, calendar, and meeting data to create and update accounts, contacts, and opportunities — no logging, no syncing, no maintenance
- Built-in call recording with AI-generated summaries and action items at every tier — not gated behind premium plans
- Natural language search across all customer history with citations, so teams can ask questions about any deal or account and get answers grounded in real interactions
- CRM records update continuously as conversations happen — pipeline data reflects reality, not last week's manual entry
- Full account context available to any team member immediately, eliminating the ramp-up time when new reps join or a founder hands off a relationship
- Retrospective population of new fields using data from past interactions — add a field today and Lightfield fills it in from historical activity
- Flexible data structure that works out of the box without requiring upfront schema design or workflow configuration
Tradeoffs
- Not for teams that want deep manual control over custom objects, schemas, or workflow logic
- Newer platform with limited public reviews
Pricing
14-day free trial, then $36/month per user.
Best for
Founder-led SaaS teams running a high volume of customer conversations who want the CRM to stay accurate, surface intelligence, and generate next steps — without dedicating time to data entry, workflow maintenance, or stitching together external tools.
Bottom line
Lightfield doesn't just automate data capture — it turns captured data into usable intelligence. Records stay current, context is always available, and the AI works across the full history of customer interactions rather than summarizing one record at a time.
2. Close — Best for: Sales teams needing a CRM with built-in calling, email, and task automation to manage leads and sales pipelines
What it is
A CRM built for sales teams, combining automated communications, pipeline management, and reporting to optimize workflows.
Key Features
- Built-in calling, email, and SMS tools
- Automated task management and follow-up reminders
- Advanced pipeline management and reporting features
- Real-time data syncing and activity tracking
- Customizable workflows and reporting to suit specific sales processes
Tradeoffs
- Heavily sales‑centric features may be overwhelming for teams focused on basic CRM needs
- Calling and SMS limits tied to plan tiers increase costs for high volume use
- Advanced customization requires time and setup to unlock full value
Pricing
Free trial available; paid plans start at $9/month per seat, with core paid tiers around $35/month, $99/month, and $139/month per seat depending on features.
Best for
Sales teams looking for a CRM with built-in communication tools and automation to optimize lead management.
Bottom line
Close integrates CRM features with communication tools and automation for more efficient deal management and closing.
3. Pipedrive — Best for: Sales teams that want a visual, pipeline‑centered CRM to manage leads and deals
What it is
A sales‑focused CRM with a visual pipeline interface that tracks leads, deals, contacts, and activities.
Key Features
- Visual pipeline view with drag‑and‑drop deal stages
- Contact and activity tracking with email integration
- Custom fields and customizable pipelines
- Workflow automations for repetitive sales tasks
- Reporting and forecast tools for sales performance
Tradeoffs
- Core functionality geared toward sales; limited marketing tools without add‑ons
- Add‑ons can raise total cost beyond base plan pricing
- Reporting depth and advanced automation less strong than enterprise CRMs
Pricing
Free trial available; paid plans start at about $14/month per seat (billed annually).
Best for
Teams that want a straightforward, visual sales CRM to track pipelines and deals without complexity.
Bottom line
Pipedrive provides a clear, visual approach to pipeline and deal management for sales‑centric teams.
4. Monday CRM — Best for: Teams looking for a visual CRM that integrates project management with sales workflows
What it is
A platform that integrates project management and CRM functionality in one solution.
Key Features
- Customizable pipelines and sales boards
- Integration with project management tools for cross-team collaboration
- Automates workflows and task management
- Real-time updates and activity tracking
- Centralized platform for team communication and document sharing
Tradeoffs
- Visual interface may not suit teams needing highly detailed or technical CRM features
- Can require significant setup to fully customize and optimize for specific sales processes
- Reporting and analytics less advanced than dedicated sales CRM tools
Pricing
Free trial available; paid plans start at $12/user/month. Custom pricing for Enterprise plans.
Best for
Teams that need a visual CRM with integration between sales and project management tools.
Bottom line
Monday CRM blends project management with sales automation, offering a flexible, collaborative platform that optimizes workflows.
5. Bigin by Zoho CRM — Best for: Small teams and startups that need a simple CRM to manage leads and sales pipelines
What it is
Pipeline‑centric CRM built for small businesses, focusing on basic contact and deal tracking with essential automation.
Key Features
- Pipeline view for clear deal tracking and prioritization
- Contact and lead management with activity records
- Basic automation for tasks and follow‑ups
- Built‑in communication tools like email and telephony logging
- Multiple pipelines for different business flows
Tradeoffs
- Feature set limited compared with full‑scale CRMs
- Reporting and advanced customization are basic
- Mobile app functionality is less complete than web
Pricing
Free plan available; paid plans start at $7/month per seat (billed annually).
Best for
Small teams and startups seeking a straightforward CRM to track contacts, deals, and basic workflows with minimal overhead.
Bottom line
Bigin by Zoho CRM delivers a CRM with core pipeline and contact management suited to early‑stage teams.
6. HubSpot CRM — Best for: Teams needing a robust CRM for sales and marketing
What it is
A broadly used CRM that stores customer data, tracks deals and touchpoints, and supports sales and marketing tools.
Key Features
- Unlimited contacts and users on the free CRM foundation
- Contact, company, deal, and task management
- Pipeline tracking with visual deal stages
- Built‑in email tracking and engagement history
- Large app marketplace with 1,000+ integrations
Tradeoffs
- Core automation and reporting are often restricted to higher‑tier plans
- Customization can be limited, making it hard to tailor objects and analytics to unique workflows
- Mobile app functionality is weaker than desktop, reducing usability on the go
Pricing
Free plan available; paid plans start at around $20/month per seat.
Best for
Teams that need a CRM with broad feature coverage, strong integration options, and a path to advanced sales and marketing tools.
Bottom line
HubSpot CRM delivers a scalable platform with contact and pipeline management plus extensive integrations.
7. Airtable — Best for: Teams that want a database‑style platform that can act as a lightweight CRM
What it is
A spreadsheet-style database platform that teams can adapt into a CRM and workflow tool with custom tables, views, and automation.
Key Features
- Spreadsheet‑style interface for flexible data organization
- Multiple views (grid, calendar, gallery, kanban) for different use cases
- Custom fields, linked records, and relational data structures
- Automation and trigger actions to reduce repetitive tasks
- Integrations with external tools and APIs
Tradeoffs
- Not a dedicated CRM, so requires setup and customization for true CRM use
- Automation limits and record caps can hinder complex sales workflows
- Learning difficulty for teams new to database logic
Pricing
Free plan available; paid plans start at $20/month per seat (billed annually).
Best for
Teams needing a customizable platform that can double as a CRM and handle diverse data workflows.
Bottom line
Airtable offers a database‑centric platform that teams can tailor for CRM use.
8. Copper — Best for: Teams using Google Workspace and need a CRM that integrates closely with email and calendar systems
What it is
A CRM integrated with Google tools that captures activity, tracks deals, and reduces manual entry.
Key Features
- Automatic contact and lead capture from Gmail and Google Workspace activity
- Sales pipeline tracking with deal stages and activity history
- Email and calendar integration embedded in workflows
- Task management and automated reminders
- Chrome extension for quick access to CRM data alongside Gmail
Tradeoffs
Strong Google Workspace focus means less flexibility for teams using other ecosystems
- Limited advanced reporting and customization compared with larger CRM platforms
- Pricing rises quickly as teams need more contacts or automation
Pricing
Free trial available; paid plans start at $9/month per sea, billed annually.
Best for
Teams deeply embedded in Google Workspace that want CRM activity captured where they already work.
Bottom line
Copper provides a CRM integrated with Gmail and Workspace, aligning sales activity with daily communication.
9. Salesforce Sales Cloud — Best for: Large or growing teams needing a comprehensive CRM with advanced automation, pipeline management, and enterprise support
What it is
CRM that centralizes leads, contacts, opportunities, forecasting, and analytics to support sales operations at scale.
Key Features
- Lead and opportunity management with detailed tracking
- AI‑powered insights and forecasting tools
- Automated sales workflows and pipeline automation
- Custom reporting and dashboards for performance visibility
- Integration with marketing, service, and external systems
Tradeoffs
- Implementation and customization often require specialist support or external consulting
- Mobile app functionality and customization options are less robust than desktop
- Total cost of ownership can be high, especially for small teams or when add‑ons stack up
Pricing
Free trial available; paid plans start at about $25/user/month for the Starter edition.
Best for
Organizations that need enterprise‑grade CRM capabilities, robust automation, and deep sales performance insights.
Bottom line
Salesforce Sales Cloud delivers advanced sales automation and supports complex workflows for large teams.
10. Attio — Best for: Teams that need a customizable CRM with deep relationship management and flexible data organization
What it is
Customizable CRM platform that manages complex relationships, organizes data, and enhances team collaboration across dynamic workflows.
Key Features
- Customizable data models to fit unique team needs
- Advanced relationship management tools for tracking interactions
- Centralized platform for team collaboration and data sharing
- Flexible workflow management for dynamic processes
- Real-time data syncing across all touchpoints and systems
Tradeoffs
- Requires a higher level of setup and customization for optimal use
- Can be complex for small teams or those with simpler CRM needs
- Limited out-of-the-box integrations compared to larger CRM platforms
Pricing
Free trial available; paid plans start at $59/month per seat. Custom pricing for Enterprise plans.
Best for
Teams needing a customizable CRM to manage complex relationships, track interactions, and organize data.
Bottom line
Attio offers a flexible CRM with advanced relationship management and data customization.
Simplify Your Workflows with Lightfield
Each CRM on this list was evaluated for its ability to optimize workflows, automate tasks, and provide valuable insights. While many Folk alternatives offer stronger pipelines, integrations, or reporting, most still require users to manually update records and manage follow-ups.
For founder-led sales, the biggest CRM problem isn't missing features — it's the gap between what the CRM knows and what the team can actually use. Most CRMs collect data but leave it to the team to log it, structure it, keep it current, and extract meaning from it.
Lightfield closes that gap. It captures every email, call, and meeting automatically, keeps pipeline data current without manual input, and makes the full history of customer interactions searchable and queryable in natural language. The AI doesn't just summarize — it generates action items, populates fields retrospectively, and gives any team member instant context on any account.
The result is a CRM that stays accurate, surfaces intelligence, and frees your team to focus on the conversations that drive growth — not the admin work around them.
