Tool Comparisons

    ContactOut vs folk: Data Enrichment Tool vs CRM Platform Comparison

    Compare ContactOut (data enrichment tool) and folk (CRM platform) side by side. See pricing, features, and integrations to decide which one, or both, your stack needs.

    Editorial illustration for ContactOut vs folk
    September 3, 2026Updated September 4, 20266 min read
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    The short answer

    ContactOut is a data enrichment tool for B2B lead data that starts free, with paid tiers at $49/mo and $99/mo. folk is a CRM platform for pipeline tracking that starts at $30/mo, with tiers up to $100/mo. They cover different workflow stages, so many teams run both tools together rather than picking just one.

    Key takeaways

    • ContactOut's free plan includes 5 emails, 5 phones and 5 exports per day, while paid plans cost $49/mo or $99/mo.
    • folk's pricing starts at $30/mo for Standard, $60/mo for Premium and $100/mo for Enterprise.
    • ContactOut offers 4 pricing tiers compared to folk's 3 tiers.
    • ContactOut and folk share only three integrations: Zapier, Gmail and Outlook.
    • ContactOut's Team plan includes a bulk license covering 700M+ profiles.

    Reviewed and updated September 4, 2026

    ContactOut vs folk: Data Enrichment Tool vs CRM Platform Comparison

    Sales teams building an outbound stack often weigh ContactOut, a data enrichment tool for B2B lead data and contact enrichment, against folk, a CRM platform for customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking. They cover different parts of the workflow, so this comparison covers what each one does, what each one costs, and where they overlap.

    The Quick Answer

    ContactOut is a data enrichment tool for B2B lead data and contact enrichment; folk is a CRM platform for customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking. By each vendor's own wording, ContactOut lists one user per company limit on free, email and email + phone plans and browser extension for linkedin, and folk lists pipeline management and contact enrichment.

    ContactOut offers a lower entry point at $0/mo compared to folk at $30/mo.

    If your priority is finding accurate contact data for target accounts, ContactOut is the one built for it; for organizing contacts, tracking deals, and forecasting revenue, that is folk. Many teams run one of each.

    Understanding the Core Difference

    ContactOut is Email and phone finder with a LinkedIn-focused browser extension, AI-powered email campaigns, and a 700M+ profile bulk license on the Team plan.

    folk is folk is a CRM that captures the context of a team's relationships, with AI Assistants that work from that data. It syncs email, calendar and WhatsApp, imports profiles through a LinkedIn extension, and runs pipelines and email campaigns on top.

    Both platforms offer email campaigns. Where they diverge is in their approach to pricing tiers and advanced capabilities.

    Pricing Comparison

    Pricing table: Pricing Comparison (ContactOut, folk, Free, Standard)

    FreeContactOut entry plan

    Free

    $30/mofolk entry plan

    Standard

    Entry pricing for ContactOut and folk, as published on each vendor's own pricing page.

    ContactOut Pricing (as of September 2026)

    PlanPriceContactsEmails
    FreeFree5 emails, 5 phones and 5 exports per day5 emails / day
    Email$49/mo300 exports / monthUnlimited emails
    Email + Phone$99/mo600 exports / monthUnlimited emails and unlimited phones
    Team / APIContact SalesBulk license, 700M+ profilesContact us

    Source: ContactOut Pricing

    folk Pricing (as of September 2026)

    PlanPrice
    Standard$30/mo
    Premium$60/mo
    Enterprise$100/mo

    Source: folk Pricing

    Pricing Analysis

    ContactOut is more affordable at the entry level ($0/mo vs $30/mo). For teams with tight budgets or those just getting started with B2B lead data and contact enrichment and customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking, this price difference matters.

    ContactOut offers 4 pricing tiers compared to folk's 3, giving you more granularity as you scale.

    ContactOut includes a free tier, letting you test the platform before committing financially.

    Features Breakdown

    ContactOut lists
    • One user per company limit on Free, Email and Email + Phone plans
    • Browser extension for LinkedIn
    • AI email writer
    • Data enrichment
    • List builder
    • Search portal
    • and 2 more listed below
    Both tools
    • Email campaigns
    folk lists
    • Pipeline management
    • Contact enrichment
    • Magic fields (AI)
    • LinkedIn extension
    • Email, calendar & WhatsApp sync
    • Custom objects & Deals
    • and 1 more listed below
    What ContactOut and folk each list on their own pages. The split is by exact wording, so a capability both offer can appear on both sides under different names.

    ContactOut Key Features

    • One user per company limit on Free, Email and Email + Phone plans
    • Browser extension for LinkedIn
    • Email campaigns
    • AI email writer
    • Data enrichment
    • List builder
    • Search portal
    • Bulk license (700M+ profiles on Team)
    • CSV export

    folk Key Features

    • Pipeline management
    • Email campaigns
    • Contact enrichment
    • Magic fields (AI)
    • LinkedIn extension
    • Email, calendar & WhatsApp sync
    • Custom objects & Deals
    • Email sequences

    Shared Capabilities

    Both ContactOut and folk include:

    • Email campaigns

    The two lists below are a diff of each vendor's own feature list by exact wording, so a capability both tools offer can appear on either side under a different name.

    Listed only by ContactOut

    • One user per company limit on Free, Email and Email + Phone plans
    • Browser extension for LinkedIn
    • AI email writer
    • Data enrichment
    • List builder
    • Search portal
    • Bulk license (700M+ profiles on Team)
    • CSV export

    Listed only by folk

    • Pipeline management
    • Contact enrichment
    • Magic fields (AI)
    • LinkedIn extension
    • Email, calendar & WhatsApp sync
    • Custom objects & Deals
    • Email sequences

    Integration Ecosystem

    Integration schematic: Integration Ecosystem (ContactOut, folk, Zapier, Gmail)

    ContactOut Integrations

    ContactOut connects with: Salesforce, HubSpot, Greenhouse, Lever, Bullhorn, Zapier, Gmail, Outlook.

    folk Integrations

    folk connects with: Gmail, Outlook, Google calendar, Google contacts, WhatsApp, Zapier, Make, Pandadoc, Apollo, Clearbit.

    Shared Integrations

    Both tools integrate with: Zapier, Gmail, Outlook.

    Integrations listed only by ContactOut: Salesforce, HubSpot, Greenhouse, Lever, Bullhorn.

    Integrations listed only by folk: Google calendar, Google contacts, WhatsApp, Make, Pandadoc, Apollo, Clearbit.

    Use Case Recommendations

    Best Fit for ContactOut

    • Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable data enrichment tool
    • Teams that need a wide feature set (9 capabilities listed)
    • Teams that want to start free and scale up as needs grow
    • Enterprise buyers who prefer custom pricing and dedicated support

    Best Fit for folk

    • Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable CRM platform
    • Organizations with complex tech stacks needing broad integration support (10 integrations)
    • Sales teams tracking deals from first touch to close
    • Managers who need pipeline visibility and forecasting

    Feature Comparison Summary

    FeatureContactOutfolk
    Starting PriceFree$30/mo
    Top Tier PriceContact Sales$100/mo
    Total Features Listed98
    Integrations810
    Founded2015N/A

    Getting Started Checklist

    Before-and-after steps: Getting Started Checklist (Define B2B lead, Estimate expected data, List integrations, Sign up)

    1. Define your B2B lead data and contact enrichment and customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking requirements and monthly budget
    2. Estimate your expected data credits or contact lookups and contacts and deals to find the right tier
    3. List the integrations your team currently relies on
    4. Sign up for free trials or demos of both platforms
    5. Run a small test with each tool before making a commitment
    6. Evaluate the onboarding experience and support quality

    Final Thoughts

    ContactOut serves the B2B lead data and contact enrichment side of an outbound stack and folk the customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking side. ContactOut offers a more accessible entry point, while folk starts at $30/mo. Your decision should weigh pricing against the specific features that matter most for your workflow.

    Start with a trial of each to see which platform fits your team's daily process. The best tool is the one your team actually uses consistently.

    Pricing and features verified as of September 2026. Visit ContactOut and folk for current information.

    Questions

    Frequently asked questions.

    Frequently asked questions
    Is ContactOut a CRM?
    No, ContactOut is a data enrichment tool built for finding B2B lead data such as emails and phone numbers, not a CRM. It offers a LinkedIn browser extension, AI email writer and list builder, while pipeline management and deal tracking are handled by CRM platforms like folk instead.
    How much does folk cost compared to ContactOut?
    folk starts at $30/mo for its Standard plan and goes up to $100/mo for Enterprise, while ContactOut has a free tier plus paid plans at $49/mo and $99/mo. ContactOut also offers a Team/API plan with custom pricing available by contacting sales.
    Can ContactOut and folk be used together?
    Yes, since ContactOut focuses on B2B lead data and contact enrichment while folk focuses on CRM and pipeline tracking, many teams run both tools together. They cover different parts of the outbound workflow, so combining them addresses both data sourcing and relationship management needs.
    What integrations do ContactOut and folk have in common?
    ContactOut and folk both integrate with Zapier, Gmail and Outlook. Beyond that, ContactOut connects with Salesforce, HubSpot, Greenhouse, Lever and Bullhorn, while folk connects with Google calendar, Google contacts, WhatsApp, Make, Pandadoc, Apollo and Clearbit.
    Which tool is cheaper to start with?
    ContactOut is cheaper to start with since it offers a free plan, compared to folk's entry price of $30/mo for its Standard plan. ContactOut's free tier includes 5 emails, 5 phones and 5 exports per day at no cost.
    ContactOutfolkData Enrichment ToolCRM PlatformComparisondata-enrichmentcrm
    Byline

    About the author.

    Tim Carden

    Tim Carden is CMO / CTO at RevenueFlow, which builds and operates outbound revenue engines for B2B companies. Studied at McGill University.

    Tim Carden · CMO / CTO

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