Twenty
Twenty 2.52 lets apps run their own account-connection flows and adds inbox sharing.
Comparison · CRM
Corteza vs Folk
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Corteza and Folk — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Corteza vs Folk: at a glance
What is Corteza?
Corteza 2026.9.0 goes final after a week of single-fix candidates.
Corteza shipped 2026.9.0 on October 19, closing a run of release candidates that each fixed one edge: MySQL 8 cast checks in rc.4, deny rules in permission reports in rc.5 and MySQL-compatible reminder timestamps in rc.6. The release entry only links to the 2026.9 changelog. Before this, the feed was a slow patch train on the 2024.9 line, ending at 2024.9.10 in late August.
What is Folk?
Folk launched an MCP server and a mobile app in the same summer — two distinct distribution bets at once.
Folk shipped MCP integration twice in this window: the original Meet folk MCP in July (connecting CRM data to AI assistants) and a follow-on folk MCP feature that turns interaction history into AI-queryable insights. The mobile app launch — Contacts by folk — with talk-to-text and a business card scanner positions folk as a capture tool in the field, not just a desktop CRM. The Interactions API beta opens the data layer to external builders.
Corteza vs Folk: editorial side-by-side
Corteza
5.0CRM
Corteza 2026.9.0 goes final after a week of single-fix candidates.
◆ Current state
Corteza shipped 2026.9.0 on October 19, closing a run of release candidates that each fixed one edge: MySQL 8 cast checks in rc.4, deny rules in permission reports in rc.5 and MySQL-compatible reminder timestamps in rc.6. The release entry only links to the 2026.9 changelog. Before this, the feed was a slow patch train on the 2024.9 line, ending at 2024.9.10 in late August.
◆ Where it's heading
The jump from 2024.9 to 2026.9 opens a new major line after two years on the old one. Two of the final three fixes targeted MySQL, which suggests the release was validated across database backends. What the new line adds for users still isn't visible in the feed.
◆ Prediction
Expect 2026.9.x patch releases to follow the same pattern as 2024.9, with occasional fixes over months. Whether 2024.9 keeps receiving patches is unclear from the entries.
Folk
6.3CRM
Folk launched an MCP server and a mobile app in the same summer — two distinct distribution bets at once.
◆ Current state
Folk shipped MCP integration twice in this window: the original Meet folk MCP in July (connecting CRM data to AI assistants) and a follow-on folk MCP feature that turns interaction history into AI-queryable insights. The mobile app launch — Contacts by folk — with talk-to-text and a business card scanner positions folk as a capture tool in the field, not just a desktop CRM. The Interactions API beta opens the data layer to external builders.
◆ Where it's heading
Folk is building a CRM designed for AI-native workflows: MCP for AI assistant connectivity, talk-to-text for frictionless capture, and the Interactions API for developers who want to build on top of the sales data. The Auto-fill AI (April) and MCP launches together suggest folk is positioning as the CRM that does the data work automatically rather than requiring manual entry.
◆ Prediction
The Interactions API graduating from beta — with full read/write access to CRM data — would enable folk to power third-party AI sales tools and outbound automation workflows, expanding beyond the native product.
Alternatives to Corteza and Folk
Other CRM products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Corteza or Folk.
Twenty
Twenty 2.53 lets apps lock field permission actions, a day after role-aware relation pickers.
IntegCRM
IntegCRM keeps building out invoicing, bookings, forms and email for service businesses.
Folk
folk ships a French interface weeks after moving its data storage to Europe.
GroupOffice
GroupOffice patches its current 26.0 line and the older 25.0 line on the same afternoon.
Close CRM
Close takes Chloe Chat out of beta for every customer, a month after OIDC SSO.
See all Corteza alternatives → · See all Folk alternatives →
Recent activity from Corteza and Folk
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 10d agoCortezaCorteza 2026.9.0 released, opening a new major line
- 13d agoCortezaCorteza 2026.9 rc.6 fixes MySQL reminder timestamps
- 14d agoCortezaCorteza 2026.9 rc.5 fixes deny rules in permission reports
- 15d agoCortezaCorteza 2026.9 rc.4 fixes MySQL 8 cast checks
- 1mo agoFolkTask updates that keep your team moving
- 1mo agoFolkfolk MCP turns interactions into insight ⚡
- 2mo agoCortezaCorteza 2024.9.10 cuts workflow session memory use
- 2mo agoCortezaRC4: skip workflow scope snapshots for uninspected steps
- 2mo agoFolkCapture the conversation while it’s fresh
- 3mo agoFolkNew business card scanner on mobile
- 3mo agoFolkJoin our new beta for Interactions API
- 3mo agoFolkIntroducing Contacts by folk, our Mobile app
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Corteza and Folk?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Folk is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 5.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is Corteza better than Folk?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Folk is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 5.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other CRM products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to Corteza?
Top Corteza alternatives in CRM are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Corteza alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/corteza for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to Folk?
Top Folk alternatives in CRM are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Folk alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/folk for the full list with editorial commentary on each.