Folks Reviews & Ratings

Folks

4.6 out of 5 stars
Company Website for Folks
Breathe Reviews & Ratings

Breathe

4.4 out of 5 stars
Company Website for Breathe

Ratings and Reviews 235 Ratings

Total 5 out of 5 stars
ease 4.5 out of 5 stars
features 4.5 out of 5 stars
design 5 out of 5 stars
support 5 out of 5 stars

Ratings and Reviews 655 Ratings

What is Folks?

Most HR software is built for the US market and adapted for Canada as an afterthought — missing native payroll compliance, storing data on American servers, and offering no French-language support. Folks is different. A Canadian-owned platform designed from day one for the way Canadian businesses actually run. Folks handles CRA-compliant payroll natively: automatic T4 and RL-1 generation, ROE filing to Service Canada, CPP/QPP/CPP2 and EI deductions, multi-province tax calculations, WSIB/WCB, Ontario EHT, and direct deposit — no third-party payroll provider needed. The platform also covers HRIS, applicant tracking with AI-powered candidate matching and integrations with Indeed, LinkedIn, Jobillico, and Talent.com, plus performance management with 360° evaluations. SOC 2 Type 2 certified, with all data hosted exclusively in Canada — governed by PIPEDA and provincial privacy laws, not the US CLOUD Act. Fully bilingual in English and French. Plans start at $6/employee/month. 1,200+ Canadian SMBs across manufacturing, construction, healthcare, non-profit, and professional services already made the switch.

What is Breathe?

If your employee details are spread across spreadsheets, emails and disconnected apps, Breathe brings them together. It's a UK HR platform launched in 2012 for small and medium-sized businesses. More than 17,000 of them use it, along with over 1,000 UK HR consultancies. Three everyday HR problems Breathe fixes Information everywhere: one central, accurate record for every employee. Endless chasing: staff book leave, sign documents electronically and follow shared workflows. A small HR team: start with the essentials and add more as you grow. The essentials: Core HR Store records and documents securely, manage holiday and leave, track sickness and absence, and let staff update their own details. Collect e-signatures, set goals, run one-to-ones and reviews, and spot trends with built-in reports. Optional extras Rota, Time and Attendance: plan shifts and track hours Expenses: claims, receipts and manager sign-off Recruitment: advertise roles and follow each candidate Health and Safety: risk assessments, incidents and compliance evidence e-Learning: assign UK-specific courses and see who's completed what Breathe is also building an AI Assistant to answer HR and policy questions, and plans to launch payroll in late 2026. Who gets the most from it UK organisations with up to 200 people, particularly charities, schools, healthcare, retail, start-ups and professional services firms with lean HR. If you need multinational payroll, global compliance or enterprise workforce planning, weigh it up first. Pricing, support and security Plans start from £24 a month for your whole organisation, with no long-term contracts or hidden fees. Try it free for 14 days, with UK-based support from setup onwards. Breathe holds ISO 27001 and ISO 42001 accreditation and keeps your data in UK data centres, protected by encryption and access controls.

Media

Media

Integrations Supported

ADP Global Payroll
Agendrix
Applauz Recognition
Evolia
Indeed
Jobillico
LinkedIn Job Search
Nethris
Talent.com

Integrations Supported

Google Calendar
Microsoft Outlook
Mintago
Pleo
RotaCloud
Truzta
Waybook
WeThrive
WorkTango
Xero
hireful

API Availability

API Availability

Has API

Pricing Information

$6 per employee per month

Pricing Information

£24.00/business/month
Unlike our competition Breathe pricing is per organisation and not per-employee billing.

Micro - 1-10 employees £24 per month per business
Starter - 11-20 employees £44 per month per business
Regular - 21-50 employees £99 per month per business
Pro - 51-100 employees £175 per month per business
Premium - 101-150 employees £419 per month per business
Plus - 151-200 employees £579 per month per business
Free Trial Offered?

Supported Platforms

SaaS

Supported Platforms

SaaS
Android
iPhone
iPad

Customer Service / Support

Standard Support
Web-Based Support

Customer Service / Support

Standard Support
Web-Based Support

Training Options

Documentation Hub
Webinars
Online Training
On-Site Training

Training Options

Documentation Hub
Webinars
Online Training

Company Facts

Organization Name

Folks

Date Founded

2010

Company Location

Canada

Company Website

folkshr.com

Company Facts

Organization Name

Breathe HR

Date Founded

2012

Company Location

United Kingdom

Company Website

www.breathehr.com/en-gb/

Categories and Features

360 Degree Feedback

Folks Performance streamlines the implementation and management of 360-degree feedback systems, allowing for the collection of organized and confidential insights from managers, colleagues, and direct reports. With customizable evaluation forms, you can tailor assessments to align with your organization's specific competencies and objectives. The platform consolidates all feedback, emphasizing individual strengths while pinpointing areas for growth, providing leaders with a comprehensive understanding of team performance. Integrated within the Folks HRIS, feedback data seamlessly connects to employee profiles, training records, and career development initiatives—eliminating the need for data export or tool switching. It is available in both English and French, catering to bilingual teams in Canada, and is trusted by over 1,200 small and medium-sized businesses across sectors such as manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and non-profit organizations.

Dashboard
Feedback / Surveys
Progress Tracking
Rater Selection
Self Service Portal

Absence Management

Folks Absence Management efficiently monitors vacation days, sick leave, and government-mandated holidays based on provincial labor regulations, ensuring that accrual policies remain compliant without manual intervention. Employees can easily submit their requests for time off, while managers can approve them through a user-friendly calendar or dashboard interface, with real-time updates to leave balances. The absence information integrates seamlessly with payroll systems, eliminating the need for manual changes. Gain insights into future absences, identify potential coverage issues, and analyze absence patterns across various teams. With SOC 2 Type 2 certification and hosted in Canada in accordance with PIPEDA and Law 25, the platform supports both English and French languages and is relied upon by over 1,200 organizations across Canada.

Not specified

Applicant Tracking

Enhance your recruitment process with Folks ATS. Effortlessly post job listings to various Canadian platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, Jobillico, Isarta, Talent.com, CareerBeacon, HotellerieJobs, and Canada Motor Jobs, all from a single dashboard while consolidating applications into one streamlined pipeline. Our AI-driven resume parsing and candidate matching technology accelerates your ability to spot high-quality candidates. Monitor applicants through adjustable stages in a kanban layout, delegate tasks, collect insights from hiring managers, and utilize pre-designed email templates for communication. Seamlessly integrated with Folks HRIS, new employees transition directly into onboarding, employee records, and payroll without the hassle of redundant data entry. Available in both English and French and trusted by over 1,200 small and medium-sized businesses across Canada.

Assessments
Candidate Management
Collaboration Tools
Internal HR
Interview Management
Interview Scheduling
Job Board Posting
Job Requisition
Onboarding
Recruiting Firms
Resume Parsing
Resume Search
Self Service Portal

Candidate Sourcing

Folks Candidate Sourcing empowers small and medium-sized businesses in Canada to create a robust pipeline of qualified candidates instead of merely attracting applicants. With the ability to post job listings across various Canadian job platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, Jobillico, Isarta, Talent.com, CareerBeacon, HotellerieJobs, and Canada Motor Jobs from a single interface, users can also search through their existing candidate database. Additionally, the platform utilizes AI-driven matching technology to identify passive candidates who align with open positions. All sourced candidates are seamlessly integrated into the Folks ATS pipeline. The service is available in both English and French and is relied upon by over 1,200 organizations across Canada.

Not specified

HCM

Folks HCM is a Human Capital Management solution based in Canada that integrates HRIS, applicant tracking, and payroll into a single platform, effectively managing the entire employee journey from recruitment to retirement. This system allows for the centralization of employee information, onboarding processes, time and absence management, performance evaluations, and payroll that adheres to CRA standards (including T4, RL-1, ROE, CPP/QPP, EI) without the need for multiple vendors. Information seamlessly transfers between hiring, HR, and payroll functions. It holds SOC 2 Type 2 certification and is fully hosted in Canada, complying with PIPEDA and Law 25 regulations. Available in both English and French, it is relied upon by over 1,200 organizations across Canada.

Not specified

HR Analytics

Folks HR Analytics transforms your HR information systems, applicant tracking systems, and payroll data into dynamic dashboards and reports. Monitor metrics such as headcount, employee turnover, hiring timelines, absence patterns, and compensation across various departments, locations, and provinces—without the need for spreadsheets. Create personalized reports, export data for management, and identify workforce trends at an early stage. Since analytics are integrated with your employee records, hiring processes, and payroll systems, the insights remain consistently accurate. Available in both English and French, Folks HR Analytics is trusted by over 1,200 Canadian organizations in sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, non-profit, and professional services.

Not specified

HR Employee File Management

Folks HR Employee File Management consolidates all employee-related documents—including contracts, identification, certifications, tax paperwork, and policy agreements—into a single, secure, and easily searchable platform. Users can gather electronic signatures, establish automatic reminders for retention and expiration, and manage access permissions based on roles to safeguard sensitive information. Employee records are seamlessly integrated with onboarding, payroll, and absence tracking within the Folks HRIS, which helps to prevent duplicate data entry. The system is SOC 2 Type 2 certified and hosted in Canada, compliant with PIPEDA and Law 25 regulations. Available in both English and French, it is relied upon by over 1,200 organizations across Canada.

Not specified

Human Resources

Folks HR is a Canadian-based human resources information system (HRIS) that consolidates various employee management functions such as record keeping, contract management, vacation monitoring, performance evaluations, onboarding processes, and regulatory compliance into a single platform tailored for small and medium-sized businesses in Canada. The system allows for customization of vacation, overtime, and holiday entitlements in accordance with provincial labor laws. Users can keep track of employee absences, manage documents electronically with e-signatures, and conduct payroll in compliance with CRA regulations (including T4, RL-1, ROE, CPP/QPP, EI) without needing an external provider. The platform is SOC 2 Type 2 certified and ensures that all data is securely stored in Canada, adhering to PIPEDA and Law 25, in contrast to the US CLOUD Act. It is available in both English and French, making it accessible to a diverse range of users. With over 1,200 Canadian companies in sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, non-profits, and professional services relying on it, plans are competitively priced starting at $6 per employee per month.

360 Degree Feedback
Applicant Tracking
Attendance Management
Career Development Planning
Employee Database
Employee Lifecycle Management
Onboarding
Payroll Management
Performance Management
Recruiting Management
Self Service Portal
Succession Planning
Time & Attendance Management
Time Off Management
Timesheets
Training Management

Onboarding

Folks Onboarding ensures that new employees become effective contributors starting from their very first day. You can easily delegate onboarding responsibilities and checklists to new hires, their supervisors, and the IT department. This platform seamlessly connects with Folks ATS and HRIS, allowing candidate information to transfer directly into the onboarding process without the need for data re-entry. Once the onboarding is finalized, employee profiles, time tracking, and payroll systems are all set up and ready for use. With SOC 2 Type 2 certification, all data is securely stored in Canada in compliance with PIPEDA and Law 25. The platform supports both English and French languages and is relied upon by over 1,200 organizations across Canada.

Not specified

Org Chart

Folks Org Chart effortlessly generates and maintains a visual representation of your organizational structure using your employee data—eliminating the need for manual chart creation. Instantly visualize reporting relationships, team configurations, and departmental or location-based headcounts, with the ability to access each employee's profile directly from the chart. Integrated with the Folks HRIS, the chart remains up-to-date as employees are onboarded, promoted, or transferred between teams. Offered in both English and French, this tool is relied upon by over 1,200 organizations across Canada.

Not specified

Payroll

Folks Payroll is designed exclusively for Canadian payroll regulations, rather than a US system modified for Canadian use. It streamlines processes such as CRA remittances, T4 and RL-1 slip creation, ROE submissions to Service Canada, as well as deductions for CPP/QPP/CPP2 and EI, multi-province income tax calculations, WSIB/WCB, Ontario EHT, and direct deposit services. Employee information, hours worked, and absences integrate seamlessly from Folks HRIS into the payroll system, reducing the need for duplicate data entry and minimizing errors with each payroll cycle. With SOC 2 Type 2 certification, all data is stored in Canada in compliance with PIPEDA and Law 25, ensuring it is not impacted by the US CLOUD Act. The platform supports both English and French, eliminating the requirement for any third-party payroll services.

Attendance Management
Deductions Management
Direct Deposit
Multi-State
Self Service Portal
Tax Compliance
Vacation / Leave Tracking
Wage Garnishment

Performance Management

Folks Performance is designed to assist small and medium-sized businesses in Canada by aligning personal ambitions with corporate goals through a systematic and ongoing performance management process. The platform allows users to establish specific objectives, monitor development, organize 360° feedback assessments, and implement tailored review cycles, all from a single interface. Managers can offer ongoing feedback, employees can keep track of their successes, and HR departments have access to a centralized database of performance histories linked to employee profiles, training records, and career advancement strategies within Folks HRIS. The platform offers customizable evaluation templates, automated notifications, and intuitive visual dashboards to ensure that performance reviews are organized and equitable. Available in both English and French, Folks Performance is part of the comprehensive Folks HR ecosystem, which also includes HRIS, ATS, and payroll solutions that comply with CRA regulations, serving over 1,200 organizations across Canada.

360 Degree Feedback
On-going Performance Tracking
Peer Appraisals
Self Service Portal
Self-Appraisals

Recruiting

Folks Recruiting is designed to assist small and medium-sized businesses in Canada in swiftly attracting and securing exceptional talent. With the ability to post job openings across platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, Jobillico, Isarta, Talent.com, CareerBeacon, and others from a unified dashboard, users can efficiently manage every applicant through a tailored pipeline featuring kanban views. The platform utilizes AI technology for resume analysis and candidate matching, highlighting the most suitable applicants. Additionally, integrated scorecards and pre-written email templates ensure that hiring teams remain coordinated throughout the process. Seamlessly connected with Folks HRIS, new hires are automatically transitioned into onboarding and payroll systems. The service is available in both English and French and is relied upon by over 1,200 Canadian companies.

Not specified

Resume Parsing

Folks Resume Parsing leverages artificial intelligence to efficiently analyze resumes, automatically filling out candidate profiles by extracting essential information such as contact info, employment history, educational background, and skill sets without the need for manual input. The system quickly matches parsed candidates to job specifications and ranks them, allowing recruiters to prioritize the best applicants. This parsing capability is compatible with resumes submitted via job boards, career websites, or direct uploads, seamlessly integrating into the Folks ATS workflow. It is offered in both English and French and is part of the comprehensive Folks HR platform, utilized by over 1,200 organizations across Canada.

Not specified

Talent Management

Folks Talent Management offers a comprehensive solution for Canadian small and medium-sized businesses to cultivate and keep their workforce engaged throughout their professional journey. The platform enables the setting of objectives, facilitates 360-degree feedback and performance evaluations, monitors training and certification progress, and supports career development and succession planning, all linked to centralized employee profiles within the Folks HRIS. This allows managers to gain insights into team performance and growth strategies without the hassle of juggling spreadsheets. The service is accessible in both English and French, is SOC 2 Type 2 certified, and ensures data is securely hosted in Canada in compliance with PIPEDA and Law 25. Over 1,200 Canadian organizations have put their trust in this solution.

Not specified

Categories and Features

Absence Management

Analytics/Reporting
Approval Process Control
Attendance Tracking
Calendar Management
Compliance Management
Employee Database
Employee Scheduling
Notifications/Alerts
Role-Based Permissions
Time Off Management
Timesheet Management

HR Analytics

Dashboard
Leave & Absence Reporting

HR Compliance

Alerts / Notifications
Certifications Management
Communication Tools
Document Management
Records Management
Reporting / Analytics
Roles / Permissions
Workflow Management

Human Resources

Applicant Tracking
Attendance Management
Benefits Management
Compensation Management
Compliance Management
Employee Database
Employee Lifecycle Management
Onboarding
Payroll Management
Performance Management
Recruiting Management
Self Service Portal
Time & Attendance Management
Time Off Management
Timesheets
Training Management

Onboarding

Course Management
Document Management
Electronic Signature
Employee Handbook
Employee Portal
File Management
Job Description Management
Self Service Portal
Task Management

Performance Management

Individual Development Plans
Peer Appraisals
Review Cycle Tracking
Self Service Portal
Self-Appraisals

Recruiting

Self Service Portal

Time & Attendance

Not specified

Time Clock

Mobile Access
Reporting/Analytics
Sick Leave Tracking

Time Tracking

Employee Database
Expense Tracking
Timesheet Management
Vacation / Leave Tracking

Popular Alternatives

Popular Alternatives

BambooHR Reviews & Ratings

BambooHR

BambooHR®
4.7 out of 5 stars
peopleHum Reviews & Ratings

peopleHum

4.9 out of 5 stars
BrightHR Reviews & Ratings

BrightHR

5.0 out of 5 stars
Workable Reviews & Ratings

Workable

Workable Software
4.4 out of 5 stars
Sage HR Reviews & Ratings

Sage HR

Sage
4.4 out of 5 stars
Sage HR Reviews & Ratings

Sage HR

Sage
4.4 out of 5 stars
Root HR Reviews & Ratings

Root HR

Root HR Limited
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lanteria HR Reviews & Ratings

Lanteria HR

Lanteria
4.0 out of 5 stars