Terms of Service

Last updated: July 20, 2026

1. Agreement to Terms

By accessing or using the RealFolks platform ("RealFolks," "we," "us," or "our"), whether as a Business seeking research participants or a Participant offering feedback, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, please do not use the platform.

2. Description of Service

RealFolks operates a marketplace connecting Businesses who want feedback on products, ideas, or services with Participants willing to share their opinions through interviews, surveys, and usability studies. RealFolks facilitates these connections and related payments but does not itself conduct research studies.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and capable of forming a binding contract to use RealFolks. By registering, you represent that all information you provide is accurate and current.

4. Accounts

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use.

5. Participant Terms

• Participants may be invited to take part in studies based on their profile information.
• Compensation for completed studies will be clearly stated before you begin and paid out according to our payment schedule.
• Participants must provide honest, good-faith responses. Fraudulent, automated, or duplicate participation is prohibited and may result in account suspension and forfeiture of pending payments.
• Each individual may hold only one Participant account.

6. Business Terms

• Businesses are responsible for the content and legality of studies they publish, including compliance with applicable research, employment, and data protection laws.
• Businesses agree to compensate Participants fairly and promptly for completed, valid studies.
• Businesses may not use RealFolks to collect information for unlawful purposes or to discriminate against Participants on the basis of a protected characteristic.

7. Payments

Participant payments are processed through our third-party payment providers and may be subject to processing times and minimum payout thresholds. Business billing is handled per study as described at the time of purchase. All fees are non-refundable except as required by law or expressly stated otherwise.

8. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to misrepresent your identity or qualifications; interfere with the platform's operation; scrape or harvest data from the platform; use the platform to distribute unlawful, harmful, or infringing content; or attempt to circumvent RealFolks to transact directly in a way that avoids platform fees where prohibited by these Terms.

9. Intellectual Property

The RealFolks name, logo, and platform content are owned by RealFolks or its licensors. Feedback and content submitted by Participants during studies belongs to the Business commissioning that study, subject to any separate agreement between the parties.

10. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to RealFolks at any time for violation of these Terms or for any conduct we believe is harmful to the platform, other users, or third parties.

11. Disclaimers

RealFolks is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee the accuracy of Participant responses or the outcomes of any study.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, RealFolks and its affiliates will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the platform.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which RealFolks is incorporated, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of RealFolks after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

15. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Visit our Contact page or email us at hello@realfolks.co.