Act! Review 2025: Pricing, Features, Pros & Cons, Ratings & More

Imed Bouchrika, Phd

by Imed Bouchrika, Phd

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

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Act!: Top CRM Software

3.8 / 5

Top 3 Act! Alternatives

Featured CRM Software Alternatives for Act!

HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM
5 / 5
Pricing

$9 to $150/user/month

Free Plan

Yes, up to 2 users

Key Features

E-signature software, call transcription, conversation routing

Editor's Take

HubSpot CRM is a powerful customer relationship management platform designed to help businesses manage their sales, marketing, and customer service efforts in one centralized place. Its user-friendly interface allows teams to track leads, monitor customer interactions, and automate sales pipelines. With built-in tools for email marketing, contact management, and analytics, HubSpot CRM provides deep insights into customer behavior and sales performance. The platform also supports seamless collaboration between marketing and sales teams through real-time updates and integrations with tools like Gmail, Outlook, and Slack. Additionally, its automation features help reduce manual tasks, enabling teams to focus on building relationships and closing deals. HubSpot CRM is scalable, making it ideal for businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises.

Expert Score

In evaluating SaaS software, a comprehensive and structured methodology ensures a fair and accurate comparison across key metrics. This approach focuses on the most critical aspects that affect user experience, functionality, and business value. The following metrics—general features, cost, customer service, integrations, and mobile support—are evaluated to provide a holistic view of each software solution’s strengths and weaknesses. These metrics are selected based on their direct impact on software usability, scalability, and long-term effectiveness for businesses.

1. General Features - scoring weight 40%
This metric evaluates the core functionalities and tools the software offers. It involves assessing the comprehensiveness of the features, their relevance to the target users, and the ease of use. This is important because robust and well-designed features determine the software's overall utility and efficiency in solving user problems.

2. Cost - scoring weight 15%  
Cost analysis focuses on pricing models, value for money, and scalability. It's crucial to evaluate whether the software’s features justify its price, considering different plans for small and large organizations. This is vital for businesses to ensure they invest in cost-effective solutions that fit their budget.

3. Customer Service - scoring weight 15%  
This evaluates the responsiveness, quality, and availability of customer support, including channels like chat, email, or phone. Good customer service is essential for troubleshooting and ensuring smooth software usage, which reduces downtime and frustration for users.

4. Integrations - scoring weight 15%  
This examines how well the software integrates with third-party tools (e.g., CRM, payment systems, collaboration apps). Seamless integrations are key for creating a unified workflow and enhancing productivity by connecting multiple systems, which is crucial for operational efficiency.

5. Mobile Support - scoring weight 15%  
Mobile support assesses the software’s functionality and performance on mobile devices, including apps and mobile web versions. With increasing remote work and on-the-go usage, strong mobile support is critical to ensure users can access and utilize the software effectively, regardless of location.

NetSuite CRM
NetSuite CRM
5 / 5
Pricing

Custom

Free Plan

No

Key Features

Sales automation, customer service, marketing

Editor's Take

NetSuite CRM is a comprehensive customer relationship management solution designed to support businesses in managing their entire customer lifecycle. It offers a full suite of tools for sales automation, customer service, marketing, and partner management, helping teams improve efficiency and build stronger customer relationships. With real-time visibility into customer interactions, NetSuite CRM enables businesses to track leads, manage opportunities, and forecast sales accurately. Its built-in analytics and reporting features provide deep insights into sales performance and customer behavior. NetSuite CRM integrates seamlessly with NetSuite’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, offering a unified platform for managing business operations. This scalability and flexibility make it ideal for growing businesses and enterprises seeking an all-in-one solution for customer relationship management.

Expert Score

In evaluating SaaS software, a comprehensive and structured methodology ensures a fair and accurate comparison across key metrics. This approach focuses on the most critical aspects that affect user experience, functionality, and business value. The following metrics—general features, cost, customer service, integrations, and mobile support—are evaluated to provide a holistic view of each software solution’s strengths and weaknesses. These metrics are selected based on their direct impact on software usability, scalability, and long-term effectiveness for businesses.

1. General Features - scoring weight 40%
This metric evaluates the core functionalities and tools the software offers. It involves assessing the comprehensiveness of the features, their relevance to the target users, and the ease of use. This is important because robust and well-designed features determine the software's overall utility and efficiency in solving user problems.

2. Cost - scoring weight 15%  
Cost analysis focuses on pricing models, value for money, and scalability. It's crucial to evaluate whether the software’s features justify its price, considering different plans for small and large organizations. This is vital for businesses to ensure they invest in cost-effective solutions that fit their budget.

3. Customer Service - scoring weight 15%  
This evaluates the responsiveness, quality, and availability of customer support, including channels like chat, email, or phone. Good customer service is essential for troubleshooting and ensuring smooth software usage, which reduces downtime and frustration for users.

4. Integrations - scoring weight 15%  
This examines how well the software integrates with third-party tools (e.g., CRM, payment systems, collaboration apps). Seamless integrations are key for creating a unified workflow and enhancing productivity by connecting multiple systems, which is crucial for operational efficiency.

5. Mobile Support - scoring weight 15%  
Mobile support assesses the software’s functionality and performance on mobile devices, including apps and mobile web versions. With increasing remote work and on-the-go usage, strong mobile support is critical to ensure users can access and utilize the software effectively, regardless of location.

CRM Creatio
CRM Creatio
5 / 5
Pricing

$25 per user per month

Free Trial

14 days

Key Features

marketing automation, sales automation, no code customization

Editor's Take

CRM Creatio is a comprehensive customer relationship management (CRM) solution designed to streamline and enhance business processes across sales, marketing, and customer service functions. Known for its low-code platform, Creatio allows businesses to customize and automate workflows without requiring extensive technical expertise. This adaptability makes it particularly appealing to organizations seeking to align the software with their specific needs.

The platform's marketing module provides tools for multi-channel campaign management, lead generation, and personalized customer engagement. Its sales module offers functionality for pipeline management, opportunity tracking, and analytics to help teams close deals more efficiently. Additionally, the customer service module supports case management, service level agreement (SLA) monitoring, and omnichannel communication, enabling businesses to provide exceptional customer support.

Creatio stands out with its intuitive interface, robust analytics, and AI-powered tools that provide actionable insights. The low-code development tools allow non-technical users to create applications and automate processes, reducing the dependency on IT teams. Integration capabilities with other software platforms and APIs enhance its utility, making it a versatile choice for businesses of all sizes.

Overall, CRM Creatio is a powerful solution that combines user-friendly design with advanced customization and automation features. Its adaptability and low-code foundation position it as a strong contender for organizations looking to optimize customer relationship management processes while maintaining flexibility for growth and innovation.

Expert Score

In evaluating SaaS software, a comprehensive and structured methodology ensures a fair and accurate comparison across key metrics. This approach focuses on the most critical aspects that affect user experience, functionality, and business value. The following metrics—general features, cost, customer service, integrations, and mobile support—are evaluated to provide a holistic view of each software solution’s strengths and weaknesses. These metrics are selected based on their direct impact on software usability, scalability, and long-term effectiveness for businesses.

1. General Features - scoring weight 40%
This metric evaluates the core functionalities and tools the software offers. It involves assessing the comprehensiveness of the features, their relevance to the target users, and the ease of use. This is important because robust and well-designed features determine the software's overall utility and efficiency in solving user problems.

2. Cost - scoring weight 15%  
Cost analysis focuses on pricing models, value for money, and scalability. It's crucial to evaluate whether the software’s features justify its price, considering different plans for small and large organizations. This is vital for businesses to ensure they invest in cost-effective solutions that fit their budget.

3. Customer Service - scoring weight 15%  
This evaluates the responsiveness, quality, and availability of customer support, including channels like chat, email, or phone. Good customer service is essential for troubleshooting and ensuring smooth software usage, which reduces downtime and frustration for users.

4. Integrations - scoring weight 15%  
This examines how well the software integrates with third-party tools (e.g., CRM, payment systems, collaboration apps). Seamless integrations are key for creating a unified workflow and enhancing productivity by connecting multiple systems, which is crucial for operational efficiency.

5. Mobile Support - scoring weight 15%  
Mobile support assesses the software’s functionality and performance on mobile devices, including apps and mobile web versions. With increasing remote work and on-the-go usage, strong mobile support is critical to ensure users can access and utilize the software effectively, regardless of location.


What is Act!?

Act! is a customer relationship management (CRM) solution designed to support small and mid-sized businesses as they scale. Its full-featured, everywhere-access platform combines marketing automation, data management, and sales and contract management tools, making it easy for users to nurture customer relationships and move the needle on various transactions. In this Act! review, Research.com explores the capabilities and limitations of the platform.

What’s new in Act!?

Act! is constantly evolving to meet the needs of its users, and the latest updates bring a host of new features and enhancements that make it even more powerful and user-friendly. Here, we list recent platform improvements to streamline user experience, expand data management capabilities, and bolster security.

  • Usability Enhancements. Act! has undergone a series of styling updates to its user interface on its mobile and browser-based applications. These changes modernize the look and feel of Act! while maintaining its intuitive navigation.
  • Custom Tables Trial. Custom Tables, a powerful feature that allows users to manage detailed data stored in spreadsheets directly in Act!, is now available for a 14-day trial. With Custom Tables, users can consolidate data from spreadsheets and gain new insights through analysis, which can help them drive targeted sales and marketing campaigns.
  • SMS4Act! Integrated SMS Text Messaging. Act! has integrated SMS text messaging into its platform with SMS4Act!. This feature allows users to send text messages to customers worldwide, on the fly, without leaving the platform. SMS4Act! can be used for various purposes, including order and scheduling updates, event reminders, and promotional notifications.
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). To enhance security, Act! has introduced Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): a multi-step authentication process that helps prevent unauthorized account access. When MFA is enabled, users must enter a unique code sent via SMS when logging into Act!, in addition to their username and password. This added layer of security helps to protect sensitive customer and business data.

Featured CRM Software Products

HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM
5 / 5
Pricing

$9 to $150/user/month

Free Plan

Yes, up to 2 users

Key Features

E-signature software, call transcription, conversation routing

Editor's Take

HubSpot CRM is a powerful customer relationship management platform designed to help businesses manage their sales, marketing, and customer service efforts in one centralized place. Its user-friendly interface allows teams to track leads, monitor customer interactions, and automate sales pipelines. With built-in tools for email marketing, contact management, and analytics, HubSpot CRM provides deep insights into customer behavior and sales performance. The platform also supports seamless collaboration between marketing and sales teams through real-time updates and integrations with tools like Gmail, Outlook, and Slack. Additionally, its automation features help reduce manual tasks, enabling teams to focus on building relationships and closing deals. HubSpot CRM is scalable, making it ideal for businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises.

Expert Score

In evaluating SaaS software, a comprehensive and structured methodology ensures a fair and accurate comparison across key metrics. This approach focuses on the most critical aspects that affect user experience, functionality, and business value. The following metrics—general features, cost, customer service, integrations, and mobile support—are evaluated to provide a holistic view of each software solution’s strengths and weaknesses. These metrics are selected based on their direct impact on software usability, scalability, and long-term effectiveness for businesses.

1. General Features - scoring weight 40%
This metric evaluates the core functionalities and tools the software offers. It involves assessing the comprehensiveness of the features, their relevance to the target users, and the ease of use. This is important because robust and well-designed features determine the software's overall utility and efficiency in solving user problems.

2. Cost - scoring weight 15%  
Cost analysis focuses on pricing models, value for money, and scalability. It's crucial to evaluate whether the software’s features justify its price, considering different plans for small and large organizations. This is vital for businesses to ensure they invest in cost-effective solutions that fit their budget.

3. Customer Service - scoring weight 15%  
This evaluates the responsiveness, quality, and availability of customer support, including channels like chat, email, or phone. Good customer service is essential for troubleshooting and ensuring smooth software usage, which reduces downtime and frustration for users.

4. Integrations - scoring weight 15%  
This examines how well the software integrates with third-party tools (e.g., CRM, payment systems, collaboration apps). Seamless integrations are key for creating a unified workflow and enhancing productivity by connecting multiple systems, which is crucial for operational efficiency.

5. Mobile Support - scoring weight 15%  
Mobile support assesses the software’s functionality and performance on mobile devices, including apps and mobile web versions. With increasing remote work and on-the-go usage, strong mobile support is critical to ensure users can access and utilize the software effectively, regardless of location.

NetSuite CRM
NetSuite CRM
5 / 5
Pricing

Custom

Free Plan

No

Key Features

Sales automation, customer service, marketing

Editor's Take

NetSuite CRM is a comprehensive customer relationship management solution designed to support businesses in managing their entire customer lifecycle. It offers a full suite of tools for sales automation, customer service, marketing, and partner management, helping teams improve efficiency and build stronger customer relationships. With real-time visibility into customer interactions, NetSuite CRM enables businesses to track leads, manage opportunities, and forecast sales accurately. Its built-in analytics and reporting features provide deep insights into sales performance and customer behavior. NetSuite CRM integrates seamlessly with NetSuite’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, offering a unified platform for managing business operations. This scalability and flexibility make it ideal for growing businesses and enterprises seeking an all-in-one solution for customer relationship management.

Expert Score

In evaluating SaaS software, a comprehensive and structured methodology ensures a fair and accurate comparison across key metrics. This approach focuses on the most critical aspects that affect user experience, functionality, and business value. The following metrics—general features, cost, customer service, integrations, and mobile support—are evaluated to provide a holistic view of each software solution’s strengths and weaknesses. These metrics are selected based on their direct impact on software usability, scalability, and long-term effectiveness for businesses.

1. General Features - scoring weight 40%
This metric evaluates the core functionalities and tools the software offers. It involves assessing the comprehensiveness of the features, their relevance to the target users, and the ease of use. This is important because robust and well-designed features determine the software's overall utility and efficiency in solving user problems.

2. Cost - scoring weight 15%  
Cost analysis focuses on pricing models, value for money, and scalability. It's crucial to evaluate whether the software’s features justify its price, considering different plans for small and large organizations. This is vital for businesses to ensure they invest in cost-effective solutions that fit their budget.

3. Customer Service - scoring weight 15%  
This evaluates the responsiveness, quality, and availability of customer support, including channels like chat, email, or phone. Good customer service is essential for troubleshooting and ensuring smooth software usage, which reduces downtime and frustration for users.

4. Integrations - scoring weight 15%  
This examines how well the software integrates with third-party tools (e.g., CRM, payment systems, collaboration apps). Seamless integrations are key for creating a unified workflow and enhancing productivity by connecting multiple systems, which is crucial for operational efficiency.

5. Mobile Support - scoring weight 15%  
Mobile support assesses the software’s functionality and performance on mobile devices, including apps and mobile web versions. With increasing remote work and on-the-go usage, strong mobile support is critical to ensure users can access and utilize the software effectively, regardless of location.

CRM Creatio
CRM Creatio
5 / 5
Pricing

$25 per user per month

Free Trial

14 days

Key Features

marketing automation, sales automation, no code customization

Editor's Take

CRM Creatio is a comprehensive customer relationship management (CRM) solution designed to streamline and enhance business processes across sales, marketing, and customer service functions. Known for its low-code platform, Creatio allows businesses to customize and automate workflows without requiring extensive technical expertise. This adaptability makes it particularly appealing to organizations seeking to align the software with their specific needs.

The platform's marketing module provides tools for multi-channel campaign management, lead generation, and personalized customer engagement. Its sales module offers functionality for pipeline management, opportunity tracking, and analytics to help teams close deals more efficiently. Additionally, the customer service module supports case management, service level agreement (SLA) monitoring, and omnichannel communication, enabling businesses to provide exceptional customer support.

Creatio stands out with its intuitive interface, robust analytics, and AI-powered tools that provide actionable insights. The low-code development tools allow non-technical users to create applications and automate processes, reducing the dependency on IT teams. Integration capabilities with other software platforms and APIs enhance its utility, making it a versatile choice for businesses of all sizes.

Overall, CRM Creatio is a powerful solution that combines user-friendly design with advanced customization and automation features. Its adaptability and low-code foundation position it as a strong contender for organizations looking to optimize customer relationship management processes while maintaining flexibility for growth and innovation.

Expert Score

In evaluating SaaS software, a comprehensive and structured methodology ensures a fair and accurate comparison across key metrics. This approach focuses on the most critical aspects that affect user experience, functionality, and business value. The following metrics—general features, cost, customer service, integrations, and mobile support—are evaluated to provide a holistic view of each software solution’s strengths and weaknesses. These metrics are selected based on their direct impact on software usability, scalability, and long-term effectiveness for businesses.

1. General Features - scoring weight 40%
This metric evaluates the core functionalities and tools the software offers. It involves assessing the comprehensiveness of the features, their relevance to the target users, and the ease of use. This is important because robust and well-designed features determine the software's overall utility and efficiency in solving user problems.

2. Cost - scoring weight 15%  
Cost analysis focuses on pricing models, value for money, and scalability. It's crucial to evaluate whether the software’s features justify its price, considering different plans for small and large organizations. This is vital for businesses to ensure they invest in cost-effective solutions that fit their budget.

3. Customer Service - scoring weight 15%  
This evaluates the responsiveness, quality, and availability of customer support, including channels like chat, email, or phone. Good customer service is essential for troubleshooting and ensuring smooth software usage, which reduces downtime and frustration for users.

4. Integrations - scoring weight 15%  
This examines how well the software integrates with third-party tools (e.g., CRM, payment systems, collaboration apps). Seamless integrations are key for creating a unified workflow and enhancing productivity by connecting multiple systems, which is crucial for operational efficiency.

5. Mobile Support - scoring weight 15%  
Mobile support assesses the software’s functionality and performance on mobile devices, including apps and mobile web versions. With increasing remote work and on-the-go usage, strong mobile support is critical to ensure users can access and utilize the software effectively, regardless of location.

monday.com sales CRM
monday.com sales CRM
4.45 / 5
Pricing

$8/per user/per month

Free Trial

Yes

Key Features

customizable dashboards, automated follow-ups, advanced analytics

Editor's Take

monday.com Sales CRM is a customizable platform designed to streamline sales processes, enhance team collaboration, and improve pipeline visibility. Its intuitive interface enables users to manage leads, track deals, and automate repetitive tasks with ease. The CRM integrates seamlessly with popular tools like Gmail, Slack, and HubSpot, ensuring a centralized workflow. Features like customizable dashboards, automated follow-ups, and advanced analytics help sales teams stay organized and focused on closing deals. With scalability in mind, monday.com caters to businesses of all sizes, offering flexible pricing plans and robust customer support. It’s an excellent choice for teams seeking efficiency and adaptability.

Expert Score

In evaluating SaaS software, a comprehensive and structured methodology ensures a fair and accurate comparison across key metrics. This approach focuses on the most critical aspects that affect user experience, functionality, and business value. The following metrics—general features, cost, customer service, integrations, and mobile support—are evaluated to provide a holistic view of each software solution’s strengths and weaknesses. These metrics are selected based on their direct impact on software usability, scalability, and long-term effectiveness for businesses.

1. General Features - scoring weight 40%

This metric evaluates the core functionalities and tools the software offers. It involves assessing the comprehensiveness of the features, their relevance to the target users, and the ease of use. This is important because robust and well-designed features determine the software’s overall utility and efficiency in solving user problems.

2. Cost - scoring weight 15%

Cost analysis focuses on pricing models, value for money, and scalability. It’s crucial to evaluate whether the software’s features justify its price, considering different plans for small and large organizations. This is vital for businesses to ensure they invest in cost-effective solutions that fit their budget.

3. Customer Service - scoring weight 15%

This evaluates the responsiveness, quality, and availability of customer support, including channels like chat, email, or phone. Good customer service is essential for troubleshooting and ensuring smooth software usage, which reduces downtime and frustration for users.

4. Integrations - scoring weight 15%

This examines how well the software integrates with third-party tools (e.g., CRM, payment systems, collaboration apps). Seamless integrations are key for creating a unified workflow and enhancing productivity by connecting multiple systems, which is crucial for operational efficiency.

5. Mobile Support - scoring weight 15%

Mobile support assesses the software’s functionality and performance on mobile devices, including apps and mobile web versions. With increasing remote work and on-the-go usage, strong mobile support is critical to ensure users can access and utilize the software effectively, regardless of location.

Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM
5 / 5
Pricing

$7 per user per month billed annually

Free Trial

15 days

Key Features

lead generation, sales pipeline management, workflow automation

Editor's Take

Zoho CRM is a flexible and comprehensive customer relationship management platform designed to help businesses manage and grow their customer relationships effectively. With tools for lead generation, sales pipeline management, workflow automation, and analytics, Zoho CRM is suitable for businesses of all sizes across a variety of industries.

Zoho CRM enables teams to streamline sales processes by capturing leads from multiple channels, tracking interactions, and managing every stage of the sales cycle. The platform offers customizable dashboards and reports, providing insights into sales performance and customer behaviors to help make data-driven decisions. With powerful automation features, Zoho CRM allows businesses to set up workflows for routine tasks like follow-ups, lead scoring, and email notifications, reducing manual work and enhancing productivity. The platform integrates with popular tools, including the Zoho suite, Microsoft 365, and G Suite, enabling a seamless connection across teams.

For businesses aiming to improve customer engagement, close deals faster, and enhance team collaboration, Zoho CRM delivers a scalable, user-friendly solution to drive sales and customer satisfaction.

Expert Score

In evaluating SaaS software, a comprehensive and structured methodology ensures a fair and accurate comparison across key metrics. This approach focuses on the most critical aspects that affect user experience, functionality, and business value. The following metrics—general features, cost, customer service, integrations, and mobile support—are evaluated to provide a holistic view of each software solution’s strengths and weaknesses. These metrics are selected based on their direct impact on software usability, scalability, and long-term effectiveness for businesses.

1. General Features - scoring weight 40%
This metric evaluates the core functionalities and tools the software offers. It involves assessing the comprehensiveness of the features, their relevance to the target users, and the ease of use. This is important because robust and well-designed features determine the software's overall utility and efficiency in solving user problems.

2. Cost - scoring weight 15%  
Cost analysis focuses on pricing models, value for money, and scalability. It's crucial to evaluate whether the software’s features justify its price, considering different plans for small and large organizations. This is vital for businesses to ensure they invest in cost-effective solutions that fit their budget.

3. Customer Service - scoring weight 15%  
This evaluates the responsiveness, quality, and availability of customer support, including channels like chat, email, or phone. Good customer service is essential for troubleshooting and ensuring smooth software usage, which reduces downtime and frustration for users.

4. Integrations - scoring weight 15%  
This examines how well the software integrates with third-party tools (e.g., CRM, payment systems, collaboration apps). Seamless integrations are key for creating a unified workflow and enhancing productivity by connecting multiple systems, which is crucial for operational efficiency.

5. Mobile Support - scoring weight 15%  
Mobile support assesses the software’s functionality and performance on mobile devices, including apps and mobile web versions. With increasing remote work and on-the-go usage, strong mobile support is critical to ensure users can access and utilize the software effectively, regardless of location.

Salesforce CRM
Salesforce CRM
5 / 5
Pricing

By quote

Free Trial

Yes

Key Features

Lead Management, Contact Management, Workflow Automation

Editor's Take

Salesforce CRM is a leading customer relationship management platform known for its robust functionality, scalability, and extensive customization options, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises. Built to streamline sales, marketing, customer service, and analytics, Salesforce CRM empowers teams to manage customer interactions, optimize workflows, and drive growth from a single, cloud-based platform.

Salesforce CRM provides a complete view of customer data, enabling teams to track interactions, manage leads, and automate tasks throughout the sales pipeline. With powerful tools for reporting and analytics, Salesforce offers insights into sales performance, customer trends, and campaign effectiveness, allowing teams to make data-driven decisions. The platform’s automation capabilities reduce manual workloads with customizable workflows, automated follow-ups, and lead scoring, ensuring a smooth customer journey. Integrations with thousands of third-party applications, along with its own suite of services, make Salesforce a highly adaptable solution for businesses looking to connect their CRM with other tools.

For organizations focused on enhancing customer engagement, improving team efficiency, and scaling their operations, Salesforce CRM delivers a powerful and versatile solution tailored to support long-term business growth.

Expert Score

In evaluating SaaS software, a comprehensive and structured methodology ensures a fair and accurate comparison across key metrics. This approach focuses on the most critical aspects that affect user experience, functionality, and business value. The following metrics—general features, cost, customer service, integrations, and mobile support—are evaluated to provide a holistic view of each software solution’s strengths and weaknesses. These metrics are selected based on their direct impact on software usability, scalability, and long-term effectiveness for businesses.

1. General Features - scoring weight 40%
This metric evaluates the core functionalities and tools the software offers. It involves assessing the comprehensiveness of the features, their relevance to the target users, and the ease of use. This is important because robust and well-designed features determine the software's overall utility and efficiency in solving user problems.

2. Cost - scoring weight 15%  
Cost analysis focuses on pricing models, value for money, and scalability. It's crucial to evaluate whether the software’s features justify its price, considering different plans for small and large organizations. This is vital for businesses to ensure they invest in cost-effective solutions that fit their budget.

3. Customer Service - scoring weight 15%  
This evaluates the responsiveness, quality, and availability of customer support, including channels like chat, email, or phone. Good customer service is essential for troubleshooting and ensuring smooth software usage, which reduces downtime and frustration for users.

4. Integrations - scoring weight 15%  
This examines how well the software integrates with third-party tools (e.g., CRM, payment systems, collaboration apps). Seamless integrations are key for creating a unified workflow and enhancing productivity by connecting multiple systems, which is crucial for operational efficiency.

5. Mobile Support - scoring weight 15%  
Mobile support assesses the software’s functionality and performance on mobile devices, including apps and mobile web versions. With increasing remote work and on-the-go usage, strong mobile support is critical to ensure users can access and utilize the software effectively, regardless of location.

How much does Act! cost?

Act!: Top CRM Software

3.8 / 5

Act! provides a flexible and affordable pricing structure. Its base pricing is complemented by the option to purchase individual upgrades and add-ons, rather than being limited by bundled packages. This approach allows businesses to customize their CRM and pay only for necessary features. In this section of our Act! review, we cover the pricing and inclusions of each Act! Subscription plan.

Act! Premium

An Act! Premium subscription gives users access to its CRM and marketing platform. Act! Premium is available as an on-premise or cloud-based solution.

Act! Premium Cloud – $30 per user/month (Cloud-based); $40 per user/month (Cloud-based with desktop sync)

  • Immediate online access
  • Secure, done-for-you hosting
  • Automatic updates and backups
  • Optional desktop sync
  • Expert technical support
  • 14-day free trial

Act! Premium Desktop – $37.50 user/mo

  • Networked and offline access
  • Self-managed security
  • Complete control of updates
  • Compatibility w/desktop add-ons
  • Expert technical support

Act! Marketing Automation

While Act! pricing already includes the cost of marketing automation tools, users with complex needs or large volumes of data can avail of a paid marketing automation plan. We have also included the prices and inclusions of marketing automation upgrades in this Act! review for reference.

AMA Basic – Included with Act! Premium subscription

  • Unlimited contacts
  • 2,500 emails/mo
  • Responsive templates
  • Template editor
  • Email tracking & metrics
  • Drip marketing
  • Visual workflow designer
  • Campaign calendar
  • Deliverability & compliance tools

AMA Select – $79 per account/month

  • AMA Basic inclusions
  • 25,000 emails/mo
  • Turnkey campaigns
  • HTML email editor
  • Social sharing
  • Landing pages
  • Surveys
  • Team Management
  • Nurture marketing

AMA Complete – $199 per account/month

  • AMA Select inclusions
  • 50,000 emails/mo
  • Marketing automation to CRM workflow
  • Asset tracking
  • Advanced lead capture
  • Lead management & scoring
  • Event marketing
  • Website activity tracking

AMA Advanced – $399 per account/month

  • AMA Complete inclusions
  • 100,000 emails/mo
  • Progressive profiling
  • A/B testing

Add-Ons

We would be remiss to share this Act! review without a discussion of the auxiliary platform costs. Users can access more features, enjoy enhanced support, and increase platform storage capacity by purchasing add-ons. Add-ons are available individually for $5 to over $19 per monthly user. Most add-ons are billed annually; only the text messaging plans are billed month-to-month with no annual commitment required.

Pros of Act!

  • User-Friendly Interface. The Act! platform is simple for all users to navigate its features regardless of technical experience.
  • Comprehensive Features. Powerful sales, marketing, and customer service features to help businesses manage every aspect of customer relationships, from discovery and initial contact to closing deals and providing ongoing support.
  • Affordable Pricing. The tiered pricing structure allows users to start with a basic plan and gradually add more features as their businesses grow.
  • Mobile Access. Through its mobile app, users can access and update customer information, manage tasks, and view their sales pipeline on the go, helping them stay productive outside the office.
  • Strong Customer Support. Act! customer support is available through various channels, including email, support tickets, and online resources.

Cons of Act!

  • Scalability. Act! may face scalability issues for businesses experiencing rapid growth or handling large volumes of customer data. In such cases, they may need to consider enterprise-level CRM solutions that can accommodate their expanding needs.
  • Limited Integrations. Act! easily integrates with popular business applications, including team collaboration platforms, social media platforms, and payroll software for small business. However, the range of available Act! integrations may be limited compared to some other CRM platforms. Those relying heavily on specific third-party tools may need to ensure compatibility before committing to Act! CRM.

Act! Core Features

Act!: Top CRM Software

3.8 / 5

In this section of our Act! review, we explore the platform features that help users improve their customer relationships, streamline sales processes, automate marketing campaigns, and enhance customer service.

  • Customer Management. At the heart of the Act! features is its CRM platform, which provides a robust customer management system that helps businesses maintain organized and up-to-date customer data. With rich customer profiles, a centralized data management platform, and powerful search capabilities, users can easily find the information they need to personalize their interactions.
  • Sales Pipeline Management. Revenue teams can streamline their sales process with Act!, which makes it easier to track opportunities, manage pipelines, and advance deals through custom or out-of-the-box sales stages. With actionable insights from interactive dashboards, users can make informed decisions and direct their focus on the most promising opportunities.
  • Marketing Automation. With Act!, marketing teams create and deploy personalized campaigns using turnkey templates or custom designs. Users can automate outreach strategies to stay engaged with prospects and customers, capture leads with high-converting landing pages, and track real-time metrics to help them optimize their efforts.
  • Activity Management. Users can track all customer interactions, prioritize task lists, and maintain a seamless integration with various calendar and email apps, all through Act!. Notifications and alerts help ensure they stay informed and that no opportunity or task goes unnoticed.

Benefits of Using Act!

This Act! review would be incomplete without discussing the advantages of using Act! as a CRM solution. Its extensive capabilities translate into tangible benefits for businesses, including:

Streamline Sales Processes

To help businesses navigate the sales process from start to finish, Act! provides teams with robust capabilities to derive the maximum value from interactions through the customer lifecycle.

Strengthen Customer Relationships

Strong customer relationships are crucial to success, and Act! simplifies the process of building and maintaining these relationships. With Act! as a centralized hub for customer information, businesses can seamlessly access customer history, track interactions, and provide personalized support to foster customer loyalty and satisfaction.

Increase Productivity and Efficiency

Act! automates repetitive tasks and provides real-time visibility into business performance, freeing time for sales, marketing, and customer service teams to focus on high-value activities.

How does Act! compare to dedicated business intelligence software solutions?

Act! provides robust CRM functionalities and basic analytics to monitor sales performance and customer interactions. However, when organizations require in-depth data analysis, complex visualizations, and predictive modeling, they may need tools that specialize in advanced analytics. In such cases, complementing Act! with BI software solutions can offer more comprehensive insights and data-driven strategies. This approach enables businesses to leverage the strengths of both systems: Act! for customer relationship management and dedicated BI tools for enhanced reporting and analytics precision.

What business types use Act!?

Act! is popular among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across industries. In this section of our Act! review, we delve into the specific business types that can reap the most rewards from its comprehensive features and affordable pricing structure.

  • Software as a Service (SaaS) Businesses. SaaS businesses can use Act! CRM to manage their subscriber base, track their recurring revenue, and provide customer support. It can also help them to identify upsell and cross-sell opportunities.
  • Project-based Businesses. Act! is also a viable solution for project-based businesses, such as marketing agencies, IT companies, and construction firms, which manage engagements with multiple clients. When integrated with other software, such as construction project management software, these businesses can easily manage all aspects of each project through one platform.
  • Professional Services Firms. With Act! in their tech stack, Legal, accounting, and consulting firms can easily track leads, view billing records, and manage client projects.
  • Retail Businesses. Retail businesses can use Act! to track customer purchases, send targeted marketing campaigns, and manage customer loyalty programs.
Act! Marketing Automation Dashboard

Integration Capabilities with Third-Party Software

For businesses leveraging multiple software tools, one of the key considerations when choosing a CRM solution is its ability to integrate with other platforms. Act! provides a range of integration options that enable seamless connectivity with various third-party applications, ensuring that workflows remain uninterrupted and data flows smoothly across systems.

For example, Act! integrates with popular email platforms like Microsoft Outlook and Gmail, allowing users to sync emails, calendars, and tasks for better collaboration and efficiency. Additionally, integration with accounting tools such as QuickBooks ensures that financial data aligns with customer interactions, facilitating a unified overview of sales and billing activities.

Businesses seeking to enhance their billing processes further can also look into complementary tools. Choosing the right billing software can simplify invoicing, payment tracking, and financial reporting, thereby improving operational efficiency. These functionalities, combined with Act!'s CRM capabilities, provide a well-rounded tech infrastructure for small and mid-sized businesses.

Lastly, the Act! Marketplace offers various add-ons and integrations, spanning customer service tools, marketing platforms, and phone systems, to customize the software for specific industry needs. With these capabilities, Act! enables businesses to build a tech ecosystem tailored to their unique processes and challenges.

Key Insights

  • Comprehensive CRM Solution: Act! CRM provides a full-featured platform combining customer relationship management, marketing automation, data management, and sales tools tailored for small to mid-sized businesses.
  • Recent Enhancements: Act! has introduced several updates, including usability enhancements, custom tables for data management, integrated SMS text messaging, and multi-factor authentication to bolster security and user experience.
  • Flexible Pricing: Act! offers flexible pricing plans starting at $30 per user/month, with options for cloud-based or desktop access. Marketing automation is included, but users can opt for advanced features at additional costs.
  • Customizable and Scalable: Users can customize their CRM experience with various add-ons and upgrades, though Act! might face scalability issues for rapidly growing businesses.
  • Mobile Access: The Act! Companion app provides on-the-go access to customer information, calendar synchronization, and sales pipeline management.
  • Strong Support: Act! offers robust customer support through various channels, including email, support tickets, and online resources.

Best 5 alternatives to Act!

1

Zoho CRM offers extensive customization options that enable businesses to adapt fields, page layouts, workflows, and automation rules to their specific needs, thereby enhancing lead management and streamlining the sales process from initial contact to deal closure. Its comprehensive suite supports sales, marketing, and customer support through features like detailed reporting, analytics, and an intuitive interface that facilitates easy navigation. The platform integrates AI-powered tools such as the Zia assistant, which provides predictive sales insights and helps personalize customer interactions using real-time behavioral data. Moreover, Zoho CRM’s competitive pricing—including a free tier for smaller teams—and its mobile and third-party app integrations make it a versatile choice for organizations aiming to improve collaboration and decision-making across diverse work environments.

2

NetSuite CRM

5 / 5

NetSuite CRM delivers a comprehensive platform that consolidates customer information across multiple channels, granting teams instant access to up-to-date data on preferences, transactions, and interactions in one centralized hub. By automating routine sales, marketing, and service activities, it boosts operational efficiency and frees staff to concentrate on cultivating stronger customer relationships. Its cloud-based design facilitates seamless connectivity from any device, enabling collaboration among dispersed teams while providing real-time sales tracking and pipeline visibility to accelerate deal closures. Additionally, advanced forecasting and analytics tools harness historical and predictive data, empowering businesses to enhance decision-making and optimize resource management for sustained growth.

3

HubSpot CRM is a cloud-based customer relationship management platform designed to help businesses manage and analyze customer interactions throughout the sales and marketing lifecycle. It provides tools for contact and lead management, email tracking, pipeline management, marketing automation, and performance analytics. The system is known for its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with other HubSpot tools, making it particularly popular among small to medium-sized businesses. HubSpot CRM is available in a free version with basic features, while more advanced capabilities—such as sales forecasting, custom reporting, and AI-powered insights—are accessible through paid tiers. The platform emphasizes ease of use, scalability, and centralized data, enabling teams to align their sales, marketing, and customer service efforts more effectively.

4

monday sales CRM

4.45 / 5

Monday Sales CRM stands out for its exceptional adaptability, allowing users to customize dashboards, columns, and sales workflows to perfectly suit their distinct business requirements. This level of flexibility is ideal for companies with unique processes or niche operations, enabling them to modify the platform effortlessly without needing advanced technical skills. Additionally, the CRM offers automation features that streamline repetitive tasks like follow-up reminders and status updates, thereby minimizing manual workload and lowering the chance of mistakes. Coupled with integrated communication tools and AI-powered capabilities for email composition and data analysis, monday ensures teams remain coordinated and equipped to make data-driven decisions.

5

4.3 / 5

Pipedrive stands out as a versatile CRM solution designed to simplify and optimize sales workflows by automating routine tasks like lead distribution, follow-up scheduling, and deal tracking. Its high level of customization allows businesses to shape sales pipelines and data fields to suit their specific needs, accommodating a wide range of industries and company sizes. By consolidating customer information and communications through integrations with common email and calendar tools, Pipedrive enhances team collaboration and reduces the hassle of juggling multiple platforms. Furthermore, the platform’s clear visual pipeline offers sales teams an intuitive way to oversee deal progress and quickly spot any obstacles in the sales process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Act! CRM used For?

Act! CRM is used for managing customer data, tracking sales opportunities, automating marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer service. It helps businesses streamline their marketing, sales, and customer service processes to operate efficiently and improve customer relationships.

What CRM Software is similar to Act!?

CRM software similar to Act! includes Keap, GreenRope, Salesforce Sales Cloud, HubSpot Sales Hub, and Zoho CRM. These platforms offer comparable features and functionalities, providing businesses with various options for CRM solutions.

Does Act! CRM have an app?

Yes, Act! CRM has a mobile app called Act! Companion, available for iPhone and Android devices. It allows users to access customer information, synchronize calendars, capture and track activities, manage sales pipelines, advance deals, and gain insights from real-time metrics.

What are the recent enhancements in Act! CRM?

Recent enhancements in Act! CRM include usability updates to its mobile and browser-based applications, a 14-day trial for Custom Tables, integrated SMS text messaging with SMS4Act!, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) for improved security.

What are the pros and cons of using Act!?

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface
  • Comprehensive features for sales, marketing, and customer service
  • Affordable pricing structure
  • Mobile access through the Act! Companion app
  • Strong customer support

Cons:

  • Potential scalability issues for rapidly growing businesses
  • Limited integrations compared to some other CRM platforms
What types of businesses benefit most from using Act!?

Act! is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses across various industries, including Software as a Service (SaaS), project-based businesses (e.g., marketing agencies, IT companies, construction firms), professional services firms (e.g., legal, accounting, consulting), and retail businesses. It helps these businesses manage customer relationships, track sales, automate marketing, and enhance customer service.