17 years helping Irish businesses
choose better software
Act!
What Is Act!?
Act! Premium, a powerful all-in-one CRM and Marketing Automation tool, is perfect for today's small and midsize businesses looking to market better, sell more, and create customers for life. With unparalleled flexibility and freedom of choice, Act! Premium accommodates the unique ways you do business, whether it’s on-premises (Act! Premium Desktop), in the cloud (Act! Premium Cloud), or a hybrid deployment (Desktop Sync) for maximum flexibility!
Who Uses Act!?
Act! empowers small and midsize businesses to build and manage client relationships and leads, so you always have your pipeline of new, repeat, and referral business under control.
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Act!
Reviews of Act!
Easy tool
Comments: Only had the change to use free trial, integrated with Sage 360 as it is owned by Sage. Created a few marketing automation and went live as well, got great results, it had potential. Used its app also to track progress and results.
Pros:
Mostly used Act's features of contact management and marketing automation in CRM, it has a feature that brings together all of the customer data into a centralized database. Using automation tool is so easy and helps you track every steps.
Cons:
Not so many features but the essential features are enough to get what is really needed. The support for the product has ended.
Act! Response
last year
Thank you, Bo for your review. We value your feedback! It sounds like you might be using an older version of Act! and hope you'll check out this webpage for information about our exciting new features and enhancements. https://www.act.com/upgrade-center/
Alternatives Considered:
ACT cloud for Marketing
Comments: ACT is a solid program and has been working for us since 1999. The cloud based version is new for our company but one we are welcoming since we want to speed up the database process. The old desktop version has become super slow and time consuming with freezes and overall slowdowns navigating through the CRM.
Pros:
We have been using ACT for 19+ years. To make the switch to the cloud version just seemed logical. It has the basics features that we need and was simple to transfer over to the client.
Cons:
ACT does not have all the bells and whistles that we would like such as power dialers and automatic reporting.
Act! Response
6 months ago
Thanks for letting us know, Tracy, that Act! Premium Cloud is meeting your CRM and marketing needs. We appreciate you taking the time to let us know.
Act is like a diesel engine, will never let you down.
Comments: I did used it for years and plan to stick with it
Pros:
Very easy to customize, with lots of add-ons and a decent price.
Cons:
they are not too quick to respond to the other companies developments
Act! Response
4 weeks ago
We love your metaphor, Gerry! Thanks for the compliment and for taking the time to leave this review! We strive to provide SMBs with affordable and feature rich CRM and email marketing solutions!
ACT! User Since 1999
Comments: Overall I still enjoy using ACT!. The only comparable products that I am aware of are Maximizer and Goldmine. I do not know if they are still supported, however, I believe ACT! still has a stronger user base. I would expland my use of ACT! if I felt comfortable that the PC-based product will continue to be supported cost effectively.
Pros:
I like that I can still use a PC-based product that I control and provide security necessary to product our client and internal information. I like that my customized version fits my basic needs to manage contacts and periodically send email messages and letters.
Cons:
I need ACT support to fix problems with email merge too often. The time required to send routine communications annually has increased at least 10 fold due to time needed to fix problems. Most of the problems seem to be keeping up with Microsoft.
Act! Response
6 months ago
We value our long-time users and love hearing from you! We are happy to hear that you like the benefits of Act! Premium Desktop, but are sorry to learn that you are experiencing issues with the email merge. We want to help as best we can. Please visit https://www.act.com/resources/contact/ or give us a call at 866-873-2006 to see how we can provide some assistance.
Alternatives Considered:
Act is Better than Other PIMs
Comments: With Act, I always believed I was a step ahead of my competition.
Pros:
I have been using ACT since 1995. It has been a central part of my business. Act allows one to keep the essential data on contacts and has easy many methods for looking up customers or information that might be elusive when one has several thousand contacts..
Cons:
Over the years updates were often sketchy. Today those issues have been solved.
Act! Response
4 months ago
Paul, we really appreciate you as a long-time customer and are excited to hear that Act! is still meeting your business's needs after 28 years! Thank you for letting us know.
Argus International
Comments: Many times very frustrating because some of the functions were not clearly understood.
Pros:
Easy access to several functions and reference information access.
Cons:
In the past it was poor support because of long delays in answering and sometimes not able to understand the support person.
Act! Response
3 weeks ago
We appreciate you providing this feedback, John. Thank you!
It's gotten so much better over time!!
Comments: Seems like I am always finding new things to do with the program. Very user friendly and I find it easy to navigate. Like with anything, you have to be willing to put some time into seeing what it can do specifically for you.
Pros:
I have used several versions of Act for years now. I like the easy conversions of making excel spreadsheets to share data.
Cons:
The Cons go back to the very early versions.
Act! Response
3 weeks ago
It's always great to hear from our long-time customers, Tina, and learn how Act! continues to help them manage and grow their businesses. Thank you for this review.
ACT - Excellent Customer Support
Comments: always a great experience using ACT and always excellent support
Pros:
always outstanding customer support. ALWAYS
Cons:
nothing. Everything is awesome and nothing I like "least" about ACT
Act! Response
4 weeks ago
You made our day, Scott! Thanks for sharing your great experiences with Act!. We know we only succeed when our customers do so we work hard to provide top-notch support. :)
ACT works for me
Comments: WONDERFUL Best data base I've experienced
Pros:
As a result of my virtual illiteracy, I like being to make a call & have a competent, knowledgeable tech FIX my issues
Cons:
The updates are a PIA luckily the staff compensates for my lack of computer savvy
Act! Response
3 weeks ago
We appreciate you, Dom, and the time you took to leave this review. We are happy to hear that Act! (and our Support team) are making your life easier.
I have used Act! for 20 years and still love it
Comments: I have used Act! for 20 years and it has always been what I needed and easy to use! I could not have gotten this far without it.
Pros:
It has always been what I needed to keep my real estate business growing. It constantly has been updated and easy to use.
Cons:
The switch to the Cloud was a pain in the ass for me at first but I love it now.
Act! Response
2 months ago
It's always wonderful hearing from our long-time customers, Keith and we thank you for taking the time to let us know that you love Act! Premium Cloud and it's helping you grow your real estate business. Awesome!
Meda Int'l Review
Comments: Having used Act! in previous businesses as well as other solutions, Act! is probably the easier of solutions to use without having to tick endless boxes for information that would be surplus to our needs,
Pros:
Easy and simplicity of use that we've customised for our business.
Cons:
We possibly aren't maximising the use of our solution, but it does a great job for what we ant out of it.
Act! Response
8 months ago
Thank you Richard for your review. It's great to hear that you've customised Act! to fit your business needs and are enjoying its ease of use. We appreciate you letting us know!
My business would not survive without ACT!!!!!
Comments:
Superb is all I can say!!!!!!
Brilliant support from Luke and the team!
Pros:
The information that is logged, the communication history is vital! ACT is the best product I've ever used and I've been using it for 12 years!
Cons:
Nothing and I mean nothing!!!! The system has never let me down but I have to admit, you only get what you as the user input in!!!!
Act! Response
8 months ago
We are so happy to hear that Act! has been a vital part of your business for over 12 years, Andrew! We appreciate your review and would love to learn how you use Act!. If you're interested in sharing your story, please follow this link: https://www.act.com/success-stories/
Critical Act! program
Comments: With the exception of updates or new versions, it is the best program on the market.
Pros:
East of use. Have used it since it was just ACT and not a version. Kept all of my records for at least the last 25 years.
Cons:
When an update or new version is implemented, it is rarely a smooth transition. Normally can take between a day or a month to get things straightened out correctly. Each time we need to have technical support help us out. If it is a good tech, the process is smooth. If not, normally we just need to call back. Forget chat, just wastes time.
Act! Response
8 months ago
We appreciate your feedback, Derek, and value our longtime customers. Thank you for being a customer for over 25 years and for taking the time to leave this review!
Easy to use
Pros:
We have been using Act Desktop for years. We recently converted to the online program to allow for easy coordination between partners. I was able to instruct an 80 year old man-set in his ways- how to use the new version within 30 minutes with very few questions. That in itself is worth the price!
Cons:
So far, I haven’t seen anything that I don’t like.
Act! Response
6 months ago
Hi Terryl, We are happy to hear that Act! is helping you grow your business and it is accommodating your changing needs. We appreciate you leaving this review! Thank you!
One system
Comments: I have enjoyed getting to learn about Act and all the different features, but see that all of the new features cost more money. This is difficult for a small business with only a few users. I like that I can always get help with the added cost.
Pros:
The act database is one area to keep all files and information. It is tied to Outlook and saves all emails under contact as well.
Cons:
That you have to pay for each feature that you might want to use.
Act! Response
6 months ago
Hi Page, We are happy to hear that Act! is helping you manage your contact information. While Act! does offer optional add-ons, most of its features are included in the subscription price. Please check out this link to learn more. https://www.act.com/pricing/ Thank you for your review!
[sensitive content hidden]Senior Act! Account Executive
Comments: Good, but need to review the training which I've just become aware of after 18 months of using it.
Pros:
the customer support services from [sensitive content hidden] Senior Act! Account Executive has been outstanding!
Cons:
Its not the best service on the market but is sufficient for what we need.
Act! Response
7 months ago
Hi Lee, thanks for letting us know that our Sr Account Executive and support have been helpful to you. We invest a lot in our Support and Training resources because we know they are essential to our customers’ success. It sounds like you’re ready to learn more about how Act! can help you manage and grow your business and we hope you find the videos, knowledgebase articles, and webinars helpful.
Great Program to manage your time
Comments:
As stated above the ease of use and we were very familiar with the functionality
since we used an old version since 2006
Pros:
Ease of use and we have used it since 2006 when we had 38 employees
Cons:
getting use to the cloud version since we were on the 2013 on our server
Act! Response
6 months ago
We're thrilled that Act! is helping you manage your financial services business, Dennis. Thank you for taking the time to let us know!
A user for 30 years!
Comments: An essential tool in product marketing for over 39 years.
Pros:
The ability to bespoke the database fields and desgn layout with its Marketing Autonation module.
Cons:
Its use of SQL server software which can be very tempramental
Act! Response
7 months ago
It's great to hear that you're leveraging Act! Marketing Automation for your marketing campaigns and communications. We love our long-term customers and really appreciate you taking the time to tell how Act! is helping your business! Thankyou, Mike!
20 year user
Comments: ACT has continually evolved and developed to help with contact management. I would not change for any other CRM
Pros:
ACT has provided our small business with a way to track and manage our candidates efficiently. 20 years of using the database is priceless
Cons:
Very little is a con, when you have an issue, you can suggest an idea or a 3rd party will pick it up
Act! Response
10 months ago
It's great to hear our long-term customers still love and leverage Act! to grow their businesses today. Thank you, David, for taking the time to share this review. We wish you all the best!
Act!
Comments: ACT! is a near perfect solution. It's a pleasure to use.
Pros:
ACT! is the best CRM available and has stood the test of decades. No other CRM comes close. It's report structure is unmatched as is the customizable features. ALSO - exporting and backup are relatively easy to use. It has a very nice user-intuitive interface.
Cons:
ACT! is no longer available as a purchasable software but only as a subscription. Also the syncing of clients from email would be nice as well as better syncing between email client and ACT!
Act! Response
last year
Thank you, Karl, for taking the time to leave this review. We'd love to learn more about your business and highlight it on our Success Story webpage and social channels! If you'd like to share your Act! Success Story, it's easy - just paste this link into your browser to get started. We hope to hear from you! Thanks again for sharing and we wish continued success to you! https://www.act.com/success-stories/
Thank You Support Team
Comments:
I have to say that without the amazing support team at ACT we would be lost - the assistance and support is the best I have experienced. Always come away with a solution to the challenge you are facing.
[sensitive content hidden] this morning has really provided amazing assistance and potentially made life alot easier now.
Pros:
User friendly and has alot of functions that we still have not hit on
Cons:
I don't find there is anything not to like, the functionalities are vast and we as a business have not hit on them by far.
Act! Response
4 months ago
We're happy to hear that you're leveraging our Support team and beginning to explore Act!'s feature-rich capabilities. We understand how important customer support is as it's a core fundamental to our overarching customer-centric focus and mission. Thank you for taking the time, Jo, to provide this feedback!
Class Act by BH
Comments:
I was introduced to Act by a manager who insisted I use this all the time and would check out my usage
It was really helpful and could not have done my job if I didn’t have the Act set up
Pros:
Ease of looking up customers by company name
Cons:
Had no issues with using the Act database so really nothing bad to say
Act! Response
9 months ago
Thank you for letting us know that Act! is easy to use and is helping you do your job, William. You made our day!
Great Customer Management System
Pros:
Customer contact history and email records.
Cons:
Occasional glitch in performance. Some minor performance errors that were largely corrected by support personnel.
Act! Response
6 months ago
We are thrilled to hear that you're leveraging Act!'s powerful data management features around contact history and email records. It's great to know we are helping you manage and grow your financial business!
My thoughts
Comments: I have used ACT for 33 years. I am a fan.
Pros:
Keeps me up to date with follow-ups. I don't have anything else to add.
Cons:
Coordinating issues between outlook and ACT
Act! Response
7 months ago
We love hearing from our long-term, loyal customers Brian, and appreciate you taking the time to let us know that Act! is helping you stay on top of your follow-ups. Thank you for sharing this feedback.
Outstanding
Pros:
For years act has been a very simple program and very easy to customize to my business needs. Tech support is always great
Cons:
Limited search ability and internet interaction
Act! Response
8 months ago
Kevin, Thank you for your review! It's great to hear that you're leveraging Act!'s customizability to meet your business's needs and that our tech support team has been helpful. We love it!