Act Pro vs Act Premium
There are 10 basic differences between ACT! Pro and ACT! Premium:
- ACT! Pro will only work for up to 5 users in a database even if you purchase additional licenses.
- ACT! Premium has contact level security; that means that in addition to have Public and Private contacts you can allow groups of users to access contacts – or be prevented from accessing contacts.
- ACT! Premium has field level security; that means that some users might have full access to add or change the contents of a fields, other users might see the information but not be able to change it, and other users might not be able to see the information at all. This is often used for sensitive information such as Social Security or Account numbers or credit card information.
- ACT! Premium has more ways to access your database remotely including the software necessary to access your database via a browser. This also means that your data will be accessible via a mobile device using the Act Companion app.
- ACT! Premium allows you to run sales dashboards on individual users.
- Act! Premium includes Act! Web API (the ability to connect your database to other external sources of data such as EventBrite, Survey Monkey and PayPal).
- ACT! Premium is the only version that will work with an Act e-marketing account.
- Premium comes with support; with Pro any support requires an additional charge.
- Premium includes all updates at no extra charge.
- Premium is the recommended choice for Office 365 users as you will be able to install an updated version if your Office software gets updated.
In addition, the pricing model differs quite a bit for Pro and Premium:
- Act! Pro can only be purchased as a permanent/perpetual license ($499.99/user); additional support is optional.
- Act! Premium can only be purchased in the form of a “subscription” which includes one year of technical support and all new releases within the year. The subscription must be renewed annually. ($450/user)
Click here to purchase Act Pro.
Questions? Feel free to contact me!
I’m running Act! Pro Version 20 and the legacy swiftpage email. I have stayed with the legacy email because I have 70,000 contacts, but only send small batches of emails and they wanted to charge me by the contact. I’d like to get your recommendation since I value your expertize and value add and since Swiftpage does not seem to be giving me all the info, but seems to have a new sales strategy to strong-arm customers to subscriptions.
I work in act without internet access an average of about 8 hours per month, am a big user of the call list function, and also am getting into marketing automation.
As you know the SwiftPage emarketing will be discontinued at the end of June. You can either move to the ACT! Emarketing product or the newer ACT! Marketing Automation product. As you stated that you are getting into marketing automation that would be the most likely choice. However, the newer products only run on the Premium product. The price for Premium is increasing from $300 to $420 on May 1, 2019 so if you are thinking of making a move now is the time. And don’t forget I will give you a discount on that price.
You say, it includes the software necessary to access your database via a browser. If I want to access, remotely via a browser, is it easy? How do I do that?
Also, the legacy marketing product has a call List feature that scores contacts by their opens and clicks. Is this available only with the “complete”, and not with the “Basic” version?
You have 2 options for accessing Act via a browser:
* Set up your own web server and install Act Premium for web which is free with your Act Premium purchase
* Use a hosting provider to host your software.
Unless you are an IT company, or have a full-time IT person on staff, I usually don’t recommend “Do IT Yourself” hosting as there are many dangers involved.
If you want to be hosted the going rate is $370/user/year which includes the Act software, support and all updates.
I came across your blog post about Act Pro – are you still selling the desktop version of Act? I have a user with v17 who is unable to register, Act support advised upgrading to v22, but it doesn’t appear to be sold any longer.
Thanks for stopping by Tech Benders!
There are actually two versions of Act! desktop:
• Act! Premium: $290/year. This includes support, updates, a phone app and a 2500 send/month email account.
• Act! Pro: One time purchase of $369.95
Word of Caution: the Act! Pro product has been discontinued so there is no support and no future updates. If your user requires integration to Office 365 it is not a good choice.