One of the most common questions we receive is:
“Can my version of ACT! be upgraded to the latest release?”
The answer depends on the version that originally created your database. While some databases can be upgraded directly, many older databases require one or more intermediate conversions before they can be opened successfully.
The following compatibility chart provides a general overview of every major ACT! release.
| Act! Version | Release Year | Database Type | SQL Server Version | Can Database Be Opened Directly in Act! v26? | Microsoft Office Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Act! 6.0 | 2003 | Proprietary (.ADF) | None | ❌ No (requires intermediate upgrades) | Office XP, 2003 |
| Act! 2005 (v7) | 2004 | Proprietary (.ADF) | None | ❌ No | Office 2003 |
| Act! 2006 (v8) | 2005 | SQL | SQL Server 2005 Express | ❌ No | Office 2003, 2007 |
| Act! 2007 (v9) | 2006 | SQL | SQL Server 2005 Express | ❌ No | Office 2003, 2007 |
| Act! 2008 (v10) | 2007 | SQL | SQL Server 2005 Express | ❌ No | Office 2003, 2007 |
| Act! 2009 (v11) | 2008 | SQL | SQL Server 2005 Express | ❌ No | Office 2003, 2007 |
| Act! 2010 (v12) | 2009 | SQL | SQL Server 2008 Express | ❌ No | Office 2007, 2010 |
| Act! 2011 (v13) | 2010 | SQL | SQL Server 2008 Express | ❌ No | Office 2007, 2010 |
| Act! 2012 (v14) | 2011 | SQL | SQL Server 2008 R2 Express | ❌ No | Office 2010 |
| Act! 2013 (v15) | 2012 | SQL | SQL Server 2008 R2 Express | ❌ No | Office 2010, 2013 |
| Act! v16 | 2013 | SQL | SQL Server 2012 Express | ✔️ Yes | Office 2010, 2013 |
| Act! v17 | 2014 | SQL | SQL Server 2014 Express | ✔️ Yes | Office 2010, 2013, 2016 |
| Act! v18 | 2015 | SQL | SQL Server 2014 Express | ✔️ Yes | Office 2013, 2016 |
| Act! v19 | 2016 | SQL | SQL Server 2014 Express | ✔️ Yes | Office 2013, 2016 |
| Act! v20 | 2017 | SQL | SQL Server 2014 Express | ✔️ Yes | Office 2013, 2016, Office 365 |
| Act! v21 | 2018 | SQL | SQL Server 2014 Express | ✔️ Yes | Office 2016, Office 365 |
| Act! v22 | 2019 | SQL | SQL Server 2014 Express | ✔️ Yes | Office 2016, 2019, Office 365 |
| Act! v23 | 2020 | SQL | SQL Server 2014 Express | ✔️ Yes | Office 2016, 2019, Office 365 |
| Act! v24 | 2021 | SQL | SQL Server 2014 or 2019* | ✔️ Yes | Office 2016, 2019, Office 365 |
| Act! v25 | 2023 | SQL | SQL Server 2019 Express (new installs) | ✔️ Yes | Office 2019, 2021, Microsoft 365 |
| Act! v26 | Jul-24 | SQL | SQL Server 2019 Express | Current Version | Office 2016, 2019, 2021, Microsoft 365 |
| Act! v27 | Sept. 2025 | SQL | SQL Server 2019 Express | N/A (newer than v26) | Office 2019, 2021, Microsoft 365 |