Act! vs Insightly: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Act! and Insightly comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Insightly wins this matchup. Our overall CRM pick is HubSpot. Our free CRM pick is Apollo. Pick Act! if you need its specific feature set.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Act!
CRM and marketing automation for small businesses
Best for you if:
- • You want comprehensive all-in-one platform integrating CRM, marketing automation, and customer management for SMBs
- • You want highly customizable interface and data fields allow tailoring to unique business specifications and industry needs
Insightly
Modern, scalable CRM platform with AI, marketing automation, and customer service for growing businesses.
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
- • You want good for small business CRM
- • You want project management
| At a Glance | Act! | Insightly |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Custom | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | CRM | CRM |
Rating | 3.9/5 | 4.1/5 |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Choose Act! or Insightly?
Choose Act! if
CRM and marketing automation for small businesses
- You want comprehensive all-in-one platform integrating CRM, marketing automation, and customer management for SMBs
- You want highly customizable interface and data fields allow tailoring to unique business specifications and industry needs
Choose Insightly if
Modern, scalable CRM platform with AI, marketing automation, and customer service for growing businesses.
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want good for small business CRM
- You want project management
| Feature | Act! | Insightly |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★3.9/5 485 reviews | ★4.1/5 1,602 reviews |
| Categories | CRMMarketing Automation | CRMMarketing Automation |
In-Depth Analysis
Act!
CRM and marketing automation for small businesses
Act!'s pricing is on the higher side for small businesses, especially considering the feature sets at the lower tiers.
Strengths
- +Comprehensive all-in-one platform integrating CRM, marketing automation, and customer management for SMBs.
- +Highly customizable interface and data fields allow tailoring to unique business specifications and industry needs.
- +Strong emphasis on personalized customer support, including dedicated account managers and free onboarding.
- +Offers robust mobile access for managing contacts, activities, and opportunities on iOS and Android devices.
- +Includes advanced features like interactive quotes, AI writing assistant for marketing, and SMS text messaging integration.
Weaknesses
- -The product's long history (since 1987) might suggest a legacy interface or architecture, though recent updates are mentioned.
- -The information provided does not explicitly mention advanced analytics capabilities beyond basic dashboards and reports, which might be a limitation for businesses requiring deep data science insights.
Key features
Insightly
Modern, scalable CRM platform with AI, marketing automation, and customer service for growing businesses.
Insightly's pricing starts fairly with a generous Free tier, but quickly escalates.
Strengths
- +Good for small business CRM
- +Project management
- +Fair pricing
- +Google integration
- +Easy to use
Weaknesses
- -Limited features
- -Reporting basic
- -Customization limited
- -Support varies
- -Better for small teams
Key features
Pricing: Act! vs Insightly
| Plan | Act! | Insightly |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 30 Premium Cloud | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | 37.50 Premium Desktop | $29 Plus |
| Tier 3 | 45 Premium Plus | $49 Professional |
| Tier 4 | 60 Ultimate | $99 Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Act! pricing and Insightly pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Insightly has a free tier. Act! is paid only.
Go with: Insightly
Want the highest-rated option?
Act!: 3.9/5 (485 reviews). Insightly: 4.1/5 (1,602 reviews).
Go with: Insightly
Value user reviews?
Act!: 485 reviews (3.9/5). Insightly: 1,602 reviews (4.1/5).
Go with: Insightly
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Act! is paid. Insightly is freemium. Insightly lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Both are crm tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Insightly is rated higher: 4.1/5 vs 3.9/5.
Key Takeaways
Insightly
- Higher user rating: 4.1/5 vs 3.9/5
- Larger review base (1,602 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Act!
- Choose if you want cRM and marketing automation for small businesses
The Bottom Line
Insightly wins this matchup. Our overall CRM pick is HubSpot. Our free CRM pick is Apollo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Act! or Insightly better?
Insightly is rated in our evaluation. Act! is paid and Insightly is freemium.
What are Act! and Insightly used for?
Act!: CRM and marketing automation for small businesses. Insightly: Modern, scalable CRM platform with AI, marketing automation, and customer service for growing businesses..
What does Act! cost vs Insightly?
Act! is a paid tool. Insightly is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.