Tool Comparisons

    Act! vs EngageBay: CRM Platform Comparison

    Compare Act! and EngageBay side by side. See pricing, features, and integrations to choose the right CRM platform for your needs.

    Comparison panel: Act! vs EngageBay (Pricing, Features, Integration)
    September 3, 2026Updated September 4, 20265 min read
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    The short answer

    Act! and EngageBay are both CRM and marketing automation platforms for small and midsize businesses, but they differ in pricing and structure. EngageBay starts free and scales to $119.99 per month for 50,000 contacts, while Act! starts at $30 per month with plans up to $60 per month plus a $40 per month desktop edition and an Enterprise tier priced on request.

    Key takeaways

    • EngageBay offers a free plan for up to 250 contacts, while Act! has no free tier and starts at $30 per month.
    • Act! offers 5 pricing tiers, including Act! Advantage Standard at $30 per month, Professional at $45 per month, Ultimate at $60 per month, Premium Desktop at $40 per month, and a Contact Sales enterprise tier.
    • EngageBay offers 4 pricing tiers: Free, Basic at $14.99 per month, Growth at $64.99 per month, and Pro at $119.99 per month for 50,000 contacts.
    • Act! and EngageBay both list email marketing, marketing automation, and lead scoring as core features on their vendor pages.
    • Act! integrates with 16 named tools including QuickBooks Online, Zendesk, and Shopify, while EngageBay integrates with 10 named tools including Zapier, Stripe, and WooCommerce, with Slack, Shopify, and Xero shared by both.

    Reviewed and updated September 4, 2026

    Act! vs EngageBay: CRM Platform Comparison

    Sales teams evaluating customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking tools often narrow their shortlist to Act! and EngageBay. Both target the same job, but they cater to different workflows and budgets. This comparison covers pricing, features, and integrations so you can pick the right fit.

    The Quick Answer

    By each vendor's own wording, Act! lists full-featured crm and mobile app and interactive quotes and payments, while EngageBay lists landing page builder and service automation. A capability both offer can appear under different names, so read both feature lists below.

    EngageBay offers a lower entry point at $0/mo compared to Act! at $30/mo.

    If your priority is organizing contacts, tracking deals, and forecasting revenue, both tools target it. The right choice depends on your budget, team size, and the specific capabilities you need most.

    Understanding the Core Difference

    Act! is Act! is a CRM and marketing automation platform for small and midsize businesses that unites sales, marketing and customer management in one platform. It is sold as Act! Advantage cloud plans and an Act! Premium Desktop on-premises edition.

    EngageBay is EngageBay lets small businesses manage marketing, sales and customer service in one platform. The CRM sits alongside email marketing, landing pages, live chat and a helpdesk, with a free tier for teams of up to 15 members.

    Both platforms offer email marketing, marketing automation, lead scoring. Where they diverge is in their approach to pricing tiers and advanced capabilities.

    Pricing Comparison

    Pricing ladder: Pricing Comparison (Act, EngageBay, Act Advantage Standard, Free)

    $30/moAct! entry plan

    Act! Advantage Standard

    FreeEngageBay entry plan

    Free

    Entry pricing for Act! and EngageBay, as published on each vendor's own pricing page.

    Act! Pricing (as of September 2026)

    PlanPriceEmails
    Act! Advantage Standard$30/moBasic Email Marketing (includes 2,500 sends/mo)
    Act! Advantage Professional$45/moEmail Marketing Plus (includes 25,000 sends/mo)
    Act! Advantage Ultimate$60/moMarketing Automation (includes 50,000 sends/mo)
    Act! Premium Desktop$40/mo-
    Enterprise EngagementContact Sales-

    Source: Act! Pricing

    EngageBay Pricing (as of September 2026)

    PlanPriceContacts
    FreeFree250 Contacts
    Basic$14.99/mo500 Contacts
    Growth$64.99/mo5000 Contacts
    Pro$119.99/mo50,000 Contacts

    Source: EngageBay Pricing

    Pricing Analysis

    EngageBay offers the lower entry point ($0/mo vs $30/mo). Teams watching their budget will appreciate the savings, especially when starting out.

    Act! offers 5 pricing tiers compared to EngageBay's 4, giving you more granularity as you scale.

    EngageBay includes a free tier, which is helpful for evaluating the platform without upfront cost.

    Features Breakdown

    Act! lists
    • Full-featured CRM and mobile app
    • Interactive quotes and payments
    • Online appointment scheduling
    • Forms, surveys, website chat and event management
    • Reports and interactive dashboards
    • Project management
    • and 1 more listed below
    Both tools
    • Email marketing
    • Marketing automation
    • Lead scoring
    EngageBay lists
    • Landing Page Builder
    • Service Automation
    • Live Chat
    • Helpdesk
    • Custom Reporting
    What Act! and EngageBay each list on their own pages. The split is by exact wording, so a capability both offer can appear on both sides under different names.

    Act! Key Features

    • Full-featured CRM and mobile app
    • Email marketing
    • Interactive quotes and payments
    • Online appointment scheduling
    • Forms, surveys, website chat and event management
    • Reports and interactive dashboards
    • Marketing automation
    • Lead scoring
    • Project management
    • Accounting integration

    EngageBay Key Features

    • Email Marketing
    • Landing Page Builder
    • Lead Scoring
    • Marketing Automation
    • Service Automation
    • Live Chat
    • Helpdesk
    • Custom Reporting

    Shared Capabilities

    Both Act! and EngageBay include:

    • Email marketing
    • Marketing automation
    • Lead scoring

    The two lists below are a diff of each vendor's own feature list by exact wording, so a capability both tools offer can appear on either side under a different name.

    Listed only by Act!

    • Full-featured CRM and mobile app
    • Interactive quotes and payments
    • Online appointment scheduling
    • Forms, surveys, website chat and event management
    • Reports and interactive dashboards
    • Project management
    • Accounting integration

    Listed only by EngageBay

    • Landing Page Builder
    • Service Automation
    • Live Chat
    • Helpdesk
    • Custom Reporting

    Integration Ecosystem

    Integration schematic: Integration Ecosystem (Act, EngageBay, Slack, Shopify)

    Act! Integrations

    Act! connects with: Outlook, Google Contacts, Slack, Eventbrite, SurveyMonkey, Wufoo, BigCommerce, Ecwid, Shopify, Volusion, Facebook, Freshdesk, Zendesk, FreshBooks, QuickBooks Online, Xero.

    EngageBay Integrations

    EngageBay connects with: Zapier, Shopify, Xero, SendGrid, Mandrill, Stripe, Slack, Twilio, WooCommerce, Google Meet.

    Shared Integrations

    Both tools integrate with: Slack, Shopify, Xero.

    Integrations listed only by Act!: Outlook, Google Contacts, Eventbrite, SurveyMonkey, Wufoo, BigCommerce, Ecwid, Volusion, Facebook, Freshdesk, Zendesk, FreshBooks, QuickBooks Online.

    Integrations listed only by EngageBay: Zapier, SendGrid, Mandrill, Stripe, Twilio, WooCommerce, Google Meet.

    Use Case Recommendations

    Best Fit for Act!

    • Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable CRM platform
    • Teams that need a wide feature set (10 capabilities listed)
    • Organizations with complex tech stacks needing broad integration support (16 integrations)
    • Enterprise buyers who prefer custom pricing and dedicated support

    Best Fit for EngageBay

    • Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable CRM platform
    • Teams that want to start free and scale up as needs grow
    • Sales teams tracking deals from first touch to close
    • Managers who need pipeline visibility and forecasting

    Feature Comparison Summary

    FeatureAct!EngageBay
    Starting Price$30/moFree
    Top Tier PriceContact Sales$119.99/mo
    Total Features Listed108
    Integrations1610

    Getting Started Checklist

    Before-and-after steps: Getting Started Checklist (Define customer relationship, Estimate expected contacts, List integrations, Sign up)

    1. Define your customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking requirements and monthly budget
    2. Estimate your expected contacts and deals to find the right tier
    3. List the integrations your team currently relies on
    4. Sign up for free trials or demos of both platforms
    5. Run a small test with each tool before making a commitment
    6. Evaluate the onboarding experience and support quality

    Final Thoughts

    Act! and EngageBay both serve the customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking market. EngageBay offers a more accessible entry point, while Act! starts at $30/mo. Your decision should weigh pricing against the specific features that matter most for your workflow.

    Start with a trial of each to see which platform fits your team's daily process. The best tool is the one your team actually uses consistently.

    Pricing and features verified as of September 2026. Visit Act! and EngageBay for current information.

    Questions

    Frequently asked questions.

    Frequently asked questions
    Which is cheaper, Act! or EngageBay?
    EngageBay is cheaper at the entry level since it offers a free plan for up to 250 contacts, while Act! has no free tier and starts at $30 per month for its Advantage Standard plan. EngageBay's paid tiers go up to $119.99 per month for 50,000 contacts.
    What features does Act! have that EngageBay doesn't?
    Act! lists a full-featured CRM and mobile app, interactive quotes and payments, online appointment scheduling, forms and surveys with website chat and event management, reports and interactive dashboards, project management, and accounting integration that do not appear on EngageBay's own feature list.
    What features does EngageBay have that Act! doesn't?
    EngageBay lists a landing page builder, service automation, live chat, a helpdesk, and custom reporting on its own feature page, none of which appear on Act!'s listed feature set.
    Do Act! and EngageBay integrate with the same tools?
    Act! and EngageBay share three named integrations: Slack, Shopify, and Xero. Beyond that, Act! connects with 13 additional tools such as Outlook, QuickBooks Online, and Zendesk, while EngageBay connects with 7 additional tools such as Zapier, Stripe, and WooCommerce.
    Does EngageBay have a free plan?
    Yes, EngageBay offers a free plan that supports up to 250 contacts, giving teams a way to evaluate the platform before committing to a paid tier. Act! does not offer an equivalent free plan and starts at $30 per month.
    Act!EngageBayCRM PlatformComparisoncrm
    Byline

    About the author.

    Tim Carden

    Tim Carden is CMO / CTO at RevenueFlow, which builds and operates outbound revenue engines for B2B companies. Studied at McGill University.

    Tim Carden · CMO / CTO

    Connect on LinkedIn →
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