Tool Comparisons

    Act! vs Method CRM: CRM Platform Comparison

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

    Comparison panel: Act! vs Method CRM (Pricing, Features, Integration)
    August 29, 2026Updated September 4, 20266 min read
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    The short answer

    Act! is a CRM and marketing automation platform for small and midsize businesses starting at $30/mo, while Method CRM is a customizable CRM built for QuickBooks and Xero users starting at $35/mo. Act! offers 5 pricing tiers versus Method CRM's 4, and both sync with QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Outlook.

    Key takeaways

    • Act! Advantage Standard starts at $30/mo, making it cheaper at the entry level than Method CRM's $35/mo CRM Quick Start plan.
    • Act! offers 5 pricing tiers, including Enterprise Engagement priced via contact sales, while Method CRM offers 4 tiers up to CRM Multi-entity.
    • Method CRM is built specifically for QuickBooks and Xero users, syncing customer, estimate, invoice, and payment data with the accounting system.
    • Act! is sold as Act! Advantage cloud plans and a separate Act! Premium Desktop on-premises edition priced at $40/mo.
    • Act! and Method CRM both integrate with Outlook, QuickBooks Online, and Xero, while Act! adds Slack, Shopify, and Zendesk and Method CRM adds Zapier.

    Reviewed and updated September 4, 2026

    Act! vs Method CRM: CRM Platform Comparison

    If you are comparing customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking tools, Act! and Method CRM will likely both appear on your radar. They share some surface-level similarities, but the details reveal important differences in pricing, capability, and target audience.

    The Quick Answer

    By each vendor's own wording, Act! lists full-featured crm and mobile app and email marketing, while Method CRM lists customer management with a 360-degree customer view and customer portals. A capability both offer can appear under different names, so read both feature lists below.

    Act! offers a lower entry point at $30/mo compared to Method CRM at $35/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.

    Method CRM is Method CRM is a customizable CRM for QuickBooks and Xero users that syncs customer, estimate, invoice and payment data with the accounting system. It adds lead management, customer portals, email campaigns, workflow automation and job management for growing businesses.

    The two platforms take different approaches to solving the same core challenge.

    Pricing Comparison

    Pricing ladder: Pricing Comparison (Act, Method CRM, Act Advantage Standard, CRM Quick Start)

    $30/moAct! entry plan

    Act! Advantage Standard

    $35/moMethod CRM entry plan

    CRM Quick Start

    Entry pricing for Act! and Method CRM, 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

    Method CRM Pricing (as of September 2026)

    PlanPrice
    CRM Quick Start$35/mo
    CRM Pro$59/mo
    CRM Enterprise$97/mo
    CRM Multi-entityContact Sales

    Source: Method CRM Pricing

    Pricing Analysis

    Act! is more affordable at the entry level ($30/mo vs $35/mo). For teams with tight budgets or those just getting started with customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking, this price difference matters.

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

    Features Breakdown

    Act! lists
    • 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
    • and 4 more listed below
    Method CRM lists
    • Customer management with a 360-degree customer view
    • Customer portals
    • Email campaigns
    • Lead management with web-to-lead forms
    • Estimates and proposals with online approvals
    • Invoicing and online payments
    • and 4 more listed below
    What Act! and Method CRM 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

    Method CRM Key Features

    • Customer management with a 360-degree customer view
    • Customer portals
    • Email campaigns
    • Lead management with web-to-lead forms
    • Estimates and proposals with online approvals
    • Invoicing and online payments
    • Workflow automation
    • Job and work order management
    • Time tracking, scheduling and dispatching
    • Mobile app

    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
    • 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

    Listed only by Method CRM

    • Customer management with a 360-degree customer view
    • Customer portals
    • Email campaigns
    • Lead management with web-to-lead forms
    • Estimates and proposals with online approvals
    • Invoicing and online payments
    • Workflow automation
    • Job and work order management
    • Time tracking, scheduling and dispatching
    • Mobile app

    Integration Ecosystem

    Integration grid: Integration Ecosystem (Act, Method CRM, Outlook, QuickBooks Online)

    Act! Integrations

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

    Method CRM Integrations

    Method CRM connects with: QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Enterprise, Xero, Gmail, Google Calendar, Outlook, Zapier.

    Shared Integrations

    Both tools integrate with: Outlook, QuickBooks Online, Xero.

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

    Integrations listed only by Method CRM: QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Enterprise, Gmail, Google Calendar, Zapier.

    Use Case Recommendations

    Best Fit for Act!

    • Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable CRM platform
    • Organizations with complex tech stacks needing broad integration support (16 integrations)
    • Enterprise buyers who prefer custom pricing and dedicated support

    Best Fit for Method CRM

    • Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable CRM platform
    • Enterprise buyers who prefer custom pricing and dedicated support
    • Sales teams tracking deals from first touch to close
    • Managers who need pipeline visibility and forecasting

    Feature Comparison Summary

    FeatureAct!Method CRM
    Starting Price$30/mo$35/mo
    Top Tier PriceContact SalesContact Sales
    Total Features Listed1010
    Integrations168

    Getting Started Checklist

    Step sequence: 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 Method CRM both serve the customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking market. Act! offers a more accessible entry point at $30/mo, while Method CRM starts at $35/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 Method CRM for current information.

    Questions

    Frequently asked questions.

    Frequently asked questions
    How much does Act! cost compared to Method CRM?
    Act! starts at $30/mo for its Advantage Standard plan, while Method CRM starts at $35/mo for its CRM Quick Start plan. Act! also offers a Premium Desktop on-premises edition at $40/mo, and both vendors have higher tiers reaching up to $60/mo for Act! and $97/mo for Method CRM.
    Which CRM integrates better with QuickBooks, Act! or Method CRM?
    Both Act! and Method CRM integrate with QuickBooks Online and Xero, but Method CRM goes further by also connecting with QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Enterprise. Method CRM is built specifically around syncing customer, estimate, invoice, and payment data with QuickBooks and Xero.
    What is the main difference between Act! and Method CRM?
    Act! is a CRM and marketing automation platform for small and midsize businesses that combines sales, marketing, and customer management, sold as cloud Advantage plans or an on-premises Premium Desktop edition. Method CRM is a customizable CRM built specifically for QuickBooks and Xero users, adding lead management, customer portals, and job management features.
    How many pricing plans do Act! and Method CRM each offer?
    Act! offers 5 pricing tiers: Advantage Standard, Advantage Professional, Advantage Ultimate, Premium Desktop, and an Enterprise Engagement plan available by contacting sales. Method CRM offers 4 tiers: CRM Quick Start, CRM Pro, CRM Enterprise, and CRM Multi-entity, with the last also requiring contacting sales.
    What integrations do Act! and Method CRM have in common?
    Act! and Method CRM share integrations with Outlook, QuickBooks Online, and Xero. Beyond that, Act! adds tools like Slack, Shopify, Facebook, Zendesk, and Freshdesk, while Method CRM adds QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Enterprise, Gmail, Google Calendar, and Zapier.
    Act!Method CRMCRM 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

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