Act! CRM vs Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
Act! CRM
Legacy CRM with 35+ years of history offering desktop and cloud options for small business contact management.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM
8.1(4,200 reviews)
Enterprise CRM with AI Copilot, deep Microsoft 365 integration, and modular sales automation for mid-market to enterprise teams.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Act! CRM | Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Small businesses needing reliable contact management for 2-10 users | Enterprise organizations (500+ employees) already standardized on Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 licenses |
| Pricing Model | Free Trial | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $30/mo | $65/mo |
| Deployment | cloud, on premise | cloud, on premise, hybrid |
| Platforms | WEB, WINDOWS, IOS, ANDROID | WEB, IOS, ANDROID, WINDOWS |
| Rating | 7.0/10 | 8.1/10 |
Pros & Cons
Act! CRM
Pros
- 35+ years of proven contact management expertise
- Desktop version provides offline access and local data control
- Built-in marketing automation saves on separate tools
- Strong activity tracking with 14-day interaction history
- One-time purchase option available for desktop version
Cons
- Interface looks and feels dated compared to modern CRMs
- Mobile apps are limited and lack feature parity
- Third-party integrations require Zapier or workarounds
- Reporting capabilities are basic without add-ons
- Marketing automation feels bolted on rather than native
Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM
Pros
- Native Microsoft 365 integration syncs contacts, emails, and calendar without third-party connectors or manual data entry
- Copilot AI generates meeting summaries, drafts personalized emails, and flags at-risk deals - early users report 30-40% time savings
- Modular pricing lets you start at $65/user and scale features as needed, unlike Salesforce's all-or-nothing tiers
- Power Platform integration enables deep customization without traditional development - build custom apps with low-code tools
- Works with existing Microsoft licenses - teams already using Microsoft 365 E3/E5 reduce total software spend
- Hybrid and on-premise deployment options available for compliance-heavy industries (healthcare, finance, government)
- Teams integration displays CRM data directly in chat - no context switching between apps during conversations
- Relationship analytics use LinkedIn data to map org charts and identify warm introduction paths to decision-makers
Cons
- Starting at $65/user/month, 30% more expensive than HubSpot Sales Hub Professional ($45/user) and 44% pricier than Zoho CRM ($45/user)
- Requires Microsoft 365 ecosystem - limited value if your team uses Google Workspace or prefers non-Microsoft tools
- Complex licensing structure confuses buyers - Professional vs Enterprise vs Premium plus separate Copilot add-ons easy to misconfigure
- Customization beyond basic settings requires Power Platform expertise or consultant support at $150-250/hour typical rates
- Mobile app functionality lags behind Salesforce and modern CRMs - field sales teams report frustration with slower performance
- 10-user minimum licensing requirement on some plans makes it expensive for small teams testing the platform
- Learning curve steeper than competitors - most organizations budget 4-8 weeks for full team adoption vs 1-2 weeks for HubSpot
- Third-party integrations weaker than Salesforce AppExchange - fewer pre-built connectors for non-Microsoft SaaS tools
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Act! CRM | free trial | $30/mo |
| Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM | subscription | $65/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose Act! CRM if...
You need Small businesses needing reliable contact management for 2-10 users and prefer free trial pricing.
Choose Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM if...
You need Enterprise organizations (500+ employees) already standardized on Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 licenses and prefer subscription pricing.
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.