ACT! vs Podio
Compare ACT! and Podio on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.
ACT!
ACT! by Swiftpage SMB CRM; contact sales for current packaging (no invented list prices).
Best for
- • ACT! by Swiftpage — long-standing SMB CRM for contacts, calendars, and sales follow-up; pricing primarily contact-sales
- • Classic SMB CRM for managing contacts, activities, and sales follow-ups — especially familiar to established small businesses.
No free plan
VS
Our verdict
There is no universal winner between ACT! and Podio. Choose based on pipeline depth, automation, email and calling, reporting, and pricing trade-offs.
ACT! is better for
- ✓ Pipeline management
- ✓ Email capabilities
- ✓ Administration
Podio is better for
- ✓ Sales automation
- ✓ Reporting
- ✓ Customization
- ✓ Integrations
Tie
- • Ease of use
Choose ACT! if: ACT! by Swiftpage — long-standing SMB CRM for contacts, calendars, and sales follow-up; pricing primarily contact-sales
Choose Podio if: Flexible work platform often used as a customizable CRM, with Free (5 users), Plus, and Premium plans
Podio
Customizable work platform used as CRM; Free (5 users), Plus from $11.20/user/mo annual.
Best for
- • Flexible work platform often used as a customizable CRM, with Free (5 users), Plus, and Premium plans
- • Customizable work platform where teams build CRM-like apps, projects, and workflows without rigid CRM lock-in.
Starting from $11.20/user/mo
Free plan available
ACT! vs Podio at a glance
Criterion-level leaders from verified research.
Scorecard preview
Criterion leaders based on verified research — open the Scorecard tab for evidence detail.
- Ease of useTie
ACT!
Podio
- Pipeline managementACT!
ACT!
Podio
- Sales automationPodio
ACT!
Podio
- Email capabilitiesACT!
ACT!
Podio
- ReportingPodio
ACT!
Podio
Which CRM is better for you?
Quick picks based on fit — not a universal ranking.
- → ACT!
Best for pipeline management
Stronger pipeline management availability
- → ACT!
Best for email capabilities
ACT! leads on email capabilities (6/10 vs 5/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
- → ACT!
Best for administration
ACT! leads on administration (6/10 vs 5/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
- → Podio
Best for sales automation
Podio leads on sales automation (5/10 vs 6/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
- → Podio
Best for reporting
Stronger reporting availability
- → Podio
Best for customization
Podio leads on customization (6/10 vs 9/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
The biggest differences
Where the products diverge most clearly on verified criteria.
Pipeline management
ACT! winsACT!
Stronger pipeline management availability
Podio
Trails ACT! on this criterion
Email capabilities
ACT! winsACT!
ACT! leads on email capabilities (6/10 vs 5/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Podio
Trails ACT! on this criterion
Sales automation
Podio winsACT!
Trails Podio on this criterion
Podio
Podio leads on sales automation (5/10 vs 6/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Reporting
Podio winsACT!
Trails Podio on this criterion
Podio
Stronger reporting availability
Value for money
Podio winsACT!
Trails Podio on this criterion
Podio
Podio leads on value for money (6/10 vs 7/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Which should you choose?
Choose ACT! if
- ACT! by Swiftpage — long-standing SMB CRM for contacts, calendars, and sales follow-up; pricing primarily contact-sales
- Classic SMB CRM for managing contacts, activities, and sales follow-ups — especially familiar to established small businesses.
Choose Podio if
- Flexible work platform often used as a customizable CRM, with Free (5 users), Plus, and Premium plans
- Customizable work platform where teams build CRM-like apps, projects, and workflows without rigid CRM lock-in.
Related comparisons
Alternatives to consider
HubSpot
CRM platform with free core CRM plus Sales, Marketing, Service, and Content Hubs for growing teams.
Pipedrive
Pipeline-first sales CRM for visual deal management, activity-based selling, and growing sales teams.
Capsule
Small-business CRM for contact management and straightforward sales pipelines.
Freshsales
Freshworks sales CRM for lead management and pipeline workflows.
How we compare
A short look at the comparison process. Full methodology
1
Collect
Collect official product information, pricing, and product evidence.
2
Normalize
Map evidence to the same category evaluation criteria for both products.
3
Compare
Evaluate both products against identical criteria — ties and depends are allowed.
4
Explain
Show why each product wins, loses, or ties, with evidence behind the outcome.
Still deciding between ACT! and Podio?
Use Find My CRM for a shortlist matched to your priorities, or build another side-by-side comparison.
- Independent criterion outcomes
- No invented scores or prices
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