Why is Act! Pro being retired and what does this mean for me?

February 3, 2020 | Josh Noonan

Act! Pro is the Desktop version of the Act! product suite designed for individuals. Act! Pro is due for retirement as of 30th June 2020. Find out what this means for you.

Act Pro RGB 72dpi

End of Life

Before you start to panic, Act! is not going anywhere! This information is only relevant to users of Act! Pro, the Desktop version of the Act! product suite designed for individuals. Act! Pro has been around since the first version of Act! in 1987. In 2019, Swiftpage made the decision to focus solely on their cloud/on-premise subscription model, Act! Growth Suite, that offers a feature-rich all-in-one sales and marketing solution.

The current version of Act! Pro (v22 released in November 2019) will be the last version to be released and final sales will be 30th June 2020. See Act! Support Obsolescence Policy.

How does the end of life of Act! Pro affect me?

Act! Pro is a perpetual licence so your software will continue to work indefinitely. All Pro users have the option to upgrade to an Act! CRM or Act! Growth Suite subscription at a special ongoing discounted price prior to 15th October 2020. Request a quote to upgrade to the latest version of Act!.

Please read below to find out how the end of life of Act! Pro affects the support for your particular version.

Version 21 & 22
This version will be supported with Service Packs, Hotfixes, compatibility updates and technical support until 30th June 2021. 

Version 20
Act! Pro v20 will be supported with Service Packs, Hotfixes, compatibility updates and technical support until 30th November 2020.

Versions 19 & below
In accordance with the Act! Support Obsolescence Policy, Act! Pro v19 and earlier versions are unsupported. Users of these versions are no longer able to receive Service Packs, Hotfixes, or compatibility updates, and users will no longer be eligible to receive support for any issues encountered with their product. To avoid the potential risk of disruption to your business and to ensure compatibility, we recommend that you upgrade Act!.

 
Factors to consider when upgrading Act!

When upgrading any software, it’s pertinent to take a bit of time to consider the impact it may have on your business. With Act!, you should check the Act! System Requirements to ensure compatibility with your other office software/hardware. For example, Act! v22 no longer supports Microsoft Office 2010. Also, if you have AddOns or Custom Programming, check with the provider to ensure compatibility. For more information, please read factors to consider when upgrading Act! or the Act! Knowledge Base.

To discuss your options or request a quote to upgrade, please call us on 02 9431 2222 (AU) or 09 428 2281 (NZ) or contact your Act! Certified Consultant.

 

A final word from Act Today

If this page made you pause and think about how you manage your client relationships, that’s a good start.

Most businesses don’t struggle because they lack effort. They struggle because their systems don’t quite support the way they actually work. That’s where the right CRM setup can make a real difference.

Everything we share about Act! Advantage comes from working with businesses across Australia and New Zealand who want to retain clients, improve communication, and make better decisions from their data.

If you’d like more practical insights about CRM, client retention, and running a smarter client database, you’re welcome to explore the Act Today resources and articles.

And if you’d like to see how Act! Advantage could work in your business, we’d be glad to walk you through it.

14 Day Free Trial
Explore Act! Advantage at your own pace.
28-Day Guided Trial
Work with an Act Today consultant to set up three key CRM functions for your business.

28-Day Guided Trial

Set Up Properly, Decide with Confidence

The 28-day extended trial is designed for businesses that want to experience Act! Advantage working inside their business, not just explore features.

To access the extended trial, you’ll book an initial session with an Act Today consultant based in Australia or New Zealand. During this session, we’ll help you set up three key CRM functions that matter most to your business, such as client follow-ups, communication workflows, retention tracking, or referral visibility.

At the 14-day mark, you’ll have a second check-in with your consultant to answer questions, refine your setup, and remove any roadblocks. This ensures you’re not left guessing and that the system is actually supporting your work.

By the end of the 28 days, you’ll know exactly how Act! Advantage fits your business and whether it delivers real value.

What you’ll get from the 28-day extended trial:

  • Guided setup by a local Act Today CRM consultant
  • Three high-impact CRM functions configured for your business
  • A mid-trial review to answer questions and fine-tune usage
  • A realistic view of outcomes, not just features
  • Confidence to decide based on real experience
START YOUR EXTENDED TRIAL

14-Day Free Trial

Get Hands-On with Act! Advantage CRM

The 14-day free trial gives you full access to Act! Advantage CRM so you can explore how it works in your own time. This is the standard Act! trial used by businesses across Australia and New Zealand who want to see the platform before making a decision.

During the trial, you can add contacts, explore client records, test communication tools, and see how Act! Advantage handles day-to-day client management. It’s a straightforward way to understand how the system is structured and whether it feels right for how you run your business.

This option suits businesses that are comfortable exploring software independently and already have a clear idea of what they want from a CRM. There’s no obligation, no setup required, and no pressure,  just time to assess fit.

What you’ll get from the 14-day free trial:

  • Full access to Act! Advantage CRM features
  • A clear look at how contacts, activities, and communication are managed
  • The ability to test the system across desktop and mobile
  • A simple, no-commitment way to assess fit
  • Confidence before taking the next step
START YOUR TRIAL

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