For Act! users running version 24 or higher, they can achieve significant performance, capacity, and cost-saving advantages by upgrading to Microsoft SQL Server Express 2025. While Act! v24-26 installs SQL Server 2019 Express by default and Act! v27 installs 2022 Express; both versions can be upgraded to SQL Express 2025 with minimal effort after installation.

This upgrade is especially valuable for users managing larger databases or trying to avoid the high cost of SQL Server Standard licensing.

1. The Biggest Benefit: 5× Database Capacity

SQL Server Express 2025 increases the maximum database size from 10 GB to 50 GB, a five‑fold jump from previous Express editions. While it's important to note this SQL version upgrade does not increase the hardware utilization beyond the 4-cores and 1GB of RAM supported in previous versions, it does offer significant relief to Act! users approaching the 10 GB limit for their ADF file. 

Act! databases with extensive histories, notes, or large marketing activity logs will particularly benefit from this new headroom, as they will no longer have to make a choice between purging some of their data or upgrading to an expensive version of SQL. 

Let this sync in
Notwithstanding what was said above, we upgraded several of our syncing databases to SQL 2025 Express because our internal production database file was over 15 GB, and it restored, synced and performed the same as the SQL 2019 Standard previously installed. It's also worth noting that you do not need to upgrade all workstations or servers, as SQL 2019, 2022, and 2025 play well together in a sync environment, provided the master database is hosted with the lowest version of SQL.

Future RDB's (syncing databases) that are cut from, for example, an instance of SQL 2019 on the master DB, will restore easily with SQL 2025 and update at the same time.

2. Avoid the High Cost of SQL Server Standard

Once an Act! database outgrows the 10 GB Express limit, users typically must upgrade to SQL Server Standard, which can cost hundreds of dollars per month depending on licensing structure. Upgrading to SQL Express 2025 allows many organizations to delay or completely avoid the need for SQL Standard—providing major long‑term savings.

3. Additional Advantages of SQL Express 2025

Beyond the increased capacity, SQL Express 2025 includes enhancements previously available only in “Advanced Services” editions:

• Full‑Text Search included by default
• Lightweight Reporting Services built in
• Basic machine learning features included
• Improved JSON handling and engine improvements

These features can offer Act! users better reporting performance, improved search, and a more modern SQL engine under the hood. Only a small minority of Act! users would likely use all these new features, but improved search performance should translate into an improved Act! experience.

4. Compatibility With Act! v26 and v27

Default SQL Versions Installed

• Act! v26 installs SQL Server 2019 Express
• Act! v27 installs SQL Server 2022 Express

Both of these versions are eligible for upgrade to SQL Server 2025 Express.

SQL Server 2025 supports upgrades from SQL Server 2014 SP3, 2016 SP3, 2017, 2019, and 2022, which covers all modern Act! deployments.

5. How to Upgrade to SQL Express 2025 After Installing Act!

Because Act! installs SQL Express silently during setup, the cleanest process is:

Step 1 — Install Act! v24 - v27 Normally

Complete the Act! installation using your standard installer.
During this process, SQL 2019/2022 Express is installed automatically.

Step 2 — Download SQL Server Express 2025

Download SQL Server Express 2025 directly from Microsoft. [microsoft.com]

Step 3 — Run the SQL2025-SSEI-Expr Installer

The installer allows:

• Basic installation (fast)
• Custom installation (recommended, if you want feature control)

Step 4 — Choose “Upgrade from a Previous Version”

The SQL installer detects your existing SQL Express instance and guides you through upgrading the database engine to SQL 2025.
(This follows the supported upgrade paths.)

Step 5 — Reboot If Required

Depending on your environment, you may need one or more reboots during installation. 
Once complete, Act! will continue functioning normally—now running on SQL Express 2025 with expanded capacity and performance.

6. Summary: Why You Should Upgrade