Actimo vs. Blink – which is better? It's a question many buyers are asking. And of course, the answer depends on who's asking!
Blink and Actimo are both cloud-based internal communication platforms with a strong customer base and some overlap in features. Yet their primary focus varies.
Actimo vs. Blink – quick facts
Actimo is ideal for teams who want a platform that enables e-learning but aren’t as concerned about real-time interaction.
In contrast, Blink is a truly inclusive real-time communications platform for frontline workers, though it doesn’t have an integrated LMS system.
Your organization’s technical resources may also determine which one is best for you. Blink is easier to use out-of-the-box, while Actimo requires a more thorough setup.
Both apps place a heavy focus on mobile usability, but Actimo doesn’t offer a newsfeed and is best used as a static intranet.
And while Actimo's designed for medium-sized organizations, Blink works best for extra-large enterprises with 25,000+ staff.
In this post, we'll break down the key differences and similarities between Blink and Actimo.
Let's dive into it.
Actimo vs. Blink How they're similar
Mobile-first content
On Blink and Actimo, all content is mobile-first. In other words, everything is optimized to be viewed on a small phone screen, not a desktop. This means both could be a solid option for organizations with mobile or frontline workers.
Customizability
Blink is customizable through third-party integrations and offers a wide variety of functionality through its micro-app function. While the starter platform is incredibly easy to set up, full end-to-end customization can take some work through micro-apps and necessary integrations.
Similarly, Actimo can be extensively configured with a fully customizable onboarding flow and plenty of in-app engagement data. Capterra users commented that it's 'easy to make presentations or apps for almost any purpose.'
Multi-lingual offering
Both platforms cater to multiple different languages. Blink even offers on-demand translation of content into the users language of choice.
Some users complained that Actimo switches text from English to Danish.
Actimo vs. Blink: How they're different
Integrations
Blink's integration capability is one of its strongest selling points. Through its dedicated app marketplace, users can shop for new integrations and mix and match to build their own 'super app'. Integrations are configured using Single Sign-On, so users can access different tools without leaving Blink.
By contrast, Actimo probably won't be the solution that replaces every one of your current internal communications tools. There are limited integrations with third-party business tools beyond HR systems.
Employee engagement
Taking a cue from the most popular social apps, Blink offers a live feed with company updates and user-generated text, images, and video. As a result, engagement with the app is remarkably high, with an average of 14 app opens per user per day.
On Actimo, it can be a lot of work to get set up and maintain engagement. Since the content isn’t primarily user-generated, admins will need to regularly create and schedule content to encourage use. That also means communications are more top-down than other platforms.
e-Learning
Actimo is a fantastic application to facilitate training and learning. Users liked that 'training is fully self-paced and fits anywhere in employee schedules.'
Within the platform, micro-learning is detailed yet simple to use. There are also engaging learning paths with gamified achievements that users can access at their own pace. Data on the compliance with, and completion of, necessary training, is another plus.
On Blink, there is no native onboarding and training function. However, a function can be added with the micro-apps feature, or by adding an integration.
Peer-to-peer communication
Blink offers a searchable in-app database of employees, so it’s easy for users to find a coworker they want to connect with. When they find that co-worker, there are many different ways to communicate: 121 or group chat, through real-time feed posts and comments, or by creating Hub content.
For those looking for a platform with a People Directory, Actimo may also not be a good choice. Beyond group members, there is no way to see a complete list of employees at your organization.
UX/UI
Blink developers design the app to mimic consumer apps like Uber and Facebook as closely as possible, so the user experience is familiar and fresh. Reviewers praised the platform's 'responsive, team-customizable features.'
While Actimo users appreciate they have 'full control of the layout', they were disappointed that the UI is 'clunky and outdated'.
Frontline focus
While users commented that the app works 'just as well for desktop as it does on mobile', Blink is unique in its laser focus on the frontline experience. And despite offering a highly usable mobile experience, there is also a surprising amount of depth to the content and features.
While Actimo is optimized for the frontline experience, it doesn't focus on tailored features for specific industries (in Blink's case, transport and healthcare).
Targetting content
Blink's architecture is based on 'teams', which means all content is targetted is personalised to users depending on the groups they're in. Users can schedule campaigns months in advance, and 'pin' posts to ensure they're read, or tag them as 'mandatory reads'.
Actimo users complained the app is 'missing a way to micro-manage groups and send-outs', and requested 'more functionality for campaign planning.'
Actimo vs. Blink: systems and pricing
Unlike Actimo, Blink offers all of its features and capabilities through a single system with optional paid add-ons, which includes a dedicated Customer Success Manager. An all-in-one solution like Blink is attractive to many buyers since it provides seamless functionality and is priced as a single unit.
Blink also offers a number of pre-built integrations with popular business apps to allow for further customization.
The core product is priced in four according to scale:
- Essential
- Business
- Enterprise
- Enterprise Plus
Organizations can also take advantage of a 40% discount if they pay annually.
Overall, Blink is an affordable product, with users commenting on its 'excellent value for money'. While Actimo pricing is not available online, reviewers commented on the cost per user being 'hard to justify' for smaller organizations.
Actimo vs Blink: final thoughts
While Actimo is a strong choice for organizations focused on training and onboarding, it lacks the features to make it a true digital workplace.
To find out more about Actimo vs. Blink, request a free Blink demo today.
