Whether you are working with a startup that is just beginning to build a client base or an established brick-and-mortar small business owner, you know that one of the most important keys to success is a simple one: communication and you may want to consider one of the RingCentral competitors and alternatives to help your business. While you can send an email or shoot a text, the most efficient way to relay information is through the ever reliable telephone. In fact, customers prefer talking to small businesses on the phone more than any other communication method.
Since landlines have almost become extinct, voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services — which make calls via the internet instead of phone lines, often a cheaper option for businesses with multiple employees — have begun to dominate the business landscape. There are numerous VoIP platforms to choose from, but RingCentral has dominated the industry in recent years due to its accessibility and wide array of features offered.
The most popular option may not be the best one for your startup or small business, though! There are plenty of RingCentral alternatives on the market, each with their own benefits and drawbacks.
If RingCentral doesn’t check all of your boxes, there is a VoIP platform that will. Here is our comprehensive list of the best RingCentral competitors that will help your business succeed.
What is RingCentral?
While RingCentral alternatives may serve as solid competition, the original still holds the top spot. Based in the United States and servicing countries across the globe, RingCentral has been at the forefront of the VoIP market since its founding in 1999 — for good reason. RingCentral offers its subscribers a vast selection of features, integrations, and price packages, and can even replace other software you may already use.
RingCentral Overview
RingCentral Pricing
The platform touts multiple price points to fit every budget, ranging from $19.99 a month to $59.99 a month and users have the option to pay annually or monthly and can test out the service with a free trial. These are the highlights of each price point offered by RingCentral:
Package | Price (per user) |
Essentials | Annually: $19.99 Monthly: $29.99 |
Standard | Annually: $27.99 Monthly: $37.99 |
Premium | Annually: $34.99 Monthly: $44.99 |
Ultimate | Annually: $49.99 Monthly: $59.99 |
RingCentral Features
Before you decide whether to subscribe to RingCentral or one of its competitors, you need to know what the service can do for you. Though not every feature is available at every price point — the more expensive subscriptions give users access to more features — RingCentral has a few that are worth mentioning, beyond being able to just make calls. Here are some of our favorites:
- RingCentral Analytics Portal offers users important reporting and insights about the calls made using the platform, such as key performance indicators (KPIs), company-wide usage and trends, the ability to monitor users, calls, and meetings.
- Global Phone Services for International Calling is especially useful for startups who are conducting business with clients all over the world.
- Unlimited Video Meetings and Team Messaging helps you stay connected with your team members in a more personal way, even if you aren’t face-to-face.
RingCentral Integrations
- Since RingCentral has been in the VoIP industry for so long, the platform has accumulated a large number of partners, offering their subscribers a huge number of integrations, including: Salesforce
- Google Workspace
- Microsoft Teams
- HubSpot
- Skype
- Agile
- Akazio
- Chorus.ai
- Built.io
- Slack
- Canvas
- Zendesk
- Zapier
RingCentral Review
It is not a coincidence that RingCentral has dominated the VoIP field for so long — it is extremely useful for its users. Users do have a few gripes about the service, though:
RingCentral Pros
- RingCentral has a simple UI that is easy to learn, even for those who aren’t tech savvy.
- You can use their services and analytics features on almost every device so you can stay connected wherever you are.
- RingCentral’s data is heavily encrypted, keeping you and your client’s information secure.
RingCentral Cons
- RingCentral customer service is not always consistent, taking a long time to solve issues and some representatives are not knowledgeable about all of the platform’s features.
- Pricing is expensive when compared with some RingCentral alternatives.
- RingCentral is updated frequently, and as a result, many bugs and glitches are present. Users complain that this leads to dropped calls and errors in texts or faxes.
RingCentral Competitors
If RingCentral doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, you will be pleased to know that there are other options. Though RingCentral may present itself as a singular solution to many of your company’s needs, the service’s scope is still lacking for specialized purposes or more niche industries. RingCentral alternatives have done their best to fill the holes left by RingCentral, meaning that you will be able to find a service that is sure to fit your purposes. Read on to learn everything you need to know about the top RingCentral competitors — pricing, features, integrations, and more.
1. Aircall – A RingCentral Alternative
What is Aircall?
Launched in 2014, Aircall quickly established itself as a platform to watch after raising more than $226 million in funding from investors. Like RingCentral, Aircall is a VoIP service that touts itself as a “cloud-based call center” that works together with other popular softwares to create a seamless experience for its users and their customers.
Aircall Pricing
Despite being a relative newcomer to the industry, Aircall is one of the more expensive RingCentral alternatives, but does offer a free 7-day trial. Like RingCentral, Aircall is cheaper when paid annually, resulting in a lower monthly average payment. Here are their price packages, which can be discounted if paid annually:
Package | Price (per user, per month) |
Essentials | $40 |
Professional | $70 |
Custom | Price upon request, can receive personalized quote |
Aircall Features
The service has a number of features tailored to both small and large companies. These are a few of our favorites:
- Activity Feed allows you to track and monitor company call activity. You can even coach your team in real-time using this feature to optimize effectiveness.
- Warm Transfer gives your team members a chance to chat with one another before forwarding the call to the customer, ensuring that they are fully briefed to avoid mistakes.
- Interactive Voice Response (IVR) automatically routes callers to the correct department or individual.
Aircall Integrations
As a cloud-based service, Aircall offers its subscribers a huge list of integrations to ensure that every app you may need — no matter the department — will work together. These are a few of the most popular Aircall integrations:
- HubSpot
- Monday
- Salesforce
- Microsoft Teams
- Avoma
- Bao
- OTYS
- BigCommerce
- Outreach
Aircall Review
Even with its beautiful user interface and modern VoIP solutions, subscribers say that this RingCentral competitor isn’t perfect. We did our research to find out the best and worst things about Aircall, according to current users:
Aircall Pros
- Modern WYSIWYG interface is easy to learn and implement.
- In depth reports give users extra insight into the effectiveness of their calls and ways to improve.
- Calls made using Aircall are high quality and rarely drop (provided it has suitable internet access), unlike other RingCentral alternatives. Aircall also asks users to rate call quality after each call, demonstrating that they are committed to keeping their standards high.
Aircall Cons
- Offers many integrations, but they could do more to work in conjunction. For example, one user expressed that calls should auto-log into a HubSpot ticket.
- Though Aircall gives in depth reporting, some complain that it doesn’t offer enough information on specific, individual team members.
- Aircall requires demanding internet parameters, so users need high-quality, high-speed internet access for the service to work at its full potential.
2. Vonage – A Large RingCentral Competitor
What is Vonage?
You may have seen commercials for Vonage on public access TV in the early 2000s, but this RingCentral competitor has since rebranded and moved far, far away from the bright orange bundles from their past. Vonage has since focused their efforts on providing affordable, cloud-based VoIP services for businesses. The platform also stays true to its roots by offering business phone packages, with real-life, physical telephones!
Vonage Pricing
Though Vonage is one of the more affordable RingCentral competitors, it can get expensive depending on how many users you will need and what package you choose. As an added bonus, you can try Vonage free of cost for 14 days.
Package | Price (per user, per month) |
Mobile | $19.99 |
Premium | $29.99 |
Advanced | $39.99 |
Vonage Features
This platform streamlines its features into three specific categories, all of which can be tweaked and catered depending on your needs.
- Communications APIs allow you to make calls, video chat, and send texts using the service. Vonage also offers Verify API which evaluates customers for added security.
- Unified Communications features allow you to stay connected with team members and customers all across the world using click-to-dial, call monitoring, and virtual receptionists.
- Contact Centers have unique features such as intuitive AI, auto-logging, and conversation analyzers to boost productivity for your team members that spend the bulk of their time on the phone.
Vonage Integrations
Like RingCentral, Vonage has had plenty of time to build relationships with other companies to design a VoIP service that can be closely integrated with (almost) every type of software your startup or small business may need. Some of Vonage’s most popular integrations are:
- Salesforce
- Zendesk
- Servicenow
- Microsoft Dynamics 365
- Microsoft Teams
- Bullhorn
- G Suite
Vonage Review
If you weren’t already convinced by the old Vonage jingle from their commercial, you are not alone. This RingCentral competitor has its fair share of fans, but many users aren’t pleased with the service, saying:
Vonage Pros
- Customer service is personable and helpful — many users know their representative by name.
- Switching to Vonage from another VoIP service is simple and quick with representatives helping every step of the way.
- The mobile app makes Vonage’s features easily accessible for all team members, wherever they are.
Vonage Cons
- Call and video chat quality is lacking, sometimes even when connected to high-speed internet. If in a service area with poor connection, calls will not connect at all.
- Messages to customers cannot be edited or unsent — a popular feature that has been recently added to many messaging apps — which can lead to bumbles in business.
- While the entry level prices are low, Vonage implements upcharges for many of their specific features.
3. 8X8 – A Top RingCentral Competitor
What is 8×8?
A cost effective RingCentral alternative, 8×8 offers all of the basics you may want from a VoIP service — calls, video chats and conferences, and SMS messages via the internet — along with a bevy of other helpful features. In terms of experience, 8×8 is the truest RingCentral competitor; RingCentral has serviced the industry for just over 20 years, while 8×8 has been in the business for 25 years, so you can feel assured that 8×8 knows what they’re doing.
8×8 Pricing
As mentioned, 8×8 is one of the most cost conscious RingCentral competitors and even offers a free 30-day trial of their Express package, which is longer than many others on this list. As an added note, 8×8 offers sizable discounts when paying annually instead of monthly.
Package | Price (per user, per month) |
8×8 Express | $15 |
X2 | $32 |
X4 | $57 |
The company’s X Series Data Sheet also cites three more subscription tiers, X6, X7, and X8. However, these prices are not public on the 8×8 website, and are priced upon request.
8×8 Features
Though 8×8 offers reduced prices when compared to other RingCentral competitors, that doesn’t mean that they also offer reduced features. Not counting the basics — voice calls, video chats and conferences, text messages — these are some of 8×8’s best offerings:
- Real-time Callstats help 8×8 (and you!) monitor quality while the call is happening, isolating issues in order to fix them quickly and inform AI to keep improving.
- Open Lab is 8×8’s developer community. Developers add the latest resources and APIs, some of which may be the “next big thing” in the industry. All of these are available to 8×8 subscribers.
- Video Meetings are prioritized in a partnership with Jitsi and can be integrated into every customer touch/call point.
8×8 Integrations
8×8’s Open Lab developer community results in a massive selection of integrations, ranking it near the top of the list for the number of integrations offered by RingCentral competitors. Whether you are looking for a standard integration or something cutting edge, 8×8 likely offers what you need, including:
- Freshdesk
- HubSpot
- Salesforce
- Google Workspace
- Microsoft Teams
- Copper
- 1CRM
- NetSuite
- Pipedrive
- ServiceNow
- Zendesk
- Okta
8×8 Review
Though elderly by SaaS standards, 8×8 works hard to prove that it still knows how to stay in touch with the current market. However, these forays into the ultra-modern can lead to problems. These are the best and worst things about 8×8, according to current users:
8×8 Pros
- Communications APIs are able to be customized to the user’s exact specifications, allowing companies to create a cohesive company brand and image throughout.
- Seamless transition between devices on the cloud network keeps all user’s necessary information exactly where they need it, when they need it.
- Current users feel that 8×8 offers a lot of features and integrations for the price.
8×8 Cons
- Customer service is outsourced, which some users felt was a reason why solutions to their issues took a long time.
- Depending on the quality of the user’s internet or the bandwidth capacity of 8×8’s servers, calls and video meetings can have an irritating delay.
- Bugs and glitches occur with the call forwarding feature.
4. Five9 – A Top RingCentral Alternative
What is Five9?
Since the company’s inception in 2001, Five9 has become a favorite amongst the RingCentral competitors, boasting more that five billion call minutes made using the service each year. Five9 focuses its efforts on servicing customer engagement centers, cementing itself as an industry leader amongst cloud contact center software providers.
Five9 Pricing
This RingCentral alternative is not as forthcoming about their pricing plans as others. If you would like to get an accurate quote, you will need to call their sales department, but for a ~20 person startup or small business, estimates range between $100 per month, per user for Five9’s standard subscription, to $175 per month, per user for their upgraded, full-service tier. Five9 also offers upgraded Solution Bundles that allow you to customize your price plan to your needs and budget, which range from $149 to $229 a month. It is unclear whether Five9 offers a free trial, but it does feature demo videos of their services, which are free to watch, but unhelpful for those who want to explore by themselves. You must create an account to watch these demos.
Five9 Features
Focusing on small businesses and startups that operate customer engagement centers, Five9 offers specialized features that are sure to help any customer-facing departments, narrowing them into . These are some of our favorites:
- Agent Assist is Five9’s AI “agent” that works alongside your team to provide call transcripts, generate call summaries, and recommend coaching from Five9’s library based on their performance.
- Agent Desktop works similarly to other softwares, in the sense that it appears on your computer, but this Five9 feature streamlines all the things your team members need — schedules, call records, and toolkit — in one simple interface.
- Global Voice isn’t technically a feature in itself, but it bundles nearly everything a customer contact call center needs, even including neat features including skills-based routing, post-call surveys, and agent scripting.
Five9 Integrations
Unlike some of the other RingCentral competitors on this list, Five9 does not have a native customer relationship management (CRM) tool. This may seem odd, considering it focuses on customer-facing departments, but Five9 remedies this by having pre-built integrations within the program. You can also add additional integrations, but these are a few that already come with Five9:
- Salesforce
- Netsuite Oracle
- Microsoft 365
- Zoho
- Zoom
- Tethr
- Fuze
- Zendesk
- ValidSoft
- ServiceNow
- Streem
Five9 Review
It may be one of the most specialized RingCentral alternatives, but there are still faults to Five9’s system. According to reviews online, these are the benefits and drawbacks of Five9:
Five9 Pros
- Superior features for teams that work closely with customers that also work well for remote employees.
- Five9 gets repeated kudos for helpful, responsive, and friendly customer service.
- Comprehensive reporting analyzes data and makes recommendations based on the user’s strengths and weaknesses.
Five9 Cons
- Five9 has a learning curve that can be difficult to understand.
- Calls are put through automatically, so users have to remember to update their availability status if they aren’t immediately ready to take a call.
- New features are added often, but so many updates can result in glitches that may or may not be remedied quickly.
5. Nextiva – A Fast Growing RingCentral Competitor
What is Nextiva?
A cloud-based communications and VoIP provider that has served more than 150,000 companies of all sizes, Nextiva has more than earned its spot on this list of RingCentral competitors. As expected, Nextiva offers its users standard features along with a number of specialized tools.
Nextiva Pricing
Like other RingCentral alternatives, Nextiva offers multiple price tiers with different features which are discounted if you choose to pay annually rather than monthly.
Package | Price (per user, per month) |
Essential | $18.95 |
Professional | $22.95 |
Enterprise | $32.95 |
Ultimate | $57.95 |
Nextiva Features
As a true VoIP phone service, Nextiva offers key features like calling and video chatting, but to set itself apart from other RingCentral competitors also offers a number of unique and useful features, including:
- Custom Hold Music is a fun way to cement your company’s brand. You can upload your own music or choose songs from Nextiva’s library.
- Advanced Call Routing directs inbound calls from customers and team members alike, using AI to steer the caller to the correct department or individual.
- Unlimited Web Conferencing for many subscribers that allows you to host up to 200 people in one web conference. For voice calls, Nextiva allows you to add more than three people to a conference call using Conference Bridge.
Nextiva Integrations
If you want a specific integration, there is a good chance Nextiva offers it, but you can’t find the exact software you’re looking for, Nextiva takes suggestions for future integrations. Here are some of their most essential integrations:
- Salesforce
- Oracle
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Microsoft Teams
- HubSpot
- Zendesk
- ServiceNow
- Google Contacts
- ConnectWise
- SugarCRM
Nextiva Review
For the most part, Nextiva earns glowing reviews from its users — more than the other RingCentral competitors — even with a smaller sample size. Here’s what they’re saying:
Nextiva Pros
- Voice and video/conferences rarely drop and have high-quality audio.
- Call center performance analytics are structured like a video game, making work fun and boosting performance among team members.
- Nextiva’s customer support team is legendary — it is difficult to find even a single negative comment about them — users love how helpful and personable they are.
Nextiva Cons
- Offers standard software integrations, but few specialized options.
- Choosing to end a contract with Nextiva results in a hefty cancellation fee, making users feel trapped.
- Not all premium features are included in a subscription and add an extra cost on top of an already costly service.
6. Talkdesk – A Tech Forward RingCentral Alternative
What is Talkdesk?
Focused on cutting edge artificial intelligence technology, Talkdesk is a perfect mix between a functional VoIP provider and a modern, aesthetically pleasing user interface (that looks suspiciously similar to the next RingCentral competitor on this list). The cloud-based company touts itself as the service for businesses who are “customer obsessed” giving you an idea about how dedicated they are to client satisfaction — both their clients and your clients.
Talkdesk Pricing
One of the most expensive RingCentral alternatives, Talkdesk is a fantastic all-in-one option for startups and small businesses that need a full-service VoIP provider that can replace their other types of communication. This is how much Talkdesk could cost your company depending on the chosen plan:
Package | Price (per user, per month) |
CX Cloud Essentials | $75 |
CX Cloud Elevate | $95 |
CX Cloud Elite | $125 |
Experience Clouds | Price upon request |
Talkdesk Features
Talkdesk isn’t just a pretty interface — the platform’s features cover a breadth of use cases that makes it a great option as a RingCentral alternative. These three features are just a glimpse of all that Talkdesk has to offer:
- Talkdesk Self-Service Portal works similarly to a virtual receptionist, using artificial intelligence to field customer calls and supply clients with information at a moment’s notice — without needing to hire another employee.
- Studio is Talkdesk’s solution to the lack of highly skilled technical workers on the market. Studio displays the critical information your employees need in a simple and intuitive interface, allowing non-technical employees to leverage that data in a way that is useful to your business.
- A feature nested in Talkdesk’s Studio is Text-to-Speech. More than just dictation, this futuristic feature allows you to transform text-based messages into what the platform describes as “lifelike natural-sounding human speech.”
Talkdesk Integrations
With more than 60 integrations available from the moment you sign up with the VoIP provider, Talkdesk has a full-service integrations library, including:
- Salesforce
- Zendesk
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
- ServiceNow
- Zoom
- BigCommerce
- Contactually
- Freshdesk
- Highrise
- Intercom
- Zoho
- Shopify
Talkdesk Review
With such a modern approach to the industry, it makes sense that Talkdesk is one of the most competitive RingCentral alternatives on the market. Current users seem to enjoy the service, but are still quick to point out its faults:
Talkdesk Pros
- Talkdesk focuses its efforts on creating less work for its users through automation, giving team members extra time to work on other — perhaps more important — tasks.
- Features can be bundled based on industry use cases, offering users all the things they need and nothing they don’t.
- Current users love the added security of Talkdesk Guardian, which protects their sensitive company data.
Talkdesk Cons
- Many integrations are behind a paywall. Even popular programs like Salesforce and Zoom cannot be integrated without additional costs.
- Talkdesk is expensive and can cost upwards of $100 per user per month, which is steep considering this price may not include every desired perk.
- Despite being an integral part of a modern VoIP service, Talkdesk has no native integrations for video calls and requires the assistance of a third-party platform.
7. Dialpad – Another Serious RingCentral Competitor
What is Dialpad?
Another cloud-based VoIP provider, Dialpad offers services for almost every department a company could have. Though not as comprehensive as other RingCentral alternatives, Dialpad’s lower price points and effective features make it a fierce competitor.
Dialpad Pricing
With a three tier price system, Dialpad is straightforward about its scope — but still has a “price upon request” tier. As a plus, Dialpad offers potential users a free 14-day trial and discounts for users who pay annually rather than monthly.
Package | Price (per user, per month) |
Standard | $20 |
Pro | $30 |
Enterprise | Price upon request |
Dialpad Features
As a proper competitor to RingCentral, Dialpad offers subscribers the standard features you expect from a VoIP service, but not much else. Their additional features, while few, are still geared towards helping startups and small businesses find success. These are some of Dialpad’s coolest features:
- Business text messaging platform syncs all connected devices automatically in a self-contained mobile or desktop, creating a cohesive work conversation space.
- Custom on-hold music is a brilliant way to customize your VoIP experience. Ever wanted your customers to listen to “Ohio Is for Lovers” while they wait? Dialpad can make it happen.
- Desk phone support may seem like an anachronism, but sometimes you want to keep your work life and your personal life separate — support for desk phones keeps you connected without needing to sacrifice your personal phone number to the masses.
Dialpad Integrations
Though this VoIP provider has a serviceable library of integrations, you may not have access to all of them if you subscribe to one of Dialpad’s cheaper packages. Here are Dialpad’s integrations, and how they compare between packages:
Integration | Standard | Pro | Enterprise |
– Google Workspace – Microsoft 365 – Salesforce – OneLogin – Okta – HubSpot – ServiceNow – Zapier – Zendesk – Slack – Azure – Outreach | ✔ ✔ — — — — — — — — — — | ✔ ✔ ✔ — — ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ — ✔ | ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ |
Dialpad Review
Not sure if Dialpad is the right RingCentral alternative for you? Current users may be able to give you an insight. Here’s what they’re saying:
Dialpad Pros
- Simple and intuitive user interface that syncs across all connected devices.
- Features support personal privacy and a healthy work/life balance.
- Artificial intelligence transcription services can be added.
Dialpad Cons:
- Integrations are not available to all subscribers.
- Support is prioritized in Western countries, users have a difficult time reaching contacts outside of North America.
- Dialpad is too simple and doesn’t offer the scope many users require.
8. Mitel – A RingCentral Alternative You Can Skip
What is Mitel?
Mitel may be the RingCentral competitor with the most intriguing back story. The company is a full-service VoIP provider for businesses of all shapes and sizes, but originally began as a company that sold lawnmowers, but that gig did not last long. Now, Mitel has become an industry leader by being one of the most versatile providers in terms of compatible devices.
Mitel Pricing
Despite being a frustrating practice, Mitel is not forthcoming about their price tiers on the company website, instead offering a number of confusing equations that do not end in dollar signs, but they do offer a free trial. You can call their sales team for a personalized quote. The following estimates are based on a small to medium sized company with 50 to 100 employees:
Package | Price (per user, per month) |
Essentials | ~$20.99 |
Premier | ~$26.59 |
Elite | ~$38.49 |
Mitel Features
Mitel makes up for being secretive about their pricing by giving detailed summaries on each of their available features. These three features are some of Mitel’s best selling points:
- Action Prompts are personalized suggestions based on customer analytics that occur in real time to help you seal the deal.
- Bilingual Services ensure that both inward and outward users are able to connect with one another in the most personal manner.
- Speech Analytics uses AI to closely study the subtle linguistic patterns of both customers and employees, analyzing tone, sighs, and even silence to help maximize profits.
Mitel Integrations
Unlike many of the RingCentral alternatives on this list, Mitel offers a scant list of integrations. Instead of cultivating a wide array of compatible software, Mitel counts offshoots of their own company as integrations, when they probably should have been included in their VoIP service scope in the first place. Here’s what Mitel will integrate with:
- MiCloud Flex
- Mitel Business Analytics
- MiCloud Connect
- Microsoft Teams
- Browser Plug-Ins
- Salesforce
- NetSuite
- MicroSoft Outlook
Mitel Review
Mitel is not very popular with its customers. Even people who leave positive reviews don’t seem to actually like this VoIP provider. Even with negative reviews, Mitel still has some positives. According to reviews, these are Mitel’s best and worst aspects:
Mitel Pros
- Installation process is quick and easy.
- Uptime of ~99.97% means calls rarely drop.
- Few integrations, but the ones offered work well.
Mitel Cons
- Integrations are scarce.
- Despite claims of high uptime, many users think that Mitel’s service is unreliable at best.
- Mitel gets no kudos for their customer service. Users say representatives are rude, inefficient, and do not provide technical support at all.
9. Webex by Cisco – A Tried and True Alternative
What is Webex?
Touting itself as the “app for everything and everyone,” Webex is a full-service, cloud-based VoIP provider. It solidifies itself as a strong RingCentral competitor due to its powerful integrations, collaborative tools, and emphasis on video calls.
Webex Pricing
Offering discounts for users who choose to pay annually rather than monthly, Webex has multiple subscription options at every price point. More Webex pricing info.
Package | Price (per license, per month) |
Meet Plan | $15 |
Call Plan | $17 |
Webex Suite – Basic | $0 |
Webex Suite – Business | $25 |
Enterprise Plan | Price upon request |
Webex Features
As mentioned, Webex sets itself apart from other RingCentral competitors due to its commitment to being a leader in the VoIP video chat industry, which is reflected by its features:
- Screen Sharing is a paramount feature in the modern business landscape, but is not yet offered by many other platforms. Webex allows users to swap data at the tap of a screen (for no additional cost!) via screen sharing.
- Collaboration Tools such as intelligent automation make meetings more engaging and efficient for both employees and clients.
- Real-time translation and closed captioning for video chats and meetings available in 100+ languages (text only) and 13+ spoken languages, allowing you to work with people from every corner of the world with ease.
Webex Integrations
Since Webex is a subsidiary of Cisco, it is not surprising that it hosts an integrations library with over 100 compatible apps and softwares that is updated every month. These are some of our favorite non-traditional Webex integrations:
- Notion
- Miro
- Watercooler
- Doodle
- InformaCast
- Pollbot
- Rememory
- Office 365
- Zapier
- Sketchboard
Webex Review
Even with a powerful company like Cisco standing behind Webex, it still has to hold its own against other RingCentral competitors. It manages to do just that — these are some of the best (and worst) things about Webex:
Webex Pros
- Basic, entry-level plan is free, allowing users time to decide if they want to upgrade to a more expensive tier.
- Real-time translation and closed captioning is a game changing feature that is more than worth the extra money.
- Webex uses intuitive AI that is constantly improving, simplifying monotonous tasks on your behalf.
Webex Cons
- The free plan has a limited scope and upgrading can be costly depending on the plan and features you need.
- Customer support is just OK — not awful, but it could be better for the price point.
- Webex is such a large program that it is difficult for beginners to learn.
10. 3CX A Remote Worker RingCentral Competitor
What is 3CX?
A cloud-based unified communications system specifically designed for remote and hybrid workers, 3CX is far more than just a VoIP provider — but it is one, too! Using VoIP, 3CX offers its users phone and video calls along with online chatting. This RingCentral competitor is a massive amalgamation of features with enough integrations to keep your business interconnected at every touchpoint.
3CX Pricing
3CX puts forth little effort to make their pricing system easy to understand. Instead of charging per user, 3CX determines cost based on the maximum number of calls that can occur simultaneously, which in turn is decided by how many users will be included in the plan. There is also an additional license fee for teams over twelve. Though it is overwhelming at first, 3CX may prove to be a cost-effective option for your business.
The best way to calculate how much 3CX would cost for you and your team is to check out their pricing page and pricing FAQ.
3CX Features
If the pricing system gave you any indication of how convoluted 3CX can be, the platform’s customizable features make the confusion worth it in the end. Here are some of our favorites:
- Unlimited video calls and conferences that can handle over 250 participants. Every video call is in HD and doesn’t require any additional software or apps, just 3CX.
- Call management features such as routing and forwarding make navigating the phone lines a breeze.
- 3CX offers live chat so that your employees can help potential clients who are visiting your company’s website in real-time, no bots needed.
3CX Integrations
Common integration softwares have been developed by the 3CX team and are regularly updated to maintain integrity. 3CX also employs a third party provider to develop and build upon other, less common (but still useful) integrations, including:
- Bitrix24
- Freshdesk
- HubSpot
- Microsoft Dynamics 365
- Salesforce
- Zendesk
- Vtiger
- Zoho
- 1CRM
- Freshworks
- Nutshell
- Freshsales
3CX Review
What makes 3CX such a competitive RingCentral alternative is the sheer level of customization available on the platform. Though VoIP nerds may love 3CX for the sheer scope offered, it isn’t the best platform for those who are just getting started. Here is what users love and hate about 3CX:
3CX Pros
- Standard plan users with 12 users or less receive a free trial lasting an entire year.
- Despite being initially confusing, 3CX is one of the cheapest RingCentral alternatives in the long run, especially for small teams.
- Extensive feature selection and integrations library allows users to customize every aspect of the platform.
3CX Cons
- This is not an easy platform to learn or set up without help.
- 3CX places more importance on efficiency than aesthetics, which some users do not appreciate.
- Customer support isn’t free and can cost users up to $75 dollars for every open ticket, but 3CX encourages users to explore the free knowledge base before reaching out.
11. Ooma – All Around RingCentral Alternative
What is Ooma?
More than just a VoIP provider for businesses, Ooma serves families and individuals with high-quality internet calling. The company has two specific branches: Ooma Office is devoted to startups and small business owners, while Ooma Enterprise focuses on businesses with a larger workforce. Ooma provides them with integrations, analytics, and communications APIs.
Ooma Pricing
Ooma Office only offers two subscription plans, but it is far from simple. Their base prices are low, but costs rise for each additional feature, such as user extensions, toll-free calling plans, international calling, and hardware. Ooma Office does offer a free trial, though.
Package | Price (per user, per month) |
Ooma Office | $19.95 |
Ooma Office Pro | $24.95 |
Ooma Enterprise | $27.99 with contract |
Ooma Enterprise Pro | $49.99 with contract |
Ooma Features
The Enterprise and Enterprise Pro packages offer a wider scope, but the features offered by Ooma Office are not groundbreaking in any way. These are some of the best features for startups and small business owners:
- Virtual Receptionist uses pre-recorded messages and speech analytics to direct calls, assess customer needs, and take messages — you don’t even have to lift a finger until the details are sorted. This is not to be confused with Grasshopper’s Virtual Receptionist, which employs real people to do the same thing.
- Enhanced Call Blocking abilities virtually eliminate spam by filtering and blocking robocalls and “scam likely” callers.
- Call Recording is a feature included with the Pro package, allowing users to create high-quality recordings of all calls and store them in logs.
Ooma Integrations
Integrations can set one RingCentral competitor apart from the others, but Ooma’s integrations are not too impressive. Ooma Office packages offer minimal compatible apps, but Ooma Enterprise does feature the essentials, like:
- Salesforce
- Office 365
- Microsoft Dynamics
- G Suite
- Zendesk
- ServiceNow
Ooma Review
Ooma may seem like an unassuming RingCentral alternative, but users who have subscribed to their services have great things to say about this VoIP provider:
Ooma Pros
- Base prices are low enough to be accessible to almost every type of business.
- Ooma’s call forwarding features are advanced and consistent compared to other RingCentral competitors.
- Dashboard is easy to understand and implement on both computers and mobile devices.
Ooma Cons
- Call quality can be poor depending on your internet provider.
- Virtual Receptionist is not functional enough after-hours.
- Some users say that the mobile app needs more work, while others wish the desktop application was improved further.
12. Grasshopper Budget Friendly RingCentral Alternative
What is Grasshopper?
A VoIP service catered to entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses, Grasshopper leans into its name by offering its features to those who are newer to the service, with their website noting users will “look more professional.” Though not the best RingCentral alternative for those who are looking for an advanced toolkit, Grasshopper is a serviceable entry point to the world of VoIP.
Grasshopper Pricing
In a beginner-friendly manner, Grasshopper is transparent about its pricing and range offered with each subscription tier. In fact, each package offers the exact same features, only adding extra phone numbers and extensions as the price goes up, with the top tier offering 5 phone numbers and unlimited extensions. Grasshopper does offer a discount of ~10% when paying annually rather than monthly.
Package | Price (per month) |
Solo | $29 |
Partner | $49 |
Small Business | $89 |
Grasshopper Features
A simple take on the VoIP industry, Grasshopper doesn’t offer many of the frills other RingCentral competitors boast. Instead, Grasshopper presents its subscribers with the essentials through their streamlined, easily understandable interface on both desktop and mobile. There are a few pleasant surprises, including:
- Voicemail Transcription converts all voicemails to text and can send them to your email. This works well for those who are in quiet settings or for those who are hard of hearing.
- Customized Phone Numbers of all types are offered through Grasshopper, including vanity, toll free, and local numbers.
- Virtual Receptionist is one of Grasshopper’s most impressive features. While the name may make you think of AI, it is actually a real live human being that will answer your phone calls for you.
Grasshopper Integrations
If you want a healthy selection of integrations, Grasshopper is not for you. Grasshopper does not offer any third-party integrations.
The lack of integrations should be fine for the company’s target audience of small businesses or individual contractors. However, Grasshopper does count your cellphone as an integration.
Grasshopper Review
It may be the most pared down VoIP provider on this list, but Grasshopper may be the perfect fit for you… if your small business employs less than ten people. Here’s what people online are saying about Grasshopper:
Grasshopper Pros
- The Virtual Receptionist feature is not only useful, but adds a personal touch when customers call, instead of hearing a voice message.
- Easy to understand and use, even for beginners.
- Grasshopper’s Voicemail Transcription is convenient and surprisingly accurate.
Grasshopper Cons
- Hidden fees for additional features.
- Customer service and tech support are lacking and aren’t responsive enough.
- Frequent issues with calls dropping or not coming through at all.
The Best RingCentral Competitors
With so many VoIP providers on the market, you are more than able to kick RingCentral to the curb if you so desire. Even with RingCentral’s immense experience in the field, its competitors are so fierce that some could knock the RingCentral right off of its pedestal. These are our top three RingCentral competitor picks:
1. 8×8
Not only is 8×8 one of the most affordable RingCentral competitors with plans starting at just $15, this VoIP provider has massive capabilities for the price points. Features like real-time callstats and their Open Lab for developers has made 8×8 into one of the most efficient programs on the market. Even more, they’ve been in the business longer than RingCentral.
2. Webex
With help from parent company Cisco, Webex is a force to be reckoned with and exceeds RingCentral in many ways. Webex offers its subscribers the obvious, like screen sharing capabilities, but also touts revolutionary features, like real-time translation and closed captioning in voice and video meetings.
3. Nextiva
Nextiva may not be the most exciting RingCentral alternative, but it is consistent, which is an important trait for SaaS companies. The cloud-based communications company has worked with more than 150,000 companies since launch, and we’re sure Nextiva’s superior audio quality and calls that rarely drop are a big factor behind their business.
Affordable Alternatives to RingCentral
If you are looking to ditch RingCentral due to the price, you have great options available. These are a few of the most cost-effective RingCentral competitors:
1. Grasshopper
Designed for individuals or micro-companies, Grasshopper offers low costs beginning at $29 per month.
2. 3CX
If you take the time to calculate your information into the 3CX pricing system, it becomes apparent that their yearly license fees are a drop in the bucket compared to the steep user prices you would pay with other platforms. Better yet, 3CX charges mere dollars per user and nothing at all if you have less than 12 users.
3. 8×8
Making another appearance, 8×8 is an affordable RingCentral alternative with plans beginning at just $15.
Free RingCentral Competitors
Of course, the most affordable price is free. Platforms like Google Hangouts, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams all offer VoIP services completely free of charge. Unfortunately, they don’t do much other than let you make calls, video chat, and message.
Who is RingCentral’s Biggest Competitor?
The best RingCentral alternative may not be the best program for your business, so it is important to examine each provider and compare them with your needs. However, analyzing the platforms on this list shows that RingCentral’s biggest competitor is none other than 8×8.
8×8 has it all: affordable monthly costs, cutting-edge features, a huge selection of compatible integrations, and a commitment to staying at the forefront of the technologies.