Best 8×8 Alternatives for 2023
Corey McCraw is a staff writer covering VoIP and Unified Communications. Corey has over a decade of experience in marketing, tech writing, and corporate communications and has even penned content for the former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative.
With more than five years of content writing experience, Sam covers office technology topics at Fit Small Business, including business phone systems and unified communications as a service (UCaaS).
This article is part of a larger series on VoIP.
8×8 is a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) provider packed with call management features and unified communications tools like team messaging and conferencing. While it’s an excellent phone system, businesses often seek out 8×8 alternatives to access more features in entry-level plans, a broader range of third-party integrations, and scalability options.
Based on our research, these are the best alternatives to 8×8 for different business needs:
- RingCentral: Best overall for businesses looking to scale communications and integrate their VoIP system with various apps
- Nextiva: Solid choice for highly collaborative teams that need task management tools
- Ooma: Ideal for businesses that want a simple phone setup
- Dialpad: Best for teams that want to maximize artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their phone system
- GoTo Connect: Solid choice for organizations that frequently make international calls
- Vonage: Ideal for teams needing a user-friendly, unified communications as a service (UCaaS) mobile app
8×8 & Best Alternatives at a Glance
8x8 and Alternatives | Starting Price (Per User, Per Month) | VoIP Features | UCaaS Features | FSB Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $15 | Multi-level auto attendant, call handling & call activity analytics | Team messaging, audio & video conferencing, + meeting tools | N/A |
 | $32.99 | Call forwarding, call screening & advanced call handling features | Unlimited audio conferencing, 200-participant capacity in video meetings & team chat | 4.43 out of 5 |
 | $30.95 | Free local & toll-free number, toll-free minutes & voicemail to email notifications | Team presence & status, threaded conversations, + 250-participant capacity on video meetings | 4.37 out of 5 |
 | $19.95 | Virtual receptionist, toll-free number & call recording | Video conferencing, screen sharing in meetings & meeting recording | 4.33 out of 5 |
 | $23 | Local or international phone number, visual voicemail & custom call routing | Unlimited audio meeting recording, in-meeting chat & whiteboarding | 4.23 out of 5 |
 | $27 | Smart call routing, call forwarding & ring groups | Audio conferencing, team messaging & screen sharing | 4.21 out of 5 |
 | $19.99 | Call rerouting, call flip & call following | Conferencing recording, in-meeting chat & screen sharing | 4.17 out of 5 |
Revisit 8×8’s features by reading our 8×8 review. Take note of our recommendations for use cases to know whether or not it’s the right solution for your specific business needs and goals.
RingCentral: Best Overall 8×8 Alternative for Scalability
Overall Score:
4.43 / 5
What We Like
- Volume discounts are available across all plans
- Large meeting participant capacity
- 99.999% uptime service level agreement (SLA)
Where It Falls Behind
- Audio and video conferencing are only available in higher-tier plans
- Entry-level package lacks call recording
- 24/7 customer support is only available at higher tiers
How It Compares to 8x8
- RingCentral connects with over 200 apps, whereas 8×8 integrates with 60 tools only.
- Across all plans, RingCentral offers toll-free minutes, while 8×8 packages don’t have any.
- RingCentral hosts a maximum of 1,000 participants in audio conference calls, while 8×8 only accommodates 500.
RingCentral is the best overall 8×8 alternative because it offers easy scalability, thanks to its advanced call management features, a wide range of integrations, and discounted pricing for bulk purchases. While 8×8 is great for handling calls, RingCentral takes it up a notch with call delegation, voicemail-to-email, phone extensions, and shared lines. For these features, the provider tops our list of the best business phone systems.
Both providers have extensive integrations, but RingCentral pulls ahead of 8×8 as it integrates with 200+ third-party tools, surpassing 8×8’s 60 available integrations. In terms of pricing, you’ll benefit from the volume discounts provided across RingCentral’s plans. However, take note that video conferencing isn’t available in RingCentral’s entry-level plan. Go for Dialpad, another great 8×8 alternative option, if you want to access this feature for a lower cost.
RingCentral Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Essentials: $32.99 for up to 20 users, toll-free numbers and toll-free minutes, unlimited domestic calls, visual voicemail, team messaging, and file sharing
- Standard: $40.99 for unlimited audio conferencing, 100-participant capacity in video meetings, multi-level auto attendant, and on-demand call recording
- Premium: $47.99 for automatic call recording, hot desking, and real-time analytics
- Ultimate: Custom pricing for device status reports and alerts and unlimited storage
- Free trial: 21 days
*RingCentral plans are paid per user for up to 20 users, set on a monthly billing cycle. An annual billing option is available with up to 40% savings.
RingCentral Features
By connecting RingCentral to Salesforce, see all customer information in one glance while on the call. (Source: RingCentral)
- Hot desking: Access your own settings, extension, and voicemail on any shared phone. This feature is especially beneficial for team members who go to different satellite offices, as they can log in to the system and find their own profiles and contacts without having to set things up again.
- Multi-level auto attendant: Reduce the time needed for callers to resolve issues by directing them to the appropriate teams or departments. Reinforce your brand identity with customized greetings and messages while customers wait on hold.
- Third-party integrations: RingCentral connects to commonly used customer relationship management tools (CRM) like Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, and Zoho CRM. It integrates with popular analytics, collaboration, customer support, and productivity platforms.
Before signing up for RingCentral, be familiar with the provider’s features. Check out our in-depth RingCentral review.
Nextiva: Best for Collaboration & Task Management
Overall Score:
4.37 / 5
What We Like
- Generous toll-free minutes
- Platform can be accessed via a browser, desktop app, and mobile app
- Video conference recording and voicemail transcription are available across all plans
Where It Falls Behind
- Short messaging service (SMS) and MMS (multimedia messaging service) are locked in high-tier packages
- Fewer features and integrations are offered on the entry-level plan compared to other 8x8 competitors
- 45-minute time limit in video meetings
How It Compares to 8x8
- Toll-free minutes are available across all Nextiva’s packages, while 8×8 doesn’t have this feature.
- Audio and video conference calls on 8×8 have a maximum participant capacity of 500, while Nextiva accommodates unlimited participants in audio and 250 in video meetings.
- Nextiva provides 24/7 customer support even for the entry-level plan, whereas 8×8 has this for the high-tier subscription.
Next on the list of the best alternatives to 8×8 is Nextiva, a platform ideal for highly collaborative teams needing a UCaaS solution with excellent productivity tools. Although 8×8 features team messaging and file sharing, Nextiva wins in collaboration because it has a dedicated app for keeping remote teams connected called Nextiva CoSpace.
A standout feature in this platform is the teamwork space, wherein users access group chats, group conferences, task creation and assignment, and file sharing. The teamwork space can be private, unlisted open, and listed open. The tasks are easy to track and manage since you’ll file them under To do, In progress, and Done. For these robust productivity tools, along with call management features, Nextiva made it to our list of the best small business VoIP service.
One drawback in choosing Nextiva is its more expensive than other similar providers.Ooma is a slightly more budget-friendly option among the 8×8 alternatives listed here, with its basic plan starting at $19.95.
Nextiva Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Essential: $30.95 for unlimited voice calling, video meetings with up to 250 participants, team chat, and calendar and meeting scheduling
- Professional: $35.95 for unlimited conference calls, multi-level auto attendant, voicemail to SMS notifications, and third-party integrations
- Enterprise: $45.95 for unlimited participants on audio conference calls, call recording, and single sign-on
- Free trial: Seven days
*Nextiva plans are paid per user for one (1) to four (4) users. The pricing is set on a monthly billing cycle, but an annual billing option is available.
Nextiva Features
Nextiva includes game elements on call analytics, such as leaderboards. (Source: Nextiva)
- Nextiva CRM: Connect the Nextiva CRM to the VoIP platform to make it easier for team members to see customer profiles when accommodating calls.
- Gamified analytics: Create leaderboards to monitor employee performance and encourage healthy competition among team members. Configure the leaderboard according to the total number of calls, average talk time, or the number of inbound calls.
- Conference call: Host audio and video meetings right from your phone system. Work with colleagues better during brainstorming sessions or huddles with the chat and screen share features.
Curious about Nextiva’s other functionalities? Read our extensive Nextiva review here.
Ooma: Best for Teams Wanting an Easy, Seamless Phone Setup
Overall Score:
4.33 / 5
What We Like
- Wide range of business phone features
- Affordable rates for international calls
- Availability of mobility features, such as iOS and Android apps, simultaneous ring, and call transfer
Where It Falls Behind
- Limited third-party integrations
- Call analytics is not available on the entry-level plan
- Maximum participant capacity on video meetings is only 100, unlike Nextiva, which accommodates up to 250
How It Compares to 8x8
- Ooma offers 50+ business phone system features on its basic package, while 8×8 is limited to the auto attendant, music on hold, and voicemail.
- Ooma’s entry-level plan comes with a free toll-free number. Meanwhile, 8×8 requires a plan upgrade to unlock this feature.
- The unlimited calls in Ooma extend beyond the United States (US) and Canada, covering Mexico and Puerto Rico. On 8×8, the unlimited calls feature is only within the US and Canada.
Given its first-party hardware, Ooma is a great 8×8 alternative for those requiring an easy, seamless business phone system installation. Unlike 8×8, the provider offers its own VoIP equipment, allowing businesses to choose from various devices, including desk phones, cordless phones, IP phones, and wireless phone extensions.
Ooma almost always offers promos and bundle deals, which help companies save more on hardware costs, especially when scaling internal and external communications. The straightforward phone system setup goes beyond the VoIP hardware as the provider offers analog fax machine support and bulk comma-separated values (CSV) file upload for IP phones.
Unfortunately, when you use Ooma, its maximum participant capacity in video meetings is only 100. If you need more than this, choose Nextiva, which accommodates 250 people in its conference calls.
Ooma Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Essentials: $19.95 for one toll-free number, digital fax, email audio attachments, and call management features
- Pro: $24.95 for text messaging, video conferencing, call recording, enhanced call blocking, and voicemail transcription
- Pro Plus: $29.95 for call queueing, integrations with CRM tools, and video conferencing recording
- Free trial: 30 days
*Ooma plans are paid per user.
Ooma Features
Ooma enables users to configure ring groups and assign different ringing modes to manage inbound calls efficiently. (Source: Ooma)
- Ring groups: Distribute calls more efficiently to specific teams. Choose between simultaneous or sequential ringing, and rest assured that no call will go unanswered.
- Conference bridge: Let team members join virtual meetings from a phone wherever they are. On the Essentials plan, each user has one conference bridge.
- Intercom calling: Make an announcement over the phone without the hassle. Simply dial *40 followed by the phone extension. When the receiving device is picked up, it will be on speakerphone mode automatically.
Know if Ooma is the suitable 8×8 alternative for you. Read our comprehensive Ooma review.
Dialpad: Best for AI-powered Business Communications
Overall Score:
4.23 / 5
What We Like
- Local and international phone numbers are provided
- Unlimited number of ring groups
- Real-time call transcriptions
Where It Falls Behind
- Meeting participant capacity is limited to 10
- The maximum meeting duration for entry-level plan subscribers is 45 minutes
- Limited number of integrations
How It Compares to 8x8
- All Dialpad plans have a multi-level auto attendant. The feature isn’t available in 8×8’s most basic package.
- Although both Dialpad and 8×8 have AI tools, Dialpad has more value-adding features, such as real-time call transcriptions and live speech coaching.
- Dialpad’s basic package comes with 24/5 support, whereas 8×8 doesn’t have live support in its entry-level plan.
Dialpad is an excellent 8×8 alternative for businesses wanting to maximize AI for enhanced business communications. Both 8×8 and Dialpad use the technology for conversation analytics, but Dialpad integrates it into more functions. While 8×8 is limited to interpreting sentiments in recorded calls, Dialpad uses AI to generate real-time call transcriptions and facilitate live speech coaching.
With real-time call transcriptions, users don’t have to worry about taking down notes while talking to a colleague or client. Instead, they get to focus better on the discussion. Meanwhile, live speech coaching offers recommendations to improve communication. It shows reminders of when you need to slow down speaking or be mindful of fillers.
Take note, though, that when you use Dialpad and sign up for the entry-level plan, you’ll only have a maximum of 45 minutes in meeting duration. An upgrade to Pro, which costs $35, is necessary to unlock the five-hour meeting duration. As an alternative, choose Vonage’s Premium plan, priced at $29.99 with an unlimited meeting duration.
Dialpad Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Standard: $23 for unlimited calling, SMS, and MMS, voicemail transcriptions, and unlimited video meetings
- Pro: $35 for local number support in 70+ countries, 25 ring groups, international SMS, and integrations with CRM tools
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for unlimited ring groups, integrations with single sign-on (SSO) providers, and dial-by-extension
- Free trial: 14 days
*Dialpad plans are paid per user and set on a monthly billing cycle. An annual billing option is available.
Dialpad Features
Send direct messages to colleagues with Dialpad’s chat feature. (Source: Dialpad)
- Custom routing rules: Speed up customer waiting times by directing callers to the proper departments and team members.
- Action items: Through speech recognition technology, Dialpad automatically generates a list of action items based on your meeting discussion. With this feature, no task gets overlooked.
- Team chat: Message team members individually or as a group. Create channels for specific projects and topics and easily share files.
To know if Dialpad suits your communication needs, check product demos and tutorials online. Learn more about this provider in our Dialpad review.
GoTo Connect: Best 8×8 Alternative for International Calls
Overall Score:
4.21 / 5
What We Like
- Unlimited meeting duration on high-tier plans
- Call recordings are stored on the cloud, enabling easy access and sharing
- Instant response feature reduces the risk of losing prospective customers
Where It Falls Behind
- Entry-level plan’s maximum number of meeting participants is four
- Advanced call monitoring features like whisper and barge are locked in the highest-tier package
- Less than 20 third-party integrations
How It Compares to 8x8
- GoTo Connect offers toll-free minutes in its Standard and Premium plans, while 8×8 doesn’t have this feature.
- Unlike 8×8, GoTo Connect’s packages all have unlimited phone extensions.
- 24/7 customer support is available in all GoTo Connect plans. 8×8 only offers it in its X2 and X4 packages.
GoTo Connect is the ideal alternative to 8×8 when your business frequently makes and receives overseas calls. It offers unlimited calling to 50+ countries on its Standard and Premium pricing plans. In contrast, 8×8 supports voice calling to 48 countries only, and other providers listed here charge per minute. On top of this, the provider has up to 5,000 toll-free minutes in its highest-tier package.
One disadvantage of using GoTo Connect is that it lacks third-party integrations with popular business tools. If you plan to connect apps to your VoIP/UCaaS platform, you’ll likely find them in RingCentral, as the provider offers a broad range of integrations.
GoTo Connect Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Basic: $27 for smart call routing, unlimited extensions, call forwarding, and instant response
- Standard: $32 for unlimited auto attendant record greetings, unlimited ring groups, unlimited call queues, and 150-meeting participant capacity
- Premium: $43 for 250-meeting participant capacity, call monitoring and analytics, and agent effectiveness reporting
- Free trial: 14 days for up to five users
*GoTo Connect plans are paid per user.
GoTo Connect Features
GoTo Connect allows meeting participants to join via browser without the need to download the app. (Source: GoTo Connect)
- Phone extensions: Across all plans, GoTo Connect offers unlimited extensions. Aside from helping customers get to the right team or agent, this feature facilitates self-service since you can readily share information, such as business hours in specific phone extensions via pre-recorded messages.
- Call spy and whisper: Allow team leaders to join and listen in on a call without interrupting the ongoing conversation or notifying call participants. The whisper feature, which lets managers talk to agents without the customer knowing, is useful for scenarios where you need to coach team members on how to respond to specific customer issues.
- Browser-based video conferencing: Meeting participants don’t need to download the desktop app to join a conference call. Simply enter the meeting ID or room name at app.gotomeeting.com to join via browser.
Learn if GoTo Connect’s international calling features suit your communication needs. Head over to our GoTo Connect review and use it as a reference before signing up for the service.
Vonage: Best for Teams Requiring a UCaaS Mobile App
Overall Score:
4.17 / 5
What We Like
- 99.999% uptime guarantee
- A wide range of business phone system features is available across all plans
- Supports different hardware handset brands, including Yealink and Polycom
Where It Falls Behind
- Offers 40+ third-party integrations only, fewer than other UCaaS platforms like RingCentral
- Toll-free numbers come with an additional fee
- Visual voicemail is locked in the highest-tier package
How It Compares to 8x8
- The unlimited calls offered in Vonage’s entry-level plan cover the US, Canada, and Mexico, whereas 8×8 is limited to the US and Canada.
- Third-party integrations are readily available on Vonage’s basic package. On 8×8, you need to upgrade to a higher pricing tier to access integrations.
- Aside from the technical support, Vonage’s highest-tier package offers hands-on customer service, wherein the team installs software feature sets that come with the plan. 8×8 only offers customer support via chat, phone, and the web.
If you’re looking for a UCaaS platform with an intuitive, visually-appealing mobile app, Vonage is a better option than 8×8. The main menu, located at the bottom section of the platform, readily displays all the UCaaS features: messaging, calls and meetings, and contacts.
The platform has a dedicated section for business apps, where you’ll find the call notes, business inbox, virtual mailbox, and call recording. Similarly, third-party integrations, including productivity and CRM tools, are in the business apps section. Vonage is our top pick of the best VoIP apps for iPhones and a strong contender for the best VoIP apps for Android.
One drawback in choosing Vonage is that the toll-free numbers come with an additional flat rate of $49 a month, inflating overall costs. If toll-free numbers are a priority in your business communications, go for Nextiva. Its entry-level subscription plan worth $30.95 a month per user (one to four users), comes with toll-free numbers.
Vonage Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Mobile: $19.99 for unlimited calls and texts, unlimited team messaging, and 20+ third-party integrations
- Premium: $29.99 for unlimited video conferencing for up to 100 participants, multi-level auto attendant, and CRM integrations, like Salesforce, Zendesk, Microsoft Dynamics, and Zoho
- Advanced: $39.99 for 15 hours of on-demand call recording, call group, and visual voicemail
- Free trial: 14 days
*Vonage plans are paid per user and include one local phone number. The provider requires a minimum one-year contract.
Vonage Features
Access all messages in one place with Vonage’s business inbox. (Source: Vonage)
- Call announce: Know who’s on the other end of the line and the reason for the call before the caller is connected to a team member. This is especially beneficial when running a marketing campaign with tagged numbers. When a tagged number shows up on your system, Call Announce alerts representatives that the caller knows about your promotion.
- Busy lamp field: Learn which phones in the system are active. Vonage supports up to 50 lines and displays different statuses: “idle,” “ringing,” or “on a call.”
- Business inbox: Consolidate all SMS and Facebook messages from customers. Send text messages from your company’s main phone number, adding photos or audio attachments to provide customers with more information.
Learn more about Vonage’s UCaaS capabilities by reading our comprehensive Vonage review. Ratings from different third-party review sites are available there.
How We Evaluated the Best 8×8 Alternatives
The top VoIP and UCaaS solutions in the market today offer different features to those looking for alternate solutions to 8×8. To level the playing field among 8×8 alternatives, we identified criteria points based on the typical considerations of most small businesses.
Here’s a breakdown of how we measured each provider:
15%
Pricing
30%
General Features
35%
More Niche Features
20%
Expert Score
15% of Overall Score
Since most businesses prioritize affordability, the cost of subscription plans per user per month is among our pricing considerations. We gave more points to providers offering $15 or less. We also favored those that have cheaper annual pricing and volume discounts. The availability of a free trial was also part of our assessment.
30% of Overall Score
We considered the essential features of a VoIP/UCaaS solution: calling and SMS capabilities, team chat with presence, meeting recording, and analytics. We also evaluated each provider’s uptime service level agreement (SLA), giving more points to those with a guarantee of 99.999% or higher.
35% of Overall Score
For the advanced features, we looked at the availability of international calling, video conferencing, and IP phone connectivity. Providers with mobile apps earned more points as well.
20% of Overall Score
We assessed the ease of use and popularity of each platform, as well as their standout features. Looking at the subscription plans and inclusions, we also evaluated value for money.
*Percentages of overall score
Bottom Line
8×8 is a great unified communications tool, but other platforms provide more features on their basic plans and a more comprehensive range of third-party integrations. After assessing 8×8 competitors, we found that RingCentral is the best among the options, earning a high score of 4.43 out of 5.
It packs useful VoIP features, like call forwarding, call transfer, call flip, and presence, while providing integrations with 200+ tools. It accommodates up to 1,000 audio conference participants and 200 video conference participants. As for customer service, the provider offers unlimited phone and chat support. Sign up for RingCentral’s free trial today to know if its features fit your communication needs.
