Over the past year, 8×8 has made several changes to its website and platform, which have influenced my review of the provider. While 8×8 remains a reliable voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) solution for global communications, I tend to suggest 8×8 alternatives for small businesses due to the lack of pricing transparency, limited third-party integrations, and the steep learning curve of its interface.
Currently, 8×8 does not disclose its subscription rates on its website, requiring businesses to contact the provider for exact fees. And although 8×8 integrates with numerous business tools, many other VoIP platforms offer a wider range of integrations. If you’re looking for alternatives to 8×8, the following list highlights some of the best 8×8 competitors for small businesses:
- RingCentral: Best overall 8×8 alternative
- GoTo Connect: Best for international calling
- Nextiva: Best for customer engagement
- Zoom Phone: Best for low-cost plans
- MightyCall: Best for agent support
- Ooma: Best for simple phone system
Why you can trust Fit Small Business
Fit Small Business (FSB) is a platform dedicated to providing expert technology advice to small business owners seeking to stay informed about the latest products and services. To offer this advice, our experts rely on a rigorous editorial policy and a six-part evaluation criteria to review each provider. To learn more about how I evaluated the alternatives to 8×8, refer to the methodology section at the end of this article.
Comparing 8×8 competitors
8x8 competitors | Monthly starting price (per user) | Key features | FSB rating out of 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Contact sales |
| 4.18 |
 | $30 |
| 4.76 |
 | Contact sales |
| 4.67 |
 | $23 |
| 4.54 |
 | $10 |
| 4.39 |
 |
| 4.24 | |
 | $19.95 |
| 4.23 |
8×8 is a communication platform as a service (CPaaS) offering a suite of unified communication, customer experience, and contact center plans. Each plan provides a range of services tailored to specific needs, with 8×8 Work giving access to team collaboration tools, 8×8 Engage delivering customer experience solutions, and 8×8 Contact Center offering omnichannel support.
Additionally, 8×8 for Microsoft Teams provides business phone features for MS Teams workspaces, including business phone plans and Microsoft-certified contact centers. The communication APIs also support bulk messaging for marketing campaigns. However, when researching these plans, 8×8 offers limited information on its website about the features and pricing for each subscription, which means that you will have to interact with a sales representative to determine if these plans are right for you.
While some business owners may prefer taking part in a sales call to learn more about a provider, busy professionals would benefit more from a transparent pricing structure that makes it easy to compare 8×8 to its alternatives. That is why I have taken the time to provide you with this background information. To learn more about the key features of 8×8, see the provider card below.
Pros
- Leading provider for Microsoft Teams phone with a 99.999% SLA uptime guarantee
- Advanced queue management and team lead analytics on the customer experience plan
- Offers high volume messaging for marketing campaigns
- Provides toll-free numbers in over 120 countries
Cons
- Limited integrations compared to alternatives
- Lack of clear pricing structure and features list for each plan
- Only offers metered toll-free minutes
Standout features
- Conversational intelligence: Set up conversation IQ on the business phone system to record calls and gather AI-generated insights, such as sentiment analysis, keyword search, and trending topic reporting.
- Global reach: Each 8×8 plan provides virtual presence in over 100 countries, along with competitive rates for international calling and global customer service support.
- Customer assistant: Virtual agents and chatbots offer direct self-service, automatically handling customer requests and inquiries.
Use AI assistance to support customer engagement. (Source: 8×8)
Why consider an 8×8 alternative?
Although 8×8 is an excellent option for businesses that require contact center solutions or a VoIP phone system that integrates with Microsoft Teams, there are some situations where you might consider an alternative, which I have included below:
- Integrations and third-party tools: While 8×8 is notable for its extensive integrations with Microsoft Teams, it lacks the variety of options offered by some other providers on this list. If you need a broader range of third-party tools, consider a provider like Zoom or RingCentral, which provides hundreds of integrations.
- Small teams and solopreneurs: Although 8×8 is great for small businesses that need contact center solutions or unified communication tools, the type of plans that 8×8 offers may not be ideal for an individual or small team that only requires a simple business phone. In that case, consider a provider like Ooma, which offers just the right amount of resources for smaller teams.
- Toll-free calling: 8×8’s X series business phone and contact center plans only include metered and billed toll-free minutes. However, providers like Nextiva include up to 10,000 toll-free minutes on their small business plans, which is essential for businesses that frequently use toll-free services.
RingCentral: Best overall 8×8 alternative
Pros
- Integration with over 500 third-party apps and workspace tools
- AI assistant for meeting transcriptions, recording summaries, and note-takin
- Up to 10,000 toll-free minutes
Cons
- Limited business messaging across plans
- Unlimited storage for files locked in the highest-tier plan
- Video meetings capped at 200 participants without a RingCentral Rooms add-on
How it compares to 8x8
- RingCentral’s pricing is readily available on the website, while 8×8 doesn’t publish its rates
- Unlike 8×8, RingCentral provides a toll-free minute allowance across all its subscription plans
- RingCentral integrates with over 500 third-party apps, while 8×8 only connects with dozens of platforms
- 8×8 supports up to 500 video meeting participants, but RingCentral only includes up to 200 participants
My expert opinion
RingCentral consistently ranks as a top choice, achieving perfect scores in pricing, general features, and customer support. It stands out as the best 8×8 alternative by offering an excellent combination of business phone plans and customer experience tools. Its entry-level plan includes valuable call management features such as a receptionist console, call recording, and analytics.
In comparison, 8×8 requires users to upgrade to its second-tier or higher-tier contact center subscription packages to access the most advanced features. Additionally, 8×8 requires a Conversation IQ add-on to access artificial intelligence (AI) features, whereas RingCentral includes an AI assistant with all its plans, providing automated call summaries and meeting notes. The business phone system also features instant messaging and video conferencing, facilitating faster team collaboration.
However, compared to the other 8×8 competitors, RingCentral has expensive monthly subscription plans starting at $30 monthly and requires an add-on to expand its video meeting features. If you’re a solopreneur or a new business, I recommend Zoom or Ooma for more affordable business phone plans with unified communication features.
Plans and pricing (per user)* | Core | Advanced | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
Monthly | $30 | $35 | $45 |
Annually | $20 | $25 | $35 |
*Prices reflect estimates for 1 to 100 users. Custom pricing is available for larger accounts
- Desktop control: You can control another meeting participant’s screen from your device. This allows you to resolve technical issues remotely and take control of presentation slides to assist a colleague.
- Task replies: Respond directly to the action items posted on chats to provide better context for task instructions. This tool makes following up on assignment progress much more manageable.
- AI Receptionist: RingCentral’s AI-powered receptionist can be used to answer incoming calls, provide FAQs, and also block unwanted calls and spammers using conversation intelligence.
Assign the AI receptionist to specific tasks in your call flow. (Source: RingCentral)
GoTo Connect: Best for international calling
Pros
- Unlimited auto-attendants, dial plans, call routing, and queues
- 24/7 customer support across plans
- International calling to over 50 countries
Cons
- Video meetings capped at 250 participants
- No international phone numbers
- Limited integrations compared with other providers
How it compares to 8x8
- GoTo Connect’s business phone plan has unlimited calling for up to 50 countries, while 8×8’s only includes up to 48 countries on the highest tier plan
- Artificial intelligence is an add-on feature with 8×8, while GoTo Connect includes conversation analytics across plans
- 8×8 supports up to 500 video meeting participants, while GoTo Connect only supports 250
- Both 8×8 and GoTo Connect lack transparent pricing on their websites
My expert opinion
While it was a close call, GoTo Connect takes second place as the best alternative to 8×8 for international calling. Although 8×8 offers international calling on its higher-tier X-Series plans, GoTo Connect provides unlimited domestic and international calling to 50 countries, with up to 1,000 toll-free minutes included in the base plan. This means that business owners do not have to pay a higher premium for a subscription with unlimited international calling.
As a cloud-based VoIP phone system, GoTo Connect offers unlimited call handling features, including auto-attendants, dial plans, and call queues, to enhance call management efficiency. Each plan is designed to support your business communication as it grows, starting with a basic business phone system plan. Additionally, there are plans tailored to customer experience (CX) and contact centers, ensuring you have the right tools for your specific needs.
Although GoTo Connect offers extensive VoIP features with 24/7 customer support, the integrations with CRMs and third-party applications are limited. If you want access to a larger selection of business tools, I recommend a provider like RingCentral, which offers over 500 integrations.
- Contact sales for pricing on the business phone, customer experience, and contact center plans.
- Mobile screen-sharing: Attend video meetings on the go with access to multiple collaborative features. With screen sharing, you can display presentations or host mobile demos all from your cellular phone.
- Virtual voicemail: Use the GoTo Connect app or phone to listen to voice messages and receive notifications. You can also receive automated transcripts of your voicemails via email, saving time when listening to messages.
- Conference call bridging: With conference bridging, you can elevate any phone call to a video meeting and instantly convert one-on-one meetings to three-way calls. This feature also allows you to host and record calls with up to 20 participants.
Add participants to conference calls from the mobile app. (Source: GoTo Connect)
Nextiva: Best for customer engagement
Pros
- Social media and review site management for more efficient marketing
- Custom dashboards with reporting and analytics
- 24/7 email, chat, and phone support
Cons
- CRM integrations are only available as an add-on feature across plans
- Skills-based routing is only available on the highest tier plan
How it compares to 8x8
- Nextiva has threaded conversations, which organize all communications from different channels in one place and allow agents to see all previous communications with a contact. 8×8 doesn’t have this feature
- Unlike 8×8, Nextiva offers a toll-free minute allowance, the maximum being 10,000
- Both providers offer 24/7 customer support across plans
My expert opinion
Whenever I review Nextiva, it consistently proves to be my go-to for innovation in customer experience (CX), and this list is no exception. Nextiva is the top alternative to 8×8 for customer engagement thanks to its robust dashboard features that provide detailed call activity and social media analytics. One standout feature is its conversation analysis, which uses natural language processing (NLP) technology to evaluate customers’ needs.
Additionally, the customer journey tool includes a customer experience score, automatic conversation analysis, and smart recommendations, all of which deliver meaningful insights into customer behavior. Each Nextiva plan also includes integrations with multiple social media platforms and review sites, such as Facebook and Google Reviews, allowing you to monitor and interact with customers directly from the Nextiva platform, rather than managing accounts on multiple platforms.
While Nextiva is excellent for customer engagement, CRM integrations are only provided as add-ons, which seems counterintuitive for a comprehensive CX platform. If you need more inclusive plans, consider RingCentral, which offers hundreds of integrations, artificial intelligence, and other advanced features.
Plans and pricing (per user)* | Core | Engage | Powersuite |
|---|---|---|---|
Monthly | $23 | $50 | $75 |
Annually | $15 | $25 | $50 |
*Nextiva also offers enterprise plans that are geared towards omnichannel contact center solutions.
- Chatbot: Let conversational AI handle customers’ frequently asked questions and process routine requests. With menial tasks taken care of, human agents can focus on concerns that require more attention and effort.
- Shared inbox: Utilize the unified digital user inbox to consolidate all your customer communications in one place. This inbox can curate communication from social media platforms, review sites, email, text messages, and chats.
- Team chat: The Nextiva app allows you to collaborate by chatting one-on-one or as a team. It also supports video chat, audio conferencing, and group messaging.
Chat with team members in the Nextiva app. (Source: Nextiva)
Zoom Phone: Best for low-cost plans
Pros
- Low-cost add-on features, like additional numbers and unlimited international calling
- Collaborative tools like team chat and digital whiteboards
- Intuitive video conferencing with Zoom Meetings
Cons
- Call queue analytics are only available as an add-on feature
- Unlimited domestic calling is unavailable on the base plan
- Limited customer relationship management (CRM) integrations
How it compares to 8x8
- 8×8 includes unlimited voice calling for 14 to 48 countries, while Zoom Phone’s unlimited international calling add-on is only for 19 countries
- Zoom Phone provides AI companion features for all phone plans, while most of 8×8’s artificial intelligence features incur additional fees
- Both 8×8 and Zoom Phone include integrations with Microsoft Teams
My expert opinion
Each year, Zoom demonstrates that it is more than just a video conferencing platform. As one of the top alternatives to 8×8, Zoom Phone offers a pay-as-you-go pricing plan for just $10 per month. This basic plan includes metered domestic and international calls, video conferencing, and team messaging, making it ideal for remote teams that need unified communication tools. These plans are also suitable for solopreneurs who occasionally collaborate with clients.
Additionally, Zoom Phone can elevate any call to a Zoom Meeting, including collaborative tools like breakout rooms and the digital whiteboard. For businesses that require a high volume of international calls, Zoom Phone also has an unlimited international calling add-on for over 15 countries.
Although Zoom offers low-cost plans with pay-as-you-go options for solopreneurs and scalable plans with unlimited calling packages, it’s not the best provider for contact centers or businesses that require unlimited calling to multiple countries. Instead, I suggest checking out GoTo Connect, which includes international calling for over 50 countries and a contact center plan.
Plans and pricing (per license)* | Metered | Regional Unlimited | Global Select |
|---|---|---|---|
Monthly | $10 | $15 | $20 |
*Zoom also provides business phone plans that integrate with Workspace plans for enhanced video conferencing capabilities.
- Automatic Call Distribution (ACD): Utilize an ACD to manage multiple calls without requiring human assistance. This system can automatically route calls through a phone system with custom greetings, menu options, and voice mailboxes.
- Shared lines: Zoom allows you to delegate lines to specific individuals and put lines on hold for a manager or supervisor to address. You can also create shared line groups with distinct phone numbers to send members to a group of delegates.
- Call blocking: Filter out unwanted calls by adding numbers to the blocked call list or immediately blocking all anonymous callers.
Create a call block list to filter spam and unwanted callers. (Source: Zoom Phone)
MightyCall: Best for agent support
Pros
- Cloud-based phone system with smart contact center plans
- Three local or toll-free numbers are included on each plan
- Multi-level IVR available across all plans
Cons
- Lack of unified communication features like video conferencing or virtual fax
- Call monitoring is only available on the higher-tier plans
- Limit of five participants during conference calls
How it compares to 8x8
- 8×8 provides audio and video conferencing features, while MightyCall only includes audio conference calls
- 8×8 includes unlimited internet fax, but MightyCall does not offer fax
- Both 8×8 and MightyCall offer multi-level auto-attendants
My expert opinion
MightyCall is one of the top 8×8 alternatives, thanks to its exceptional agent support and call monitoring capabilities. Each plan includes multiple business phone numbers, allowing potential clients and customers to present a professional image. The software’s call logging feature offers detailed information about every customer interaction, allowing service representatives to avoid manually recording every incoming and outgoing call.
The call and contact center plans allow supervisors to monitor ongoing calls while also viewing their agents’ calls, enabling them to provide coaching and assistance as needed. Additionally, every MightyCall plan features a multi-level IVR system that supports advanced call routing. The inclusion of preview, progressive, and predictive dialers enhances the IVR, making it easier to manage high call volumes and navigate through call lists and directories.
Although MightyCall offers excellent cloud contact center features, such as agent support and call monitoring, it lacks essential features like video conferencing. If you need a combination of contact center and unified communication tools, consider GoTo Connect or Nextiva, both of which offer agent support and video calling capabilities.
Plans and pricing (per user)* | Core | Pro | Power | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly | $20 | $30 | $40 | Contact sales for pricing |
Annually | $15 | $23 | $30 | |
*The first three MightyCall plans have a 3-user minimum.
- Call queue: Create virtual lines for various departments in your business. Set up greetings, hold music, and assign specific agents to handle calls in the queue.
- Agent workspace: The user-friendly interface enables agents to multitask effectively by offering a visual overview of client details, call flows, collaboration with other agents, and communication with supervisors.
- Ring groups: Distribute calls more effectively to particular teams. MightyCall utilizes a simultaneous ring feature to ensure that every call is answered.
Create ring groups with the intuitive call flow designer. (Source: MightyCall)
Ooma: Best for simple phone system
Pros
- Unlimited calling in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico
- Over 50 business phone features, such as call forwarding, hold music, and queues
- Up to 1000 business text messages per month
Cons
- Doesn’t offer international phone numbers
- Virtual receptionist customization is limited on the base plans
- In-app calling isn’t available on the Essentials plan
How it compares to 8x8
- Ooma’s video conferencing is capped at 100 participants, while 8×8 offers up to 500 participants
- Ooma offers 500 inbound toll-free minutes, while 8×8’s business phone and contact center plans offer metered toll-free minutes
- Both providers offer 24/7 customer support across plans
My expert opinion
While most of the alternatives to 8×8 offer complex systems that can be used for handling business phone calls or multichannel contact center interactions, Ooma offers the most straightforward plans for small business owners. It is also one of the best low-cost VoIP services available on the market.
These business phone plans include unlimited calling across North America, as well as access to virtual receptionist features, call management, and extensions, which ease the process of routing calls across team members. There are also team collaboration features, such as video conferencing and chat. The small business starter kits also include VoIP phones for solopreneurs and small teams just starting.
However, while Ooma is an excellent option for solopreneurs and small teams, it may not be the best choice for those seeking customizable phone plans or international calling. If you require a more advanced phone system, consider GoTo Connect, which offers customizable dial plans and international calling to over 50 countries.
Plans and pricing (per user)* | Essentials | Pro | Pro Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
Monthly | $19.95 | $24.95 | $29.95 |
*Ooma also offers a premier service for $9.99 a month after purchasing an Ooma Telo device, which provides limited VoIP features.
- Company directory: Ooma offers a digital phonebook that helps maintain a directory of employee names, numbers, and other information for easier access to important contact details and call routing.
- Audio conferencing: Host private meetings using the password-protected conference bridge. This dedicated number ensures that only authorized individuals can access the conferencing session.
- Call forwarding: Automatically forward incoming calls to a designated phone number, such as a personal mobile phone or your team’s direct number. This ensures you don’t miss important phone calls even when you’re not in the office.
Set up call forwarding in the Ooma office account settings. (Source: Ooma)
How I evaluated the best 8×8 alternatives
In order to evaluate these 8×8 alternatives effectively, I developed a scoring guide based on several key criteria. This guide takes into account factors such as pricing accessibility, call management features, user-friendliness, and the quality of customer support. These elements are crucial for making an informed comparison between different providers, and you can learn more about how I evaluated the best 8×8 alternatives by clicking on the tabs below:
20% of Overall Score
Affordability is a primary concern for small businesses; therefore, the cost of monthly subscriptions is a key consideration in my pricing strategy. I ranked providers with entry-level packages priced under $35, and those with second-tier plans priced under $60 earned more points. Finally, I checked if the provider offered annual pricing and volume discounts.
25% of Overall Score
The essential features of a VoIP solution were critical to this evaluation, so I checked whether providers offered unlimited domestic calling, call management, mobile apps, and video conferencing. I also evaluated each provider’s SLA uptime, giving more points to those with a guaranteed 99.999% availability or higher.
20% of Overall Score
I also focused on features relevant to remote teams and contact centers, such as international calling and an IVR system. Providers offering more than three types of virtual numbers, artificial intelligence, and a wide range of integrations earned more points.
10% of Overall Score
Since not all team members are tech-savvy, I checked if the software solution requires technical know-how to set up and operate. I also considered how intuitive the interface is to ensure there’s little to no learning curve when using the platform.
10% of Overall Score
The providers that offer 24/7 customer support earned more points in this evaluation. I also reviewed their communication channels, noting whether they offer phone, email, and live chat support, or if users need to purchase priority support plans to access these features.
15% of Overall Score
I assessed each platform’s ease of use, popularity, and standout features to calculate the expert score. After reviewing the subscription plans and inclusions, I assessed whether the provider offered good value for small business owners.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
8×8 competes with other VoIP phone systems and unified communication providers that offer cloud contact centers or team collaboration tools. For this list, the top three 8×8 competitors are RingCentral, GoTo Connect, and Nextiva, as each provider offers features that benefit small businesses, such as virtual numbers, video conferencing, and business integrations.
8×8 doesn’t publish its pricing for subscription plans. Businesses must contact the provider to get the exact rates. However, the most recent quote from a sales associate outlined that 8×8 has several business phone plans, priced at $24 and $45 per user, per month.
8×8 is a unified communication and contact center solution often chosen by businesses focused on enhancing customer experience (CX) or those using Microsoft 365 as their primary workspace platform. 8×8 is particularly popular among small businesses in the education, technology, healthcare, financial services, and retail sectors.
Bottom line
8×8 is a great business phone system for contact centers, sales teams, and Microsoft users, but other platforms offer transparent pricing, provide more features on their basic plans, and integrate with a wider range of third-party tools. After assessing alternatives to 8×8, I found that RingCentral is the best option for small businesses.
RingCentral often comes out on top for me because it is one of the most well-rounded unified communications as a service (UCaaS) solutions on the market. With access to over 500 third-party tools and applications, along with unlimited domestic calling and artificial intelligence features across plans, RingCentral is one of the best options for business phone and contact center solutions. To learn more, visit the website for a product demo or consider a free trial.