Dialpad vs RingCentral: Which Is Better for Business? | Fit Small Business

Dialpad vs RingCentral: Which Is Better for Business?

Dialpad and RingCentral are cloud-based phone systems offering unlimited domestic calling, messaging, and video conferencing capabilities. Both have annual billing and 14-day free trials, but RingCentral wins with robust call management, third-party integrations, and a more powerful video conferencing solution. It’s excellent for growing teams needing essential and advanced phone solutions. Dialpad is a budget-friendly…

Written By
Silvana Peters
Silvana Peters
May 9, 2023
8 minute read

Dialpad and RingCentral are cloud-based phone systems offering unlimited domestic calling, messaging, and video conferencing capabilities. Both have annual billing and 14-day free trials, but RingCentral wins with robust call management, third-party integrations, and a more powerful video conferencing solution. It’s excellent for growing teams needing essential and advanced phone solutions. Dialpad is a budget-friendly solution with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.

Based on our comparison, the best use cases for Dialpad vs RingCentral are as follows:

  • Dialpad: Better for small teams looking for robust sales and customer service automation capabilities
  • RingCentral: Better for companies that need robust unified communication features and extensive third-party integrations

Dialpad vs RingCentral at a Glance


Dialpad logo.RingCentral logo.
Monthly Starting Price (per User)$23$30
Free Trial15 days14 days
Unlimited Domestic Calling
Phone Numbers
  • Local
  • International
  • Vanity
  • Local
  • Toll-free
  • International
Messaging
  • SMS (short message service)
  • MMS (multimedia messaging service)
  • Group messaging
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • Team messaging
Video ConferencingUp to 10 participants for a maximum of five hoursUp to 200 participants with no time limits
Multi-level Auto-attendant
Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Analytics
24/7 Customer SupportPhoneLive chatHelp centerPhoneLive chatSupport case online
For More InformationVisit DialpadVisit RingCentral

Best Alternatives

Dialpad vs RingCentral are two leading voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) phone systems offering call management and unified communication (UC) features. However, they have per-user pricing and paid plans. If you’re looking for a robust collaboration application and flexible pricing options, here are some of the best RingCentral and Dialpad alternatives:

  • Nextiva: This cloud-based business phone system offers robust call management and collaboration tools, such as auto-attendants and a productivity app called Cospace. Nextiva offers up to 250 video conferencing participants, 12,500 toll-free minutes, team chat, and toll-free numbers. See our Nextiva review to learn more about this provider.
  • Grasshopper: This simpler virtual phone system offers flat-rate monthly pricing. Grasshopper is excellent for small teams who want to minimize communication expenses while accessing essential features like video conferencing and business chat. Check out our comprehensive Grasshopper review for its best use cases and pricing.
  • Vonage: It’s a flexible phone solution that lets users choose their required features. A monthly subscription allows users to purchase add-on services, ensuring you only have the features your business needs. Explore Vonage’s features and pricing with our in-depth Vonage Business Communications review.
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Best for per User Monthly Pricing: Dialpad

Dialpad logo.RingCentral logo.
  • Standard: $23 for unlimited calling, business messaging, and unlimited video meetings for 10 participants for up to five hours
  • Pro: $35 for local numbers in over 70 countries, ring groups, office locations, global SMS, and customer relationship management (CRM) integrations
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing for 100% uptime, unlimited locations and ring groups, data retention, and priority support
  • Core: $30 for message and phone functionality for 20 users
  • Advanced: $35 for an unlimited number of users, unlimited internet fax, audio conferencing, third-party integrations, and video conferencing for up to 24 hours and 100 participants
  • Ultra: $45 for automatic call recording, real-time analytics, customer relationship management (CRM) integration, devices status reports, and video meetings with up to 200 participants

Regarding Dialpad vs RingCentral pricing, Dialpad takes the top slot with its cheaper base plan with advanced tools like video conferencing and multi-level auto-attendant. At just $23 per user, it offers unlimited calling and AI capabilities, such as voicemail and call transcriptions. Dialpad also has unified communication (UC) features like file sharing, team messaging, and mobile screen sharing to improve group productivity.

Chat messages using Dialpad.

Dialpad messaging (Source: Dialpad)

Dialpad is a top cheap VoIP service with monthly per-user plans starting at $23 monthly and $15 for annual billing. This is much cheaper than RingCentral’s monthly and annual pricing, which is $30 and $20, respectively. Dialpad’s annual discount saves users up to 35%, which beats RingCentral’s maximum 33% annual discount rate.

It’s important to note RingCentral and Dialpad offer similar functionalities on their base plans. RingCentral’s Core plan includes a phone number, unlimited domestic calls, business messaging, and basic call queues. It offers a more powerful video conferencing solution with unlimited duration for up to 100 video participants and pooled toll-free minutes. However, Dialpad’s lower pricing is an excellent option for small teams with limited needs.

Best for Call Routing & Management: RingCentral

RingCentral logo.Dialpad logo.
  • Unlimited domestic calling in U.S./Canada
  • One local or toll-free number per user
  • Toll-free minutes
  • Multi-level auto-attendant and interactive voice response (IVR)
  • Voicemail
  • Call queues and call recording
  • Advanced call monitoring (whisper, barge, and monitor)
  • Unlimited calling
  • One local number per user
  • Multi-level auto-attendant
  • Hold queues
  • Automatic spam call detection
  • Custom call routing and call recording
  • Call and number forwarding
  • Call monitoring (listening, barging, whisper, and takeover)

Our RingCentral vs Dialpad call management comparison ranks RingCentral as the top option because all its plans come with a phone number, toll-free minutes, and unlimited domestic calling. RingCentral is one of our top business phone systems offering multi-level auto-attendant and IVR features. Users have two phone number options: a local or toll-free number with free minutes. Dialpad only has an auto-attendant and local numbers.

All calls page interface showing inbound, outbound, and missed calls.

RingCentral’s All calls page (Source: RingCentral)

Internet fax is available as an add-on with Dialpad, but is included in RingCentral’s Advanced and Ultra plans. Both offer unlimited domestic calling, business messaging, and video conferencing, but RingCentral has a higher participant limit. Upon review, Dialpad and RingCentral price additional phone numbers similarly. International and toll-free numbers start at $15 each, monthly, while toll-free and local numbers are priced at $5 per number, paid monthly.

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Best for Artificial Intelligence & Analytics: Dialpad

Dialpad logo.RingCentral logo.
  • Real-time call transcriptions
  • Automated post-call summaries
  • Voicemail transcription
  • Live speech coaching
  • Real-time analytics and reporting
  • Quality-of-service (QOS) reports
  • AI-noise cancellation
  • AI meeting insights and live transcription
  • Call log and queue management reports
  • Real-time (QOS) analytics and alerts

Dialpad came out on top during our head-to-head RingCentral vs Dialpad comparison because it offers live speech coaching and real-time sentiment tracking. Both Dialpad and RingCentral offer call transcriptions and meeting summaries. Still, Dialpad takes it further with live speech coaching, a feature that suggests speaking more clearly during an ongoing call. Agents will see a pop-up screen prompting them to slow down or let the caller talk.

Screenshot of how to toggle voice intelligence on and off using Dialpad.

Dialpad Ai provides real-time call transcripts, key details, and action notes. (Source: Dialpad)

Dialpad’s Voice Intelligence (Vi) technology engages customers using natural language processing and machine learning. It analyzes conversations, and with more use, its call center transcripts increase accuracy and pick up subtle nuances and unique vocabulary your business uses. Its voice recognition program also distinguishes between speakers in the transcript.

Like Dialpad, RingCentral offers AI features like transcription and summaries, allowing quick, accurate documentation. It also provides AI-backed noise cancellation during video conferencing for better conversations. However, advanced capabilities, including AI-driven SMS and social listening, are accessible through external applications like Velvetech and Theta Lake.

Best for Third-party Integrations: RingCentral

RingCentral logo.Dialpad logo.
Offers more than 200 third-party integrations covering analytics, automation, CRM systems, collaboration, bots, education, speech, and marketingOffers over 60 third-party integrations covering productivity, CRM, sales, data visualization, security, and hardware tools

With over 200 third-party integrations, RingCentral is the clear winner. While both providers integrate with popular business software, such as Salesforce, Zendesk, Slack, and Zapier, Dialpad only offers a fraction of the integrations available on RingCentral. RingCentral’s base plan comes with popular productivity apps like Microsoft 365 and Google. On the other hand, subscribers to Dialpad’s entry plan only have access to Google Workspace.

In addition to an app gallery, users can customize cloud communications through its powerful APIs (application programming interface) suite for voice, messaging, video, fax, data, and configuration. For example, companies can build chatbots, enhance notification capabilities, and add in features within team messaging using team messaging APIs.

GIF showing RingCentral and Salesforce integration.

RingCentral and Salesforce integration (Source: RingCentral)

However, while Dialpad’s integrations are considerably less than RingCentral, it integrates with popular apps like Google Workspace, ServiceNow, Amazon, and Zoom. Dialpad also has APIs that allow users to build custom workflows and expand call and contact center capabilities through application development.

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Best for Video Conferencing: RingCentral

RingCentral logo.Dialpad logo.
Offers HD video with up to 200 participants for unlimited minutes and essential tools, such as transcription, messaging, enterprise security, chat, annotations, screen sharing, notes, breakout rooms, remote desktop control, 100 hours of video recording, and webinarOffers unlimited HD video meetings with up to 10 participants for five hours and tools like screen sharing, waiting room, virtual backgrounds, calendar syncing, whiteboarding, and in-meeting chat

RingCentral is the winner when it comes to video conferencing because of its higher participant capacity and duration. It has multiple productivity features, including a whiteboard, breakout rooms, participant reactions, recordings, and team huddles. It also offers two crucial add-ons, Webinar for larger sessions and RingCentral rooms for hybrid meetings.

Screenshot of the RingCentral interface for assigning moderators.

RingCentral allows hosts to assign session moderators. (Source: RingCentral)

Dialpad, while it lags behind RingCentral, offers all the basic virtual meeting features most businesses look for, like HD video, no download requirement for joining, multi-device compatibility, and screen sharing. For security, it also has waiting rooms and in-meeting chat for greater productivity. However, it does not offer video recording, annotations, or larger meeting add-ons, which RingCentral provides. It’s ideal for small teams with basic virtual meeting needs.

How We Evaluated Dialpad vs RingCentral

To compare Dialpad vs RingCentral, we reviewed their plan offerings to see how they stack up against each other. We also tested both platforms and looked at verified customer reviews to gauge whether the platforms were user-friendly. Using our scoring system, we focused on pricing, phone capabilities, collaboration features, ease of use, and integrations.

Here’s a complete breakdown of the factors we considered in this Dialpad vs RingCentral comparison:

We compared monthly per-user costs for RingCentral vs Dialpad and looked at which features were accessible in base plans. In addition to pricing, we gave higher points to providers with free plans, free trials, annual billing, and volume-based discounts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are RingCentral & Dialpad Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant?

Yes, both RingCentral and Dialpad are HIPAA-compliant. Businesses using RingCentral and Dialpad services to create, receive, transmit, or maintain private health information must sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA).

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Is Dialpad like Zoom?

Dialpad and Zoom offer video conferencing solutions and similar features, like in-meeting chat and live transcription, but they are different. The main difference is that Dialpad provides an omnichannel solution that includes calling, video, SMS, and chat. Zoom is primarily a video conferencing platform with UC features like shared storage. Read our comprehensive Zoom review to learn more.

Is RingCentral free?

The RingCentral application is free to download and available for iOS and Android mobile devices and Mac and Windows desktops. Create a free account with RingCentral Video Pro and upgrade to paid plans like RingCentral MVP and RingCentral Video Pro+. It charges monthly per-user fees starting at $30 per user.

Bottom Line

In this RingCentral vs Dialpad article, we found that these two leading VoIP services support small businesses by offering robust call management and AI capabilities. While both offer unlimited calls and messaging and offer voicemail and transcriptions, RingCentral is the clear winner. Dialpad is slightly less expensive and offers impressive AI technology, while RingCentral is the better option for video conferencing, integrations, and call management.

Visit RingCentral

Silvana Peters

Silvana is an office technology writer at Fit Small Business, focusing on unified communications, virtual phone systems, and voice-over-internet protocol. She’s passionate about giving small business owners the information they need to succeed. Silvana’s been engaged by various businesses and organizations to produce technical reports and content ranging from current events, business, technology, lifestyle, and development.

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