Nextiva stands out for user-friendly, voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) services, but lacks international phone numbers, a la carte features, and offers only a few integrations. When it comes to VoIP competitors, Nextiva alternatives may be a better fit for your company. See how the six best Nextiva alternatives stack up, and which provide the features, functionality, and price point your business needs.
Based on our research, the best Nextiva alternatives are:
- RingCentral: Best overall Nextiva alternative, and best option for companies wanting a business phone system with extensive integrations
- 8×8: Best Nextiva alternative for organizations wanting to scale their business operations and call center services
- Dialpad: Great choice for small businesses needing affordable VoIP plans with call recording and international numbers
- GoToConnect: Top option for companies requiring an unmetered global calling plan
- Vonage: Best Nextiva alternative for seasonal businesses wanting a la carte VoIP features
- Grasshopper: Honorable mention as the best alternative to Nextiva for solopreneurs and small teams
How We Evaluated the Best Nextiva Alternatives
Nextiva offers VoIP and unified communications as a service (UCaaS) for teams of all sizes. However, Nextiva’s VoIP competitors may be less expensive, provide different features, or integrate with more tools. We reviewed pricing and general and advanced features to compare the best Nextiva alternatives. Plus, we gave each of its VoIP competitors an expert score based on our firsthand experience and user reviews.
Based on our expert review, RingCentral is the best overall Nextiva alternative, scoring 4.51 out of 5. RingCentral supports hundreds of integrations (far more than Nextiva), offers international phone numbers, and has a full-featured video conferencing platform. You can also try RingCentral for free for 15 days compared to Nextiva’s shorter seven-day free trial period.
Here’s a breakdown of how we compared the best Nextiva alternatives:
20% of Overall Score
We reviewed each of Nextiva’s VoIP competitors based on the total number of plans they offer to determine system scalability. And we ranked services offering annual or volume-based discounts and a free trial higher.
30% of Overall Score
We gave points to Nextiva alternatives with a base-level uptime service level agreement (SLA) and meeting recording. In addition, services with in-depth analytics and team chat with presence scored higher. Lastly, we confirmed that all systems included calling and texting in the U.S. and Canada.
25% of Overall Score
We assessed these top VoIP providers based on the availability of mobile applications, high-definition (HD) video conferencing, and internet protocol (IP) phone connectivity. We also rated services with international calling higher.
25% of Overall Score
We determined our expert score by looking at the provider’s overall value for the money and popularity. We also considered ease of use when using different devices and standout features that set the service apart from other Nextiva alternatives.
RingCentral: Best Overall Nextiva Alternative for Integrations
RingCentral
What We Like
- Excellent video conferencing tools, including breakout rooms and whiteboarding
- The most integrations of all Nextiva alternatives
- Audio conferencing supports up to 1,000 attendees
What's Missing
- No volume discounts unless you have 100 or more users
- Charges per-minute rates for international calling
- More expensive for solopreneurs and small teams than other VoIP services
How It Compares to Nextiva
- RingCentral supports 293 integrations versus Nextiva’s 19.
- Nextiva offers U.S.-based phone numbers, whereas RingCentral provides local and toll-free numbers in more than 100 countries.
- RingCentral provides a 15-day free trial, more than twice as long as Nextiva’s.
- Nextiva’s base plan comes with unlimited faxing, but RingCentral’s entry-tier package doesn’t.
RingCentral is a top Nextiva competitor and with good reason, as they both have comparable features, including toll-free minutes, at similar price points. However, RingCentral is a better fit for integrating your business phone system with your help desk and customer relationship management (CRM) tools.
Nextiva lacks international phone numbers, while RingCentral users can get phone numbers in more than 100 countries. Plus, there are 293 RingCentral integrations compared to just 19 offered by Nextiva. As such, a RingCentral user can make calls or jump onto a video conference easily without needing to switch apps.
RingCentral also provides a developer portal to configure open application programming interfaces (APIs), software development kits (SDKs), and widgets. This lets you create custom workflows for your business. In contrast, Nextiva mentions APIs for its contact center but doesn’t offer developer platform support for its small business VoIP services.
Like Nextiva, RingCentral has separate contact center packages, and both companies provide custom quotes for these services. If your company is growing and wanting contact center as a service (CCaaS) plan, check out 8×8. Its new eXperience Communications Platform (XCaaS) combines unified communications and contact center features into one solution.
RingCentral Pricing at a Glance*
- Essentials: $29.99 per user, per month for up to 20 users for unlimited calling within the U.S. and Canada, team messaging, visual voicemail, and 100 toll-free minutes
- Standard: $37.99 per user, per month for Google Workspace, Slack, and Microsoft 365 integrations, 1,000 toll-free minutes, on-demand call recording, and unlimited video conferencing
- Premium: $44.99 per user, per month for CRM and industry-specific integrations, access to the developer platform, 2,500 toll-free minutes, and 200 video participants
- Ultimate: $59.99 per user, per month for unlimited media storage, device status reports and alerts, and 10,000 toll-free minutes
*We based our RingCentral prices on two to 20 users with a monthly payment. Save up to 33% with annual billing.
RingCentral Features
Example of custom API integration with RingCentral
(Source: RingCentral)
- Integrations and APIs: RingCentral’s developer platform and out-of-box integrations connect your business phone system to your favorite tools and apps, but you’ll need an upper-tier plan to connect some services, like Salesforce. In comparison, Dialpad offers this on its Pro plan, which is $14.99 cheaper than RingCentral’s Premium package.
- Conferencing: RingCentral Standard, Premium, and Ultimate users benefit from integrated video and audio conferencing tools. Turn a chat session or phone call into a video conference with one click. Participants are capped at 200 users for video, so consider 8×8 X Series vs RingCentral for higher limits, as it supports 500 attendees.
- Support and training: RingCentral provides in-depth tutorials and documentation for users and administrators. Your team can take on-demand courses at the RingCentral University, watch videos, and qualify for system administrator certifications.
8×8: Best Nextiva Alternative for Scalability
8x8
What We Like
- Mix and match plans to get the features you need for different users
- 8x8 Work app unifies communication and collaboration on one platform
- As your business grows, 8x8 provides more comprehensive plans, so you don’t need to switch systems
What's Missing
- Plans don’t come with toll-free minutes
- Fewer integrations than other business phone systems
- Customer service slower to respond compared to Grasshopper
How It Compares to Nextiva
- The 8×8 Express plan costs $15, several dollars less per month than Nextiva’s Essential package.
- X Series 8×8 plans include unlimited international calling to 14 or 48 countries, whereas Nextiva charges by the minute.
- Advanced contact center features come with X Series plans, while Nextiva requires separate quote-based contact center packages.
- Nextiva caps video conferencing participants at 250 versus 500 with 8×8.
As your company grows, your phone service needs may change. You may want international phone numbers, contact center tools, and advanced analytics. Although some of Nextiva’s VoIP competitors offer packages for mid-sized businesses, they fall short for CCaaS and UCaaS solutions. The best business phone systems, like 8×8, provide plans that grow with your company.
Small teams can start with 8×8 Express at a reasonable $15 per user, per month. It supports up to 100 video conferencing participants. If you add a front desk receptionist and multiple locations, the X4 package is a good fit.
Likewise, 8×8’s X7 and X8 plans come with multi-channel support, allowing your call centers to review social media and email messages on the same platform. The 8×8 X Series supports 500 video meeting participants, the highest capacity of all Nextiva alternatives.
8×8 is also a great Nextiva alternative if you have customers worldwide. X Series plans offer unlimited international calling to 14 or 48 countries, depending on the package. You can also choose international phone numbers in more than 100 countries, similar to RingCentral. As a global company, 8×8 supports multiple languages and has customer support centers across the globe.
However, GoToConnect edges out 8×8 for international calling because it features unmetered calls to more than 50 countries. And 8×8 doesn’t include toll-free minutes like RingCentral. Check out our GoToConnect vs RingCentral comparison to see how these two platforms differ.
For a full breakdown of how 8×8 stacks up as one of the best Nextiva alternatives, read our expert 8×8 vs. Nextiva review.
8×8 Pricing at a Glance*
- Express: $15 per user, per month for unlimited domestic calling and video conferencing, video meeting recording and transcription, visual voicemail, and an auto-attendant
- X2: $32 per user, per month for unlimited voice calling to 14 countries, 500 video meeting participants, unlimited internet fax and media storage, and a multi-level auto-attendant
- X4: $57 per user, per month for unlimited voice calling to 48 countries, 8×8 Front Desk, supervisor analytics, and call monitoring
- X6: $125 per user, per month for omnichannel and skills-based routing, queued callback, auto-dialer, and post-call surveys
- X7: $138 per user, per month for co-browsing and chat, email, and social media messaging integrations
- X8: $175 per user, per month for speech and text analytics, real-time multi-screen monitoring, and quality management tools
*8×8 plan pricing is based on a monthly payment. Save up to 25% with annual billing.
8×8 Features
Example of how to set up a post-call survey on 8×8
(Source: 8×8)
- XCaaS: The latest 8×8 update packages all essential UCaaS and CCaaS features into one convenient platform. Doing so eliminates the fragmentation that often occurs when companies scale. Unlike other VoIP competitors, you won’t need to use a different app for contact center users versus office staff with 8×8.
- International calling: 8×8 allows unlimited international calls to 48 countries on its X4 plan, including three countries not supported by GoToConnect’s unlimited international packages. 8×8 users can call Finland, Indonesia, and Turkey for free, whereas you’ll pay per-minute fees with GoToConnect.
- Post-call surveys: If you’re looking for surveys similar to those available on Nextiva’s highest-plan tier, check out 8×8’s X6 plan. You can develop surveys to automatically get caller feedback regarding your customer support services, including individual comments.
Dialpad: Best Nextiva Alternative for Affordability
Dialpad
What We Like
- International phone numbers
- Can receive text messages from international customers
- Speech coaching feature is unique to the Dialpad platform
What's Missing
- Caps internet faxing at 100 per month, additional faxes pay a per-fax fee
- Enterprise plans require a minimum of 100 users
- Video meetings are limited to five hours unless you’re an Enterprise user
How It Compares to Nextiva
- Dialpad provides international phone numbers in more than 50 countries, whereas Nextiva only offers domestic numbers.
- Try out Dialpad for free for 14 days, double that of Nextiva’s seven-day free trial.
- Dialpad doesn’t offer volume-based discounts like Nextiva. However, if you have 20 users on the base plans and pay yearly, you’ll save over $70 with Dialpad.
Dialpad is an affordable alternative to more expensive Nextiva competitors. It’s a good fit for small teams wanting VoIP services and advanced features typically found on higher-tier plans, such as call recording and multi-level auto-attendants. For instance, you’ll pay $37.99 per user, per month to record calls on-demand with RingCentral versus just $20 for automatic recordings on Dialpad.
Dialpad offers numbers in more than 50 countries on its Pro plan, which is $30 per user, per month. In comparison, GoToConnect and Nextiva don’t offer phone numbers for overseas locations, and they’re not available on the entry-tier RingCentral plan.
Dialpad also offers APIs and webhooks on its Pro plan, along with customer relationship management (CRM) software integrations, such as Salesforce. You’ll pay an extra $14.99 per user, per month to access similar integrations on RingCentral. Single-sign on (SSO) integrations with Azure and Okta are only available to companies with 100 or more users. Other Nextiva alternatives don’t have minimum user requirements for SSO.
However, when it comes to 8×8 vs Dialpad, 8×8 offers far more scalability. If you want to add a contact center or a sales dialer, for example, you’ll need to switch to different Dialpad software.
Dialpad Pricing at a Glance*
- Standard: $20 per user, per month for unlimited domestic calling and short message service (SMS) texting, call recording, ring groups, multi-level auto-attendant, and 45-minute video meetings
- Pro: $30 per user, per month with a three-license minimum for up to 10 offices, international SMS, CRM integrations, hold queues, and 24/7 customer support
- Enterprise: Custom quote with a 100 license minimum for unlimited locations, security integrations, extensions, unlimited ring groups, and a service level agreement (SLA)
*Dialpad plans are based on a monthly payment. Save $60 per year with an annual prepayment.
Dialpad Features
Dialpad call transcript and interface screenshot
(Source: Dialpad)
- Speech coaching: Although more expensive plans offer call whisper for call center teams, this isn’t always affordable for small businesses. Fortunately, Dialpad’s speech coaching feature comes on the base plan, starting at $15 per user, per month with annual billing. If your agent speaks too fast or unclearly, the speech coaching feature makes them aware of it.
- Automatic post-call notes: Save time after hanging up the phone using Dialpad’s post-call summary. It automatically transcribes conversations, provides basic call information, and includes important insights, like action items.
- Integrations: Dialpad offers fewer integrations than Nextiva, RingCentral, or 8×8. But, for small teams, you’ll find Dialpad supports many common software platforms at a lower cost. For example, you can connect to Salesforce, HubSpot, and ServiceNow. Dialpad also offers APIs for developers and a sandbox for testing new integrations.
GoToConnect: Best Nextiva Alternative for International Calling
GoToConnect
What We Like
- Unlimited extensions are available with all packages
- Toll-free minutes and unlimited international calling come with Standard and Premium plans
- Offers several integrations used by the automotive industry, including DealerSocket
What's Missing
- Base plan offers fewer features and costs more than the most affordable Dialpad alternative
- Video conferences only show up to 25 cameras on the screen
- Call analytics and advanced reporting features are only available on the highest-plan tier
How It Compares to Nextiva
- GoToConnect offers unlimited calling to 52 countries, whereas Nextiva charges per-minute fees.
- Nextiva charges 2.5 cents per toll-free minute after you reach the plan’s allotted minutes. In contrast, GoToConnect charges 1.9 cents.
- GoToConnect features 28 phone integrations versus 19 with Nextiva.
- Try GoToConnect for 14 days free compared to seven days with Nextiva.
Like 8×8, GoToConnect is a Nextiva competitor offering unlimited international calling plans. However, GoToConnect supports unmetered calls to 52 countries for $29 per user, whereas 8×8 charges $57 per user, per month for unlimited calling to 48 countries. GoToConnect also includes toll-free minutes on the Standard and Premium plans. However, it comes with fewer minutes than offered by Nextiva alternatives like RingCentral.
GoToConnect’s Standard and Premium plans include unlimited extensions, helping your small business route callers to the correct department. In contrast, Dialpad locks this feature behind its Enterprise tier.
In most cases, plans with advanced call handling features cost less with GoToConnect than similar RingCentral or 8×8 packages. You can use call monitor, whisper, barge, or view a supervisor dashboard with GoToConnect’s Premium plan.
However, GoToConnect isn’t as scalable as 8×8. It doesn’t provide contact center plans or support video conferencing with more than 250 people. Also, you can’t purchase international phone numbers. If your business is growing, consider 8×8 or RingCentral. If you don’t need unlimited international calling, look at Dialpad, as it could be less expensive.
GoToConnect Pricing at a Glance*
- Basic: $24 per user, per month for unlimited domestic calling, 40-minute video conferences with four participants, an auto-attendant, team messaging, and unlimited extensions
- Standard: $29 per user, per month for unlimited calling to 52 countries, unlimited ring groups and video meeting length with 150 participants, 1,000 toll-free minutes, and call recording
- Premium: $39 per user, per month for 5,000 toll-free minutes, call analytics, real-time queue updates, and listen, whisper, and barge features
*Pricing is based on two to 10 users. Save 12% with an annual prepayment or when adding additional users.
GoToConnect Features
GoToConnect dashboard and mobile app
(Source: GoToConnect)
- International calls: Although GoToConnect only offers four more countries for international calls than 8×8, it includes several locations that 8×8 doesn’t cover. With GoToConnect, you can call the following countries for free: Croatia, Estonia, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Martinique, Morocco, Vatican, and Venezuela.
- Auto industry apps: While many of Nextiva’s VoIP competitors support retail, healthcare, legal, and real estate sectors, GoToConnect is the only one tailored to the automotive industry. As such, it offers integration with paging systems for body shops and popular dealer tools, such as DealerSocket, Momentum, Purple Cloud, E-Leads, and VIN Solutions.
- Bundled plans: GoToConnect offers additional packages that bundle other services into one monthly fee. Create a bundle with business password security tools like LastPass, GoToWebinar software, and premium technical support options.
Vonage: Best Nextiva Alternative for a la Carte Features
Vonage
What We Like
- Customize a plan to reflect seasonal needs
- Mobile plan is very affordable for companies with 20 or more employees
- Get 20+ third-party integrations in the entry-tier version
What's Missing
- Add on features get expensive if you need them year-round
- Toll-free and numbers minutes don’t come with any service plans
- It can be difficult to choose the right plan because Vonage lacks feature comparison pages like other providers
How It Compares to Nextiva
- Vonage allows unlimited calling to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, whereas Nextiva only supports U.S. and Canada.
- Nextiva doesn’t offer add-on packages, whereas Vonage provides several.
- Vonage gives a 14-day free trial versus seven days offered by Nextiva.
- Vonage supplies international phone numbers in more than 50 countries, while Nextiva only offers domestic phone numbers.
Most of the best Nextiva alternatives offer feature-rich plans, which is great if your team needs all of them. But if you don’t need things like toll-free minutes or call recording, you may feel like your business is paying for services it can’t use.
This is especially true for seasonal businesses that may want additional features during the peak season but only need minimal services during the off-season. Vonage fills in this gap with affordable packages and a la carte options.
Its base plan is mobile-only. If you have 20 or more users, you can get a limited feature set for $14.99 per user, per month (comparable to 8×8 Express or Dialpad’s Standard plan with annual billing). In addition, more than 20 integrations come with the base plan, whereas other Nextiva competitors limit entry-tier integrations to calendar tools. Like RingCentral, Vonage provides a developer center where you can access APIs for recording, reports, and telephony.
For a closer look at how Vonage and Nextiva compare, read our comprehensive evaluation of Nextiva vs. Vonage.
Vonage is also the only provider on our list offering unlimited calling to Mexico, making it a good option if you have manufacturing or sales teams located outside of the U.S. However, Vonage lacks standard features like visual voicemail on lower-tier plans, and advanced tools like automatic call recording are only available as an add-on. You could end up paying more for Vonage services compared to other providers.
Vonage Pricing at a Glance*
- Mobile: $19.99 per line, per month for unlimited calls to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, unlimited SMS texting, team messaging, and Vonage app center integrations
- Premium: $29.99 per line, per month for unlimited meetings with up to 100 people, IP desk phone compatibility, CRM integrations, and a multi-level auto-attendant
- Advanced: $39.99 per line, per month for 15 hours of on-demand call recording, call groups, and visual voicemail
*Vonage prices are based on one to four users. Volume discounts are available for five or more users.
Vonage Features
The Vonage business phone system admin dashboard
(Source: Vonage)
- A la carte options: There are many ways to customize your Vonage plan, including adding technical support services, call recording for your entire office, and toll-free numbers. Additional options include a receptionist console, an artificial intelligence (AI) virtual assistant, and broadcasting tools for texting.
- Integrations: Get integrations with popular tools, such as Salesforce, Slack, and ConnectWise, for a lower monthly price than other services like RingCentral. Plus, your developers can access APIs to connect your phone system features to your most-used platforms.
- Analytics: While Vonage offers fewer reports and live dashboards found with 8×8 and RingCentral, you can download, email, or print call histories, average call duration, and call queues.
Honorable Mention: Grasshopper
Grasshopper
What We Like
- 24/7 U.S.-based customer support
- Designed specifically for small businesses and teams with flat-rate pricing
- Instant Response feature helps you connect when you miss a phone call
What's Missing
- International numbers aren’t available
- No integrations
- No integrated video conferencing services
How It Compares to Nextiva
- Grasshopper lets you automatically send a text when you miss a call, whereas Nextiva doesn’t offer this feature on any plan.
- If you have three users, Grasshopper charges $49 total. In contrast, you’ll pay $92.85 total for three users on Nextiva’s lowest-plan tier.
- Like Nextiva, Grasshopper doesn’t offer international phone numbers.
Although it lacks the unified communication features found with Nextiva’s other VoIP competitors, Grasshopper is a good option for budget-strapped solopreneurs and small teams. Unlike other VoIP services, Grasshopper doesn’t charge a per-user fee, so you can add your whole team to one plan using extensions and sharing five phone lines. This can provide significant savings over per-user pricing.
Moreover, Grasshopper is very easy to set up and use. If you run into problems, all packages include 24/7 U.S.-based support, which is an improvement over some global 8×8 call centers that may not have English as a first language, or Dialpad, which only provides 24/5 phone support for the base plan.
Grasshopper Pricing at a Glance*
- Solo: $29 per month for one phone number and three extensions
- Partner: $49 per month for three phone numbers and six extensions
- Small Business: $89 per month for five phone numbers and unlimited extensions
*Plans are based on a monthly payment, but you can save over 10% with annual billing.
Grasshopper Features
Grasshopper business phone system mobile interface
(Source: Grasshopper)
- Instant response: Create a template to quickly reach out when you miss a phone call. The Instant Response tool texts your caller and enables them to respond with their availability or inquiry, or important details about a problem.
- Phone numbers: Unlike Vonage, toll-free numbers aren’t extra. Add a local, toll-free, or vanity phone number to your package and mix and match numbers on plans that come with more than one number.
- Ease of use: Grasshopper’s pared-down features and user-friendly mobile and desktop applications are a good match for people new to VoIP business phone systems. In just four easy steps, you can set up and start using the system. Plus customer support is just a click away, available via phone, email, Twitter, Facebook, and chat.
Bottom Line
Nextiva is a reliable, well-known VoIP provider for cloud-based business phone systems. However, it doesn’t offer international phone numbers, a developer portal, or many out-of-the-box integrations. These features are some of the reasons why RingCentral earned the top spot as the best Nextiva alternative. RingCentral is packed with features and works on mobile or desktop devices. Sign up for a 15-day free trial to see if RingCentral is right for you.
