Nextiva Review: The Right VoIP Solution for Your Business?
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.
This article is part of a larger series on VoIP.
Nextiva Overview
Nextiva is among the most popular business phone systems due to its powerful communications features for growing businesses. However, there’s no perfect VoIP platform, and you must consider what it stands out for and what it lacks to ensure Nextiva matches your needs.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Reliable service with 99.999% uptime | Occasional technical glitches |
| Professional greeting is included with advanced plans | Interface is slightly clunky and dated-looking |
| Mobile app compatible with iOS and Android | Lacks unlimited international calling |
| Comes with visual voicemail, regardless of the plan | Higher international calling rates, unlike 8x8 |
What We Recommend Nextiva For
Nextiva is a cloud-based business phone system that helps unify your communications with your customers and teams on one platform. It offers robust features in its scalable plans at affordable rates. If you are a small business owner wanting to get started with a VoIP system that can accommodate their growing needs, Nextiva is worth considering.
When to Use Nextiva
- Growing businesses looking for a scalable unified communications and business phone system with unlimited domestic calls: If your organization has expected growth, then Nextiva’s scalable platform is for you. It is among the most affordable business phone services, especially as you add additional users, and is one of our recommendations for the best small business phone systems and best unified communications platforms.
- Teams looking for a call management platform with value for money: Nextiva offers affordable VoIP plans with essential call management features that come in every plan. It is among our top picks for the best call management systems for having more capabilities included in its most basic tier, unlike some competitors that offer them with their premium plans.
- Companies looking for a virtual phone service that comes with a free auto-attendant: If you want to maintain an established image as a company, you may benefit from Nextiva’s auto-receptionists. Nextiva provides easy to set up automated attendant features in all plans, making it one of our recommendations for the best auto-attendant phone systems.
- Organizations looking for a business VoIP service with professionally recorded voice greetings: Nextiva offers a wide range of professionally recorded voicemail greeting options, including male or female voices, Spanish, American, Latin American, and British languages and accents. You get one free professionally recorded greetings with a Professional plan and three free of these audio files with the following tiers. With this, Nextiva is included in our list of the best professional voicemail greeting providers.
- Small businesses looking for a mobile device-compatible VoIP platform: Nextiva is a virtual phone system that works seamlessly in various devices, such as VoIP hardware, desktop, and mobile devices. It works best for those who want to manage their communications from anywhere and at any time. Nextiva made it to our list of the best small business VoIP apps and the best VoIP apps for Android business users.
- Those looking for a hosted public branch exchange (PBX) service for their remote work setup: Nextiva is a cloud-based VoIP service that features all essential features of a traditional PBX system, including unlimited internet fax, automated attendant, and call management capabilities. It is one of our top picks for best hosted PBX providers due to its scalable and affordable plans.
- Companies with high call volumes looking for a customer relationship management (CRM) call center software: Though Nextiva is focused on its communications features, it still stands out with its automation features, such as survey deployment after calls, direct emails to new leads, and cases with poor feedback prioritization. It made it to our list of the best CRM call center software for its robust automation tools.
When Nextiva Might Not Be a Good Fit
- Freelancers and solopreneurs looking for a free business phone system: Nextiva’s extensive call management and communication features come with rates that could be expensive for those looking for a basic virtual phone system. If you only need a virtual phone system, basic calls, texts, and a voicemail, then a free app and phone service like Google Voice may be enough for you.
- Teams needing to make calls overseas: Nextiva allows international calling at reasonable rates. However, businesses that are in global markets may look into 8×8 for more affordable fees. This alternative offers unmetered calling features for selected countries and lower per-minute fees for those not covered by the said offer. Read our 8×8 vs Nextiva article for more information.
- Small businesses looking for an affordable virtual phone system that provides access to all of its capabilities: Not all companies need Nextiva’s advanced features and inclusions. Smaller teams needing a comprehensive solution that matches their needs and budget may consider Grasshopper. It comes with phone numbers and extensions and access to all of its features, regardless of the plan.
- Organizations with low call volumes: Those with low call volumes may save money with Nextiva’s competitors like Zoom Phone and Phone.com. Zoom Phone features a wide range of flexible pay-as-you-go and unlimited plans, while Phone.com offers plans with limited monthly minutes at lower monthly prices.
- Large companies with more advanced needs that can afford more expensive rates: Nextiva offers comprehensive virtual phone solutions. However, those looking for a platform that they can utilize as their needs grow and do not mind its higher price tags may consider RingCentral. It comes with more premium features like open APIs, advanced call management capabilities, and scalable plans. This platform is recommended for companies with expected growth that do not want the hassle of switching providers when the need comes. Check out our Nextiva vs RingCentral article for more details.
- Teams looking for a small business phone service with streamlined pricing: If you are looking for a business VoIP service that comes with unlimited calls, call management features, and a voicemail at more affordable prices, then you may consider Ooma. It offers straightforward pricing, unlike Nextiva and other providers, where plans and fees change depending on the number of users and features included.
- Businesses looking for a cheaper unified communications platform VoIP service with flexible and a la carte pricing: Those with tighter budgets and need a unified communications platform may look into Vonage instead. Like Nextiva, it also allows users to add features on an a la carte basis, but Vonage’s monthly subscription fees are cheaper than Nextiva. If you want to learn more, you may check out our head-to-head Nextiva vs Vonage comparison.
Want to look at other options? You may check out our guide to our best VoIP apps for business to find out which product matches your current needs.
Nextiva Pricing
Nextiva has three pricing plans for its Business Communication product. Monthly rates for accounts with one to four users start at $23.95 per user when billed yearly. Rates vary depending on the number of users per account and contract length. Users may also change their plans anytime by contacting their Client Success Manager or calling its phone support line.
You may sign up for a seven-day free trial to learn how Nextiva works.
Nextiva Business Communication Plans | Essential | Professional | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
Best For | Businesses with small budgets and needs | Smaller teams | Small to medium-sized companies |
Monthly Pricing* | $30.95/user/month | $35.95/user/month | $45.95/user/month |
12-month Term Pricing** | $23.95/user/month | $27.95/user/month | $37.95/user/month |
Toll-free Minutes | 1,500 | 3,000 | 12,500 |
Video Meeting Participants per Session | ✕ | 250 | 250 |
Maximum Number of Conference Call Participants | ✕ | 40 | Unlimited |
Unlimited Voicemail & Internet Fax | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Unlimited Business SMS | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
Voice Analytics & Voicemail Transcription | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
Customer Journey Analytics | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
*Rates are based on a subscription with one to four users only. The more users subscribed to the account, the lower the per-user fees will be.
**Annual term plans are paid in full at the beginning of the billing cycle.
Nextiva Call Center
Nextiva also offers multiple cloud-based call center plans with straightforward pricing. Monthly fees start at $50 per user, and its platform does not charge activation or setup fees. There are no required upfront hardware costs either.
You may also reach out to Nextiva’s sales team to inquire about its advanced call center features built for enterprise needs. Estimated monthly fees cost anywhere from $100 to $150.
Nextiva Call Center Add-ons
- Office Receptionist: This add-on features a web-based tool that allows receptionists to monitor users and place click-to-dial calls. It has three tiers:
- Pro: Allows up to eight employee lines ($39.95 per line, per month)
- Premium: Lets you register up to 30 employee lines ($49.95 per line, per month)
- Enterprise: For those needing an unlimited number of employee lines ($69.95 per line, per month)
- Agent Dashboard License ($29.95 per line, per month): This add-on enables agents to generate reports on themselves, including agent activity, agent call detail, agent call report, agent duration, and agent sign-in/sign-out report.
- Supervisor Dashboard License ($69.95 per line, per month): This add-on allows users to run reports on all agents.
Nextiva Features
Nextiva is a robust cloud-based business phone system accessible through desktop and mobile devices, as well as VoIP hardware. It is recommended for businesses looking for a comprehensive system offered at affordable fees. Though it has plans for smaller teams, larger working teams may see its discounts for more users and longer contract terms as an advantage.
Nextiva lets you manage your customer and team communications from anywhere through any device.
(Source: Nextiva)
Nextiva has impressive offers in its base plan, such as unlimited domestic calls, fax, voicemail, auto-attendant features, and collaboration, unlike some of its competitors that offer more advanced tiers.
Apart from Nextiva’s core capabilities, it also features the following:
- Internet fax: Nextiva provides standard and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)-compliant internet fax services. It allows users to manage their virtual faxes through their computers, mobile devices, and even traditional fax machines. However, those interested in utilizing their traditional fax machine with its platform must purchase the Nextiva Fax Bridge device.
- Collaboration: Included in Nextiva’s core plan are team collaboration and video features via Cospace. These functions include meetings, task management, team calendar, meeting scheduling, screen sharing, chat, and a directory.
- Number porting: All Nextiva users may transfer their existing phone numbers from their current carrier to Nextiva at no cost. The process is handled by Nextiva and requires users to submit a completed Letter of Agency (LOA) form.
- Visual voicemail: Never miss a message by automatically routing calls to your voicemail when unanswered. Nextiva’s visual voicemail lets you customize its settings, receive voicemail messages through email, and record multiple greetings.
- Third-party app integrations: Utilize your existing tools with Nextiva’s platform to experience your software’s full potential. It offers integrations with widely used apps like MS Outlook, Google Contacts, Zendesk, NetSuite, and Microsoft Dynamics 365.
Check out more of Nextiva’s key features below:
Call Management
Key Features
- Multilevel auto-attendant
- Call pop
- Call group
- Call history
- Call flows
- Team presence
- Busy lamp field
Ensure that all calls are answered and messages are taken with Nextiva’s call management capabilities. It features a basic auto-attendant—on its most basic tier—and a multilevel auto-attendant, starting at the Professional plan.
Nextiva also provides users with a call pop feature that displays important caller information on your screen before you take the call. Users may customize which specific insights to show for your team’s benefit. Details gathered include the following:
- The last interaction with the customer/caller
- The customer experience score
- The customer’s survey responses
- The value of the customer account
Analytics
Key Features
- Customized and standard reports
- User and team performance
- Customer database
- Custom dashboards
- Standard reports
Generate reports to analyze essential data about your organizations’ activities and customers’ experiences with Nextiva. It lets you run customized and standard reports, view team and user performance, create dashboards through its dashboard builder and configure ready-made dashboard templates.
Users may also create wallboards that display metrics on large screens like TVs, helping them monitor current statistics. You may utilize Nextiva’s gathered insights to develop more effective strategies and address issues to improve your team’s performance.
Video & Audio Conferencing
Key Features
- Accessible from desktop and mobile devices
- Host video conferences for up to 250 participants
- Screen sharing
- Video conference recording
- An unlimited number of audio conference participants
- Meeting invites for audio and video conferences
Meet face-to-face virtually with your participants with Nextiva’s video conferencing feature. The module lets you host video meetings for up to 250 attendees and share your screen through your desktop computers or mobile phones. You may also record your sessions to share with those who cannot attend.
Access Nextiva’s video conferencing features through its desktop or mobile app.
(Source: Nextiva)
Additionally, Nextiva supports audio conferencing through its apps and its conference phones. You may also send meeting invites to your participants for audio and video calls to provide them with the details, such as time, date, and agenda. Three-way conferencing is also available for those with Nextiva-configured conference phones.
Desktop & Mobile Apps
Key Features
- Unlimited local calling
- Team and individual chat
- Voicemail
- Video conferencing and screen sharing
- Call routing and auto-attendant
Access its wide range of essential features—such as calls, voicemail, and video meetings—through its mobile and desktop apps.
(Source: Nextiva)
Nextiva provides users with desktop and mobile apps—enabling them to access its robust platform through their Mac or Windows computers and iOS and Android devices. You can switch seamlessly from one device to another as data is synced in real time. These apps ensure that you are not tied to your location and manage your customer and team communications from anywhere with an internet connection.
Reliable Network
Key Features
- 99.99% uptime
- Eight carrier-grade data centers
- 24/7 monitoring and security
- Real-time network status updates
Nextiva is a reliable business phone system that strives for 99.999% uptime. It has eight data centers across the U.S. that are physically secured and monitored 24/7 year-round. Apart from physical security, its network undergoes fraud mitigation, penetration testing, and call encryption.
Nextiva is also compliant with various worldwide industry standards gathering certifications, such as ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2 compliance, PCI compliance, and HIPAA compliance.
Nextiva Hardware
Nextiva allows purchases and rentals of business VoIP hardware, such as desk phones, headsets, conference devices, and adapters. If you don’t have enough budget to spend on VoIP hardware, Nextiva can help you convert your existing devices and traditional systems to work with its service and platform.
Additionally, some devices—except all adapters—are offered at monthly payment cycles and come with one- to three-year warranties for purchases and a lifetime warranty for rentals. You may check its website for more information on the specific devices bundled with these discounts and warranties.
Some of the devices that are included in Nextiva’s hardware offerings made it to our list of the best multiline phone systems for small businesses.
Nextiva Alternatives
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Best for: Businesses that want a powerful yet budget-friendly phone service that is also easy to use | Best for: Teams that want unlimited calling to nearly 50 countries around the world at no extra cost | Best for: Organizations that want to add individual features onto their service on an a la carte basis |
Starting price: $39.99 per user, per month | Starting price: $12 per user, per month | Starting price: $19.99 per line, per month |
Not sure Nextiva matches your needs? See how it compares with other popular small business VoIP service providers.
What Users Think of Nextiva
There are many Nextiva phone system reviews online that align with our analysis of it being one of the best VoIP platforms today. At the time of publication, Nextiva has earned the following ratings on other popular user review websites:
- G2: 4.3 out of 5 based on 331 reviews
- Software Advice: 4.17 out of 5 based on 183 reviews
- GetVOIP.com: 4.6 out of 5 based on 1,801 reviews
- Gartner: 4.6 out of 5 based on 334 reviews
- Capterra: 4.2 out of 5 based on 183 reviews
There are mixed reviews on Nextiva’s reliability. Majority of these comments applaud its affordability, call quality, and customer support. However, a few users mentioned that they experienced technical issues with its platform, preventing them from using some of its features.
Bottom Line
If you want to get started with a reliable business phone system that you can stick with while your needs grow, then Nextiva is for you. However, larger teams and those willing to commit to more extended contracts may benefit more from its discounts.
Nextiva packaged its plans to fit the requirements of businesses of all sizes and enables users to inquire about feature add-ons. Overall, it is an excellent choice for those looking for their money’s worth with its powerful inclusions—even in its base plans—that some of its competitors, like RingCentral, offer at more expensive plans.
Visit Nextiva to request a demo or sign up for a seven-day free trial to find out if it works best for your current business needs.
