Nextiva vs Vonage: Which Is Better for Small Business?

Nextiva and Vonage are voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) phone providers with similar features like SMS texting and call log reports. The two services are highly comparable in terms of service and overall quality, but the features included in each service tier vary, which can result in one service being better than the other for your small business.

• Nextiva: Best for well-established and growing companies that need a robust business-ready phone system with all the bells and whistles
• Vonage: Best for startups as well as medium-sized and growing businesses in need of a basic phone system

Nextiva vs Vonage at a Glance

Takeaway: Although each service offers an impressive set of standard features for competitive prices, Vonage does not include as many in its base package as Nextiva does. Nextiva also gives you perks like toll-free minutes and 24/7 customer support included in all service tiers, while Vonage tacks on additional fees for these same very basic features. This means that while you may pay less money upfront, Vonage can become the more expensive option in the long run if you grow and need to add more functionality.

How We Evaluated Nextiva & Vonage

When we broke down Vonage and Nextiva and compared them, we examined areas like affordability and what kind of built-in features are included with every service tier. We also compared what both Nextiva and Vonage include in their base packages, as well as what other customers have to say about call clarity, the usefulness of features, and whether or not they would recommend the service.

Some of the main criteria included:

• Price
• User reviews
• Stock features
• Methods of communication (audio, video, conferencing, and so on)
• Call handling options
• Ease of use
• Call quality
• Customer service

We have chosen Nextiva as our pick for the best VoIP for small businesses, in part due to its price and included features, but also for its reputation for amazing customer service and high-quality calls. It even wins a spot on our list for one of the best business VoIP phone plans.

When to Use Nextiva

Well-established businesses that have many employees and need a robust phone service are Nextiva’s ideal customer. Service starts as low as $29.95 per user, per month for five to 19 users, allowing you to pay on a monthly basis or to sign up for an annual contract. Nextiva offers many business-centered benefits, like built-in integrations with Google and Outlook, toll-free minutes with every package, and unlimited multilevel auto-attendant.

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Nextiva Pros & Cons

Nextiva Pricing

Nextiva offers three different service tiers, and you have several different payment options. The cheapest options are based on 100 employees or more, which is another reason why well-established companies can benefit the most from Nextiva.

Another point worth noting is that Nextiva offers monthly plans as well as contracted plans. However, contracted plans are 36-month plans, locking you into a contract for at least three years. This is either a perk or a drawback, depending on your specific business and circumstance.

Pricing below reflects five to 19 users:

• Essential: $29.95 per user, per month; $27.95 per user, per month with a 36-month agreement
• Professional: $32.95 per user, per month; $30.95 per user, per month with a 36-month agreement
• Enterprise: $39.95 per user, per month; $37.95 per user, per month with a 36-month agreement

Why Nextiva Is the Better Choice for Established Businesses

• Priced for larger businesses: Vonage’s lower price tag appeals to smaller, budget-conscious companies, but Nextiva’s plans are already priced for larger environments. You can save the most money through Nextiva by purchasing a plan servicing 100 or more employees and signing a three-year contract.
• 24/7 support: Business settings containing more hardware and more employees will have a higher need for technical support. Whereas Vonage charges a fee of $9.99 per user, per month for its support PLUS plan, Nextiva includes 24/7 phone, email, and chat support for each tier.
• Toll-free minutes: If your company has a heavy local and international call volume, then Nextiva helps you to save even more money by including toll-free minutes with every tier, as well as a free toll-free number. The Enterprise service tier offers 10,000 included minutes, ideal for companies that can afford to spend more money to support a heavy call volume.

Visit our Nextiva reviews page to learn more about pricing, plans, and a full list of features.

When to Use Vonage

If your business is still in a phase of growth or is still relatively small, Vonage is a better option for you. Its prices are markedly cheaper than Nextiva’s, starting as low as $17.99 per user, per month, also servicing five to 19 users. However, the price reflects the features you are lacking; Therefore, Vonage is best suited for companies that want the ease of a VoIP phone system but do not need the additional features that come with Nextiva.

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Vonage Pros & Cons

Vonage Pricing

There is no annual contract with Vonage, so you are charged on a monthly basis. This is another benefit for smaller businesses that do not want to be tied to a contract, especially if they want or need to cancel suddenly.

Pricing below is based on five to 19 users:

• Mobile: $17.99 per user, per month
• Premium: $27.99 per user, per month
• Advanced: $37.99 per user, per month

Why Vonage Is the Better Choice for Startups & Smaller Companies

• Affordable: Unlike Nextiva, Vonage charges you per user, per month based on how many users you’d like to service; the more users you have, the cheaper your monthly fee will be.
• Customizable: If you can’t find the exact feature that you’re looking for in a service package, Vonage lets you build it to make it what you want.
• Basic call handling options: Vonage gives you a basic suite of call handling options like mute, forwarding, and hold. In comparison to Nextiva’s more advanced options, this is better for teams that are not particularly tech-savvy.
• Available Apps: No matter where you are, you have access to both mobile and desktop apps to help you maintain and control your calls.

To learn more about Vonage and its features and prices, check out our Vonage reviews page.

Nextiva vs Vonage: Which Is Better for Most Small Businesses?

Nextiva and Vonage both have:

• Desktop and mobile apps: In a world where remote work is becoming the norm, having access to both kinds of apps is an important feature for all users.
• Auto-attendant services: This handy feature frees your employees to dedicate more time to their jobs by answering and routing calls to their appropriate extension.
• BYOD: “Bring your own device.” Though you have the option to rent additional equipment, each service allows you to keep your existing smartphone or other devices for business purposes.
• Call flip: This feature lets you set the number of times the phone will ring before being transferred to another device like your personal cell phone or even your computer.

Between the two services, we recommend Nextiva as the preferred small business phone system. There are many contributing factors for this, but we ultimately based our decision on the monthly price per user and the included features with all service tiers. Whereas you must pay extra monthly fees to build a Vonage plan to your liking, Nextiva has many of those add-on features rolled into its service tiers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does either service provide video conferencing?

Yes, both services provide video conferencing. With Vonage, you must visit the Vonage Free Conferencing website. This requires no specific setup or sign-up; all users need is a web link to join a video conference.

With Nextiva, you can use the video chat function on both the mobile and desktop apps, which is easy and simple to use. With higher service tiers, you can also use third-party collaboration service Amazon Chime to host video meetings.

Will either service work without an internet connection?

No. You must have access to an internet connection to make use of VoIP and virtual phone services. Although you can connect to Wi-Fi, remember that Wi-Fi calling is notorious for variability and is not designed to maintain a heavy call volume.

Why should I pay for service when I can use Zoom, Skype, or Google Voice for free?

Although the above services are great for video conferencing, SMS messaging, and hosting a virtual meeting with many attendees, they are very basic technologies compared to Vonage and Nextiva. Nextiva and Vonage are full business solutions that offer many different features beyond video calling and texting. You are not paying for one or two convenient features with these two services; you are paying for a full-service business telephone solution.

Bottom Line: Vonage vs Nextiva

Your individual needs will vary based on the kind of business you run, which will affect which service is better for you. Nextiva is ideal for bigger companies that are well-established and are looking for service on a larger scale. With Vonage, you get some of these same benefits, but it is better suited for smaller companies or startups and solo workers.

We have chosen Nextiva as our pick as the better solution of the two for larger businesses. Its prices are slightly higher than Vonage’s, but the included features make it well worth the price. You gain access to features like toll-free calling and virtual faxing that you’d otherwise have to pay for with Vonage. Visit Nextiva’s website to find out how you can start your free 14-day trial.

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