When it comes to the Ooma vs RingCentral debate, both are top-rated voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) services. However, Ooma is a better fit for businesses with budget concerns because it costs less than RingCentral. For those that want to scale, RingCentral is the best fit because it has four distinct plans, and each offers more features and advanced reporting than what’s available from Ooma.
Based on our comparison, the best use cases for Ooma vs RingCentral are as follows:
- Ooma: Better for solopreneurs and small business owners wanting a reliable phone system, low monthly fees, and video conferencing for up to 25 participants
- RingCentral: Better for small to large companies needing real-time analytics, video meetings with up to 200 participants, and advanced integrations
Ooma vs RingCentral at a Glance
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Price | $19.99 per user, per month | $29.99 per user, per month* |
Free Trial | 30-day | 14-day |
Toll-free Numbers and Minutes | ✔ | ✔ |
Video Conferencing | Available with Ooma Office Pro and above | Free standalone video app or as part of Standard and above plans |
Mobile Applications | ✔ | ✔ |
International Numbers | N/A | ✔ |
Multilanguage Support | ✔ | ✔ |
Third-party Integrations | ✔ | ✔ |
Reporting and Analytics | Call logs | Call logs and 30+ preset key performance indicators (KPIs) |
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*RingCentral pricing is based on two to 20 users. Save up to 33% by paying annually.
How We Evaluated Ooma vs RingCentral
In the competition between Ooma and RingCentral, you will see that both of these providers have distinct features that make each useful for specific types of users. With this in mind, we’ve weighed several factors to determine which comes out ahead in a head-to-head battle. We compared factors like price, standard features, functionality in more specialized situations, and ease of use.
Here’s a complete breakdown of these factors:
30% of Overall Score
We weighed pricing as a major factor because this is a prime determinant for a majority of small businesses. When looking at Ooma vs RingCentral, we dug into the pricing structures, the number of available plans, and any discounts offered to companies based on things like annual billing or volume. Effectively, we wanted to see which provider gave the most bang for your buck.
30% of Overall Score
General features on a communication solution like this include video conferencing, integrations, and analytics. We wanted to weigh the features your business would use every day so that we could determine which provider comes out ahead in each category.
10% of Overall Score
Complexity can be beneficial sometimes, but when it comes to a VoIP provider, overly complex features can hamper the overall experience. For this reason, we took a look at each platform and determined how easy they were to use for the average user.
20% of Overall Score
Since both of these providers offer international calling, it’s critical that each also supports different languages when customers call in. For this reason, we took a look at each provider to determine which works better for supporting customers who speak various languages and dialects.
10% of Overall Score
Factors like customer experience, popularity in the business sector, and overall value for the money are pivotal factors for many businesses looking to find the right provider. For our expert score, we took a look at our own experience with each provider as well as analysis from reputable review sites and customer feedback to determine how each solution performed.
Best for Budget-friendliness: Ooma
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Pricing notes:
- Ooma Enterprise plans require a contract.
- Ring Central prices are based on two to 20 users; volume discounts available for 100 or more users and save up to 33% by paying annually.
If you’re on a strict budget or are a solopreneur, Ooma is the better small business VoIP option for your small business. RingCentral plans are significantly higher for single users, with subscriptions starting at $29.99 compared to $19.99 for two or more users. In addition, additional toll-free minutes cost just 3.4 cents with Ooma versus RingCentral’s price of 3.9 cents.
Ooma users also get unlimited calling in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, while RingCentral only supports unlimited calls in the U.S. and Canada. International calls may also be cheaper through Ooma. For instance, calling China costs 2.5 cents per minute with Ooma versus 3.9 cents with RingCentral.
RingCentral may be the better choice if you want advanced features, international phone numbers, or add-on numbers. It costs $4.99 for each additional local and toll-free number, whereas Ooma charges $9.95 each.
Winner: Ooma offers the lowest monthly subscriptions and lower charges per toll-free minute, making it a cheaper solution for solo business owners or small teams.
Best for Those Needing Toll-free & International Numbers: RingCentral
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Local or domestic 1-800 number, 500 minutes of toll-free inbound calls per month, bundled toll-free minute packages are extra, additional toll-free numbers $9.95 each per month | Local and international numbers, domestic and international toll-free numbers, 100 to 10,000 toll-free minutes per month, additional toll-free numbers $4.99 each per month |
Both Ooma and RingCentral include a local or toll-free number with your account. Likewise, their calling plans come with toll-free minutes. However, Ooma doesn’t offer international numbers.
On the other hand, RingCentral options include toll-free and local phone numbers in more than 100 countries. Subscriptions come with 100, 1,000, 2,500, or 10,000 toll-free minutes. Therefore, if you want to establish an international presence, RingCentral is the better option.
In contrast, an Ooma subscription includes 500 minutes. Ooma also offers toll-free calling plans with 1,000 to 3,000 minutes for an extra $15.99 to $30 per month. An Ooma business phone system is a good choice for your small business if you have a low volume of domestic toll-free calls.
Winner: RingCentral earns the top place for toll-free and international numbers because it supports more countries and provides more minutes in upper-tier plans.
Best for Those Needing Video Conferencing: RingCentral
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Available with the Ooma Pro, Enterprise, and Enterprise Contact Center plans, up to 25 participants, screen sharing, private or group chat, in-app or browser-based | Available as a standalone video app or with Standard, Premium, and Ultimate plans, up to 200 participants, screen sharing, private or public chat, in-app or browser-based |
While both offer video calling, the RingCentral platform offers more capabilities than Ooma’s. The RingCentral Video app is free to use with no credit card required. Video conferencing also comes in Standard, Premium, and Ultimate plans. Meanwhile, only the Ooma Pro package comes with video meeting tools, and Ooma doesn’t have a free video app.
Ooma supports up to 25 video conferencing participants, while RingCentral which lets you host up to 200 attendees. Both platforms include file sharing, cloud recordings, screen sharing, and password protection for video meetings.
In addition, both RingCentral and Ooma let you schedule video appointments in Google or Microsoft calendars. However, RingCentral users can also easily access meeting materials during a video session thanks to its robust integrations.
Winner: RingCentral has the edge over Ooma because it can host large conferences. Discover more RingCentral features and plans by reading our RingCentral review.
Best for Those Needing Multilanguage Support: RingCentral
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Five languages | 14 languages |
Multilanguage support ensures callers can understand your virtual receptionists. If you receive a significant number of calls from international locations, consider adding menu options in different languages. Both Ooma and RingCentral offer English, German, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.
However, if you receive calls from China or need region-specific dialects, go with RingCentral. It offers Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Korean, simplified and traditional Chinese, and American or U.K. English.
Winner: RingCentral is the clear winner for language support because it provides 14 languages compared to five with Ooma.
Best for Those Needing Third-party Integrations: RingCentral
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Gmail and Google Calendars, and enterprise versions include CRMs | CRMs, help desk software, project management, identity management, cloud storage, and more |
When it comes to connecting third-party applications, RingCentral outshines Ooma. It features more than 200 integrations, while Ooma’s small business plans only connect to Google and Microsoft calendars. Plus, you’ll need Ooma’s more expensive enterprise plans to access integrations.
With RingCentral, most basic integrations like Slack and Microsoft 365 are included with subscription to the Standard package. The Premium and Ultimate plan subscriptions further enable you to connect with Salesforce, Zendesk, and hundreds of other platforms.
Along with built-in connections, RingCentral has a great lineup of apps that combine features from multiple programs. For instance, the RingCentral for Microsoft 365 app lets your team interact in Microsoft Teams. Ooma lacks custom applications for integrated services.
Winner: RingCentral’s small business plans connect to hundreds of apps, making it easier to get more from your existing tools.
Best for Advanced Analytics: RingCentral
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Call logs | Call logs, pre-built KPIs, quality of service reports, and real-time dashboards |
Both RingCentral and Ooma provide call logs, giving you a record of all inbound and outbound calls and faxes. However, Ooma lacks the real-time analytics and reporting dashboards that are part of the best business phone systems.
RingCentral features more than 30 prebuilt key performance indicators (KPIs), including average handle time, abandoned calls, and answered calls. In addition, you can access quality of service reports, allowing you to track call quality across locations.
Winner: RingCentral has advanced reports and dashboards for viewing real-time and historical data, while Ooma only provides call logs.
Best Alternatives
Although Ooma and RingCentral both offer affordable business phone services, their plans may not be the best fit for your company. Other services may cost less or come with features that better support your business, such as free international calls.
A few RingCentral and Ooma alternatives include:
- Google Voice: Like Ooma and RingCentral, Google Voice has voicemail, call block, and call screening. However, Google Voice also provides a free plan for solo users.
- 8×8: You can secure low rates for making international calls when using Ooma or RingCentral, but only 8×8 has unlimited calling to 14 or 47 countries, depending on your subscription package.
- Grasshopper: The per-user pricing of VoIP and virtual phone systems can get expensive. Grasshopper is unique because it doesn’t charge per user. Instead, its plans include from three to an unlimited number of extensions, which you then assign to your team members.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I contact customer support for Ooma or RingCentral?
Customers can contact either Ooma or RingCentral customer service by phone using toll-free numbers. Additionally, RingCentral provides live chat and an online ticketing system. Or get in touch with RingCentral on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
Can I use analog phones with Ooma & RingCentral?
Yes, both RingCentral and Ooma support use of analog phones with an analog telephone adapter (ATA). Ooma offers the Ooma Office Base Station or an Ooma Linx device to connect your existing phones. Likewise, the Cisco SPA-122 ATA turns your analog phone into a RingCentral device.
Does RingCentral or Ooma come with a desktop app?
Yes, Ooma and RingCentral both have downloadable apps for Mac and Windows operating systems. In addition, both Ooma and RingCentral come with mobile apps for Android and iOS devices.
Bottom Line
The history of VoIP is expansive, and companies such as RingCentral and Ooma have been around for well over a decade. Both services continually update their capabilities to deliver business features suitable for companies with various needs.
Ooma is better for solopreneurs and small businesses wanting an affordable phone system without advanced integrations or complex reporting features. Meanwhile, RingCentral works well for companies wanting a unified communications platform with collaboration tools.
