Voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) business phone systems like RingCentral replace local landline service and offer features like phone numbers, voicemail, and conferencing. We reviewed several RingCentral competitors for customers wanting different service plans or pricing than RingCentral offers, then evaluated price, features, and customer support to learn which stood out and which is the best overall.
Top 6 RingCentral Alternatives 2019
RingCentral Alternative | Best For |
---|---|
Nextiva | (Best Overall) Businesses wanting a great combination of features at an affordable price. |
Vonage | Companies needing a la carte business phone options like call recording and conference bridge. |
8x8 | Organizations that want unlimited international calling for up to 52 countries. |
Phone.com | Small businesses on a budget with low-volume calling needs. |
Ooma | Businesses wanting a complete phone system for one straightforward monthly price. |
Grasshopper | Solopreneurs wanting a business phone number on their mobile device or personal landline. |
How We Evaluated RingCentral Alternatives
VoIP business phone systems like RingCentral let customers make, answer, route, and manage phone calls. RingCentral alternatives may offer features like customer relationship management (CRM) tool integration, virtual faxing, and SMS messaging at a lower cost or with an intuitive dashboard that’s easier to use. Alternative VoIP systems are also easy to set up and offer reliable customer support.
Therefore, we evaluated RingCentral competitors based on:
- Price: The costs of each service provider and the features offered at each tier level were evaluated.
- Ease of use: We evaluated how easy it is to set up and use each RingCentral alternative.
- Features: We looked at the types of features each provider offered, including local and toll-free phone numbers, voicemail transcription, unlimited fax, and conference calling.
- Call quality: Online customer reviews of each business VoIP provider’s call sound and quality were considered.
- Local and international calling: We took into account whether each provider offers unlimited local and international calling.
- Mobile app: We assessed whether each service offered mobile apps for accessing the provider’s calling tools and features from a mobile device.
- Call management: The types of call management tools each provider offered, such as call transfer, hold, screening, and park, were reviewed.
- CRM integration: We evaluated whether each provider offered integration tools for CRM platforms like Salesforce, Freshsales, HubSpot, and Pipedrive, or if they better served customers looking for a less robust RingCentral alternative.
- Customer support: We evaluated the type of customer service support each provider offers and its hours of availability.
Based on our research, we believe Nextiva is the best overall RingCentral alternative for small businesses because of its affordability, collection of features, and ease of use. Here’s how all six RingCentral competitors we evaluated stack up when we compared them against each other for price, features, and customer support.
Best Overall RingCentral Alternative for Small Businesses: Nextiva
Nextiva ranks as our best VoIP provider and business phone system. It features unlimited domestic calling, free phone numbers and number porting, unlimited fax, and a conference bridge. Nextiva is the best overall choice for small businesses wanting a RingCentral alternative because it’s the most feature-rich competitor compared to RingCentral, and also has a lower price.
Nextiva Pricing
Nextiva offers three competitively priced tier packages: Pro, Pro Plus, and Enterprise. Prices range from $20 to $3 per user, per month for teams of 100 or more with a prepaid yearly agreement. Starting prices for Nextiva’s service plans for solopreneurs and smaller teams range from $35 to $55 per user, per month.
Nextiva Tiered Features
Pricing | |||
Unlimited Calling | |||
Free Local Number | |||
Free Toll-free Number | |||
Free Number Porting | |||
Voicemail-to-Email Transcription | |||
Unlimited Fax | |||
Conference Bridge | |||
SMS Messaging | |||
Team Presence | |||
Mobile App | |||
Nextiva Anywhere | |||
Call Recording |
Pro
Nextiva’s Pro package includes unlimited domestic calling, a free local and toll-free phone number, free number porting, and unlimited virtual fax. This is a better value versus RingCentral’s entry-level tier, which is restricted to 10 users and includes one local or toll-free number. With pricing from $20 per user, per month, the Nextiva Pro package is a good fit for small companies and teams that need basic phone service to get their company connected.
This tier lacks the conference bridge, SMS messaging, mobile apps, and call recording features found in upper levels. It’s also missing CRM integration and media storage found in 8×8’s first-level package, but this plan is on par with other solutions on our list with similar features.
Pro Plus
Nextiva’s Pro Plus package adds SMS messaging, the mobile app, and Team Presence to allow users to set their availability status within the Nextiva app. This level also includes a conference bridge for calls with up to nine participants, with pricing from $25 per user, per month. Pro Plus tier is right for business owners who are frequently on the road or out of the office.
This tier is missing call recording and the Nextiva Anywhere app found in the provider’s highest package level. It also lacks video conferencing and call recording features offered by Vonage and 8×8, respectively. However, this plan costs less than either package and all three come with the basic set of core features like a phone number, unlimited domestic calling, and voicemail.
Enterprise
Nextiva’s Enterprise package adds three professionally recorded greetings and Nextiva Anywhere, a feature that allows users to make and receive calls from any device and any location using a single phone number. It also includes inbound and outbound call recording. With pricing from $30 per user, per month, Enterprise is good for businesses that want a unified calling experience across all devices.
Nextiva doesn’t offer 8×8’s media storage options or international calling plans. However, this plan costs less than upper-tier plans offered by 8×8 and other providers, so that may not be a deal breaker for businesses that don’t need cloud storage and primarily make domestic calls.
Nextiva Mobile App
Nextiva’s mobile app is included with Nextiva’s Pro Plus and Enterprise plans. It combines voice, instant messaging, screen sharing, and other team collaboration tools into a single application users can access from a desk phone, mobile device, or computer. The app also includes call pulling, a feature that allows users to swap devices during calls without disconnecting the call. The app is available for iPhone, Android, PC, and Mac.
Nextiva Customer Support
Nextiva’s customer support services include an online ticketing system, live chat, and comprehensive knowledge base. Phone support is also available from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Arizona Time, Monday through Friday, and 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Arizona Time, Saturday and Sunday.
Nextiva Ease of Use
Nextiva customers say the support team’s onboarding process makes the service easy and quick to set up. Users report the mobile and desktop apps are intuitive and user-friendly, although some say the dashboard is somewhat cluttered.
What Nextiva Is Missing
Nextiva is missing international calling plans like those offered by RingCentral competitor 8×8, although international calling rates billed on a per-minute basis are available. Nextiva also doesn’t offer online storage with any of its plans, though it is available through add-on plans priced from $4.95 per month.
What Users Think About Nextiva
Our readers give Nextiva good reviews, with a 4 out of 5-star rating. Customers give the service high marks for customer support and call quality. However, some users say the website portal could be more user-friendly and intuitive. For more reviews, visit our Nextiva user review page.
Best RingCentral Alternative for a la Carte Pricing: Vonage
Vonage is a voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) system and RingCentral alternative with features like CRM integration, call recording, team messaging, and video conferencing. In a head-to-head comparison with RingCentral, Vonage is a good option for businesses wanting a la carte feature options like a toll-free number and online fax. RingCentral doesn’t offer customizable service plans, so some customers end up paying for features they don’t use.
Vonage Pricing
Vonage has three package choices: Mobile, Premium, and Advanced. Pricing runs from $19.99 to $29.99 per user, per month, and includes unlimited calling, mobile apps, and a virtual receptionist. Plans can be further enhanced with add-ons like faxing and call recording. Vonage’s pricing is on par with other RingCentral alternatives with similar features.
A la carte features include:
- Local phone number: $9.99 per month
- Toll-free phone number: $39.99 per month
- Toll-free paperless fax number: $14.99 per month
- Automatic call recording: $49.99 per month
- Conference bridge: $14.99 per month, plus 3 cents per minute
Vonage Tiered Features
Pricing | |||
Unlimited Calling | |||
Local Number | |||
Mobile App | |||
SMS Messaging | |||
Team Messaging | |||
Voicemail-to-Email Transcription | |||
Music on Hold | |||
Auto-attendant | |||
Video Conferencing | |||
CRM Integration | |||
Call Group | |||
On-demand Call Recording | |||
Visual Voicemail | |||
Onboarding Support |
Mobile
Vonage Mobile includes unlimited calling, a local phone number, SMS messaging, and team messaging through the mobile and desktop apps for $19.99 per user, per month. This level also includes call management tools like call hold and forwarding, call park, and call waiting. RingCentral’s basic level includes most of the same features but is limited to 10 users. Vonage Mobile is right for distributed and remote teams or businesses that don’t rely on desk phones.
This tier lacks CRM integration, video conferencing, and the multilevel auto-attendant offered at the next level. It also lacks a toll-free phone number and online fax feature offered by Nextiva’s first-level price plan. However, a local number is available for an additional $9.99 per month and a fax number is $14.99 per month. Pricing for this tier is initially equal to Nextiva, but costs add up with optional extras.
Premium
Vonage Premium adds video conferencing, chat, and file sharing to desktop and mobile devices for up to 100 people for $29.99 per user, per month. RingCentral’s mid-level plan supports unlimited users but limits video meetings to four people. Vonage Premium is good for companies wanting a business phone system that communicates with their business apps and customer relationship tools.
This tier lacks the conference bridge offered by providers like Ooma and Nextiva, but it is available as an add-on for an additional $14.99 per month, plus 3 cents per minute. Each call accommodates up to 30 participants, while Nextiva’s conference bridge allows up to nine people and Ooma’s bridge permits 10 participants. Vonage Premium’s base price is about the same as its competitors before the cost of add-on features.
Advanced
Vonage Advanced adds onboarding support and call group to forward calls to multiple extensions simultaneously for $39.99 per user, per month. It also includes 15 hours per month of on-demand call recording that allows employees to decide when they want to record calls. Vonage Advanced is a good choice for companies wanting a dedicated support team to assist with setup and on-boarding.
Vonage plans do include basic company-wide and individual call summaries. However, this tier lacks the more robust call analytics and reporting offered by 8×8, Phone.com, and other RingCentral competitors. This level’s pricing is on par with most of the providers on our list that don’t include have inherently expensive features like unlimited international calling.
Vonage Mobile App
Vonage’s mobile app is included with all plan levels. Features include calling and texting through the Vonage Business phone number and access to contacts. Users can collaborate with colleagues via group text, media sharing, and video calls, as well as manage availability with call forwarding and Do Not Disturb. The app is available for iPhone and Android devices.
Vonage Customer Support
Vonage customer support includes a community forum, an online ticketing system, a comprehensive knowledge base, and live chat. Phone support is available from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Saturday and Sunday. Emergency on-call after-hours support is also available.
Vonage Ease of Use
Customers report setting up a new account is easy using Vonage’s New Customer Training online guides, videos, and live trainer-led sessions, and that the automated walk-through process is helpful. However, some users say the mobile app falls short and could be more user-friendly.
What Vonage Is Missing
Vonage is missing CRM integration with some popular business apps like Salesforce and Dropbox. It’s also missing international calling bundles as offered by RingCentral competitor 8×8; however, per-minute calling rates are available to all customers.
What Users Think About Vonage
Our readers give Vonage mixed reviews with a 3 out of 5-star rating. Customers report it’s easy to customize the service to your individual business needs and call quality is solid. However, some users say porting phone numbers took longer than expected. For more users reviews, visit our Vonage user review page.
Best RingCentral Alternative for International Calling: 8×8
8×8 is a business phone service provider with unlimited international calling plans to up to 47 countries. It features a phone number, audio and video conferencing, voicemail, CRM integration, and an auto-attendant. In a side-by-side comparison of this RingCentral competitor, 8×8 offers free international calling and RingCentral doesn’t, making it a better option for those with international clients.
8×8 Pricing
8×8 offers three price plans: X2, X5, and X8. Prices range from $28 to $60 per user, per month, and include unlimited international calling from 14 to 47 countries, depending on the plan you select. All plans also offer a phone number, voicemail, media storage, audio-attendant, a mobile app, and CRM integration.
8×8 Features
Pricing | |||
Unlimited Calling Zone | |||
Audio & Video Conferencing | |||
Media Storage | |||
Unlimited Fax | |||
SMS Messaging | |||
Phone Number | |||
Voicemail | |||
Auto-attendant | |||
Team Messaging | |||
CRM Integration | |||
Call Recording | |||
Operator Switchboard | |||
Call Quality Reporting & Analytics | |||
Inbound & Outbound Contact Center |
X2
8×8’s X2 package includes a phone number, unlimited calling to 14 countries, audio and video conferencing for up to five people, and 1GB of media storage for $28 per user, per month. This level also includes voicemail, team messaging, an auto-attendant, and CRM integration. RingCentral’s basic plan doesn’t include global calling or media storage. 8×8 X2 is a good choice for businesses that want CRM integration when making international calls.
This plan lacks call recording and the operator switchboard features found in the upper-level packages. It’s also missing Nextiva’s free number porting offered on its first-tier level. This plan costs a few dollars more than other solutions on our list, but it is the only one that offers unlimited international calling zones at every price point.
X5
8×8’s X5 package adds call conferencing for up to 25 people, call recording, 5GB of media storage, and unlimited international calling to 32 countries for $38 per user, per month. RingCentral’s mid-level plan limits conference calling to four people and doesn’t include call recording. 8×8’s X5 is right for businesses that want a larger global calling radius and the option to record calls.
The X5 plan lacks the contact center and analytics features found in the next tier. It’s also missing Nextiva’s voicemail transcription options. 8X8’s X5 mid-level package costs about the same as the upper-level package of other business phone system providers on the market.
X8
8×8’s X8 package adds a contact center package with 2,000 domestic calling minutes and three months of call recording storage for $60 per user, per month. Additional contact center features include predictive, progressive, and preview autodialers and interactive voice response technology. 8×8’s X8 plan is right for companies wanting a business phone system with contact center integration.
8×8 lacks integrations with Dropbox, Salesforce, and Microsoft. 8×8’s X8 plan is also more expensive than some of its competitors, but businesses that make a lot of international calls may prefer an unlimited calling plan over a per-minute rate offered by other providers.
8×8 Mobile App
8×8’s mobile app is included with all plan levels. Features include click-to-dial from the company or personal directory, voicemail access, video and audio conference calling, and SMS messaging. The app also includes unified team messaging and collaboration. 8×8’s mobile app is available for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
8×8 Customer Support
8×8 customer support includes an online knowledge base, ticketing support, 24/7 live chat, and phone support. 8×8 also offers crowdsourced support on its website from its most active power users. These experts use their knowledge and experience to help customers troubleshoot common technical issues in exchange for rewards from 8×8.
8×8 Ease of Use
8×8 users say the setup process is quick and easy, and the onboarding team is responsive if any questions come up along the way. Customers report the dashboards and configuration menus are intuitive, but the web portal can be difficult to navigate the first few times.
What 8×8 Is Missing
8×8 is missing voicemail transcription-to-text or email as offered by RingCentral competitors like Nextiva and Phone.com. The service also lacks integration with Google Suite, Gmail, and Dropbox.
What Users Think About 8×8
Customers say the service is priced well and offers a lot of features for the money. However, our readers give 8×8 low marks, with a 2 out of 5-star rating. These users report regular system disruptions and say customer service can be unreliable, which is worth considering when making purchasing decisions. For more reviews, visit our 8×8 user review page.
Best RingCentral Alternative for Low-volume Calling: Phone.com
Phone.com is a low-cost business phone service that provides customers with phone numbers and bundles of minutes. It also features SMS messaging, call conferencing, an auto-attendant, and voicemail. Phone.com is a good RingCentral alternative for small businesses that don’t make a lot of calls and don’t want to pay for expensive service plans with large buckets of minutes.
Phone.com Pricing
Phone.com offers three price plans: Base, Plus, and Pro. Prices range from $12.99, which is below industry average, to a competitively priced $39.99 per month. Plans include local or toll-free phone numbers, a bundle of call minutes, and a bundle of SMS messages. Additional features include an auto-attendant, call conferencing, and call analytics.
Phone.com Tiered Features
Pricing | |||
Phone Numbers | |||
Included Minutes | |||
SMS Messaging | |||
Auto-attendant | |||
Call Conferencing | |||
Voicemail-to-Email | |||
Voicemail-to-Text | |||
Premium Hold Music | |||
Call Analytics | |||
Call Recording | |||
Video Conferencing |
Base
Phone.com’s Base plan includes one local or toll-free phone number with 300 minutes of calling time for $12.99 per month. This level also includes 5,000 SMS messages, an auto-attendant, call conferencing, and voicemail-to-email. RingCentral’s basic plan features unlimited calling and SMS, but limits conference calls to four people. The Base plan is a good choice for solo business owners or small teams that don’t need a lot of calling minutes.
This level lacks the voicemail-to-text and premium hold music features found in Phone.com’s mid-level plan. It’s also missing the team messaging and media storage offered with 8×8’s basic plan. This is one of the lowest-priced plans on our list, but costs add up if you add additional minute bundles or incur overage charges.
Plus
Phone.com’s Plus plan includes two local or toll-free phone numbers with 500 minutes of calling time for $19.99 per month. This level also includes 10,000 SMS messages, voicemail-to-text, and premium hold music. RingCentral’s mid-level plan features a multilevel auto-attendant and places no limits on calls or texting. The Plus tier is a good match for businesses that favor text and SMS messaging over voice calling.
This tier lacks the call analytics and video conferencing features found in Phone.com’s highest-level plan. It also doesn’t include the CRM integration offered by other RingCentral competitors on our list, like Vonage and 8×8. However, this feature is available as an add-on by calling Phone.com’s sales team for a quote. The Plus plan costs about the same as other mid-level business phone systems on the market.
Pro
Phone.com’s Pro plan includes three local or toll-free phone number with 1,000 minutes of calling time for $39.99 per month. This level also includes 20,000 SMS messages, call analytics, call record and save, and video conferencing for up to 25 participants. RingCentral’s premium plan features CRM integration and conferencing for up to 100 people. The Pro plan is a good match for businesses wanting tools to monitor, review, analyze, and save calls and call data.
This level doesn’t include online storage options like RingCentral alternative 8×8. Unlike Nextiva, it also doesn’t include professionally recorded greetings. However, professional recordings are available as an add-on option starting at $79. The Pro plan’s pricing is about the same as other upper-level business phone plans on the market.
Phone.com Mobile App
Phone.com’s mobile app is included with all plan levels. Features include visual voicemail, SMS text messaging, and conference calling. Customers can also receive faxes and set custom caller ID numbers to keep personal phone numbers private when making outbound calls. Phone.com’s mobile app is available for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
Phone.com Customer Support
Phone.com customer support includes an online knowledge base, user manuals, and training guides. Email, live chat, and phone support are also available 365 days a year. Customer support in Spanish is available Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Phone.com Ease of Use
Phone.com users report that the service is easy to use, and includes features that can scale with your company as your business grows. The system also offers integrations with third-party CRM systems like Salesforce and Zoho CRM, similar to what is offered by RingCentral, giving users the ability to manage their calls and contacts from within a more robust sales tool.
What Phone.com Is Missing
Phone.com doesn’t offer unlimited calling with any of its plans like RingCentral competitors Nextiva and Vonage. However, the option is available as an add-on feature for $23.99 per extension, per month.
What Users Think About Phone.com
Our readers give Phone.com mixed reviews with a 3 out of 5-star rating. Customers like that the service is affordable and that the plans are flexible. However, customer service experience reports include delayed responses and unhelpful staff. For more user reviews, visit our Phone.com user review page.
Best RingCentral Alternative for All-inclusive Pricing: Ooma
Ooma is a VoIP business phone system with features that include voicemail, call management tools, and a virtual receptionist. It also offers autoforward during device outages and E911 service where supported. Companies wanting a RingCentral alternative that includes all available features for one straightforward monthly price rather than tiered pricing like RingCentral offers should consider Ooma.
Ooma Pricing
Ooma’s pricing is $19.95 per user, per month, along with a one-time hardware charge of $79.99 for a base station and two wireless Linx devices. Accounts include one local or toll-free phone number, a virtual fax number, and a conference line number. Additional local or toll-free numbers are available for $9.95 each per month.
Ooma Features
Ooma’s features include unlimited calling to the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, a virtual receptionist, a conference bridge, voicemail, and call management tools. Ooma doesn’t offer as many features or international calling options as other RingCentral alternatives, but unlike other providers, they are all available to unlimited users for a single monthly price.
Ooma features include:
Call Management
Ooma’s call management tools include voicemail, call transfer, park, and call forwarding to mobile devices. Like RingCentral, Ooma also offers “ring group,” a feature that allows multiple phones to ring simultaneously when one number or extension is dialed. Each user extension includes a voicemail box with a personalized greeting and an individual portal to check call logs, listen to voicemail, and send faxes, as does RingCentral.
Virtual Receptionist
Ooma’s virtual receptionist routes calls by name or extension number to a virtual extension, physical extension, ring group, or voicemail box. The virtual receptionist also includes greeting configuration options for business hours and after-hour calls, as well as tools to allow users to create personalized company greetings and announcements. RingCentral’s auto-attendant, available with mid-level plans and higher, offers similar greeting and routing features.
Phone Numbers
Ooma accounts include a local phone number and a toll-free number with 500 minutes of inbound calls per month. Businesses can port one existing number free of charge. Additional ported phone numbers and new local or toll-free numbers are billed at $9.95 per number, per month. Each RingCentral plan includes one local or toll-free number with unlimited domestic calling and 100 to 2,500 toll-free calling minutes, depending on the plan.
E911 Service
Ooma provides E911 emergency calling services where locally supported. However, there are some important limitations to keep in mind. Power and a working broadband internet connection are required for Ooma to provide 911 service, and 911 calls are not available from Ooma’s mobile app. RingCentral also supports E911 service, but the same limitations apply.
Ooma Mobile App
Ooma’s mobile app is available for all customers. Features include voicemail access, outbound caller ID with the user’s Ooma phone number, call transfer, and Wi-Fi calling. Customers can also access Ooma’s virtual receptionist and user accounts through the app. Ooma’s mobile app is available for iPhone and Android devices.
Ooma Customer Support
Ooma customer support includes an online knowledge base, video tutorials, user manuals, and community forums where users can share ideas and suggestions. Live chat and 24/7 phone support is also available.
Ooma Ease of Use
Ooma customers report the system is quick to set up and the virtual receptionist is easy to navigate. Users say it’s also easy to customize the phone options online. However, some say the mobile app interface can be confusing.
What Ooma Is Missing
Ooma is missing a video conferencing feature as offered by RingCentral competitors like Vonage and 8×8. Ooma also lacks a low-cost point of entry for new customers due to the upfront costs associated with the hardware equipment purchase necessary to set up the service for the first time.
What Users Think About Ooma
Our readers give Ooma high marks with a 4 out of 5-star rating. Customers emphasize the intuitive user interface and say customer service is responsive. However, some users were disappointed to discover it’s only possible to port phone numbers, not extension numbers. For more user reviews, visit our Ooma user review page.
Best RingCentral Alternative for Multi-use Phones: Grasshopper
Grasshopper is a VoIP solution and RingCentral alternative with unlimited domestic calling, user extensions, voicemail, and inbound fax. Grasshopper is right for solo entrepreneurs or very small business owners who want a business phone number on their mobile device or personal landline while ensuring phone communication appears professional to callers.
Grasshopper Pricing
Grasshopper offers three plans that include the same features, like a local phone number, unlimited calling, and voicemail for one monthly price. The $29 Solo plan includes one number and three extensions, the $49 Partner plan has three numbers and six extensions, and the $89 Small Business plan includes five numbers and unlimited extensions.
Grasshopper Features
Grasshopper’s features include unlimited domestic calling, voicemail, voicemail transcription, call forwarding, inbound fax, business texting, custom greeting, desktop and mobile apps, and Wi-Fi calling. International calling is available at a per-minute rate based on location, and additional phone numbers are available for a small fee through the customer support team.
Grasshopper’s features include:
Call Management
Grasshopper’s call management tools include voicemail, voicemail transcription, call forwarding and screening, and conference calling for up to 10 participants. Customers can also use the desktop app to view voicemail and call logs and to make and receive calls over Wi-Fi. RingCentral offers similar call management tools and conference calling for four to 100 people, depending on the plan.
Virtual Receptionist
Grasshopper doesn’t offer a full-featured virtual receptionist like Nextiva, Vonage, or 8×8. However, users can record personalized messages and announcements via Grasshopper’s desktop app to use with the system’s custom phone greeting feature that plays automatically when a customer calls. RingCentral’s auto-attendant features similar custom greeting options for inbound calls.
Phone Numbers
Grasshopper accounts include one to five phone numbers and a bundle of extensions, depending on the plan selected. Additional phone numbers are available for a small fee, and extra extensions can be added by contacting customer support. RingCentral plans come with one local or toll-free phone number and unlimited extensions. Additional local and toll-free numbers are available for $4.99 per month.
E911 Service
Grasshopper does not provide E911 service support. However, its technology does not interfere with your mobile device or landline’s dial tone or ability to make local 911 emergency calls. According to Grasshopper’s terms of service, in the event of an emergency while using Grasshopper, hang up and dial the local emergency number in your area for assistance. RingCentral offers E911 service where locally supported.
Grasshopper Mobile App
Grasshopper’s mobile app is included with all plan levels. Features include calling and texting using your Grasshopper phone number, access to call history, sign and email faxes and PDFs, and Wi-Fi calling. Voice and data access is required for the app to work. Grasshopper’s mobile app is available for iPhone and Android devices.
Grasshopper Customer Support
Grasshopper customer support includes an online knowledge base, video tutorials, and a quick start guide for setting up the iPhone and desktop apps. The support team is also available via email and 24/7 phone support.
Grasshopper Ease of Use
Grasshopper customers say setup is quick and easy, taking only about 30 minutes. Users report the mobile and desktop apps are intuitive and easy to navigate, with a short learning curve. However, users who encounter any issues while setting up or learning their way around the service can consult the free online video tutorials and content guides to get up to speed.
What Grasshopper Is Missing
When compared side-by-side with RingCentral, Grasshopper is noticeably missing the CRM integration tools, video conferencing, and team collaboration tools offered by RingCentral and other RingCentral competitors on our list, like 8×8 and Vonage. Grasshopper also lacks the range of customer support options offered by other providers, such as live chat and an online ticketing system.
What Users Think About Grasshopper
Our readers give Grasshopper mixed reviews with an average rating of 3 out of 5 stars. Customers say the pricing is affordable and accounts are easy to set up. However, users say tech support can be slow to respond and product updates can temporarily affect usability. For more user reviews, visit our Grasshopper user review page.
Why Consider a RingCentral Alternative
Although RingCentral is a top VoIP provider for small business, it’s not right for every organization or team. For instance, call centers needing a VoIP solution with custom reporting and advanced call metrics should check out Freshcaller. Companies looking for unique features like unlimited international calling or solo entrepreneurs that want a business phone number on their mobile device or personal landline should consider one of these RingCentral competitors.
Bottom Line
VoIP business phone systems like RingCentral replace landlines as a primary communication method for communicating with clients and customers. They are packed with features like call management tools, call recording, virtual fax, international calling, and CRM integration that may be available from RingCentral competitors at a lower cost or are easier for small businesses to set up.
Businesses that want an easy-to-use RingCentral alternative with a great combination of features at an affordable price should check out Nextiva. It features unlimited calling, a free local phone number, voicemail, free local phone number porting, and unlimited fax. The company offers a free demo of its product when you contact the sales team. Visit Nextiva’s website for details.
Braden Martin
October 11, 2019 at 11:38 amThanks for sharing this valuable information up here. It is a fact indeed that Nextiva is the only best option of VoIP other than RingCentral. If you want to know more about the packages and discounted offers on these services, you can contact us at Blue Fox Group.
Amanda Norman
October 13, 2019 at 10:32 pmHi Braden,
Glad you like the article! Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
Mandy, Moderator
Manish Rai
May 25, 2019 at 7:27 pmWhich software application would be the best for bulk SMS messaging?
Amanda Norman
May 29, 2019 at 7:44 pmHi Manish,
Try taking a look at this article. Best SMS Marketing Software for Small Business
Thanks for reading!
Mandy, Moderator
Geoff
June 11, 2017 at 7:18 pmFYI the 8×8 link doesn’t work in the UK or Spain! Very international indeed lol the CloudFront distribution serving the site is set to block for both apparently…
Gavin Graham
June 20, 2017 at 2:33 pmHi Geoff,
Thanks for flagging this for us.
G
Michael Oden
September 9, 2016 at 12:35 pmGreat breakdown. Really helpful!
Jason Rueger
September 12, 2016 at 1:24 pmMichael,
Thanks! We do our best to make our articles practical and helpful. Appreciate your comment!
Jason
Jerry
February 3, 2016 at 4:15 pmhello Jeremy Marsan
just came across your article i want to start my own voip business that will save Africa Market how can i do it. please advise me on this
Jeremy Marsan
February 5, 2016 at 6:39 pmHi Jerry,
How to start a business is a major focus of our website – we actually have a whole homepage dedicated to the subject here.
Our focus is the United States, but many of the general lessons we speak about should apply – like choosing a business name, registering a domain, advertising on Google, etc.
Hope this helps!
Jeremy
Jerry
February 6, 2016 at 7:38 amthose that mean Africans are not allowed to use a voip or establish a voip business i could remember i contacted ringcentral to see if i can set up as a franchise when them but they turned my offer down saying they don’t support my region
Jeremy Marsan
February 8, 2016 at 4:33 pmWhat country/countries are you looking to operate in specifically?
jerry
February 10, 2016 at 9:10 amNigeria for now
Jeremy Marsan
February 12, 2016 at 2:51 amUnfortunately I can’t be of much help. A quick search “nigeria voip franchise” and a few companies come up – such as ADESEMI. But it’s not clear if there are franchise opportunities available.
Sorry we can’t do more,
Jeremy
Jerry
February 12, 2016 at 7:56 amTHANKS