7 Best RingCentral Alternatives & Competitors in 2023
This article is part of a larger series on VoIP.
RingCentral is a popular voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) provider offering advanced call management and unified communications tools. While it’s a reliable platform, some small businesses find its subscription plans too expensive and its features an overkill. Thus, many look for RingCentral alternatives, those with more affordable fees, simpler or niche tools, and customization options.
We evaluated some of the best VoIP solutions in the market and came up with the top RingCentral competitors:
- Nextiva: Best overall for improving internal and external communications
- Dialpad: Top option for businesses that want to streamline team productivity using artificial intelligence (AI)
- 8×8: Ideal for companies with a global customer base
- Vonage: Solid choice for organizations that want a customized phone system
- Phone.com: Best for budget-conscious small businesses
- Ooma: Top option for solopreneurs and small teams operating from a home office
- Grasshopper: Top option for companies that need multiple phone numbers
RingCentral & Best Alternatives at a Glance
RingCentral & Best Alternatives | Monthly Starting Price (per User) | VoIP Features | UCaaS Features | FSB Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|
$30 |
|
| 4.45 out of 5 | |
$30.95 |
|
| 4.40 out of 5 | |
$23 |
|
| 4.34 out of 5 | |
$28 |
|
| 4.27 out of 5 | |
$19.99 |
|
| 4.26 out of 5 | |
$14.99 |
|
| 4.23 out of 5 | |
$19.95 |
|
| 3.96 out of 5 | |
$31 (for unlimited users) |
| Not available (N/A) | 3.82 out of 5 | |
Take our quiz to find out which RingCentral alternative is best for you.
Which RingCentral alternative is right for you?
If you need a recap of RingCentral’s pricing and features, check out our in-depth RingCentral review. Aside from its subscription plans and unified communication capabilities, we evaluated its ease of use and customer service.
Nextiva: Best for Improving Internal & External Communications
What We Like
- 99.999% uptime service level agreement (SLA)
- Supports Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD)
- All plans come with a free local and toll-free number
Where It Falls Behind
- Entry-level plan doesn’t have a short messaging service (SMS) or multimedia messaging service (MMS)
- Voicemail transcription is locked in the highest-tier subscription plan
- Maximum video meeting duration is 45 minutes only
How It Compares to RingCentral
- RingCentral has an SMS allotment for each subscription package; Nextiva offers unlimited SMS services.
- Nextiva provides unlimited internet fax in its entry-level plan, but RingCentral doesn’t.
- Nextiva offers 24/7 phone, email, and chat support, while RingCentral limits its round-the-clock customer service to phone and chat.
- Both RingCentral and Nextiva offer hardware phone rental options.
Nextiva, one of our top picks for business phone systems, is the best alternative to RingCentral, rivaling RingCentral’s unified communications capabilities. The platform offers call management, team messaging, and video conferencing features, which help businesses streamline both employee and customer communications. One of its notable voice features is the toll-free minute allowance, a maximum of 12,500 minutes offered in the most expensive subscription plan.
Its team chat allows one-on-one and group messaging, file sharing, and emojis. In video meetings, you’re able to use screen sharing and chat. It integrates with calendar apps, making it easier to sync schedules and inform team members about upcoming sessions. On top of these, Nextiva’s collaboration tool, Cospace, features a task management tool.
If you frequently use video conferencing for lengthy discussions, you might find Nextiva’s 45-minute duration too short. In this case, consider 8×8, which doesn’t have time limits on meetings. Plus, it accommodates up to 500 participants.
Nextiva Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Essential: $30.95 per user for unlimited calling within the United States and Canada, a free local or toll-free number, up to 1,500 toll-free minutes, and a maximum of 45 minutes for video meetings
- Professional: $35.95 per user for the multi-level auto-attendant, mobile SMS and MMS, up to 3,000 toll-free minutes, and integrations with CRM systems
- Enterprise: $45.95 per user for call recording, voicemail transcription, up to 12,500 toll-free minutes, and enterprise integrations with popular CRM apps
- Free trial: 7 days
*Pricing is based on monthly billing. Save up to 22% with annual billing.
Nextiva Features
Nextiva lets users display their availability status. (Source: Nextiva)
- Call forwarding: Direct inbound calls to another phone number or device. Configure rules based on the caller ID, business hours, or holidays.
- Three-way calling: Launch a quick huddle with colleagues. This is beneficial when service representatives must confirm details with managers and fellow agents before relaying the information to a customer.
- Call presence: Know the status of team members immediately without talking to them directly. With this, it’s easy to know who’s available for a call before transferring a customer.
If you’re curious to know what else this provider offers, check out our comprehensive Nextiva review. The guide should help you decide if the solution suits your communication needs.
Dialpad: Best for Streamlining Team Productivity Through AI
What We Like
- Supports local numbers in 70+ countries
- Compliant with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards
- Offers professional installation services
Where It Falls Behind
- Maximum number of video meeting participants is 10
- Internet fax requires an extra fee
- Users need to upgrade to the second-tier subscription plan to unlock additional numbers
How It Compares to RingCentral
- Dialpad’s entry-level plan starts at $23 per user, while RingCentral is at $30, making Dialpad the more affordable option.
- Dialpad offers a 100% uptime guarantee, whereas RingCentral has a 99.999% SLA.
- Both providers support desk phones and BYOD.
- Unlike RingCentral, Dialpad offers priority routing and a dedicated support number for Enterprise subscribers.
Dialpad is the best RingCentral alternative for teams aiming to boost agent and team productivity through AI. The platform has built-in AI features, such as real-time call transcriptions and automated post-call summaries. With these tools, customer service representatives won’t have to jot down notes during a live call, as the phone system automatically captures conversations.
The automated post-call summary email includes:
- Basic call information: This lists the names of the participants in the call, their phone numbers, call dates and times, and call durations.
- Call transcription: The document is organized in a way that reflects the speakers in the call. If you want to go back to specific discussion points, you can search for specific keywords.
- “Key moments” list: This outlines action items and sentiment analysis. Maximize this feature when taking note of the important steps to take after the call.
While Dialpad is a great alternative to RingCentral for its robust AI tools, getting additional numbers is a bit pricey. The toll-free numbers cost $15 per user, per month. Note that you must upgrade to the second-tier subscription plan to have extra numbers, whether local or international. Phone.com’s additional phone numbers cost $4.99 a month only.
Dialpad Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Standard: $23 per user for unlimited calling within the U.S. and Canada, custom call routing, up to three ring groups, and a maximum of five hours for video meetings
- Pro: $35 per user for hold queues, international numbers, up to 25 ring groups, and integrations with CRM tools
- Enterprise: Customized quote for 100% uptime guarantee, integrations with single sign-on (SSO) providers, and dedicated account manager and support number
- Free trial: 14 days
*Pricing is based on monthly billing. The entry-level plan fee is reduced from $23 to $15 when you choose annual billing.
Dialpad Features
Dialpad transcribes voicemails in real time. (Source: Dialpad)
- IVR: Direct callers to the proper departments or customer service representatives by creating efficient phone tree menus. Go to Dialpad’s Call Routing settings to build your IVR system and produce professionally recorded messages.
- Visual voicemail: Get an overview of your voicemail messages and read transcriptions to know which ones must be addressed first. Dialpad converts audio messages to text in real time.
- Fallback options: Decide how inbound calls will be handled when no service representative is available to take a call during business hours. Dialpad offers several options: send directly to voicemail, another department, or an IVR menu.
In our Dialpad review, we recommended the provider to teams needing advanced calling and unified communications features. If you prioritize these capabilities in your operations, consider adopting the VoIP solution.
8×8: Best RingCentral Alternative for Connecting With Global Customers
What We Like
- Features various call monitoring tools, like whisper and barge
- Allows livestreaming of video meetings via YouTube
- Provides a native single sign-on service, which helps improve security
Where It Falls Behind
- Lacks free trial
- No toll-free minute allowance
- Speech analytics tool requires an additional fee
How It Compares to RingCentral
- Unlike RingCentral, 8×8 allows businesses to mix and match plans and tailor subscriptions to their specific communication needs.
- 8×8 accommodates a maximum of 500 video meeting participants, while RingCentral is limited to 200.
- 8×8’s entry-level plan includes integrations with CRM tools. In RingCentral, you must upgrade to the second-tier plan to unlock the feature.
- Unlike RingCentral, 8×8 offers unlimited internet fax in its base-level subscription package.
Among the top alternatives to RingCentral, 8×8 is ideal for companies with a global audience because it offers unlimited international calls. Its most expensive plan covers 48 countries, including Australia, China, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Aside from unlimited global calling, it provides phone number support in over 100 countries. By securing international numbers, you’ll be able to establish and strengthen your local presence overseas and use international toll-free number services.
However, one disadvantage of choosing 8×8 over other competitors of RingCentral is that it doesn’t have a toll-free minute allowance. If you want to save more on communication costs with long-distance customers, choose Nextiva.
8×8 Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- X2: $28 per user for unlimited voice calling to 14 countries, call queues, team messaging with document sharing, and audio and video conferencing for up to 500 participants
- X4: $57 per user for unlimited voice calling to 48 countries, 8×8 Frontdesk, call monitoring, and supervisor analytics
*Pricing is based on monthly billing. Save up to 23% with annual billing.
8×8 Features
Upload your own tracks to 8×8 and customize your business phone’s music on hold. (Source: 8×8)
- Overhead paging: Broadcast important announcements to your office quickly. Notify team members who have a call waiting and deliver faster customer service.
- Music on hold: Create a more pleasant experience for waiting customers by playing professionally produced tracks. 8×8 allows businesses to upload their own music or choose from the library.
- Call monitoring: Listen to live calls to better understand how service representatives engage with customers. Use the barge tool if you think speaking on behalf of the agent will speed up customer service.
Read our extensive 8×8 review to explore more features. The guide also outlines the pros and cons of using this VoIP provider, helping you decide if it’s worth your investment.
Vonage: Best for Customizing the Phone System
What We Like
- Supports local, toll-free, and international phone numbers
- 50+ standard business phone features
- Free number porting
Where It Falls Behind
- Video conferencing only accommodates up to 100 participants
- Users must choose the highest-tier subscription plan to unlock the call group and visual voicemail features
- Limited third-party integrations
How It Compares to RingCentral
- While RingCentral has a cap on the number of text messages sent per month, Vonage allows unlimited SMS.
- Vonage offers its own software defined-wide area network (SD-WAN) solution, which helps improve the internet bandwidth for better-quality voice, video, and messaging data. RingCentral, on the other hand, offers this through third-party integrations.
- RingCentral’s unlimited calls apply only within the U.S. and Canada, while Vonage extends the service to Mexico.
- Both providers sell hardware devices. Vonage carries Netgear, Panasonic, Poly, and Yealink.
Vonage is a great RingCentral alternative when you prefer to customize your VoIP solution with specific features that meet specific needs. This platform has more than 50 standard business phone capabilities and lets you cherry-pick tools from their add-on menu.
The standard features include auto-attendant, business SMS and MMS, conference call, call forwarding, and call park. Unified communication tools like team messaging and video conferencing are likewise part of the subscription plans, with the virtual meetings hosting up to 100 participants.
Meanwhile, some of Vonage’s add-on tools include toll-free flat rates, voicemail transcription, local paperless fax, and call groups. If you use these add-on features frequently though, it may be more fitting to consider other RingCentral-similar services to avoid incurring high monthly costs. Nextiva is a great alternative, providing the tools mentioned and other call management tools in its subscription plans.
Vonage Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Mobile: $19.99 per user for unlimited calls within the U.S. and Canada, unlimited SMS, unlimited team messaging, and access to Vonage App Center
- Premium: $29.99 per user for multi-level auto-attendant, unlimited video meetings for up to 100 participants, and CRM integrations
- Advanced: $39.99 per user for on-demand call recording, call group, visual voicemail, and orange-glove setup
- Free trial: 14 days
*Pricing doesn’t include taxes and fees. This includes one main local company number.
Vonage Add-on Features:
- Toll-free flat rate: $49.99 per month
- Local company number: $9.99 per month
- Voicemail transcription: $4.99 per month
- Business number inbox: $9.99 per month
- Local paperless fax: $14.99 per month
- On-demand call recording: $4.99 per month
- Call group: $4.99 per month
- Call queue: $14.99 per month
- Paging group: $4.99 per month
Vonage Features
Create call groups on Vonage to ensure that no call is overlooked. (Source: Vonage)
- Call announce: The phone system reads the custom tag attached to a call out loud to inform you what the call is about before being connected. The feature works with call screening, letting users decide whether to pick up the call, transfer it to another agent, or send it to voicemail.
- Do Not Disturb: Turn on this feature if you need to attend to non-call-related tasks. With this, the phone system won’t ring your phone number for a certain period and will instead direct inbound calls to voicemail.
- Call groups: Distribute calls to a group of phone lines to accommodate all incoming inquiries. Include agents with the same skillsets and product or service knowledge in the same call group.
Before subscribing to this VoIP solution, read our in-depth Vonage Business Communications review. We rated the provider’s pricing, features, ease of use, and customer service.
Phone.com: Most Affordable RingCentral Alternative
What We Like
- Almost all voice features are provided in each subscription plan
- Services are compatible with IP desk phones
- Wide range of meeting tools: file sharing, screen sharing, chat, and virtual backgrounds
Where It Falls Behind
- Call analytics is only offered at the highest-tier subscription package
- Limited third-party integrations
- HIPAA-compliant video meeting isn't available in the base-level subscription plan
How It Compares to RingCentral
- Phone.com provides unlimited calling minutes, whereas RingCentral doesn’t.
- Unlike RingCentral, Phone.com offers live receptionist services for $90 a month.
- Phone.com allows businesses to stream video meetings on YouTube. RingCentral doesn’t have this feature.
- Both providers offer unlimited video conferencing duration.
Phone.com is the toughest RingCentral competitor regarding pricing because it’s significantly more affordable than RingCentral. Its highest-tier package, which grants you access to all the phone system’s features, costs $29.99 per month, cheaper by a cent compared to RingCentral’s entry-level plan.
On top of this, the provider has discounts for annual billing and bulk purchases. Businesses are able to maximize the value of their money since the subscription plans include almost all the essential VoIP features you look for in a phone system.
The affordable pricing extends to additional phone numbers. RingCentral charges $4.99 a month for extra phone numbers. Phone.com has the same fee but has discounts for bulk purchases. Those needing 100-plus phone numbers only pay $1.99 per number. However, note that Phone.com has limited third-party integrations. If you want a phone system that works with various business tools, 8×8 is a better choice.
Phone.com Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Basic: $14.99 per user for call forwarding, click-to-call, 500 calling minutes, and up to 10 video meeting participants
- Plus: $19.99 per user for IP desk phone compatibility, voicemail transcription, unlimited calling minutes, and up to 25 video meeting participants
- Pro: $29.99 per user for call recording, third-party integrations, up to 100 video meeting participants, and livestreaming of meetings to YouTube
- Free trial: No, but a 30-day money-back guarantee
*Pricing is based on one to four users and monthly billing. Save up to 20% with annual billing.
Phone.com Features
Enable call screening at Phone.com to know who is calling.
(Source: Phone.com)
- Audio conferencing: Meet virtually with remote team members regardless of where they are. Phone.com accommodates up to 300 participants in audio conferences, providing a password-protected number to secure meetings.
- Call analytics: Monitor your phone system operations closely, paying attention to the number of people calling you, where they’re calling from, and how long they’re waiting. Use these insights to adjust customer service strategies.
- Call screening: Before being connected to a call, the phone system notifies agents about the caller’s caller ID and the called number and offers the option to accept or reject the call. As this happens, the person on the other end of the line hears your ringtone.
Our Phone.com review can help you decide if this VoIP solution suits your communication requirements. Familiarize yourself with the platform’s capabilities, advantages, and disadvantages before signing up for the service.
Ooma: Best for Improving Home Office Communications
What We Like
- Offers 500 toll-free minutes per month
- Easy tracking of operations through the call leaderboard
- Low international calling rates
Where It Falls Behind
- Limited third-party integrations
- Users must choose the most expensive subscription package to unlock the meeting recording feature
- Desktop app isn't available in the entry-level plan
How It Compares to RingCentral
- RingCentral offers unlimited calling within the U.S. and Canada. Ooma extends this service to Mexico and Puerto Rico.
- Unlike RingCentral, Ooma offers virtual fax in its base-level subscription plan.
- RingCentral and Ooma offer hardware options, but Ooma has a buy one, take one promo and a 30-day return program for businesses.
- Both providers feature a shared voicemail box.
For solopreneurs and small teams running their business at home, Ooma is among the top RingCentral alternatives worth considering. It offers the analog telephone adapter Telo, which allows you to connect landline phones to a network, making internet-enabled phone calls possible. With this, you won’t have to replace existing devices and buy new ones. Rather, you’ll be able to maximize what you already have at your home office.
However, if you do want to have IP phones, Ooma also offers hardware devices. It carries devices developed by the company itself and other brands, like Yealink and Cisco.
Before subscribing to Ooma, note that its video conferencing feature isn’t as robust as the other RingCentral competitors. It only accommodates 100 attendees, and you have to choose the most expensive subscription plan to use the meeting recording feature. 8×8 hosts 500 participants and offers recording capability even in the entry-level subscription package.
Ooma Office Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Essentials: $19.95 per user for one toll-free phone number, virtual receptionist, ring groups, and mobile app
- Pro: $24.95 per user for call recording, text messaging, video conferencing, and integrations with Google Workspace and Office 365
- Pro Plus: $29.95 per user for call queueing, integration with Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365, Ooma Meetings recording, and hotdesking
- Free trial: No, but a 30-day money-back guarantee
*Pricing doesn’t include applicable taxes and fees.
Ooma Features
Host video meetings with colleagues on Ooma. (Source: Ooma)
- Hotdesking: Let team members log into any phone in your system, find their unique profile settings on that device, and work on calling tasks at once. This feature is especially beneficial when you have employees working at different locations.
- Find me, follow me: Direct inbound calls to certain locations, e.g., the office or team members’ homes. Forward calls to specific devices, ringing them simultaneously or sequentially. This feature helps you avoid missing or overlooking calls.
- Video conferencing: Discuss business matters more easily with remote team members through video meetings. Ooma allows up to 25 participants per session.
Check out our Ooma review to learn more about the provider’s capabilities. This platform is a great option if you’re looking for an affordable VoIP solution.
Grasshopper: Best for Securing Business Phone Numbers
What We Like
- Unlimited extensions in the highest-tier subscription plan
- Sends automatic texts to new clients when a user misses a call
- 24/7 support offered across all subscription packages
Where It Falls Behind
- No international calling capabilities
- Lacks call recording
- Doesn’t have collaboration features like team messaging and video conferencing
How It Compares to RingCentral
- Unlike RingCentral, Grasshopper offers live receptionist services through Ruby.
- Grasshopper provides unlimited texts when businesses upgrade to the all-inclusive SOLO plan, whereas RingCentral has specific SMS allotments for each subscription tier.
- Grasshopper has virtual fax in all subscription packages, while RingCentral only offers it in the two most expensive plans.
- Because Grasshopper only has basic phone system features, it’s easier to navigate than RingCentral.
Grasshopper is the best phone system provider when you want to have multiple numbers and extensions without the high cost. It’s the only VoIP provider in this list that adds more phone numbers as you upgrade subscription plans. With Grasshopper, you’ll be able to secure different types of numbers: local, toll-free, and vanity.
Its number lookup tool is easy to use. For local numbers, you simply have to type your area code, and the system will automatically provide several number options. If you prefer vanity numbers, type the word you want to be reflected in your number on the search bar, and Grasshopper will offer suggestions. The provider also allows porting existing numbers for free.
Unfortunately, Grasshopper doesn’t have unified communications features. If you need robust team messaging and video conferencing tools companies like RingCentral offer, consider Nextiva in your VoIP options.
Grasshopper Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Solo: $31 for one phone number and three extensions
- Partner: $51 for three phone numbers and six extensions
- Small Business: $89 for five phone numbers and unlimited extensions
- All-inclusive SOLO plan (upgraded subscription): $29 a month for standard business phone features, unlimited calling minutes, business texting, and voicemail-to-email
- Free trial: 7 days
*All plans come with unlimited users, unlimited calls within the U.S. and Canada, business texting, voicemail, and custom greetings.
Grasshopper Features
Send SMS to clients via the Grasshopper app. (Source: Grasshopper)
- Custom greetings: Set up a professional business phone greeting reflecting your brand identity. Upload an audio recording or tap into Grasshopper’s professional voice actors in the Voice Studio.
- Voicemail transcription: Know the content of voicemail messages without playing the audio file repeatedly. Grasshopper transcribes voicemails and makes them accessible on desktop and mobile.
- Business texting: Send quick messages to customers, reminding them of appointments or providing updates on requests. Grasshopper supports MMS as well for subscribers with local phone numbers.
Check out our in-depth Grasshopper review to learn more about this phone system’s features. The provider earned perfect scores on customer service and ease of use. If you’re looking for an easy-to-use platform and a responsive provider, this might be a suitable solution.
How We Evaluated the Best RingCentral Alternatives
To assess the top substitutes for RingCentral, we considered pricing, general and advanced features, ease of use, and customer support. We added our expert opinion on its value for money and popularity in the evaluation.
Learn how we evaluated the top RingCentral alternatives by clicking on the tabs below:
15% of Overall Score
To determine the platform’s affordability, we looked at the cost of the base-level and second-tier plans and gave more points to those offering annual and volume discounts. We also considered if the providers offer a forever-free plan that benefits solopreneurs, startups, and small teams.
25% of Overall Score
The general features we looked at were unlimited calling in the U.S. and Canada, video and audio conferencing, and a mobile app. Since businesses need a reliable communications platform, we included the SLA guarantee in our assessment, giving more points to those with 99.999% or above uptime.
20% of Overall Score
The specialized features we checked were international calling, international numbers, and the IVR system. Higher points were given to providers with robust integrations.
10% of Overall Score
We evaluated ease of use by determining the expertise required to set up and operate the phone system. We also assessed if providers have an intuitive interface.
10% of Overall Score
The variety of customer communication channels was part of our evaluation. We gave more points to providers with email, phone, and live chat support. We considered the hours these channels are active and operational.
20% of Overall Score
This includes our evaluation of the provider’s standout features, value for money, and ease of use. We checked user ratings in third-party review sites to gauge the platform’s popularity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RingCentral good for small businesses?
Yes, RingCentral is an excellent VoIP service for small businesses, especially for those needing voice, messaging, and video conferencing capabilities. Its robust integrations make it easy for users to connect their existing tech stack and simplify workflows. However, some businesses find alternatives because of RingCentral’s expensive subscription plans.
What is the cheapest alternative to RingCentral?
Among the providers mentioned in this list, Phone.com offers the most affordable subscription plan, with its entry-level plan priced at $14.99 per user, monthly. If you want to explore more budget-friendly options, check out our list of the best cheap VoIP services.
Do any of the alternatives offer free trials or demos?
Yes. All, except 8×8 and Phone.com, offer free trials, with varying periods. Here’s a summary of the free trial duration offered by the top RingCentral competitors we evaluated:
- Nextiva: 7 days
- Dialpad: 14 days
- Vonage: 14 days
- Phone.com: 30-day money-back guarantee
- Ooma: 30-day money-back guarantee
- Grasshopper: 7 days
Bottom Line
RingCentral is a reliable business phone system ideal for companies that receive large call volumes and require close team collaboration. However, if you’re looking for another unified communications platform, Nextiva is the best option. It features a generous toll-free minute allowance, an easy-to-use team chat platform, a built-in task management tool, and robust video conferencing.
The pricing may be higher than other RingCentral substitutes, but you’ll be able to reduce costs given the discounts for annual billing and volume purchases. Sign up for Nextiva’s seven-day free trial to determine if it suits your business needs and goals.