RingCentral and Vonage are two different VoIP providers that specialize in business settings. Both offer features like SMS messaging and unlimited calling, but there are differences between the two. While RingCentral’s collection of features are bundled for the convenience of the user, Vonage’s plans are better for companies looking for a more personalized plan.
When to Use RingCentral
If you’re looking for a phone service that is ready-made with features like video and conference calling and toll-free numbers, RingCentral is the service for you. It offers clients a user-friendly interface to easily navigate the phone system and 24/7 live support if you run into a tech issue. RingCentral is perfect for small to large businesses that have scattered employees and do a lot of business across the country.
When to Use Vonage
Plans with Vonage are built based on the needs of the customer, which means that you get to pick and choose which services you want and don’t want. The most basic service plan offers features like team messaging and unlimited SMS messages, but services like auto-attendant and visual voicemail are only available with higher-tiered plans. Vonage is ideal for companies that would prefer to only pay for the features they intend to use.
RingCentral vs Vonage At a Glance
RingCentral | Vonage | |
|---|---|---|
Pricing | From $19.99 - $59.99 per user, per month | From $14.99 - $34.99 per user, per month |
Phone Calls & Text Messaging | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Free Trial | 15 days | 14 days |
Toll-free Numbers | Free | $39.99 per month |
Conference Bridge | Included | $14.99 per month |
Video Conferencing | Up to 100 participants | No; uses Amazon Chime |
Customer Service | 24/7 call support | Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time |
Mobile App/Software |  | |
How We Evaluated RingCentral vs Vonage
RingCentral and Vonage are complete voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) business phone systems that support unlimited calling and text messaging using a physical desk phone, softphone, or mobile app. To compare the two, we examined aspects like pricing and fees as well as overall features offered at various tiers and ease of use. At the core of this evaluation, we wanted to find the service that works best overall for business.
The criteria we used to evaluate the best phone service for business include:
- Price
- Features
- Syncing and mobility
- Desktop and mobile apps
- Customer support
- Ease of use
Based on these criteria, we have concluded that RingCentral is the better of the two services. It includes many exciting features that Vonage charges an extra fee for, such as free toll-free phone numbers and video conferencing for up to 100 participants. Plus, RingCentral is very user-friendly and offers 24/7 customer support, making it the ideal service for most businesses in need of a complete phone system.
RingCentral vs Vonage: Pricing
RingCentral | Vonage | |
|---|---|---|
Pricing | From $19.99 - $59.99 per user, per month | From $14.99 - $34.99 per user, per month |
Free Trial | 15 days | 14 days |
Toll-free Numbers | Free | $39.99 per month |
Conference Bridge | Included | $14.99 per month |
Call Recording | Included | $4.99 per month |
Auto-attendant | Included | Requires plan upgrade |
Contract | Requires annual agreement | Offers annual and month-to-month plans |
Takeaway: Each of the two providers are the same in that they offer different tiers of service. RingCentral’s pricing at its most basic tier costs as low as $19.99 per user, per month, while Vonage’s most basic plan can start at $14.99 per user, per month. This makes Vonage the lower-cost option; however, has fewer standard features without paying additional fees. Therefore, RingCentral might be the better option if more robust functionality is desired.
RingCentral vs Vonage Features
RingCentral | Vonage | |
|---|---|---|
Voicemail Transcription | Included in all plans | Available for an extra fee |
Call Management | Offers call transfer, hold, conferencing, and multilevel auto-attendant | Offers call transfer, call flip, simultaneous ring, and call forwarding |
Phone Numbers | Offers local, toll-free, and vanity numbers | Toll-free or vanity numbers cost extra |
Text Messaging | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Mobile App | Included in all plans | Included in all plans |
Video Conferencing | Included for up to 100 participants | Requires third-party integration |
Takeaway: Both products are packed with features designed to help you manage calls. With easy-to-see menu options like call transfer, hold, and mute, RingCentral is easy for users no matter how comfortable they are with technology. Vonage’s “call flip” feature, on the other hand, gives you the ability to switch between the mobile and desktop apps without interrupting an active conversation, which is great for people who need to frequently change locations.
RingCentral and Vonage also make it simple to stay connected wherever you are. The desktop and mobile apps, which are included in all levels of service, offer additional SMS and chat messaging and work with third-party software like Amazon Chime, Salesforce, and Zoho. That said, RingCentral also offers built-in video conferencing, which can give it an edge over Vonage and other alternatives for teams that value collaboration.
RingCentral vs Vonage: Ease of Use & Customer Service
RingCentral | Vonage | |
|---|---|---|
User Interface | Simple desktop and mobile app | Simple desktop and mobile app |
Customer Service | 24/7 call support | Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time |
Live Customer Training | | |
24/7 Customer Support | |  |
Takeaway: Both services cater to end users, which makes them very user-friendly and easy to set up. Cloud-based technology means that additional equipment, extra wires, and clunky hardware are a thing of the past. RingCentral and Vonage are equally easy to use for any tech skill level. However, if you need technical support, 24/7 customer support is offered for RingCentral customers who subscribe to the higher tiers of service. Vonage’s support system functions very much like RingCentral’s, but is only available from 9:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
RingCentral vs Vonage: Customer Reviews
Third-party validation is what a lot of customers are looking for when choosing a new phone provider. What past and current users have to say about both Vonage and RingCentral is generally positive, and both services offer different benefits.
RingCentral Customer Reviews
Customers love RingCentral’s ease of access and its clean user interface (UI), making user-friendliness the major draw for RingCentral. However, some customers complain that plans are not easily customizable, and that is disappointing for some. For a more in-depth look at what customers are saying, check out our RingCentral reviews page to learn more.
Vonage Customer Reviews
Overall customers are quite happy with Vonage and its many features, but that is also one of the major complaints from customers. While Vonage is extremely customizable and makes it easy to build a plan from scratch, it can get expensive to pay for all the features you want. Visit our Vonage user reviews page to learn what customers have to say.
When to Use an Alternative Option
While both services are feature-rich phone services, smaller teams might be better off considering a virtual phone system like Grasshopper instead. This virtual phone service supports three extensions for as little as $26 per month with features similar to Vonage. However, it allows you to use existing devices for personal and business calls, meaning you don’t have to purchase additional equipment. You can learn more by visiting Grasshopper today.
Bottom Line
Vonage and RingCentral are both high-quality VoIP services, but each has something different to offer clients. Ease of access and collaboration are the main draws for RingCentral, but Vonage offers many add-ons and customizable features.
Between the two services, we have decided that RingCentral is the better choice for customers who want a ready-made phone package. RingCentral’s intuitive setup makes transitioning phone providers easy, plus with its multiple methods of support, you can get help for all questions you might have. Visit RingCentral and try out its 14-day free trial today.
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