866-594-9166
The RingCentral Alternatives and Competitors Guide
If you’re looking for a business phone system or unified communications platform, you’ve likely seen that RingCentral is a popular choice. While many businesses choose RingCentral, many RingCentral alternatives may work better for your business.
RingCentral is a VoIP provider that’s a top choice for businesses that need a lot of features to communicate with customers, but what if they’re not right for you? RingCentral may have a lot of features, but they come with a cost. That’s why we’ve put together a list of some of the top RingCentral alternatives on the market so you can compare.
Read on to learn all about RingCentral, its pros and cons, as well as the top RingCentral alternatives for you to consider. By the end, you should have a pretty good idea of which provider might work best for you. If you need need a VoIP provider, we can help. We work with all of the best VoIP providers in the US and can help you find the best one for your business. We’re based in Atlanta but we serve the entire US from Los Angeles to Houston and Miami!
What Is RingCentral?
RingCentral is a cloud-based communications and collaboration platform that has been around since the days of traditional PBX. They’ve evolved with advancing technology to provide VoIP service (Voice over Internet Protocol), unified communications, and even contact center functionality.
One of the reasons RingCentral is so popular is the vast number of features it offers. From cloud PBX to video, messaging, and team collaboration, RingCentral enables teams to work better–whether they’re in the office together or working remotely.
Some of RingCentral’s notable features include:
- Business texting
- Video conferencing
- Unlimited domestic calling in the US and Canada
- Multi-level auto attendant and IVR (interactive voice response)
- HD voice with AI noise cancellation
- On-demand call recording (automatic call recording is available with the higher tiers of service)
- Team messaging and file sharing
- AI meeting insights and transcription
- Advanced analytics
- Integrations with over 200 business applications, like Salesforce and Zendesk
Pros and Cons of RingCentral
RingCentral is popular, but it’s not a perfect platform. It has numerous advantages and disadvantages, just like any of the RingCentral competitors. Here are some of the top pros and cons of RingCentral:
Pros:
- Unified communications: RingCentral is more than just a provider of business phone systems. It’s a unified communications platform that offers video conferencing, team messaging, and business texting, in addition to its high-quality voice calling. These unified communication features enable better communication and collaboration within your organization as well as with your customers. Whether your team is in office, hybrid, or fully remote, you can count on RingCentral to connect your team.
- Scalability: Before VoIP, purchasing a new business phone system was always quite an investment. You’d have to pay for new hardware, installation, and maintenance, and plan for future growth. Plus, you’d need an IT department to keep your phone system running. However, because RingCentral provides cloud-based phone service, scaling up or down is nowhere near as difficult. You don’t need to pay for installation or buy new hardware to get a new line. All you need to do is update your service to add or take away users. Plus, you can upgrade your service to get more features as your business grows. That way, you’re only paying for what you need right now.
- Flexibility: Traditional phone service ties you down to a physical location. But with RingCentral, you can log in from any phone, computer, or tablet that has internet access. That allows easy remote communication and collaboration from anywhere.
- Feature-rich: RingCentral offers a huge variety of features, including HD voice and video calls, messaging, file sharing, team collaboration, online meetings, and contact center solutions.
- Integrations: RingCentral integrates with over 200 popular business apps, like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Zendesk, Salesforce, and more. This allows you to work more seamlessly without switching back and forth between apps.
- Reliability: When your phones are down, so is your business. Luckily, RingCentral is extremely reliable. In fact, you can expect no more than 6 minutes of downtime per year so you can keep working without interruption.
Cons:
- Cost: While RingCentral costs less than traditional on-premise systems, the subscription-based pricing generally runs higher than other VoIP providers. If you’re a small team with a small budget, RingCentral may be too costly for your needs. If the price is too much for you, you’ll probably want to consider the RingCentral alternatives on this list.
- Customization limitations: RingCentral does offer customization for certain features, like call routing or IVR, but compared to other providers, the customization can be limited. Some of the RingCentral competitors on this list have more customization options.
- Integration complexity: While RingCentral integrates with many third-party applications, the setup and configuration can be complex. You may need additional resources or technical expertise to fully utilize the integration capabilities.
- Learning curve: RingCentral is one of the more feature-rich VoIP providers on the market. However, the sheer number of features can make for a steep learning curve. Many of the RingCentral alternatives have less of a learning curve, making for easier adoption of the platform.
Top Alternatives
RingCentral is a great platform for many organizations’ business phone and unified communication needs. But it may not be right for your business. That’s why we put together this list of top RingCentral alternatives for you to consider.
Whether choosing RingCentral or one of the RingCentral competitors, it’s important to look at factors like pricing, features, integration, learning curve, and more. You want to find a VoIP provider that takes care of your needs and fits in your budget.
Nextiva
Our number one pick for RingCentral alternatives is Nextiva. Nextiva is one of the leading providers of cloud-based communications. They offer a robust suite of unified communication and collaboration solutions for business. Simply put, Nextiva enables your team to communicate and work together better, whether in office or remote.
As a unified communications provider, Nextiva offers voice calls, video conferencing, and messaging. Like RingCentral, Nextiva’s service is flexible, allowing you to access it from anywhere you have an internet connection. Nextiva’s user interface is intuitive, making it easy to learn for new users. Nextiva is also highly scalable so you can add users and features as your business grows.
Why Is Nextiva a Good Alternative?
Nextiva is our top recommendation for RingCentral alternatives for a number of reasons. As far as features go, Nextiva offers a similar number to RingCentral. This feature-rich platform ensures that you get all you need to communicate and collaborate. Some of these features include file sharing, task management, online meetings, and HD voice.
Additionally, Nextiva is known for its reliable service and high uptime. Your business will have almost completely uninterrupted access to your communication tools. This is crucial to keep your business running and minimize downtime. Like RingCentral, Nextiva integrates with many popular business applications, such as Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Zendesk, and more. This enables you to work seamlessly without switching between software.
Nextiva is also a cost-effective solution. Nextiva’s pricing is both competitive and transparent so you know exactly what you’re paying for. With Nextiva, you can also be sure that your data is protected. Nextiva prioritizes data security with robust encryption protocols, access controls, and compliance certifications. And finally, one of the most stand-out features of Nextiva is their customer support. Unlike many other RingCentral alternatives, Nextiva provides 24/7 phone support, as well as live chat and ticketed support so you can get help how and when you need it.
Vonage
Another one of the top RingCentral alternatives, Vonage provides cloud-based communications and collaboration tools. Like RingCentral, Vonage offers unified communications, with voice, video, messaging, and collaboration tools, all in one platform.
Vonage also offers a comprehensive suite of features, including HD voice and video calling, team messaging, file sharing, virtual receptionist, call forwarding, and integration with business applications. Plus, it has over 50 phone system features and access to developer APIs so you can customize the platform to suit your needs.
Vonage is extremely scalable. And with a number of a-la-carte options for features, you only pay for exactly what you need. Plus, it’s easy to add or remove users as your communication needs change.
Why Is Vonage a Good Alternative?
Vonage has similar offerings to RingCentral, but because you can customize your plan more, you may be able to pay less while getting only what you need. Vonage is known for its reliable service and high call quality, which means your business can expect smooth communication with minimal disruption. Vonage also offers mobile and desktop applications to enable remote employees to work from anywhere.
As far as integrations, Vonage offers around 20 popular business applications like Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, and Google Workspace. While it doesn’t have as many integrations as RingCentral, these integrations still enable more efficient working and improved collaboration. API access lets you customize your experience and integrate with more applications.
Vonage provides dedicated customer support and service, with access to support via phone, email, or chat. Plus, you can purchase a support add-on for help installing hardware, clearing viruses, and integration with third-party apps.
Ooma
For small businesses, Ooma Office is another one of the top RingCentral alternatives. Ooma provides cloud-based communications with both business phone service and unified communication. Ooma also sells IP phones and phone adapters that connect your legacy equipment to VoIP service.
Ooma provides reliable, affordable VoIP service from anywhere you have an internet connection. It also offers a similar range of features to RingCentral, like virtual receptionist, video conferencing, call forwarding, voicemail, conferencing, and mobile apps.
Why Is Ooma a Good Alternative?
One of the big advantages of Ooma is that it doesn’t require a contract. This gives you the freedom to switch service if needed without the hassle of paying to terminate your contract. Ooma prioritizes data security and compliance with industry standards, with encryption and other security measures to protect sensitive information.
While Ooma may have more limited integrations than RingCentral and other larger RingCentral alternatives, it does offer some integrations with popular business applications. If you’re looking for a straightforward business phone system and unified communications provider, Ooma is a great alternative that is easy to set up and learn.
Dialpad
Dialpad is a cloud-based unified communications platform that offers voice, video, messaging, and contact center solutions. Users can seamlessly switch between communication channels within a single interface, which is also very user-friendly.
One of the ways Dialpad stands out from RingCentral and RingCentral competitors is its use of AI-powered voice intelligence. This technology offers real-time transcription, sentiment analysis, and keyword insights during calls, which lets you capture important information and improve customer interactions.
Why Is Dialpad a Good Alternative?
Like many of the other RingCentral alternatives, Dialpad offers reliable service and high call quality. It’s very easy to add or remove users so that you can scale up as your business grows. Dialpad also has a mobile app that enables communication on the go, as long as you have an internet connection. This means whether your team is remote or mobile, they can access Dialpad’s service.
While Dialpad doesn’t have as many integrations as RingCentral, it does provide open APIs, which means your team can integrate Dialpad with software you’re already using. All you need is the technical know-how. However, if your team doesn’t have coding abilities, you can still rely on the integrations Dialpad AI does provide, including Salesforce and Microsoft Teams.
GoTo Connect
GoTo Connect, which used to be called Jive Communications, is another cloud-based phone system and unified communications platform that is one of the top RingCentral alternatives.
GoTo Connect has a range of communication features and collaboration tools to support businesses of all sizes, but freelancers and small businesses will find it especially beneficial. GoTo Connect integrates voice, video, messaging, and collaboration tools into a unified platform so you can easily communicate across different channels.
Why Is GoTo Connect a Good Alternative?
RingCentral may have all the bells and whistles, but sometimes, you just need a straightforward way to communicate, and GoTo Connect offers that. GoTo Connect offers all the essentials you need without any overwhelming features. Pricing is transparent and affordable, and setup is very simple, making it easy to switch to GoTo Connect. If you need unified communications in a simple platform, GoTo Connect may be one of the best RingCentral alternatives for your business.
Grasshopper
Another straightforward virtual phone system, Grasshopper offers affordable pricing for phone service you can access from your cell phone. Grasshopper provides voice calling and business texting, with features like automatic replies, custom greetings, call forwarding, call transfers, voicemail transcription, and more.
Why Is Grasshopper a Good Alternative?
If RingCentral isn’t a good fit because it simply has too many features, Grasshopper may be one of the best RingCentral alternatives for you. While many of the RingCentral competitors on this list offer very similar platforms, Grasshopper is a great alternative because it’s so simple.
Grasshopper doesn’t provide video conferencing or team messaging, but if all you need is a phone system, it does the job well. It’s a simple virtual phone system for small businesses and solopreneurs that helps you create a professional business image.
Zoom
You probably know Zoom for its video conferencing, but did you know that Zoom also offers a unified communications platform? With Zoom, you get video conferencing, voice calling, and team chat, in addition to numerous collaboration features. Zoom Meetings became popular for its ease of use, and Zoom carries this over into all aspects of its platform.
Why Is Zoom a Good Alternative?
If you’re looking for RingCentral alternatives that are extremely user-friendly, Zoom is a great choice. RingCentral may have more features than Zoom, but Zoom has various plans to fit different needs and budgets. If you’re just looking for a business phone system that’s easy to implement, Zoom Phone is an affordable option. Zoom Meetings provides a huge assortment of features for video conferencing, including whiteboards, notes, and clips. Additionally, you can bundle everything together to get a full unified communications platform. This flexibility ensures you’re paying only for what you need.
Other notable features about Zoom include integrations with tons of top business apps, email, and calendar integration to simplify meeting scheduling, and surveys and polls for feedback.
Phone.com
Another one of the top RingCentral competitors, Phone.com is for users who are looking for an affordable and customizable business phone system with texting, voice calling, video conferencing, and collaboration tools. Phone.com offers VoIP service and unified communications, with tons of features, including local and toll-free numbers, virtual receptionist, call forwarding, voicemail, call routing, and more.
Phone.com’s pricing plans are customizable, letting you only pay for the features you need. It provides both mobile and desktop applications so you can access its features wherever you have an internet connection. Phone.com also supports virtual faxing so you can digitally send faxes.
Why Is Phone.com a Good Alternative?
With its feature-rich platform and affordable pricing, Phone.com is a great option for small businesses. With API access, you can integrate custom applications or automate processes with the Phone.com platform. Plus, Phone.com integrates with popular business applications like Salesforce, Zoho, Google Workspace, and more.
8×8
If you’re looking for RingCentral alternatives with all-in-one solutions, 8×8 is a great option. They offer business phone, team chat, video conferencing, and business texting in a single platform. Like the other RingCentral competitors, 8×8 can be accessed on a desktop, laptop, or cell phone for flexible communications. 8×8 is very scalable, which makes it a great option for businesses small and large.
Why Is 8×8 a Good Alternative?
One of the standout features of 8×8 is its robust contact center service that helps you improve your customer experience. With intelligent customer assistant, contact center analytics, speech analytics, omnichannel routing, and more, you can take your contact center to the next level.
Aside from the contact center functionality, 8×8 stands out among RingCentral competitors for its international presence. With unlimited calling in up to 48 countries, 8×8 enables you to reach customers and clients globally.
8×8 also offers Frontdesk, a unique interface for receptionists and operators. Frontdesk helps receptionists handle multiple calls, chats, and voice messages to direct callers to the right department.
Ringblaze
One of the newest RingCentral alternatives on this list, Ringblaze is a business communication solution targeted to small and medium-sized businesses. It offers voice calling, business messaging, and collaboration features that help you optimize the customer experience.
Why Is Ringblaze a Good Alternative?
If your business relies heavily on voice calls, Ringblaze might be a great RingCentral alternative to consider. Ringblaze enables both domestic and international calls at affordable prices. Like RingCentral, it provides call management features like call forwarding, mute, call transfer, and call recording. Ringblaze also has some features that RingCentral doesn’t offer, like call assign, click-to-widget functionality, and call comments.
Overall, RingCentral may have more features, but Ringblaze costs much less than RingCentral. If you need an alternative that gives you business phone system features without the high cost, Ringblaze is a great option to consider.
Finding the Right Alternative for You
The VoIP provider you choose can make all the difference for your business. Whether you’re looking for AI-heavy features or a simple phone system, there are many providers on the market. With so many RingCentral alternatives, it can be difficult to pick the right business phone system and unified communications provider for your business.
If you need help choosing between RingCentral competitors, OneStop Communications can help. We’ll provide quotes from multiple providers to help you choose the one that will help your business flourish.
Leave a Reply