8x8 Alternatives
8x8 is a popular business communication service provider but its packages may not be suitable for growing businesses. Let’s look at the top five 8x8 alternatives.
A complete guide
You have customers in more destinations
8x8 offers unlimited calling but the number of destinations permitted are limited. The Express package only allows unlimited calling in the USA and Canada. If you have a robust, widespread customer base, only unlimited calling will do–which is why Ringover made it available for our customers.
Upgrading to 8x8’s X2 package improves the situation and lets you enjoy unlimited calling to 14 countries. A further upgrade to the X4 package expands the network to include 48 countries but even this may not be enough for you.
For example, you could not use it to communicate with customers in Vietnam or Venezuela. Also, this is exclusive of mobile numbers–which you can obtain yourself if you sign up to Ringover.
You need better pricing
8x8’s starter package called Express targets small businesses with a monthly fee of $15 per user, but permits only five users per package and has limited features. For example, it only includes the USA and Canada in its unlimited call plan.
To call customers in New Zealand or if you add a sixth person to your team, you would be forced to upgrade to the X2 plan which costs much more. For CRM integrations you have to upgrade yet again and pay almost three times the Express package user license fee.
If this is stretching your budget, you need to look at other budget-friendly alternatives. Why not check out Ringover’s pricing plans? Our plans offer clear value for an easily understood pricing model. Plus, you pay for the amount of users you need, so you can easily scale as your business grows.
You need a scalable solution
Business communication supports two aspects of scalability: number of employees and market size. 8x8’s Express package is limited to five users–making it hard for it to keep up with a growing company. There will come a point when you have to upgrade. With Ringover, you can simply login and add more users as needed!
Similarly, there are a limited number of countries included in the unlimited call plan. As your brand grows and connects with more international markets, you will be forced to either pay extra for calls for an upgrade. But if you start off with Ringover, you’ll have unlimited calls to over 110 destinations from the get-go.
Top 5 Alternatives to 8x8?
If you are not satisfied with the features and the quality of service being offered by 8x8, you needn’t settle. Compare the other business communication packages being offered by VoIP service providers to find the best tool for your business. Here are the top 5 competitors you should be aware of.
| Solution | Price | Features | Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ringover | |||
| RingCentral | |||
| Nextiva | |||
| Mitel | |||
| Vonage |
Alternative #1: Ringover
Ringover offers a comprehensive solution for business communication with features ranging from basic voice calls to call recording, video calling, software integration and more.
The simplicity of package structuring, simplified call management, and ease of use has led to it being often considered the top alternative to 8x8.
With features like unlimited calls to 110 worldwide destinations, interactive voice response, conference calling, CRM integration and access to insightful call analytics Ringover empowers users to be more productive and gives callers a better experience.
Ringover offers 2 all-inclusive packages priced at £17 and £29 per month per user as well as the option to create a customised package.
Top Advantages of Ringover
- Unlimited calling plans to 110 global destinations.
- Quick and easy setup.
- Centralised multi-modal communication platform.
- 7-day free trial.
Watch the video explanation
Alternative #2: RingCentral
RingCentral is a cloud-based communication platform offering voice and video calls, team messaging, conferencing and a customer contact centre. You can choose a local number in 105+ countries and get free incoming calls but there is a limited number of toll-free minutes included in the packages.
Their packages start from $32.99 per user per month. User license fees are slightly lower for accounts with 100+ users. Thus, it is well suited to the needs of medium to large-sized businesses.
Pros
- Get a local number in 105+ destinations.
- Localised voice prompts in 18 languages.
Cons
- The basic package permits a limited number of users.
- Features like automatic call recording are available only in upgraded packages.
Image source : www.ringcentral.com on the 2023/02/09
Alternative #3: Nextiva
Nextiva is a VoIP platform with tools for internal and external business communication via phone, text, video, and email. The app can be accessed on mobiles as well as desktops.
Nextiva services are bundled into 3 packages with no limitation on the number of users for any package.
However, user license fees are higher for small teams as compared to teams with 20 – 100 users. It is a good alternative for businesses in the sports industry that need automation features.
Pros
- Free local and toll-free numbers.
- Specialised expertise in the sports industry.
Cons
- CRM integration and call recording unavailable in the basic package.
- Limitation to video call duration.
Image source : www.nextiva.com on the 2023/02/09
Alternative #4: Mitel
Mitel is a Canadian telecommunications company offering consolidated video, voice, and chat solutions on a single platform. Along with communication, their packages are designed to encourage collaboration and boost productivity.
Mitel also offers AI-powered virtual agents. Their services are bundled into 3 packages with pricing ranging from $20.99 to $38 per user per month.
Pros
- All-inclusive packages.
- Easy integration with productivity apps.
Cons
- Choosing the right package can be confusing.
- Upgrades may be required to access all features.
Image source : www.mitel.com on the 2023/02/09
Alternative #5: Vonage
Vonage is a business communication platform that allows customers to connect and communicate with businesses via voice and video calls, SMS for business and chat. Their services are structured into 3 packages with user license fees varying according to the number of users.
For small businesses with up to 5 users, costs can range from $19.99 to $39.99 per user per month. For larger companies, this per-user cost is reduced to a range of $14.99 to $34.99 per month.
Pros
- Packages are easily scalable.
- Can be integrated with 20+ third-party apps.
Cons
- Certain features are available at add-on costs.
- Packages can be expensive for small teams.
Image source : www.vonage.com on the 2023/02/09
What is 8x8?
8x8 is a cloud communications platform that puts all business communication via voice, video and text on a single platform. In addition to basic VoIP services, it also offers API solutions, insight to call analytics, conferencing and contact centre solutions.
Users can enjoy unlimited voice calling to up to 48 countries in the upgraded plan. However, the basic communication package only offers unlimited calling in the USA and Canada. The 8x8 Work app can be installed on desktops or mobile phones and can be integrated with other productivity and CRM apps.
Image source : www.8x8.com on the 2023/02/09
8x8 Pricing
8x8 offers three packages for business Communication and three packages for Contact Centre solutions.
The former starts with the Express package for small teams of up to 5 users and is priced at $15 per user per month. The X2 and X4 packages do not have a limitation on the number of users and offer upgraded features at the cost of $28 and $57 per user per month respectively.
The number of countries with unlimited voice calling increases with each upgrade as does the number of features available. Paying for 12 months at once can lower the price of the X2 and X4 user license fees.
8x8 also offers more comprehensive Contact Centre solutions priced in a range of $85 to $140 per user per month.
Image source : www.8x8.com on the 2023/02/09
Image source : www.8x8.com on the 2023/02/09