Top 8x8 Alternatives + Why They Are Better

8x8 provides cloud-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and unified communications services in a desktop and mobile app. The 8x8 UCaaS platform includes phone, SMS, video, and team chat messaging, alongside business features like IVR menus, call queues, and supervisor analytics.

But despite its breadth of features, 8x8 isn’t perfect for everyone–especially small companies seeking a simple phone system, or those with low call volumes. To find the best alternatives, I tested dozens of UCaaS products and phone systems. I tried their features, explored their interfaces and routing menus, evaluated each provider’s value and pricing, and noted their pros and cons.

Below are my recommendations for the best 8x8 alternatives.

• At a Glance
• What is 8x8?
• Why an Alternative?
• How We Evaluated
• Top 8x8 Alternatives
• Which to Choose?

At-a-Glance Comparison of Alternatives to 8x8

Here’s a quick breakdown comparing 8x8 to its top competitors.

What is 8x8?

8x8 is a VoIP phone system and unified communications platform accessible via desktop and mobile app. The solution bundles VoIP telephony, SMS texting, team chat messaging with file sharing, and video conferencing.

8x8’s phone system includes routing features like IVR menus and call queues, along with supervisor tools like real-time analytics, plus whisper and barge capabilities. Video meetings support up to 50 participants, with live streaming and interactive capabilities like breakout rooms, virtual backgrounds, and polls.

The provider offers two plans–the X2 and the X4–with 14- and 48-country unlimited calling areas, respectively. Both plans have custom quote-based pricing.

Why Seek an 8x8 Alternative?

While 8x8 offers a solid breadth of video features and routing tools, other platforms offer stronger value with AI features, analytics, simplicity, and user-friendliness.

8x8’s most basic plan includes call queues, IVR, and unlimited calling to 14 countries. This may be feature overkill for teams that want a simple phone system, who could find better value with an alternative like Nextiva or Vonage. Platforms like RingCentral offer a more user-friendly interface, plus more collaborative features like task assignments and whiteboards during video meetings.

Competitors like Dialpad offer cheaper plans with better analytics, call transcription, and AI tools. Depending on your budget and the features you want, you may find better value with one of the alternatives we’ve listed below.

How We Evaluated These Alternatives

Here’s what we looked at when comparing these UCaaS providers:

Phone System and Routing Features

We evaluated 8x8 alternatives by manually testing each provider, subscribing to their service, and using their UCaaS platforms to make calls. We messaged each other, built IVR menus and queues, played around with each platform’s analytics, and hosted video meetings.

Dashboard and User Experience

We noted each platform’s user experience, dashboard and interface design, considering how the platforms might feel to a new user. While setting up IVR menus and analytics platforms, we  looked for user-friendly drag-and-drop design tools. We kept our eyes out for one-of-a-kind features, capturing how each platform stands out.

Pricing and Value

While comparing each provider’s pricing structure, we prioritized value and flexibility–noting that some teams may want particular features without paying for extra bells and whistles. We looked for providers that sneak advanced features into low-tier plans, providing hidden value.

Customer Support

We compared the channel availability, round-the-clock response speed, and overall helpfulness of each provider’s customer support. We favored UCaaS providers with 24/7 phone support and live chat agents on the website.

The Best 8x8 Alternatives

Based on our research, the best alternatives to 8x8 are:

• Nextiva: Best for ease-of-use
• Dialpad: Best for AI and analytics
• RingCentral: Best for team collaboration
• Vonage: Best for a cost-effective phone system
• GoTo Connect: Best for custom routing and international calling

Nextiva

Nextiva’s Customer Conversation Suite is a UCaaS platform and phone system with team chat, SMS, video meetings, and attentive 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and email.

While 8x8 only offers one virtual number per signup, Nextiva signup includes two phone numbers–a toll-free and a local number, plus at least 1,500 toll-free minutes for the account. Each plan supports unlimited calling in the US and Canada, with virtual numbers available nationwide. The platform includes IVR and ring groups, with an easy-to-use drag-and-drop call flow builder that we found more intuitive than 8x8's.

Nextiva and 8x8 both offer team chat and group threads, but Nextiva uniquely allows users to comment on calls and contacts. Nextiva users can share up to 500 contacts, with in-depth CRM integrations that display each customer’s preferences and interaction history. Nextiva’s main downside is that the bottom-tier plan only has a single-level IVR, no call transcription, no SMS, and 1:1 video meetings only. By contrast, all 8x8 plans support 500 video participants.

Key Features

• Virtual phone numbers: Each plan includes a toll-free and local number, with unlimited calling throughout the US and phone numbers across the country
• Toll-free minutes: Plans include from 1,500 to 12,500 toll-free minutes for the account to share
• Team chat: Send 1:1 chat messages, create group chat rooms with threaded conversations, and share files
• Commenting: Users can comment on contacts and calls
• Auto attendant: Multi-level IVR routing menu, which you can customize using drag-and-drop call flow design tool
• CRM integrations and contact management: NExtiva offers seamless integrations with top CRM platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft Teams. These power in-depth customer profiles, which team members can share
• Calendar integrations: Nextiva video meetings integrate with calendar apps like Google and Microsoft Outlook

Pricing

Nextiva offers three pricing plans, ranging from $18.95 to $32.95 monthly per user. To learn more, check out our Nextiva pricing guide.

• Essential ($18.95 monthly per user): Desktop and mobile app, local and toll-free numbers, unlimited calling across US, 1500 toll-free minutes, 1:1 video meetings, ring groups, single-level IVR
• Professional ($22.95 monthly per user): Adds 1000 SMS texts monthly per user, 40-person video meetings, CRM integrations, voicemail transcription, multi-level IVR
• Enterprise ($32.95 monthly per user): 2000 SMS monthly SMS per user, 12,500 toll-free minutes per account, 250-participant video meetings, unlimited call recording

Why Nextiva is a Good Alternative to 8x8

• Simplicity: Nextiva’s phone system, desktop, and mobile app are easier to use than 8x8, with a simple routing setup that works well for those just starting with cloud-based VoIP
• Value: For the $18.95 price point Nextiva’s essential plan offers a strong value at a lower cost than 8x8’s plans

Dialpad

Dialpad is an AI-powered, cost-effective platform that combines voice calling, SMS texting, team chat, and video meetings for 10 participants.

The solution includes key phone system tools like ring groups, IVR with easy setup, call queues, and call recording. Users can choose from business phone numbers across 70 countries–impressive, but less than 8x8's 100 supported countries.

Dialpad outperforms 8x8 with analytics and AI. Dialpad plans include real-time call transcription and business analytics, providing insights about customer trends and agent performance. For 8x8, these features are costly add-ons.

Key Features

• AI video meetings: 5-hour video meetings supporting 10 participants with in-meeting chat, waiting room, virtual background, and whiteboarding through a Miro integration
• Real-time call transcriptions and AI: Dialpad AI transcribes all calls in real-time, providing a running script, response suggestions, and post-call summaries for agents
• Ring groups: Group agents into virtual “departments” that share inbound call responsibility, with custom ring orders or simultaneous ring
• Multi-level IVR: All plans include multi-level auto attendants, with a drag-and-drop editor for custom call routing
• Real-time analytics: Plans have real-time and historical analytics. Real-time analytics include speech recommendations and a supervisor portal for managers to track agent activity. The analytics portal tracks channel usage, call volume, and agent activity over custom timeframes.

Pricing

Dialpad offers three UCaaS plans from $15 to over $25 monthly per user. For more information, see our Dialpad pricing guide.

• Standard ($15 monthly per user): Desktop and mobile,unlimited calling in the US, SMS, 10-participant video meetings, call transcription, real-time analytics
• Pro ($25 monthly per user): Adds CRM integrations, 25 ring groups, virtual numbers in 70+ countries
• Enterprise (custom pricing): Ring groups, guaranteed 100% uptime, priority live agent support

Why Dialpad is a Good Alternative to 8x8

• Lower cost: Starting at $15 monthly per user, Dialpad plans are more cost-effective than 8x8’s
• AI features and analytics: Call transcription, live-agent assistance, and real-time analytics give Dialpad an advantage over 8x8

RingCentral 

RingEX, RingCentral’s business phone system, bundles VoIP calling, SMS texting, team chat, video meetings, and over 300 third-party software integrations–more than 8x8's 69. Make calls anywhere in North America, purchase local or international business numbers, and customize your routing system with IVR and ring groups.

Call monitoring lets supervisors whisper or barge into agent calls. Create call queues with advanced routing rules, providing more call distribution flexibility than 8x8 offers. Set up automatic or on-demand call recording. Build unlimited team chat rooms with file-sharing, plus task-management features that no other UCaaS provider has. RingEX video meetings host up to 100 participants and include AI features.

Key Features

• Call routing and IVR: Build multi-level IVR menus using a drag-and-drop designer
• Call queues and ring groups: Create call queues with custom routing rules, and create departments using ring groups with custom ring orders
• AI video meetings: Meetings support up to 200 participants with live transcription, post-meeting summaries and highlights, breakout rooms, team notes, whiteboards, and screen sharing
• Team collaboration rooms: Create unlimited team collaboration rooms, with file sharing, document storage, shared whiteboards, and buttons to jump into team huddles.
• Task management: Users can assign tasks to each other, manage deadlines, and provide updates directly in the team chat workspace

Pricing

RingEX has three plans from $20 to $35 monthly per user. Check out our RingCentral pricing review for more information.

• Core ($20 monthly per user): Desktop and mobile, unlimited calling across North America, 25 monthly SMS per user, team chat, 100-participant AI video meetings, multi-level IVR, call queues
• Advanced ($25 monthly per user): 100 monthly SMS per user, advanced queue routing rules, automatic call recording, call monitoring, basic business analytics
• Ultra ($35 monthly per user): 200 monthly SMS per user, 10,000 toll-free minutes for the account, 200 video meeting participants

Why RingCentral is a Good Alternative to 8x8

• Team collaboration features: With project management, unlimited team chat rooms, and file management capabilities, RingCentral supports team collaboration better than 8x8
• Routing customization: RingCentral’s queue routing rules and custom ring orders provide greater routing customization than 8x8 offers

Vonage Business Communications

Vonage’s phone system supports unlimited calling across North America and Mexico, with unlimited texting in the US, team chat, and video meetings for up to 200 participants. It’s a user-friendly desktop and mobile app with basic phone-system features like visual voicemail, IVR, ring groups, and 15 hours of call recording per month. While its feature offerings are more basic than 8x8's, Vonage is cheaper and more user-friendly for beginners.

While 8x8 offers a wider scope for international numbers, Vonage still provides international numbers from a dozen countries, plus toll-free and local numbers nationwide. Make conference calls, flip calls between devices, set up call parking to share call responsibility, and enable click-to-dial from any user’s desktop interface.

Key Features

• Call groups: Group users together with a custom ring order, like simultaneous ring or round-robin call routing
• Virtual receptionist: Each plan includes a custom auto-attendant menu to greet and route inbound callers
• Call parking: Users can place a call on hold in a communal “parking lot” where all other agents can view the call and answer it
• AI virtual assistant: A paid add-on that uses natural language understanding to power IVR with more interactive conversations, better understanding of the customer’s needs, and more options for actions like surveys and outbound sales campaigns
• Business inbox: An add-on that combines SMS, MMS, and Facebook Messenger into one inbox for an agent to handle all digital interactions in one place

Pricing

Vonage offers three UCaaS plans that range from $14 to $28 monthly per user. To learn more, see our Vonage Business review.

• Mobile ($14 monthly per user): Desktop and mobile apps, unlimited calling in North America and Mexico, SMS, voicemail
• Premium ($21 monthly per user): Adds desk phone support, 200-participant video meetings, team chat, app center with 20 integrations
• Advanced ($28 monthly per user): Adds visual voicemail, 15 monthly hours of call recording, and call groups

Why Vonage is a Good Alternative to 8x8

• Cost-effective and simple: Vonage’s Mobile plan has the lowest price on our list, a good 8x8 alternative for teams that simply want phone and SMS texting
• Choice in features: With add-ons for call queues, business inbox, and AI assistance, Vonage users can build a plan with the features they want

GoTo Connect

GoTo Connect offers a phone system with voice, SMS, team chat with file sharing, and video conferencing for 250 participants. GoTo's Customer Engagement plan adds live chat, a shared inbox between multiple team members, and custom surveys–several features that 8x8 does not have.

Each plan supports unlimited calling to over 50 countries, a wider and cheaper offering than 8x8's 14-country and 48-country unlimited calling areas. Use GoTo to design unlimited ring groups, IVR menus, and dial plans. Video meetings are packed with collaborative features, and plans include real-time analytics.

While GoTo beats 8x8 with international calling, unlimited routing tools, and Customer Engagement features, 8x8's phone system has the upper hand with call monitoring–a feature GoTo reserves for its contact center. 

GoTo Connect Key Features

• Video meetings: Up to 250 meeting participants, unlimited meeting duration, 50 simultaneous webcams, smartnotes for automated meeting summaries, Miro Whiteboard integration breakout rooms
• Smart call routing: Customize call queues and ring groups with custom ring orders based on agent availability, simultaneous ring, or preset sequence. Use the drag-and-drop design tool for quick setup.
• Customer Engagement features: The Customer Engagement plan adds some call center features like live chat, SMS customer surveys, and a shared inbox for multiple users
• Unlimited calling area: Plans support unlimited calling to over 50 countries
• AI messaging assistant: Included with Customer Engagement plan, the AI assistant automatically creates and responds to customer messages on digital channels. Customize your messages by topic, tone, and audience.

Pricing

GoTo Connect offers two UCaaS plans, each with custom pricing. To learn more, see our GoTo Connect pricing guide.

• Phone System: Voice calling to 50+ countries, SMS, team chat, video conferencing, multi-level IVR, ring groups, call queues, custom dial plans, real-time analytics
• Customer Engagement: Adds live chat, shared inbox, custom SMS surveys, Facebook and Instagram messenger, AI messaging assistant

Why GoTo Connect is a Good Alternative to 8x8

• Routing customization: GoTo’s unlimited queues, ring groups, and IVR menus come with a drag-and-drop editor that’s easy to use and supports large teams better than 8x8. Companies of any size can create a custom inbound routing system.
• Unlimited calling area: GoTo’s 50-country unlimited calling area is the largest on our list and provides excellent value for teams that frequently call internationally

Which 8x8 Alternative Should You Choose? 

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you choose the best alternative for your needs:

• Choose Nextiva if you need a user-friendly, simple interface with all the core UCaaS channels
• Choose Dialpad if you want real-time analytics and AI-based agent support
• Choose RingCentral if you want high-level team collaboration
• Choose Vonage if you want a cost-effective phone system
• Choose GoTo Connect if you want an intricate routing system or international calling