7 Best OpenPhone Alternatives + Why They Are Better

OpenPhone offers a cost-effective cloud phone system with SMS and team chat capabilities. Users can jump between multiple numbers, and numerous staff members can use a phone number simultaneously.

However, OpenPhone lacks video meetings and team chat, and it doesn't offer the extensive routing features that some alternatives have. Further, some users may feel overwhelmed by OpenPhone’s rich interface and team collaboration tools.

• Nextiva
• RingCentral
• Vonage
• Dialpad
• Zoom
• 8x8
• Grasshopper

At-a-Glance Comparison of OpenPhone Alternatives 

Here’s a quick look at my picks for the best OpenPhone alternatives.

What is OpenPhone?

OpenPhone is a cloud-based phone system combining VoIP calling, SMS texting, and team collaboration features via internal chat. It boasts strong contact management features and AI automations for messaging and call transcription. Even more, OpenPhone has unparalleled phone number flexibility–enabling users to share phone numbers simultaneously and jump between business numbers with one click.

With two plans at $15 and $23 monthly per user, OpenPhone makes a cost-effective VoIP option.

Why Seek an OpenPhone Alternative?

While OpenPhone is a solid choice for small and medium-sized companies that want unlimited calling and texting in the US, its features may be overwhelming for users who want a simpler phone system. Other providers also offer routing features and communication channels that OpenPhone doesn’t include.

Here are a few reasons you may consider an OpenPhone alternative:

• Lack of team chat and video: OpenPhone does not include team chat or video meetings, while many alternative UCaaS platforms do
• Simpler interface: OpenPhone’s number-sharing, routing, and overall user experience may be too overwhelming for users seeking a simpler phone system
• Lack of advanced features: OpenPhone does not offer advanced UCaaS features like video conferencing, or real-time analytics
• Missing features: Some alternatives offer features that OpenPhone doesn’t have–like call monitoring, call queues, more advanced analytics, or an auto dialer
• Compliance: OpenPhone is not yet HIPAA, HITECH, FedRAMP, or PCI-compliant
• Security: OpenPhone does not offer advanced security features like single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication, or end-to-end encryption

How We Ranked OpenPhone Alternatives in This Article

We selected and ranked the business VoIP providers in this article based on several factors:

• Features: What channels and features does the provider offer, and how does the platform leverage AI to streamline business processes and empower customer self-service?
• Team collaboration: Does the solution include unified communication and team collaboration tools across voice and digital channels? What third-party integrations are available?
• Pricing and value: How do provider pricing options compare to competitors? Which features does each plan include? Does the provider offer a good overall value for money and pricing for a variety of budgets?
• Setup process: How long does the installation, onboarding, and user training process take?
• User experience: Is the dashboard/agent interface intuitive and customizable, or overcrowded and confusing? Are both mobile and desktop app versions user-friendly?
• Customer support: What are customer support hours, channels, and response times? Are add-on customer support features like a dedicated account manager or priority customer service available?

Best OpenPhone Alternatives

Here are our top picks for OpenPhone alternatives:

1. Nextiva

Nextiva is a business phone system, UCaaS platform, and call center, all in one, for a value price. Plans include VoIP calling, SMS texting, video conferencing, and team chat–plus unique channels that OpenPhone doesn’t have, like social media management, review platforms, and built-in live chat. High-tier plans let you integrate a chatbot into your website, which OpenPhone does not offer.

The phone system offers similar routing to OpenPhone, with multi-level IVR, call queues, and intelligent skills-based call distribution that connects to your CRM system. High-tier plans include AI transcription.

Key Features

Nextiva offers several communication channels that OpenPhone doesn’t have–like website-embedded live chat and social media management. They’re equal with routing features, but OpenPhone has lower-cost AI tools.

• Call routing: Nextiva plans include IVR and ring-groups. High-tier plans include advanced IVR and skills-based routing, for custom inbound call handling.
• Video meetings: Nextiva video meetings support team collaboration with up to 200 participants, with screen sharing
• Call center features: With call queues, a supervisor dashboard, and toll-free minutes, Nextiva offers some call center functionality that OpenPhone doesn’t
• Live chat and chatbot: Live chat and chatbots engage customers on your website–a call center feature that no other VoIP phone system offers
• Social media management: Connect your Nextiva dashboard to social media platforms like Instagram and X, to interact directly with customers
• AI call transcription: The Power Suite plan includes AI call transcription and summaries. However, OpenPhone offers this same feature at a much lower cost

Pricing

Nextiva offers four plans that range from $20 to $60 with an annual commitment. The $20 plan is digital-only, with live chat, social media, and reputation management features. The $30 Core plan adds a phone system, team chat, and video. The higher-tier plan adds advanced IVR, skills-based routing, and AI tools.

Nextiva provides better value than OpenPhone for live chat, video, and social media channels. However, for companies that just want calling and texting, OpenPhone is more cost-effective.

To learn more, see our Nextiva pricing guide.

Why Nextiva is a Good Alternative to OpenPhone

• More communication channels: Nextiva offers several unique communication channels that OpenPhone does not include
• Call center features: With call queues and queue dashboards, Nextiva offers some call center functionality that OpenPhone doesn’t

2. RingCentral

RingCentral’s virtual phone system, RingEX, bundles VoIP calling, SMS, video meetings for up to 200 participants, and team chat. Plans include routing features like IVR and call queues, with real-time business analytics.

The platform integrates with over 300 products–far more than OpenPhone–including popular names like Salesforce and Slack. Team chat includes file sharing and project-management features that OpenPhone doesn’t have, and RingEX video meetings include advanced features like breakout rooms, whiteboards, and AI summaries.

While OpenPhone has better phone number sharing, RingCentral is better for team collaboration.

Key Features

• Team messaging with project management: RingCentral’s team messaging space enables users to send instant messages, share files, assign tasks, or jump onto a video call from one unified space
• Advanced video conferencing: With a 200-participant capacity, meetings include breakout rooms, whiteboards, AI summaries and live captions, and virtual backgrounds
• Call monitoring: Supervisors can observe agent activity and status from the queue dashboard, with the option to listen, whisper, or barge in on calls
• Routing and queueing: Each plan has multi-level IVR and ring groups, and higher-tier plans have call queues
• Analytics: RingCentral’s real-time business analytics are customizable, with views of trends in agent activity, call volume by time of day, and channel usage

Pricing

RingCentral offers three phone system plans that range from $20 to $35 monthly per user when charged annually. The Core plan offers a phone system with IVR, team chat, and video meetings. The $25 Advanced plan adds call recording, call monitoring, and over 300 integrated apps. The $35 Ultra plan adds customizable analytics.

Overall, RingCentral is pricier than OpenPhone. I’d recommend RingCentral for those seeking team chat and video. To learn more about RingCentral, see our pricing review.

Why RingCentral is a Good Alternative to OpenPhone

• Team collaboration: With feature-rich video meetings and team chat, RingCentral supports team collaboration better than OpenPhone
• Supervisor capabilities: With call queues, call monitoring, and more advanced analytics, RingCentral offers better supervisor-support tools than OpenPhone

3. Vonage

Vonage’s cloud phone system includes unlimited VoIP calling and texting across the US, team messaging with file sharing, and video conferencing for up to 200 participants. Accessible on desktop and mobile, Vonage offers international phone numbers from across the US and dozens of international countries.

All plans include IVR, voicemail, and basic call controls like forwarding and parking–with higher-tier plans adding ring groups and call recording. We recommend Vonage for those seeking a simpler OpenPhone alternative for unlimited calling and texting in the US.

Standout Features

• IVR: Provides callers with a list of pre-recorded call menu options, prompting callers to direct their own calls without a live agent
• Ring groups: Bundle agents into groups with shared call responsibility and a custom ring order
• International business numbers: Vonage offers toll-free and local numbers from across the US and dozens of international countries, while OpenPhone only offers numbers from within the US
• Interface and dashboard: Vonage’s dashboard and call controls are simpler and less overwhelming than OpenPhone’s–making it a good option for those new to VoIP
• Video meetings: Video meetings support 200 participants with basic features like screen sharing, chat, and host controls

Pricing

Vonage has three plans ranging from $14 to $28 monthly per user with an annual commitment. Vonage’s Mobile plan includes calling, texting, and IVR on desktop and mobile. The Premium plan adds 200-participant video meetings and team chat, and the Advanced plan adds ring groups and visual voicemail.

Overall, Vonage is more expensive than OpenPhone, making Vonage only a better value for companies that want international phone numbers. Learn more with our Vonage pricing breakdown.

Why Vonage is a Good Alternative to OpenPhone

• International numbers: Vonage’s offering phone numbers from dozens of countries can provide a more expanded international business presence than OpenPhone allows
• Simplicity: OpenPhone’s app interface is simpler and easier to manage than OpenPhone’s

4. Dialpad

Dialpad’s business phone system includes VoIP calling, unlimited SMS texting, 10-participant video conferencing, and team chat. Each signup includes a free phone number, which multiple extensions can share.

Plans include advanced features like live call transcription and real-time analytics with a custom dashboard. Build a routing system with ring groups, multi-level IVR, and call queues.

Dialpad and OpenPhone both offer strong AI features and analytics, but they’re slightly cheaper on Dialpad’s $15 Standard plan.

Key Features

• Call transcription: All plans include real-time call transcription, providing users with searchable call records
• Real-time analytics: User-friendly analytics nd visuals displaying agent call activity, call volume, and trends in customer behavior. View up-to-date queue status and hold times.
• Routing features: Build ring groups, multi-level IVR menus with a drag-and-drop designer, and call queues
• International phone numbers: Dialpad offers virtual DID numbers from over 70 countries globally
• Video meetings: Dialpad video meetings include advanced features like virtual backgrounds, waiting rooms, chat, and whiteboarding

Pricing

Dialpad offers three plans, ranging from $15 to $25 monthly per user when billed annually, $27 to $35 when billed monthly. The Standard plan supports unlimited calling and SMS in the US, team chat, and video–plus call transcription, real-time analytics, IVR, and ring groups. The Pro plan adds CRM integrations and international numbers in over 70 countries.

Dialpad’s pricing is comparable to OpenPhone, with slightly better rates for AI features like call transcription and real-time analytics.

Learn more with our Dialpad pricing review.

Why Dialpad is a Good Alternative to OpenPhone

• Lower-cost call transcription: Dialpad’s pricing is comparable to OpenPhone, with slightly better rates for AI features like call transcription and real-time analytics
• Team collaboration: With team chat and video, Dialpad supports internal team collaboration better than OpenPhone

5. Zoom Phone

Zoom Phone offers a VoIP system with unlimited calling and texting across the US, plus team chat. Zoom’s plans are cost-effective and feature-rich, each including multi-level IVR, call queues, and call monitoring–which OpenPhone doesn’t have. Make ad-hoc conference calls with up to three users, record calls, and transfer calls with communal call parking.

The provider’s 19-country unlimited calling add-on offers strong value for those who frequently call overseas. The app interface is easy to use on desktop and mobile, unifying all channels in one dashboard–including team chat and Zoom’s popular video meetings.

Key Features

• Call monitoring: Supervisors can see agent activity status and join calls in real-time, with the option to quietly listen or take the call over
• Call distribution (ACD): Set up an automatic call distribution (ACD) system with unlimited call queues, grouping staff members into departments
• Team chat: Zoom’s team chat rivals Slack in functionality. Create channels and threads, react with emojis, and share files with folders to organize them
• Multi-level IVR: Create unlimited multi-level IVR menus that integrate with queues and ACD, for custom call routing
• Video meeting integration: Zoom Phone doesn’t include native meetings, but the dashboard integrates smoothly with Zoom Meetings and its rich collaboration features

Pricing

Zoom offers four phone plans ranging from $10 to $27 monthly per user. Each plan includes the same suite of features–IVR, call queues, monitoring, and team chat. The $10 Metered plan has a pay-as-you-go pricing structure, which OpenPhoen doesn’t offer. The $15 Unlimited plan supports unlimited calling in the US and Canada. The higher-tier plans bundle Zoom Workplace, with video meetings.

Zoom and OpenPhone have similar pricing, with Zoom being a cheaper option for teams that want per-minute pricing on calls.

Check out our Zoom Phone pricing breakdown for more information

Why Zoom Phone is a Good Alternative to OpenPhone

• Low-cost metered option: At $10 monthly per user, Zoom’s Metered plan offers great value for teams with low call volumes
• Call monitoring: Zoom’s call monitoring feature gives supervisors better visibility than OpenPhone does

6. 8x8

8x8’s VoIP phone system includes calling, SMS texting, team chat, and video meetings for up to 500 participants. Plans include unlimited calling to 14 or 48 countries.

The routing system has unlimited IVR, call queues, and call monitoring. Supervisors have real-time analytics and queue reports. 8x8’s Frontdesk interface is designed to simplify the call management process for front desk workers and receptionists. Video meetings include some unique features like live streaming and breakout rooms.

While more expensive than OpenPhone, 8x8 is a better team collaboration platform with feature-rich video and team chat.

Key Features

• Unlimited calling area: 8x8’s phone system plans–X2 and X4–including unlimited calling to 14 and 48 countries, respectively, making it one of the best available options for international calling
• Video meetings: 8x8 video meetings support 500 participants, with unique features like live streaming to YouTube, and instant polls
• Routing features: 8x8 includes a full suite of routing features–unlimited IVR and call queues
• 8x8 Frontdesk: An application designed for front desk workers, with live visibility of each user’s status and the queue waiting list, with an interface for easy transfers
• Quality management and speech analytics: A paid add-on that provides live call transcriptions, using them to analyze agent performance and customer satisfaction

Pricing

8x8 no longer lists their prices publicly, but less than a year ago, their plans started at $24 per month, per user, which is significantly more expensive than OpenPhone. In exchange for the high price tag, 8x8 offers several benefits that OpenPhone doesn’t, including a large international calling area, large-scale video conferencing, and AI-powered analytics.

8x8 is only worth the extra cost for teams that want multichannel team collaboration or frequently call internationally. To learn more, see our 8x8 pricing guide.

Why 8x8 is a Good OpenPhone Alternative

• International calling: 8x8’s unlimited calling area includes dozens of international countries–going far beyond OpenPhone’s
• Team collaboration: With large-capacity video meetings and team chat with file sharing, 8x8 is better for team collaboration than OpenPhone

7. Grasshopper

Grasshopper is a VoIP phone service with unlimited calling and texting in the US. The simple, user-friendly app is accessible on desktop and mobile. Choose from local and toll-free business phone numbers across the country.

Plans include basic features: voicemail transcription, call forwarding, call transfers, and simultaneous call handling. The platform does not have IVR or call queues, but each plan includes several phone numbers and extensions you can link with automated forwarding.

Overall, Grasshopper is a cost-effective option for small companies that want a user-friendly and simple option for calling and texting only.

Key Features

• Simple user interface: The desktop and app are spacious and very easy to navigate–a simpler UI than OpenPhone
• Business texting: Unlimited SMS texting within the US
• Simultaneous call handling: Enable automatic call forwarding that finds the next available user when a staff member is busy
• Phone line extensions: Each plan includes a preset number of phone-line extensions, which enable multiple users to share a phone number and use it at the same time
• Voicemail and reporting: Voicemail transcription with a searchable log of all calls and texts

Pricing

All Grasshopper plans include the same features–those listed above. Plans range from $14 to $55 monthly per account–not user–each including a preset number of phone numbers and extensions. While the Solo Plan only includes one phone number and extension, the Small Business plan includes 4 phone numbers with unlimited extensions, supporting unlimited users.

Learn more with our Grasshopper pricing guide.

Why Grasshopper is a Good OpenPhone Alternative 

• Simpler user experience: With just calling and texting, Grasshopper’s interface feels more spacious and less overwhelming than OpenPhone’s
• Potentially more cost-effective: Grasshopper’s pricing makes it a more cost-effective option than OpenPhone for companies planning to use extensions to share phone numbers between multiple users

Should You Choose OpenPhone or an Alternative?

OpenPhone offers excellent phone number flexibility, letting you share numbers between multiple users and jump between business numbers throughout the day. If your company wants this flexibility, go with OpenPhone. The OpenPhone software is also very affordably priced.

However, if you want a simpler platform focused on calling and texting, alternatives like Grasshopper or Vonage may be a good fit. Also, platforms like Nextiva, RingCentral, and Dialpad support team collaboration better than OpenPhone, due to features like team chat, video, and call monitoring.

FAQs