RingCentral is known as a market leader in cloud communications due to its global infrastructure, extensive features, and unmatched reliability. But with its steep pricing, complex setup, and slow response times, users explore cheaper alternatives with similar functionality. The best RingCentral alternatives offer rich call management features, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered meetings, and robust messaging tools.
I compiled a list of the top RingCentral alternatives in the market known for their reliable services and comprehensive feature sets. To narrow down my list, I designed a rubric scoring sheet that assesses each provider based on key criteria, such as pricing, general/advanced features, ease of use, user feedback, and customer support.
What is RingCentral?
RingCentral is a cloud-based communications company that offers a single app for calls, SMS, messaging, video meetings, and fax. It has established a strong market presence by continuously updating its platform with features that improve remote and hybrid working, including AI-powered capabilities and advanced call management features.
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In 2024, RingCentral enhanced its platform by integrating AI across its product suite, rebranding it as RingEX. This transformation aims to improve user experience through a personal AI assistant that transcribes calls, summarizes discussions, captures call notes, and refines message writing.
What are some RingCentral pros & cons?
RingCentral has its strengths and weaknesses despite its comprehensive feature set and enterprise-grade reliability. Here are some of its key advantages and limitations based on my expert standpoint and customer reviews.
Pros
- Provides a robust set of features for voice, video, and chat
- Includes AI features across plans without extra fees
- Offers an extensive library of third-party integrations
- Delivers comprehensive analytics insights
Cons
- Can be complex to configure
- Lacks customer support consistency
- Takes a while to set up SMS messaging
- Has rich capabilities that can be overwhelming for entry-level users
What does RingCentral cost?
RingCentral operates on a monthly per-user pricing model, with discounts available for long-term commitment and volume subscriptions for teams exceeding 100 users. Its pricing starts at $30 per user monthly, which is higher than the average rates offered by RingCentral competitors like GoTo Connect, Nextiva, and Ooma.
Payment Frequency
Core
Advanced
Ultra
Monthly Pricing
$30
$35
$45
Annual Pricing
$20
$25
$35
Top Ringcentral alternatives at a glance
Best RingCentral Alternatives
Monthly Starting Price (Per User)
Key Features
Expert Score
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$30
- HD video meetings
- Unlimited internet fax
- Call management system
4.93
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$10
- Unlimited auto-attendants
- Voicemail prioritization
- Call queues
4.86
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$29
- Visual dial plan editor
- Call recording
- Softphone app
4.85
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$27
- Live call transcription
- Real-time analytics
- Visual voicemail
4.81
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$25
- Group email mailbox
- Call forwarding
- Business SMS
4.19
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$18
- Call handling rules
- Scheduled greetings
- Fax from phone
4.04
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$19.95
- Multi-site management
- Extension dialing
- Dynamic caller ID
3.98
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$19.99
- Multi-level auto-attendant
- Team messaging
- Desk phone support
3.97
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Zoom Phone: Best overall for integrated video & voice
Overall Score
4.93/5
Pricing
4.25/5
General features
4.5/5
Advanced features
4/5
Support
4.38/5
Ease of use
5/5
Expert score
5/5
Pros
- Offers a mix-and-match pricing structure
- Includes AI features across plans
- Tightly integrates with Zoom Meetings
- Can switch calls to video meetings
Cons
- Free virtual numbers do not include toll-free options
- Quality of support varies based on the subscription plan
If you’re looking for the closest alternative to RingCentral, then Zoom Phone is an excellent choice, especially if you’re seeking a unified experience between calling and video meetings. This works for businesses that already depend on Zoom for video collaboration and want to extend the platform with VoIP functionality.
Zoom, as the industry-leading brand for video conferencing, brings its collaborative features and intuitive design to its cloud phone system, making it accessible to those familiar with Zoom Meetings. Users can seamlessly transition between voice and video calls, creating a truly unified communication experience.
Similar to RingCentral, Zoom Phone incorporates AI-powered video meeting tools across its plans. However, integration with customer-facing platforms can be challenging due to Zoom Phone’s limited CRM connectivity. I recommend Nextiva, a customer experience platform that readily integrates with popular CRM systems.
- In-call controls: Manage an ongoing call by simply selecting any of the following options: record, mute, hold, transfer, and add another participant.
- Failover support: Enables Zoom Phone devices to register automatically to a backup data center if the main data center is affected by downtime.
- Call queue analytics: Dives deeper into critical call data, including call volume, average call handling, and completed/overflow/abandoned calls.
- Call park: Place an ongoing call on hold and let another user resume the call using a retrieval code from any provisioned device.
- Lock/unlock a call: Switching this on prevents other users from entering or monitoring a current or held call.
- US and Canada Metered: $10/user/month for metered calls to US/CA and one local number
- US and Canada Unlimited: $15/user/month for unlimited calls to US/CA and one local number
- Global Select: $20/user/month for unlimited calls in one of the 48 countries supported and one phone number in the selected country
All plans include SMS/MMS, voicemail transcription, multiple device use, unlimited auto-attendants and interactive voice response (IVR), automatic call distribution, business hours routing, call recording, team messaging, hot desking, and Zoom AI Companion.
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GoTo Connect: Best for ease of use
Overall Score
4.85/5
Pricing
5/5
General features
4.75/5
Advanced features
3.5/5
Support
3.75/5
Ease of use
4.38/5
Expert score
5/5
Pros
- Provides unlimited calls to over 50 countries
- Easily scales into a full-featured contact center platform
- Features an intuitive dial plan editor
- Allows sharing of toll-free minutes within an account
Cons
- Requires a higher-level subscription for unlocking AI features
- Has limited options for third-party connectivity
RingCentral’s complex setup is a common struggle among its users, specifically for beginners who are overwhelmed with its extensive functionality. GoTo Connect offers a user-friendly alternative, with its intuitive navigation and visually-clean interface.
Reviews about GoTo Connect highlight that it involves minimal effort to deploy and doesn’t require technical knowledge to configure. Despite its simplicity, GoTo Connect doesn’t sacrifice key capabilities as it packs in a lot of phone system features, including unlimited calls to up to 50 countries.
While GoTo Connect integrates with popular business solutions, it may not be the best fit for teams requiring deeper integrations for more customizable workflows. Vonage offers a robust application programming interface (API) suite that lets you create more personalized communication experiences for your website and applications.
- Analytics and reporting: Generate real-time data insights on call patterns and activities based on day, time, and location.
- Custom auto-attendants: Record unlimited greetings and messages for your call queues and business voicemail to keep callers engaged and updated.
- Conference call bridging: Schedule phone and video conferences with up to 20 participants and merge both meetings or make warm transfers seamlessly.
- Virtual voicemail: Access your voicemail directly from your smartphone, email inbox, or an external line by simply entering a passcode.
- Desk phone support: GoTo Connect is compatible with more than 180 desk phone models while offering the advantages of a cloud phone system.
- Phone System: $29/user/month for one virtual number, 1,000 toll-free minutes, call routing, custom dial plans, ring groups, call queues, hot desking, virtual fax, call recording, call handling, team chat, SMS/MMS, 250 video attendees, and call volume analytics
- Connect CX: $37/user/month for SMS campaigns, call reports, shared inbox, attendant console, AI call features, and advanced integrations
- Contact Center: $86/user/month for autodialer, call monitoring, custom surveys, queue callback, and call campaign
Toll-free minutes, international calling, and SMS credits may differ by region. Enjoy up to 10% savings by opting for a one-year pre-payment.
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Dialpad: Best for AI-driven interactions
Overall Score
4.81/5
Pricing
4.25/5
General features
4.5/5
Advanced features
4/5
Support
5/5
Ease of use
4.38/5
Expert score
4.69/5
Pros
- Features a sleek and clean interface
- Provides local numbers in 70+ countries
- Supports international SMS
- Includes the same security features across plans
Cons
- Restricts extension dialing to Enterprise accounts
- Limits meetings to five hours and 150 attendees
Both Dialpad and RingCentral are leaders in modern VoIP innovation, leveraging AI for unified communications. For AI-driven VoIP, Dialpad stands out as the strongest RingCentral competitor, specifically for tech-forward teams seeking to accurately capture conversation data, improve customer experience, and increase operational efficiency.
Dialpad AI and DialpadGPT are proprietary AI engines that enhance communication across its platform. At no extra fee, users have access to AI features such as live call transcriptions, AI-generated meeting notes, sentiment analysis, and intelligent responses.
Meeting features in Dialpad are not as extensive as those in RingCentral, as it only supports up to 150 participants and a maximum of five hours per meeting. Zoom Phone integrates seamlessly with Zoom Meetings to accommodate larger groups and extended meeting durations, featuring enhanced participant controls.
- Document sharing: Enables conference participants to broadcast their files on the meeting screen and make real-time changes to Google Drive files.
- Audio chat rooms: All messaging channels include an always-open audio line where members can instantly join for spontaneous conversations.
- Hold queue: Supports up to 50 callers in a queue with up to 300 minutes of wait time, including the ability to set the hold greeting or music.
- Exec-assistant pairings: Assign another user to make calls on your behalf and receive a recording to determine what calls were made using your number.
- Number forwarding: Set up a forwarding number to pick up the call whether on your Dialpad number or the forwarded number.
- Standard: $27/user/month for unlimited calls to the US/CA, one local number, multi-level auto-attendant, visual voicemail, three ring groups, custom call routing, call forwarding, three-way calling, call recording, SMS/MMS, team messaging, five-hour video meetings, call transcriptions, real-time analytics, and voicemail transcription
- Pro: $35/user/month for 25 ring groups, international SMS, CRM integrations, and 24/7 support
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for unlimited ring groups and extensions
Enjoy up to 44% savings by opting for a one-year prepayment.
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Nextiva: Best for multichannel customer interactions
Overall Score
4.19/5
Pricing
3.5/5
General features
4.25/5
Advanced features
3/5
Support
4.38/5
Ease of use
4.38/5
Expert score
4.06/5
Pros
- Integrates multiple digital channels in one app
- Connects with commonly used CRM platforms
- Responds proactively to customer inquiries
- Ensures ease of transition and configuration
Cons
- Charges above the average per-user fee for its voice plan
- Lacks support for vanity and international numbers
The main difference between Nextiva vs RingCentral lies in their core focus — Nextiva highlights customer experience while RingCentral excels in internal communication. If your goal is to streamline customer engagement, Nextiva offers tools to connect with customers across digital and social channels.
Nextiva integrates voice, video, SMS, live chat, messaging, social media, and review sites in one platform, providing a single app for all multichannel interactions. On top of customer journey tracking, Nextiva leverages AI for its virtual assistant and real-time analytics to help businesses predict customers’ needs in real time and resolve issues quickly.
Unfortunately, Nextiva’s phone system plan costs more than the entry-level plan of RingCentral. If you’re seeking to cut costs for your cloud communication needs, Zoom Phone provides a budget-friendly alternative, starting at only $10 per user.
- Teams presence: Displays the availability of other team members, whether they’re busy or idle.
- Alternate numbers: Assign one or multiple phone numbers or extensions to a user’s main number, call flow, or ring group.
- Call pull: This lets you move an active call to another device or switch calls between your desktop and mobile phone.
- Calling line ID blocking override: Displays the caller ID information from incoming callers even if they attempt to hide it.
- Custom group ringback: Customize the message or music callers will hear while waiting for a ring group member to answer the phone.
- Digital: $25/user/month for website chat, messaging apps, email, two social media management accounts, helpdesk, unified inbox, and review management
- Core: $35/user/month for inbound/outbound voice, 100 SMS credits, customer video and screen sharing, call routing, voicemail transcription, and team chat
- Engage: $50/user/month for chatbot, 250 SMS, 10 social media management accounts, e-fax, 2,000 toll-free minutes, call center capabilities, call recording, and voice analytics
- Power Suite: $75/user/month for 10,000 toll-free minutes, unlimited SMS credits, and unlimited social media management accounts
Enjoy up to 20% savings by opting for a one-year prepayment.
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Phone.com: Best for flexible call volumes
Overall Score
4.04/5
Pricing
3.5/5
General features
3.5/5
Advanced features
3/5
Support
5/5
Ease of use
3.75/5
Expert score
4.38/5
Pros
- Allows mixing of different plans for tailored usage
- Supports all types of virtual phone numbers
- Provides the same voice features across plans
- Emphasizes simplicity and affordability
Cons
- Lacks in-depth collaboration capabilities
- Charges apply to lower-tier accounts for call recording
Phone.com stands out as the best RingCentral alternative for startups and seasonal enterprises seeking to flexibly upgrade or downgrade their subscription without long-term commitment. Teams can combine pay-per-minute and unlimited call plans within the same office account so each user is assigned to plans suited to their specific call volume needs.
A metered plan includes 500 minutes that can be shared across an account for inbound and outbound calling. Once your call volume increases, you can easily upgrade to a prepaid plan to avoid overage fees. This adaptable pricing helps businesses save significant costs without paying for unused minutes.
A la carte pricing applies for international calling and phone numbers for more customized needs. However, while Phone.com’s international call rates are one of the lowest around, this can add up to your monthly bill if you’re making frequent overseas calls. GoTo Connect is the best VoIP for international calls, allowing you to make unlimited calls to over 50 global destinations.
- Voice tagging: Plays an audible message announcing the menu option selected by the incoming caller, allowing you to identify the purpose of the call.
- Address book: Sync your phone contacts with Phone.com’s address book so you can call and send texts directly from your Phone.com account.
- Call logs: Displays the history of all your call activities, including incoming, outgoing, and missed calls, in a filterable interface.
- Do Not Disturb (DND): Turning on this feature sends all incoming calls to voicemail or directs them to the call handling rule you set.
- Text-to-speech: Convert your message text into a natural-sounding speech from a selection of over 40 voice actors.
- Basic: $18/user/month for one phone number, 500 pooled minutes, auto-attendant, call transfer, caller ID, call waiting, hold music, greetings, 10 video attendees, and audio conferencing
- Plus: $27/user/month for unlimited domestic calls, voicemail transcription, 25 video attendees, and desk phone compatibility
- Pro: $40/user/month for call analytics, call recording, 100 video attendees, and Zapier integration
Enjoy up to 17% savings by opting for a one-year prepayment.
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Ooma: Best dedicated voice communications
Overall Score
3.98/5
Pricing
3.25/5
General features
3.25/5
Advanced features
2.5/5
Support
5/5
Ease of use
4.38/5
Expert score
5/5
Pros
- Provides a wide range of features at budget-friendly pricing
- Offers up to 50 voice features in the base plan
- Doesn’t charge for number transfers
- Has cheaper international call rates
Cons
- Charges an activation fee during sign-up
- Can get glitchy in low-bandwidth conditions
Ooma eliminates the complexity of advanced communications solutions by providing a dedicated VoIP platform for businesses that rely heavily on phone calls. In the Ooma vs RingCentral comparison, Ooma stands out as a more straightforward option for those who find RingCentral overkill for their needs. It delivers essential communication features without the extras like AI, automation, and internal collaboration tools.
The Ooma Office plan includes over 100 cloud phone features, primarily designed to help businesses handle high call volumes, direct customers to the right extension, or even set up a small-scale call center.
While Ooma supports video meetings and team chat, it lacks the robust collaboration system found in most RingCentral competitors. If your team relies on remote teamwork, GoTo Connect supports voice communications, video conferencing, and built-in messaging.
- One-to-many messaging: Send the same text message to up to 30 participants simultaneously.
- Team chat: Start a chat with up to eight participants and access previous conversations in a centralized place.
- Last call return: Simply dialing *69 lets you make a return call to the last caller who contacted your number.
- Shared voicemail box: Works as a centralized voicemail storage which can be shared by up to 10 members for tracking unanswered calls.
- Shared speed dial: Add up to 1,000 contacts to get direct dial access to anyone your company works with frequently.
- Essentials: $19.95/user/month for one toll-free number, unlimited calls (US, CA, MX, and PR), 500 toll-free minutes, virtual fax, over 50 phone features, and ring groups
- Pro: $24.95/user/month for SMS/MMS, hybrid ring groups, call recording, call analytics, voicemail transcription, dynamic caller ID, scheduled SMS, caller info match, and 25-attendee video meetings for four hours
- Pro Plus: $29.95/user/month for call queues, call screening, 100-attendee video meetings for 12 hours, auto dialer, team chat, hot desking, and CRM integrations
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Vonage: Best customizable integrations
Overall Score
3.97/5
Pricing
4.25/5
General features
4.25/5
Advanced features
2/5
Support
3.75/5
Ease of use
4.38/5
Expert score
3.44/5
Pros
- Provides a la carte features for flexible pricing
- Includes over 50 standard phone features
- Ensures 99.999% uptime reliability
- Offers volume discounts for over five user teams
Cons
- Charges monthly fees for priority technical support
- Requires purchase of up to 99 lines to avail of 14-day trial
Vonage is the best RingCentral alternative for custom integrations, as it offers APIs, open-source tools, and documentation for building personalized communication experiences. Between Vonage and RingCentral, Vonage excels in its developer-friendly approach, embedding voice, video, chat, and SMS functionality within business applications and workflows.
The Vonage Developer Center features live tutorials, events, and a community forum to connect with dedicated experts about using Vonage’s services and APIs effectively. Software development kits (SDKs) are available in multiple languages, including JavaScript, cURL, Ruby, and Python.
With Vonage’s API-driven approach, working with the platform involves a steep learning curve as it requires technical expertise. If you’re new to VoIP and don’t have an IT team to assist with the setup, GoTo Connect is one of the most user-friendly alternatives to RingCentral.
- Block caller ID: Blocking your caller ID lets you make outgoing calls without displaying your business name and phone number on the recipient’s call screen.
- Business inbox: Access customer messages sent via SMS, MMS, or Facebook Messenger in a centralized inbox, which you can assign multiple users to access.
- Call rerouting: Reroutes all incoming calls to a backup phone number in the case of a poor internet connection or power outage.
- Call logs: Generate custom records on detailed call activity by setting the start and end date/time to run your report query.
- Never miss a call: Determine how you want to route calls when you’re out of the office by choosing from various mobility options, including voicemail, call forwarding, DND, and simultaneous ring.
- Mobile: $19.99 user/month for unlimited calls and SMS in the U.S./CA and team chat
- Premium: $29.99 user/month for video conferencing, multi-level auto-attendant, and CRM integrations
- Advanced: $39.99 user/month for 15 hours of on-demand call recording, visual voicemail, and call group
How to choose the best RingCentral alternative
Finding the right RingCentral alternative for your business depends on your budget, team size, call patterns, required features, and skill level. Here are key considerations if you find yourself overwhelmed or unsure which provider best fits your needs:
- Budget and included features: This isn’t just about getting the cheapest option to RingCentral, but finding a provider that delivers the right mix of affordability and functionality. Identify your must-have features and research providers that offer these capabilities in their entry-level packages so you don’t have to upgrade to an expensive premium plan.
- Call volume: VoIP providers typically offer prepaid unlimited plans for businesses that prefer predictable monthly costs. However, this may not be ideal for companies with occasional calls because you’ll end up paying for unlimited call minutes you don’t need. VoIP providers like Zoom Phone structure their plans based on the usage level of each user. Track the number of inbound and outbound calls in your business in a month to find out whether you’re better off with a pay-as-you-use or prepaid plan.
- Skill level: One common user complaint about RingCentral is its complex setup due to its extensive features and enterprise-grade extras like AI. If your team is new to VoIP or lacks dedicated IT support, make sure to choose a provider that guarantees quick response times and knowledgeable support staff.
Find the right alternative to RingCentral
While RingCentral’s premium pricing reflects its enterprise-grade features, security, and reliability, not all businesses need advanced capabilities. Many VoIP providers in the market offer similar key functionalities without breaking the bank. To make the buying process easier for you, here are RingCentral alternatives that deliver cost-effective communication solutions while maintaining essential features and call quality:
- Collaborative teams that primarily communicate via phone calls and video conferencing will benefit from Zoom Phone as it provides VoIP services within its robust video meeting infrastructure.
- GoTo Connect features intuitive call management, in-depth user guides, and a user-friendly interface, perfect for companies prioritizing ease of use or those with limited VoIP expertise.
- If you’re looking to maximize communication efficiency through artificial intelligence, Dialpad has an AI-powered communication suite that transcribes meetings, summarizes calls, and analyzes conversations.
- Nextiva is ideal for customer-facing teams that need a unified communication solution for handling client interaction across multiple channels, including voice, messaging apps, video, and social media.
- Companies with team members experiencing varying call volumes should pick Phone.com as it offers pay-as-you-go pricing alongside unlimited call plans.
- Ooma is suitable for businesses that rely heavily on phone calls and don’t need the additional complexity and premium cost of AI-powered collaboration tools.
- Businesses that want to incorporate cloud communication features into their platform should go for an API-driven VoIP provider like Vonage.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
No, but RingCentral offers a 14-day free trial for its premium plans.
No, RingCentral doesn’t include a built-in CRM, but its cloud phone system seamlessly integrates with popular CRM platforms such as Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, and Microsoft Dynamics 365.