RingCentral and 8x8 are 2 major competitors in the business VoIP world and this head-to-head comparison looks at the pros and cons of each, as well as features and prices.
RingCentral Highlights
RingCentral is known far and wide as being an industry leader for VoIP calling among businesses everywhere. It has loads of integration options, a user-friendly mobile application, and excellent pricing packages. RingCentral’s service is also proven to be clear and smooth, giving it a comfortable standing at the top of the competitive chain.
Pros
- Unparalleled quality
- Integrates with major systems like Zendesk, Salesforce, and Google
- Mobile integration
Cons
- A lot to juggle with multiple users
8x8 Highlights
8x8 is another strong name in the VoIP marketplace, helping businesses that work internationally keep communications solutions affordable and manageable. With easy setup and strong customer support, 8x8 keeps your business connected all the time.
Pros
- Extremely customizable plans
- Plans include more than 100 international countries
- Loads of features
Cons
- Some features that should be inclusive must be paid for
Ease of Use
RingCentral and 8x8 are both cloud-based providers, so you don’t have to worry about complicated setup procedures, expensive hardware, or complex wiring issues. Instead, you can rely on your internet connection and a standard VoIP phone for either service to be up and running within minutes. RingCentral uses mostly Cisco and Polycom, though there is a wireless Yealink device too, while 8x8 offers Yealink, Spectrum, Cisco, and Polycom phones. In either case, you should look to third party sellers for price comparisons before purchasing the actual phones.
Setup and account management is handled via an online admin portal. This is convenient because you can access it from anywhere and at any time, and it requires no IT professionals on hand. This is where you’ll set up things like your auto attendant, extensions, and personalized greetings. In our opinion, RingCentral has a friendly user interface. With clear sections, explanatory icons, and simple commands, the system is super simple to follow. What’s more, RingCentral provides how-to videos for each step of the setup and management process. That means you won’t have to sit there scanning through loads of options and text files to find and execute what you are trying to take care of.
8x8 has a good introduction to its platform, providing an hour-long session with a technician to familiarize yourself with all the details of your account. This is a really great feature for people who prefer guided study type systems learning. However, an hour is a long time to invest for some business-minded folks, and many prefer to dive in and learn on the job.
Winner: RingCentral
Integrations
Both providers offer integration with most commonly used CRMs, so you’re probably covered one way or the other. Of course, if you specifically use a system that does not integrate with one brand or another, that makes your choice easier. For example, 8x8 doesn’t have Oracle or Box integration, while RingCentral won’t comply with SugarCRM, NetSuite, or ACT!.
8x8 wins this section of the battle, but only because it offers a single integration more than RingCentral. As we mentioned, both systems are easy to use and integrate with your current CRM.
Winner: 8x8
Mobility
Both RingCentral and 8x8 offer mobile apps for easy mobile integration and are both available for iOS and Android devices, as well. RingCentral's mobile app kicks off with a smart tutorial and includes pop up hints and tips for quick solutions. See your call logs, messages, contacts, and a quick dial pad for easy calling on your mobile device.
8x8 has a fresh, modern look to its app, something most users will appreciate. It's easy to use too, with an intuitive UI and clear menu. The customization and options are somewhat limited though, making it less appealing than the RingCentral version.
Winner: RingCentral
Features
Both 8x8 and RingCentral provide the most basic features than other VoIP providers will off the bat. Some of the obvious offerings include:
- Web-based system administration
- Auto-attendant
- Call forwarding
- Hold music
- Conference bridge
- Caller ID
- Call waiting
- Call blocking
- Ring groups
- Call transfer
- Voicemail to email (audio file)
- Share one line on multiple devices
Both companies also have mobile apps that work smoothly for on-the-go business calling. When it comes to more advanced features from 8x8, the number and extent of features you get will depend on which plan you opt for. 8x8 has a powerful offering known as Virtual Office. This package includes things like SMS services, softphones, and conference calls. It also has call recording and online fax capabilities for the Pro version. One thing that 8x8 is uniquely known for is compliance with several regulating bodies such as HIPAA and FISMA. This is a bonus for businesses that work in the healthcare sector, in particular.
RingCentral For Desktop is RingCentral’s similar offering, but this package is definitely a cut above the rest. RingCentral really pulls ahead of 8x8 in this section for its impressive set of features that are included within the pricing packages you are already getting. While 8x8 offers some of the same advanced features as RingCentral, the former will make you upgrade to Pro to be able to access these features. Some of the notable features that RingCentral includes in this package are:
- 1,000 toll-free minutes
- Unlimited voice conferencing. Users also get the convenience of screen sharing that makes team collaboration, video presentation, and product launches so much easier.
- Integrations with major systems such as Microsoft, Dropbox, and Google
Winner: RingCentral
Value for Money
Metered
Unlimited
Global
RingCentral’s pricing plan is complex, to say the least, though the fact that you get a lower rate for each tier of users will certainly make up for the initial confusion. RingCentral’s Standard package, for example, ranges from $19.99-$49.99 because users can choose between an annual plan, a monthly plan with a contract, or a monthly plan without a contract. Additionally, the number of users you have signed up will alter the price. So, an annual plan for 5 users will cost you $24.99 per month per user, while an annual plan for 100 users will only cost you $19.99 per month per user.
8x8's pricing plans are called Metered, Unlimited Extensions, and Global Extensions, and each comes with benefits. For example, the Metered plan provides the basic calling services good for small businesses. You'll get unlimited inbound calling, unlimited calling within the 8x8 network, 250 minutes outbound to US and Canada, and a rate of $.029 per minute, after that.
Meanwhile, the Unlimited Extensions plan offers:
- Unlimited calling to US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, US Virgin Islands, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and the UK
- Direct inbound dial
- Voicemail
- US SMS
The Global Extensions plan is the same as the Unlimited Extensions package with even more global coverage, accessing calls to 40 countries including ones in Latin America, the Middle East, and several other European and Asian countries on top of the Unlimited Plan coverage. Calls outside these countries are still competitive at $.034 per minute.
Then, you can also upgrade the plan to Virtual Office Pro for a fuller set of features. 8x8 does charge a $39.99 a one-time activation fee upon sign up.
RingCentral is overall better value because it has better per user pricing, offers more features within its standard package, and provides unlimited calling where 8x8 makes you pay. However, companies should note that businesses that do a lot of international calling may benefit from 8x8’s unlimited global calling plan even more (assuming you are calling one or several of the countries listed on 8x8’s accepted international calling list).
Winner: RingCentral
Customer Support
RingCentral has good 24/7 online chat, phone support, and a comprehensive online knowledge base that gives you loads of information about integrations, systems management, calling, and account settings.
8x8 has an excellent resource section on its website that makes self-help troubleshooting a breeze. It provides user guides, setup guides, and community connections with other 8x8 users so you can ask your questions to real customers who have used the systems already. This type of crowdsourced customer support is unique in the industry, and it really gives 8x8 a competitive edge because sometimes it’s easier for you to speak to a peer about an issue than struggle to explain things with a technical representative. Not everyone appreciates having to fix problems on their own, however, so 8x8 also offers phone support and an online chat function.
Winner: 8x8
Bottom Line: RingCentral Takes the Battle
As you can see, it's a fierce competition. While 8x8 has excellent integration options and the most competitive offerings for international business callers, RingCentral wins this battle for its competitively priced per user packages, outstanding features suite, and smooth and simple user interface that makes startup and account management simple. Both are good options to work with, and as mentioned previously, if keeping phone bills down with low international calling is your main concern, definitely check out 8x8's competitive rates.
Overall Winner: RingCentral
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