Choosing the right phone system is crucial for any UK business aiming to enhance communication, improve productivity, and optimise costs. Both 8×8 and RingCentral are established names in the field, offering robust cloud-based VoIP solutions. This comparison provides a comprehensive look at 8×8 vs RingCentral for features, pricing, reliability, and user experience to help you make the best decision for your business.
8×8 vs RingCentral
| Category | 8×8 | RingCentral |
|---|---|---|
| Voice calling | HD voice, unlimited calling in 48+ countries | HD voice, unlimited calling in UK, US, Canada |
| Video conferencing | Up to 500 participants, screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, meeting recording | Up to 500 participants, screen sharing, whiteboarding |
| Messaging | SMS, MMS, team messaging | SMS, MMS, team messaging |
| Analytics | Detailed reports on call volumes, quality, agent performance | In-depth call metrics, team performance insights |
| Third-party integrations | 25+ integrations (e.g., Salesforce, Zendesk) | 200+ integrations (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack) |
| Mobile app | Full access to calling, messaging, and meetings | Full access to calling, messaging, and meetings |
| Remote work support | Robust mobile app, supports remote and hybrid setups | Robust mobile app, supports remote and hybrid setups |
| Uptime guarantee | 99.999% uptime | 99.999% uptime |
| Data centres | Multiple regions globally | Multiple regions globally |
| Security compliance | GDPR, end-to-end encryption | GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001 |
| Customer support | Phone, chat, email support; response time varies | 24/7 support on higher-tier plans; phone, chat, email |
| Knowledge base | Available | Available |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing plans | – Express: £10/user/month – X2: £22/user/month – X4: £32/user/month – X8: £50/user/month | – Essentials: £16/user/month – Standard: £24/user/month – Premium: £30/user/month – Ultimate: £40/user/month |
| Best suited for | Businesses needing international calling and advanced analytics | Businesses needing third-party integrations, responsive support |
Key features – 8×8 vs RingCentral
Both 8×8 and RingCentral provide a wide range of features designed to streamline communication and collaboration, with overlapping capabilities and some distinct offerings that could appeal to different business needs.
1. Voice calling and messaging
- 8×8: Known for high-quality voice service, 8×8 offers HD voice calling, unlimited calling in over 48 countries, and a solid SMS and MMS platform. Businesses can expect reliable call handling features, including call forwarding, auto-attendant, and call queues, making it ideal for customer service-driven operations.
- RingCentral: Similarly, RingCentral excels in voice calling with a highly rated VoIP platform, covering unlimited calling within the UK, US, and Canada. RingCentral’s SMS, MMS, and instant messaging tools allow quick team communication and collaboration, which could be beneficial for businesses needing seamless internal communication.
2. Video conferencing and collaboration tools
- 8×8: 8×8 offers video meetings for up to 500 participants, with screen sharing, team messaging, and integration options for Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and CRM systems. The platform also includes unique features like virtual backgrounds and meeting recording, allowing flexibility in hosting and participating in virtual meetings.
- RingCentral: RingCentral’s video conferencing capacity is similar, supporting up to 500 participants, and integrates with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and other popular tools. The intuitive interface, easy-to-use screen sharing, and whiteboarding capabilities make it a strong choice for teams relying heavily on virtual meetings.
3. Analytics and reporting
- 8×8: 8×8 provides a robust analytics platform, allowing businesses to access detailed reports on call volumes, call quality, and agent performance. This is ideal for contact centres and customer service departments looking to track performance and make data-driven decisions.
- RingCentral: RingCentral’s analytics tools are also extensive, offering in-depth insights into call metrics, team performance, and customer interaction trends. RingCentral’s Analytics Portal is user-friendly and customisable, offering options to drill down into specific data points and export reports as needed.
4. Third-party integrations
- 8×8: 8×8 integrates seamlessly with over 25 applications, including Salesforce, Zendesk, and HubSpot, making it easy to unify your communication and CRM systems.
- RingCentral: With over 200 integrations, including Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Google Workspace, RingCentral provides more options for businesses looking to connect their phone system with other essential tools. This variety can be advantageous for larger organisations with specific software requirements.
5. Mobile app and remote work capabilities
- 8×8: The 8×8 mobile app provides full access to calling, messaging, and video meetings, allowing employees to work efficiently from any location. Its mobile performance is stable, offering a dependable solution for teams on the move.
- RingCentral: RingCentral’s mobile app is highly rated and offers a comparable experience, with the same robust features available as the desktop version. The ease of switching between devices is a standout, making it suitable for hybrid and remote work environments.
Pricing – 8×8 vs RingCentral
Both providers offer tiered pricing plans designed to cater to businesses of different sizes and needs. Here’s a breakdown of their UK pricing structures as of 2024:
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8×8 pricing
- Express (£10 per user/month): Basic features for small teams, including unlimited UK calls and team messaging.
- X2 (£22 per user/month): Adds video conferencing, team collaboration tools, and unlimited calls to 14 countries.
- X4 (£32 per user/month): Includes advanced analytics, supervisor features, and unlimited calling to 47 countries.
- X8 (£50 per user/month): Suitable for larger enterprises, with full contact centre capabilities and extensive reporting tools.
RingCentral pricing
- Essentials (£16 per user/month): Basic features for small teams, with unlimited UK calls and SMS.
- Standard (£24 per user/month): Adds video conferencing, team messaging, and integrations with popular platforms.
- Premium (£30 per user/month): Includes advanced analytics, CRM integrations, and unlimited calls to 45 countries.
- Ultimate (£40 per user/month): Suitable for enterprises needing comprehensive call management, full analytics, and advanced security features.
Both providers offer free trials, allowing you to test out the features before committing to a plan.
Reliability and security
- 8×8: 8×8 boasts a 99.999% uptime, offering reliable service backed by data centres in multiple regions. Security protocols are in place, including end-to-end encryption, GDPR compliance, and adherence to industry standards.
- RingCentral: RingCentral offers the same 99.999% uptime SLA, with global data centres ensuring connectivity and reliability. It complies with GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001, offering top-level security and data privacy.
Customer support
- 8×8: Support is available through various channels, including phone, chat, and email. However, some users report that support response times can vary. A knowledge base and community forum are also available for self-help.
- RingCentral: Known for responsive customer support, RingCentral offers 24/7 assistance for higher-tier plans, with support accessible via phone, email, and chat. Their extensive knowledge base and online resources can also help resolve common issues.
Pros and cons – 8×8 vs RingCentral
8×8 pros and cons
- Pros:
- Extensive international calling options
- High participant capacity for video meetings
- Strong analytics and reporting tools
- Cons:
- Limited integrations compared to RingCentral
- Support response times may be slower on lower-tier plans
RingCentral pros and cons
- Pros:
- Extensive third-party integrations
- Responsive customer support
- Customisable analytics dashboard
- Cons:
- Higher starting price point
- Advanced features are mostly available on higher-tier plans
Which platform is best for your business?
- Choose 8×8 if: Your business needs an international calling solution, advanced analytics, and high participant capacity for meetings. 8×8’s pricing makes it an attractive option for businesses prioritising comprehensive call management features at a lower cost.
- Choose RingCentral if: You rely heavily on third-party integrations, need more responsive customer support, or have specific software needs. RingCentral’s wide range of integration options and robust remote work features make it ideal for larger businesses with complex communication needs.
Final verdict – 8×8 vs RingCentral
Both 8×8 and RingCentral offer comprehensive phone system solutions suitable for UK businesses of all sizes.
For small to medium-sized businesses, 8×8 may be the better choice with its affordable plans and strong analytics.
However, larger businesses with a high demand for third-party integrations, remote work features, and responsive customer support may find RingCentral to be the more suitable option.
Whether you choose 8×8 or RingCentral, both platforms offer scalable, reliable solutions that can enhance your communication capabilities and provide a solid return on investment.
With free trials available, exploring each platform’s features firsthand could be the best way to see which aligns most closely with your business needs.
FAQ – 8×8 vs RingCentral
8×8 offers unlimited calling to over 48 countries, making it ideal for businesses with global contacts. RingCentral, however, focuses on unlimited calling within the UK, US, and Canada, which may be more suitable for businesses with fewer international calling needs.
Both platforms support up to 500 participants and offer screen sharing. RingCentral includes whiteboarding, which is beneficial for interactive meetings, while 8×8 offers virtual backgrounds and meeting recording, enhancing flexibility for presentations and training.
8×8’s plans start at £10/user/month, making it cost-effective, especially for smaller teams. RingCentral’s starting price is slightly higher at £16/user/month, though both offer valuable features across all tiers to accommodate businesses of different sizes and budgets.
Yes, both 8×8 and RingCentral provide full-featured mobile apps, allowing access to calls, messaging, and video meetings from anywhere. This makes both platforms suitable for remote and hybrid work environments, supporting flexible and mobile communication.
Both provide strong analytics, with 8×8 focusing on call quality, agent performance, and customer interaction. RingCentral, on the other hand, offers a customisable analytics dashboard that allows businesses to track team and customer engagement in detail, making it ideal for tailored reporting.
RingCentral has over 200 integrations with popular platforms like Microsoft Teams and Slack, offering more connectivity options. 8×8, while still compatible with essential tools like Salesforce and Zendesk, offers fewer integrations (25+), which may limit flexibility for businesses requiring extensive third-party tools.
Both 8×8 and RingCentral offer a 99.999% uptime guarantee, ensuring reliable service with minimal downtime. Each platform has global data centres to maintain connectivity, making both options reliable choices for businesses that prioritise high availability.
Both 8×8 and RingCentral comply with GDPR and offer strong encryption, but RingCentral goes further with additional certifications, including HIPAA and ISO 27001. This makes it particularly attractive to businesses needing the highest security standards for data protection.
RingCentral generally has more responsive customer support, especially on higher-tier plans, with 24/7 availability via phone, email, and chat. 8×8 offers multiple support channels, but response times can vary, which might affect businesses needing immediate assistance.
8×8’s lower starting price and extensive international calling options make it attractive for smaller businesses. RingCentral’s variety of integrations and customisable analytics are excellent for larger organisations with specific needs, though both can work well for small and mid-sized enterprises.