Choosing the right phone system is crucial for businesses looking to streamline communication, enhance customer service, and support remote work flexibility. Nextiva and Google Voice are two popular options, each with its unique set of features, pricing structures, and integration capabilities. This comparison examines Nextiva vs Google Voice in detail, including features, costs, and key considerations to help you decide which might best suit your business needs.
Nextiva vs Google Voice
| Category | Nextiva | Google Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Calling Features | Unlimited calling (domestic and international), advanced call management, call queuing, forwarding, voicemail-to-email | Unlimited calling within supported regions, basic call management |
| Video Conferencing | Included with specific plans (NextivaONE), HD video, and screen sharing | Not included (requires Google Meet with Workspace) |
| Messaging | SMS, team messaging, and internal collaboration | Basic SMS messaging (US/Canada only) |
| Auto-attendant | Multi-level auto-attendant with customisation | Basic auto-attendant |
| Call Analytics | Comprehensive analytics and detailed reporting | Basic analytics |
| CRM Integration | Integrates with Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, and others | Limited to Google Workspace only |
| Productivity Integrations | Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and more | Google Workspace only |
| Mobile App | Fully-featured app for iOS and Android, offers advanced call management and analytics | Available for iOS and Android, limited functionality |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly interface, extensive onboarding resources | Simple interface, especially for Google Workspace users |
| Customer Support | 24/7 support via phone, live chat, and email | Online support resources, limited live support for paid Google Workspace users |
| Pricing | Starts at £15.95/user/month for Essential plan; Professional and Enterprise plans available with additional features | Starts at £8/user/month for Starter; Standard and Premier plans add features |
| Entry-level Plan | Essential – £15.95/user/month: includes unlimited calls, team messaging, and basic auto-attendant | Starter – £8/user/month: includes unlimited calls in supported regions, basic auto-attendant |
| Mid-level Plan | Professional – £20.95/user/month: adds call recording, additional analytics, video conferencing | Standard – £15/user/month: adds multi-level auto-attendant and basic reporting |
| Advanced Plan | Enterprise – £30.95/user/month: full feature set, CRM integrations, expanded analytics | Premier – £20/user/month: enhanced call reporting and multi-location support |
| Best For | Medium to large businesses needing advanced communication features, scalability, and third-party integrations | Small businesses or startups using Google Workspace, seeking a basic, affordable communication solution |
| Notable Pros | Comprehensive feature set, extensive integration options, 24/7 support | Budget-friendly, seamless Google Workspace integration, user-friendly |
| Notable Cons | Higher price, some features only on higher tiers | Limited features outside of basic calling, limited support options |
Overview of Nextiva vs Google Voice
Nextiva is a business communications platform that offers a robust suite of tools tailored for businesses of all sizes. Known for its reliability, Nextiva provides advanced VoIP features, unified communications, and customer relationship management (CRM) integration, making it a comprehensive solution for businesses needing a fully-featured phone system.
Google Voice is a cloud-based VoIP service popular with small businesses and startups, especially those already integrated within Google Workspace. Google Voice offers essential calling features and integrates seamlessly with Google’s suite of products. However, it lacks some of the advanced capabilities seen in more extensive business VoIP platforms, positioning it as a more straightforward and budget-friendly option.
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Features comparison
Calling and call management
- Nextiva: Offers unlimited calling within the UK and internationally, with advanced features such as call queuing, call forwarding, and voicemail-to-email. Its call management capabilities are extensive, supporting complex call routing, multi-level auto-attendants, and more.
- Google Voice: Also offers unlimited calling within supported regions, making it budget-friendly for businesses with a local focus. However, its call management features are more limited, especially when compared to Nextiva’s comprehensive options.
Video conferencing and messaging
- Nextiva: Provides video conferencing as part of its unified communications solutions, offering HD video and screen sharing. Team messaging is also available, creating a one-stop platform for business communications.
- Google Voice: Does not include video conferencing; however, users with Google Workspace access can use Google Meet separately. Messaging is limited to SMS within specific regions (currently only the US and Canada), which can restrict its utility for UK-based users.
Integrations
- Nextiva: Connects with a wide range of CRM platforms and productivity tools, including Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Teams, and Outlook. This flexibility makes it an ideal choice for businesses seeking a comprehensive solution that integrates with their existing software.
- Google Voice: Primarily integrates within the Google Workspace ecosystem, providing a cohesive experience for businesses already invested in Google’s productivity tools. However, it lacks broader integration support, which may be limiting for companies using non-Google platforms.
Mobility and remote access
Both Nextiva and Google Voice offer mobile apps compatible with iOS and Android, allowing employees to manage calls on the go. However, Nextiva’s app is more feature-rich, offering advanced call management and analytics, while Google Voice’s mobile app is more basic, focused on essential calling functions.
Costs and pricing plans for Nextiva vs Google Voice
| Pricing Tier | Nextiva | Google Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | £15.95 per user/month (Essential) | £8 per user/month (Starter) |
| Mid-level | £20.95 per user/month (Professional) | £15 per user/month (Standard) |
| Advanced | £30.95 per user/month (Enterprise) | £20 per user/month (Premier) |
Pricing insights
- Nextiva: Pricing starts at £15.95 per user per month for the Essential plan, which includes unlimited calling, team messaging, and a basic auto-attendant. Higher-tier plans, such as the Professional (£20.95) and Enterprise (£30.95) plans, offer additional features like call recording, advanced analytics, CRM integration, and expanded video conferencing capabilities. Nextiva’s pricing reflects its feature depth, making it suitable for businesses needing a robust communication solution.
- Google Voice: Google Voice’s Starter plan is £8 per user per month, including unlimited calling within certain regions, a simple auto-attendant, and integration with Google Workspace. Higher plans, such as Standard (£15) and Premier (£20), offer additional features like support for multi-level auto-attendants and more advanced call reporting. Google Voice is competitively priced but remains feature-limited compared to Nextiva.
Ease of use
- Nextiva: Known for its user-friendly interface, Nextiva offers intuitive dashboards and easy navigation. It also provides onboarding support and 24/7 customer service, making it an excellent choice for businesses prioritising a seamless setup and dedicated customer support.
- Google Voice: Users already familiar with Google Workspace will find Google Voice easy to navigate, as it’s tightly integrated within Google’s suite. The platform is straightforward and suits small teams or businesses requiring minimal customisation, though it offers limited support options.
Customer support
- Nextiva: Provides 24/7 customer support, along with a comprehensive knowledge base, live chat, and phone support. UK businesses needing prompt assistance will benefit from Nextiva’s responsive support options.
- Google Voice: Limited customer support options are available, mainly through online resources and support forums. For paid Google Workspace accounts, Google offers email and chat support, though the level of personalised assistance remains minimal compared to Nextiva.
Pros and cons
Nextiva
Pros
- Comprehensive feature set, including advanced call management and analytics
- Strong integration options with CRM and productivity tools
- 24/7 customer support
Cons
- Higher pricing, which may be less attractive to budget-conscious businesses
- Some features are available only on higher-tier plans
Google Voice
Pros
- Affordable and accessible entry-level pricing
- Seamless integration with Google Workspace
- Simple, user-friendly interface
Cons
- Limited advanced features, particularly in call management and analytics
- Restricted integration options outside of Google’s ecosystem
- Limited customer support options
Nextiva vs Google Voice – Which solution is best for your business?
- Consider Nextiva if: Your business requires a full-featured phone system with advanced call management, integrations with various CRM tools, and 24/7 support. Nextiva is ideal for medium to large businesses needing scalability and comprehensive communication tools.
- Consider Google Voice if: You are a small business or startup already invested in Google Workspace and need a cost-effective solution for basic calling needs. Google Voice suits businesses with simpler communication requirements, minimal integration needs, and a limited budget.
Conclusion
Nextiva and Google Voice offer distinct advantages, with Nextiva excelling in feature depth and Google Voice providing budget-friendly simplicity.
Nextiva is the superior choice for businesses needing advanced functionalities and third-party integrations, while Google Voice is better suited to smaller teams that rely on Google Workspace and require an affordable, straightforward solution.
FAQ – Nextiva vs Google Voice comparison
Nextiva offers more advanced call management features, including call queuing, forwarding, and voicemail-to-email. Google Voice provides essential call management tools but lacks the depth of features, making it better suited for basic calling needs rather than complex call handling.
Nextiva includes video conferencing in its mid-to-high-tier plans, providing HD video and screen sharing. Google Voice does not include video conferencing; however, businesses using Google Workspace can use Google Meet for video, albeit as a separate platform.
Nextiva integrates with popular CRMs like Salesforce, Zoho, and HubSpot, enhancing productivity for teams using these platforms. Google Voice is limited to Google Workspace, restricting integration options for businesses relying on third-party CRM tools.
Yes, both offer mobile apps for iOS and Android. Nextiva’s app provides a full range of calling and call management features, while Google Voice’s app is more basic, focused primarily on essential call functions without extensive call management tools.
Google Voice is highly integrated within Google Workspace, making it an ideal choice for businesses heavily invested in Google’s ecosystem. It offers seamless access across Google products, although it has fewer advanced features compared to Nextiva’s broader suite.
Both platforms are user-friendly, but Google Voice is particularly intuitive for Google Workspace users. Nextiva’s dashboard and management tools are also straightforward but come with additional features that may require more setup and customisation.
Only Nextiva offers 24/7 customer support via phone, chat, and email. Google Voice has limited support primarily available through online resources and is less comprehensive, with live support mainly for Google Workspace customers only.
Google Voice’s Starter plan starts at £8 per user per month, making it the more budget-friendly option for basic needs. Nextiva’s entry-level Essential plan is £15.95, offering a broader feature set but at a higher cost.
Nextiva is better suited to larger businesses with complex communication needs, thanks to its advanced features and scalability. Google Voice, while useful for smaller setups, may lack the depth needed by larger organisations, particularly regarding call management and integrations.
Nextiva provides detailed call analytics and reporting, available across its plans, making it ideal for data-driven decisions. Google Voice includes basic call analytics, which may suffice for smaller businesses but lacks the depth required by data-focused teams.