Choosing the right phone system for your business can be a crucial decision that impacts daily operations and customer communications. For UK businesses, RingCentral and Vonage are two of the most popular cloud-based communication providers, each offering a suite of features, integrations, and pricing plans that cater to various business needs. In this comparison, we’ll look closely at RingCentral vs Vonage for features, pricing, customer support, and more to help you make the best choice for your business.
RingCentral vs Vonage
| Feature | RingCentral | Vonage |
|---|---|---|
| Core VoIP Features | VoIP calling, call recording, voicemail-to-email, unlimited calling within the UK | VoIP calling, call forwarding, virtual receptionist, call transfer, caller ID |
| Collaboration Tools | Built-in team messaging, file sharing, task management, integration with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace | Integrates with third-party collaboration tools, customisable workflows with APIs |
| Video Conferencing | Included in Standard plan and above; supports HD video, screen sharing, up to 200 participants | Vonage Meetings available; less robust video options; external integrations needed for advanced video |
| Call Management & Analytics | Advanced features such as call queues, forwarding, detailed call logs, real-time analytics | Basic call management with call forwarding, caller ID, and do-not-disturb; lacks in-depth analytics |
| Integrations | Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Slack, HubSpot, and more | Flexible API integrations, connects with CRMs like Zoho, Salesforce, HubSpot |
| API Access | Limited, mainly for integration purposes | Strong API flexibility for custom communication flows |
| Pricing (per user per month) | Essentials: £7.99, Standard: £14.99, Premium: £19.99, Ultimate: £24.99 | Mobile: £9.00, Premium: £12.00, Advanced: £18.00 |
| Advanced Call Analytics | Included in Premium and Ultimate plans | Not included; basic analytics only |
| Customer Support | 24/7 support on Premium and Ultimate plans; phone, chat, email options | 24/7 support on all plans; more personalised support on Advanced plan, UK-based support team |
| Target Business Size | Scalable for small to large businesses, especially those needing extensive collaboration | Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses; customisable solutions for unique workflows |
| Pros | All-in-one platform, rich collaboration tools, extensive integrations, excellent analytics | Affordable entry-level plans, flexible customisation with API, strong UK-based support |
| Cons | Higher cost for full-feature plans, Essentials plan capped at 20 users | Limited collaboration features, additional costs for certain integrations and API features |
| Best For | Businesses seeking a fully integrated communications solution with advanced analytics | Small to medium businesses looking for a cost-effective and customisable VoIP solution |
Features comparison – RingCentral vs Vonage
Core features
- RingCentral: Known for its comprehensive feature set, RingCentral provides VoIP calling, video conferencing, team messaging, and file sharing as standard features. It also supports voicemail-to-email, call analytics, and call recording, making it a versatile option for businesses of any size.
- Vonage: Vonage also delivers an extensive feature range, including VoIP calling, virtual receptionist, call forwarding, and conferencing capabilities. Vonage stands out with its flexible and scalable API integrations, making it easier to build customised communication flows, particularly for businesses with unique requirements or those using a bespoke tech stack.
Collaboration tools
- RingCentral: In addition to voice and video calling, RingCentral offers robust team collaboration features such as group chats, document sharing, and task management. The integration with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace allows users to streamline workflows, which is highly useful for businesses with remote or hybrid work setups.
- Vonage: While Vonage’s core focus is on VoIP functionality, it offers good integrations with third-party collaboration tools. Vonage Business Communications integrates with major CRMs and productivity tools but doesn’t have the in-built task management that RingCentral offers. Vonage’s APIs, however, can help businesses create custom workflows or connect with other collaborative tools.
Video conferencing
- RingCentral: With RingCentral MVP (Message, Video, Phone), video meetings are built-in, supporting HD video and screen sharing, with up to 200 participants for higher-tier plans. This is an advantage for businesses needing both calling and conferencing within one platform.
- Vonage: Vonage provides video calling through its Vonage Meetings tool, but this is somewhat more limited in features compared to RingCentral’s video capabilities. For businesses prioritising video conferencing, Vonage may require additional integrations.
Call handling and management
- RingCentral: With advanced call management, RingCentral supports features like call queues, forwarding, and detailed call logs. It offers robust call analytics, which can be a critical asset for call centres and customer support departments.
- Vonage: Vonage also includes call handling features such as call transfer, caller ID, and do-not-disturb, but lacks some of the in-depth analytics provided by RingCentral. For smaller businesses or those not reliant on detailed call data, Vonage still provides effective call management tools.
Pricing plans – RingCentral vs Vonage
Pricing is a significant consideration, especially for UK businesses seeking scalability without high upfront costs. Here’s a look at how both providers structure their plans:
RingCentral pricing
RingCentral’s pricing is based on a per-user, per-month structure. They offer four main plans:
Cutting edge payroll software
- Powerful and easy to use
- HMRC & RTI compliant
- Used by payroll pros
The CRM platform to grow your business
- Great for entrepreneurs
- Powerful data analytics
- Manage sales and data
Powerful web builder and advanced business tools
- Great for startups
- Powerful web page builder
- E-commerce available
Supercharged content planning
- Great for marketing
- Better than lists or sheets
- Manage social media
Create a new website in 10 minutes. Easy.
- Launch your website fast
- Powerful data intuitive
- No coding skills needed
- Essentials: £7.99/user per month – Limited to 20 users, offering unlimited calling within the UK, SMS, and basic team messaging.
- Standard: £14.99/user per month – Adds unlimited video meetings for up to 100 participants, integrations with Microsoft and Google, and more advanced call management features.
- Premium: £19.99/user per month – Includes automatic call recording, real-time analytics, and integrations with Salesforce and other CRMs.
- Ultimate: £24.99/user per month – Adds device status reports and expanded storage for call recordings.
Vonage pricing
Vonage’s pricing tiers are less rigid, as they offer a few add-ons that can customise your plan. However, the core pricing is as follows:
- Mobile: £9.00/user per month – Basic VoIP features, limited to mobile and desktop apps.
- Premium: £12.00/user per month – Adds unlimited video conferencing, CRM integration, and IP desk phone compatibility.
- Advanced: £18.00/user per month – Includes on-demand call recording, visual voicemail, and other advanced features.
Vonage also charges an extra fee for some specific integrations and offers API-based customisation options that come at additional costs.
Integrations
Both providers excel in integrations with third-party apps, but with notable differences:
- RingCentral: Integrates with a wide array of business tools, including Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Slack, and HubSpot. These integrations allow businesses to streamline workflows by linking RingCentral with essential productivity and CRM platforms.
- Vonage: Known for its API flexibility, Vonage supports custom integrations and connects with CRMs such as Zoho, Salesforce, and HubSpot. For businesses with technical teams who want custom-built communication solutions, Vonage’s APIs offer a unique advantage.
Customer support
- RingCentral: Provides 24/7 support for Premium and Ultimate plan users, with options for phone, live chat, and email support. They also offer a comprehensive online knowledge base, making it easy to find solutions to common queries.
- Vonage: Offers 24/7 support across its main plans, although customers on the Advanced plan benefit from more hands-on support options. Vonage also has a UK-based support team, which can be a plus for UK businesses needing localised assistance.
Pros and cons
RingCentral pros and cons
Pros
- Comprehensive all-in-one platform with VoIP, video, and messaging.
- Excellent call management and analytics features.
- Broad integrations with third-party apps.
- Flexible and scalable, suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Cons
- Slightly higher starting cost for full-featured plans.
- Limited to 20 users on the Essentials plan.
Vonage pros and cons
Pros
- Strong customisation options with API access.
- UK-based support team.
- Lower starting cost for basic VoIP functions.
- Scalable for smaller businesses or custom communication solutions.
Cons
- Fewer built-in collaboration tools compared to RingCentral.
- Additional charges for some integrations and API features.
RingCentral vs Vonage – Which is best for your business?
The choice between RingCentral vs Vonage ultimately depends on your business’s priorities:
- Choose RingCentral if you want a fully integrated communications platform with extensive built-in features, such as video conferencing, task management, and a range of collaborative tools. RingCentral is also ideal for businesses needing advanced call management and analytics, especially useful for larger teams or customer support environments.
- Choose Vonage if you’re looking for a more customisable solution that integrates smoothly with existing tools or want a more affordable option with VoIP essentials. For businesses with dedicated development resources, Vonage’s API access allows for the creation of tailored solutions, making it a strong choice for tech-driven organisations.
Final thoughts
Both RingCentral and Vonage offer excellent business phone solutions, each catering to different needs.
RingCentral is the more comprehensive option for businesses wanting an all-in-one platform, while Vonage is ideal for smaller teams or those seeking customisable and affordable VoIP solutions.
Evaluate the features, costs, and specific requirements of your business to determine which of these providers aligns best with your communication goals.
FAQ – RingCentral vs Vonage comparison
RingCentral offers built-in team messaging, file sharing, and task management, making it ideal for businesses needing internal collaboration tools. Vonage, while solid for VoIP, relies on third-party integrations for collaboration and lacks in-built task management, making it less suited for extensive teamwork needs.
RingCentral includes HD video conferencing with screen sharing and supports up to 200 participants on higher-tier plans. Vonage has basic video conferencing through Vonage Meetings but lacks the advanced options RingCentral provides, making it better for simple meetings rather than large or feature-rich sessions.
RingCentral provides detailed call analytics and real-time reporting, especially valuable for call centres and support teams. Vonage has basic analytics but lacks the depth and insight RingCentral offers, making RingCentral the better choice if advanced analytics are a priority.
Yes, both RingCentral and Vonage integrate with popular CRMs like Salesforce, Zoho, and HubSpot. However, RingCentral offers a broader range of CRM and productivity integrations, whereas Vonage’s strength lies in its API flexibility for more custom integration needs.
Vonage generally has lower starting costs with its basic Mobile plan at £9.00 per user, while RingCentral starts at £7.99 but limits this to 20 users. Higher-tier plans for both services vary, but Vonage tends to offer a slightly more affordable entry point.
Vonage is well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses with essential VoIP needs and offers lower-cost plans. RingCentral, while more feature-rich, can be overkill for smaller businesses unless they need the full suite of collaboration and management tools.
Vonage offers a UK-based support team, providing localised assistance, especially helpful for businesses in the UK. RingCentral has 24/7 support, but it’s not specifically UK-based, making Vonage preferable if local support is a top priority.
Yes, both providers offer API access, but Vonage has a more extensive API suite designed for customisable workflows. RingCentral’s API is effective for standard integrations but lacks the customisation flexibility that Vonage provides for specialised needs.
RingCentral offers robust call management, including call queues, forwarding, and detailed logs, plus advanced analytics on higher tiers. Vonage includes essential call management but lacks RingCentral’s advanced options, making RingCentral better for complex call management needs.
RingCentral is more suited to remote work with integrated video, messaging, and document sharing tools in one platform. Vonage can also support remote work but often requires third-party tools for full collaboration, making RingCentral the more streamlined solution for remote teams.