Both Vonage and 8×8 are popular choices for UK businesses seeking a reliable and flexible VoIP solution, each offering a range of features tailored to support business communication needs. In this comparison, we’ll cover the key aspects of Vonage vs 8×8 — features, costs, and other essential considerations — to help you decide which is best suited to your business.
Overview of Vonage and 8×8
| Category | Vonage | 8×8 |
|---|---|---|
| Core services | VoIP, video conferencing, messaging, contact centre | VoIP, video conferencing, messaging, contact centre |
| Best suited for | Small to medium-sized businesses with a focus on integration flexibility | Medium to large businesses requiring advanced analytics and international calling |
| Calling capabilities | HD voice, Visual Voicemail, mobile app for on-the-go use | HD voice, unlimited calling to 48+ countries (depending on plan), mobile app for remote access |
| Video conferencing | Available on higher-tier plans with limited participant capacity | Available on most plans with generous participant capacity |
| Messaging | Instant messaging and team chat in app | Team messaging and collaboration tools |
| Integrations | Extensive CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho), API options for customisation | Integrates with Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, and some CRM platforms, but less flexible than Vonage |
| API and customisation | Flexible API options for custom workflows and app integrations | Limited API options, more predefined integrations |
| Call analytics | Basic call analytics covering call durations, wait times, and customer interactions | Advanced call analytics with AI insights, performance metrics, and detailed reports |
| Security and compliance | Data encryption, multi-factor authentication, meets essential compliance standards | High security standards with end-to-end encryption, GDPR and HIPAA compliant |
| Reliability | 99.99% uptime guarantee | 99.999% uptime guarantee, ideal for businesses prioritising reliability |
| Pricing (UK) | Starting at approx. £12-15 per user/month for basic; mid-tier at £20; advanced features add £25-30+ per user | Starting at approx. £15 per user/month; advanced features in X2 and X4 plans range from £20-35 per user |
| International calling | Available as an add-on for international calls | Included in higher-tier plans (X2 and X4) with unlimited calls to 48+ countries |
| Pros | – Affordable plans for small businesses – Extensive CRM integrations – Flexible API options | – Advanced analytics and reporting – Unlimited international calling on high-tier plans – High uptime guarantee |
| Cons | – Limited call analytics compared to 8×8 – Lower uptime guarantee – International calling is add-on | – Higher base cost for advanced features – Fewer CRM integrations – Limited customisation options |
| Scalability | Easily scalable for growing small to medium-sized businesses | Highly scalable, ideal for larger organisations needing advanced analytics and global reach |
| Customer support | Standard support with premium options available at an extra cost | Dedicated onboarding and support included, known for responsive service |
| Ease of use | User-friendly for small teams, intuitive dashboard | Steeper learning curve, but more advanced features for experienced or larger teams |
Vonage: Known for its flexibility and integrations, Vonage is a comprehensive cloud-based communication provider. Offering business phone services, contact centre solutions, and unified communications, Vonage is designed to streamline communication across various channels. It’s particularly appealing to small to medium-sized businesses seeking scalability and ease of integration with other software.
8×8: A leader in the unified communications market, 8×8 offers both VoIP and contact centre solutions. It’s highly regarded for its robust international calling capabilities and advanced analytics, making it suitable for businesses with a global reach or those that rely heavily on performance tracking. 8×8 is ideal for medium to large-sized businesses, especially those needing advanced reporting features.
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Key features comparison – Vonage vs 8×8
Both Vonage and 8×8 deliver a comprehensive set of VoIP and unified communication features, but some aspects set them apart.
Calling and communication tools
- Vonage: Vonage’s VoIP solution supports voice calls, video conferencing, and instant messaging. It also offers Visual Voicemail, allowing users to receive transcribed voicemails via email. Vonage’s Mobile App ensures that calls can be handled on the go, which is valuable for businesses with a mobile workforce.
- 8×8: 8×8’s communication suite includes HD voice, video conferencing, team messaging, and screen sharing. A standout feature is its global call handling capabilities, with unlimited calling to over 48 countries included in some plans, making it an excellent choice for international businesses.
Integrations and API capabilities
- Vonage: Vonage stands out for its strong integration ecosystem, seamlessly connecting with major CRM systems like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho. Vonage’s API options are also extensive, allowing businesses to create custom workflows and integrate with other business applications easily.
- 8×8: 8×8 also offers integrations with popular platforms like Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace. Its integrations are broad but generally not as extensive or flexible as Vonage’s, making Vonage potentially the better choice for businesses needing deep integrations or custom solutions.
Call analytics and reporting
- Vonage: Provides essential call analytics and reporting, with insights into call durations, wait times, and customer interactions. However, its reporting capabilities are more basic compared to 8×8, lacking some of the advanced filtering options.
- 8×8: 8×8 excels in analytics, offering advanced reports, AI-powered insights, and performance metrics. These features make it ideal for businesses needing detailed reporting on communication efficiency and customer experience, such as contact centres or those prioritising performance metrics.
Security and reliability
- Vonage: Vonage employs security measures such as data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular software updates. It also offers 99.99% uptime, providing reliable service for most small to medium-sized businesses.
- 8×8: Security is a strong point for 8×8, which meets global compliance standards such as GDPR and HIPAA. It also includes end-to-end encryption for calls, enhancing privacy. 8×8’s redundancy options and 99.999% uptime guarantee offer even higher reliability, which may appeal to businesses that demand high availability.
Pricing comparison – Vonage vs 8×8
Understanding pricing structures is essential, as both platforms have different approaches to fees.
- Vonage: Vonage plans typically start around £12-15 per user per month for basic VoIP features, while its mid-tier plans offer additional integrations and video conferencing options starting at about £20 per user. For businesses seeking advanced features like call recording or CRM integrations, costs can range from £25 to £30+ per user. Add-ons such as international calling or premium support are available at an additional charge.
- 8×8: 8×8’s pricing begins at approximately £15 per user per month for essential VoIP and messaging. Its X2 and X4 plans, which offer more comprehensive services, including unlimited global calling and advanced analytics, range from £20 to £35 per user. 8×8’s pricing is more transparent and often includes additional features within its base plans, which can make it more economical for businesses that need global calling and high-tier analytics.
Both providers offer custom pricing for enterprises or larger deployments, with volume discounts potentially available.
Pros and cons
Vonage
Pros:
- Strong integrations with CRM and business applications
- Flexible API options for customisations
- Affordable base plans for small businesses
Cons:
- Less robust analytics and reporting features
- Lower uptime guarantee than 8×8
- International calling is generally an add-on cost
8×8
Pros:
- Advanced analytics and call reporting
- Unlimited calling to many countries in higher-tier plans
- High uptime guarantee and end-to-end encryption
Cons:
- Fewer CRM integrations compared to Vonage
- Potentially higher base cost for advanced features
- Limited customisation options compared to Vonage’s API offerings
Additional considerations
- Scalability: Vonage is highly scalable for small to medium-sized businesses with plans that can expand as you grow. However, 8×8’s advanced features make it more suitable for larger organisations, particularly those requiring complex reporting.
- Customer support: Both companies offer support, but 8×8 is known for dedicated onboarding for new clients, which can be beneficial for a seamless transition. Vonage’s customer support is reliable but may incur extra fees for premium support options.
- Ease of use: Vonage is often considered more user-friendly for smaller teams, while 8×8, with its range of options, may have a steeper learning curve but offers more depth for tech-savvy users.
Which is right for your business?
In choosing between Vonage vs 8×8, it’s important to consider your business’s specific needs:
- Vonage is a great fit if you’re a small to medium-sized business prioritising CRM integrations and a flexible API for customisation. Its lower base plans make it economical for smaller teams that don’t need extensive analytics.
- 8×8 is ideal for larger businesses or those with a global presence, particularly if analytics and performance metrics are essential to your operations. The robust international calling options and high uptime guarantee also make it a solid choice for businesses requiring reliability and advanced reporting.
Final thoughts
Both Vonage and 8×8 offer solid communication solutions, but their strengths cater to slightly different needs.
Vonage appeals to businesses focused on integration flexibility and ease of use, while 8×8 stands out with its global calling options and advanced analytics.
Consider your business’s current size, communication priorities, and growth plans before making a decision.
Either provider can enhance your business communications; it’s just a matter of which aligns better with your operational goals.
FAQ – Vonage vs 8×8 comparison
8×8 is generally better for international calling, offering unlimited calls to over 48 countries with higher-tier plans. Vonage provides international calling as an add-on, so costs can increase for businesses needing frequent international calls, making 8×8 the more economical option for global communications.
Yes, both integrate with CRM systems. Vonage supports extensive integrations with platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho, ideal for businesses needing deep CRM connectivity. 8×8 integrates with Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace but offers fewer CRM integrations, making Vonage the more flexible choice.
Vonage typically starts at a lower price, around £12-15 per user per month, while 8×8 starts at £15. For businesses needing international calls or advanced analytics, 8×8’s higher-tier plans may offer better value, although Vonage remains more affordable at the basic level.
8×8 provides more advanced call analytics, including AI-powered insights, performance metrics, and detailed reports, ideal for contact centres. Vonage offers essential analytics, covering basics like call durations and wait times, but lacks the depth found in 8×8’s reporting suite.
Vonage is often considered more user-friendly for smaller teams, with an intuitive dashboard that’s easy to navigate. 8×8 offers more complex features, which may require more training but are valuable for experienced teams needing deeper functionality.
8×8 has a higher reliability guarantee with 99.999% uptime, making it more suitable for businesses requiring consistent availability. Vonage offers a 99.99% uptime guarantee, which is reliable but slightly lower than 8×8’s, making 8×8 the preferred choice for mission-critical reliability.
Yes, both support remote work. Vonage and 8×8 offer mobile apps and features that enable on-the-go communication. 8×8’s global calling and advanced analytics make it ideal for dispersed teams, while Vonage’s user-friendly platform is suited to businesses with mobile workforces.
Both can support large businesses, but 8×8’s advanced analytics, international calling, and security make it better for larger organisations. Vonage is scalable and fits medium-sized businesses well, although 8×8 offers features that may appeal more to large enterprises.
8×8 is generally better for security, offering end-to-end encryption and meeting GDPR and HIPAA compliance standards. Vonage provides robust security measures as well, including data encryption and multi-factor authentication, but lacks some of the advanced protections found with 8×8.
Yes, both provide customer support. 8×8 is known for dedicated onboarding and responsive service, beneficial for larger organisations. Vonage offers standard support, with a premium support option available at an extra cost, which may suit smaller businesses needing occasional assistance.