Read our review of the latest all-in-one communications platform from 8x8: the 8x8 X Series. The name Virtual Office Pro has been retired by 8x8. 

With 128 patents under its belt and over 40,000 customers, 8x8 is a force to be reckoned with in the cloud-based communications department. 

What started out as a small-time seller of semiconductors has slowly but surely evolved into a sweltering behemoth in the Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, market.

Nowadays, 8x8 offers products that appeal not only to small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs), but it’s also branched out to more mainstream enterprise companies and call centers. 

8x8 Virtual Office Pro in particular leans more toward mid-sized business customers. It once existed as an add-on for the three base editions of Virtual Office, including the $25 (£19.26) per user per month X2 Edition, the $35 (£26.96) per user per month X5 Edition and the $55 (£42.37) per user per month X8 Edition. 

• Best cloud phone systems: buy a business PBX system in the cloud
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• You can sign up for 8x8 Virtual Office Pro here

That said, a customer service agent confirmed to us in an online sales chat that Virtual Office Pro is now considered a legacy product unavailable to new customers. Its unique features – call recording, web conferencing and internet fax – are now folded into the X5 Edition and X8 Edition of the service. So with that, let’s take a look at the distinctions among this trio of Virtual Office packages.

• We've also highlighted the best VoIP providers

Pricing plans

Even at the baseline price of $25 (£19.26) a month for each user, you can expect a lot of meat from the 8x8 Virtual Office X2 Edition plan. For one, every user gets their own phone line, complete with their own exclusive phone number and a virtual extension for receiving rerouted calls. On top of that, they get unlimited calling to 14 countries including Canada, Australia, the UK, and the United States.

Unlimited internet fax, which was originally found only in the Virtual Office Pro add-on, now comes with the Virtual Office X2 Edition as well. You can also count on an auto-attendant, voicemail and integration with the Salesforce, ZenDesk and Netsuite CRM services. There’s some integration with Microsoft Outlook, too, though it’s mostly limited to pinging people with alert emails and scheduling meetings. Purchasing the Virtual Office X2 Edition gives you 1GB of media storage.  

Next up is the $35 (£26.96) 8x8 Virtual Office X5 Edition, which packs everything you’ll find in the X2 Edition but then ups the ante with Virtual Office Pro’s call recording, and an operator switchboard. Instead of unlimited calling to 14 countries, the count is more than doubled up to 32. Therefore, if you need to make frequent calls to China, Denmark or South Korea, you’ll probably want to opt for at least the X5 Edition. Media storage is bumped up to 5GB. 

Key features

Lastly, the 8x8 Virtual Office X8 Edition introduces a host of additional features absent from the other service packs. It’s $55 (£42.37) per user per month, but it justifies its loftier price tag with call quality reporting and analytics, an analytics supervisor and a wealth of contact center trappings. You get inbound contact center support, outbound contact center support, 2,000 contact center minutes, 3 months of contact center recording storage, contact center IVR and contact center recording and analytics.

Along with all of that, 8x8 Virtual Office X8 Edition takes unlimited calling up to 47 countries, a list which comprises all 32 of the countries you get with the X5 Edition plus India, Japan, South Africa and a few others. Also, the media storage bounces up to 10GB with the X8 Edition plan. All three of these Virtual Office Editions are compatible with a standard (but optional) desk phone, the Virtual Office desktop application and the Virtual Office web browser client, so you don’t have to worry about a lack of flexibility when it comes to the hardware you’re using. 

Competition

Overall, the best value and the most similar product to the now-defunct Virtual Office Pro is the 8x8 Virtual Office X5 Edition. At $35 (£26.96), it costs more than the $24.99 (£19.26) RingCentral (For Business) Standard plan, but it’s also more comparable to RingCentral’s $34.99 (£26.97) Premium plan since they both offer call recording and CRM integration. 

One advantage of RingCentral (For Office) Premium over 8x8 Virtual Office X5 Edition is the integration it has with Microsoft, Google, Box and Okta products. RingCentral also promises 24/7 customer support. In many ways, the services are similar, which makes sense considering how closely they’re priced. If you go for the 8x8 Virtual Office X8 Edition, you’re obviously signing up for the contact center aspects that don’t show up in RingCentral’s plans. 

Security

The adoption of more digital services has brought untold efficiency benefits to businesses in all industries - with VoIP solutions playing a key role in this. It has, unfortunately, also introduced additional vulnerabilities into the corporate environment that cyberattackers are all too willing to take advantage of. If this gives business leaders pause for thought, the good news is that many VoIP providers are shoring up their defenses to remain one step ahead of the attackers. This is certainly the case with 8x8’s VoIP offering. 

The company proudly shares its long list of security credentials, which include being compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Federal Information Security Management Act, and the EU-US Privacy Shield framework. In addition to these credentials, 8x8 is also independently audited each year. 

With more individuals working from home than ever before, VoIP solutions like 8x8 are not only being used to transmit audio signals. For example, 8x8 also supports video conferencing tools and office messaging apps. Again, 8x8 scores well here in terms of keeping customer data secure. Its VoIP platform has been developed with a security-first mindset, which means that 8x8 constantly scans its own infrastructure for emerging vulnerabilities before resolving them as quickly as possible. 

Furthermore, it’s not just n terms of security that 8x8 impresses. Its VoIP platform also takes business continuity extremely seriously. Its communication solutions are available through any browser, calls can be forwarded to other websites, and IP phones can be moved anywhere as long as there is a working internet connection nearby. A mobile app provides additional reliability benefits. So if users are looking for a VoIP platform is that is both secure and reliable, the 8x8 Virtual Office Pro VoIP service ticks all the boxes. 

Overall verdict

Ultimately, if you’re deciding on a new VoIP service for your business, the best product depends on your needs. The good news is that 8x8 Virtual Office has a lot of things going for it. It’s as easy to set up as hooking up the phones to an internet connection, and there are three different methods to use the service if the classic desk phone isn’t your style. Although newcomers can no longer subscribe to 8x8 Virtual Office Pro, its functionality lives on in the form of the X5 Edition. 

If you’re in the market for a new VoIP service with par-for-the-course pricing and a multitude of compelling features, 8x8 Virtual Office is worth a look.

• These are the best phone services for business in 2018

If you are searching for the best VoIP service for your business then it’s worth taking a look at GoTo Connect, the successor to the popular Jive VoIP platform.

GoTo Connect offers inexpensive pricing for small and medium-sized businesses, compatibility with an enormous range of devices, and plenty of advanced features to manage and route your calls. 

• Sign up to GoTo Connect

On top of that, the package includes the GoTo Meeting video conferencing software, so you can host video meetings with up to 250 participants (on the most expensive plan), a real bonus over some of its rivals. 

The ultimate goal of GoTo Connect is to have everything in one place, which functions both to cut costs (since everything is integrated) and make your work life easier. As always, it's worth considering rivals like Zoom and RingCentral in detail before making a decision. 

In our GoTo Connect review, we’ll cover everything you need to know to decide if this VoIP service is the best choice for your business.

• How we test, review and rate on TechRadar

GoTo Connect: Plans and Pricing

GoTo Connect recently expanded its tiers, going from three (Basic, Standard, and Premium) to four, based on specific usage: Phone System, Customer Engagement, Complete CX, and Contact Center. 

Unfortunately, the actual pricing details are now hidden from public view, and so you'll need to get in touch with GoTo Connect for the specifics based on the size of your organisation. 

(For reference, the old plans were priced at £10 per user per month for Basic, £21 for Standard, and £44 for Premium. We'd assume the new prices are somewhat similar, but it's worth checking with GoTo Connect based on the number of seats.) 

As we'll get into in more detail below, each of the four packages is well-featured and includes some things that rivals have in higher plans. For example, the Phone System plan supports unlimited users from the off, and up to 250 participants in video meetings, both of which are pretty generous. 

We recommend checking out GoTo Connect's pricing website to look at specific features and check those against your needs. 

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GoTo Connect: Features

GoTo Connect supports over 180 different models of desktop phones and conference room speaker systems, and you can also use the GoTo Connect desktop and mobile apps to place calls directly from your computer or smartphone. Notably, the service also offers support for SMS messages in the US and Canada.

The GoTo Connect software includes essential features like caller ID, call forwarding, and call recording. However, this platform doesn’t come with its own storage space for your recorded calls. You’ll need to purchase and connect a third-party cloud storage service.

GoTo Connect also has several different modes for supervisors to monitor calls. For example, you can use Spy Mode to monitor an existing conversation without being heard, or use Whisper Mode to be heard only by your employee and not the other caller. Both of these are reserved for higher tiers.

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Another plus, particularly for call centers and sales departments, is that GoTo Connect offers very detailed call reporting. Administrators can see how many calls are coming in to each user or extension, how long those calls last, and even what locations they’re coming from. 

GoTo also provides a complete activity log that catalogs every call placed over your network, so you can export the data and run your own analyses as needed.

While GoTo Connect is primarily a VoIP service, it also gives you access to the GoTo Meeting video conferencing platform. It's worth keeping in mind that this is nothing new in its segment, with most other providers opening up video capabilities.

GoTo Meeting is itself quite comprehensive, offering features like screen sharing, a virtual whiteboard that enables participants to collaboratively draw on presentations, and in-meeting chat.

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GoTo Connect: User interface

We found GoTo Connect’s web-based dashboard to be fairly straightforward. If you use phone hardware sold by GoTo, the software will automatically recognize your devices and all you need to do is associate them with a phone number or extension. 

When using your own hardware, the process is largely the same, except that you’ll need to install the GoTo Connect software on your devices before setting phone numbers. Everything basic was easy in our testing. 

Setting up some of GoTo Connect’s more advanced features did involve a little more work. For example, connecting a cloud storage space to hold call recordings wasn’t straightforward. GoTo Connect offers instructions if you’re using Amazon S3, but not for popular cloud platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox.

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One of the things we liked best about using GoTo Connect was its advanced call routing interface. 

The software includes a visual editor to help create a schematic for how calls should be passed through your network based on what number was dialed, where the call originated from, the time of day, and how long the phone has been ringing, among others. 

The editor enables you to drag and drop individual users and extensions around your schematic, so it’s easy to modify the routing plan at any time. You can also copy and alter an existing routing plan, which is helpful for creating alternative call plans for occasions like holidays.

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GoTo Connect: Support

GoTo Connect offers support via phone and email during weekday business hours. 

On top, GoTo also plays a big role in helping you set up your phone system, offering a short training session and consultation after your hardware arrives. While this is not a particularly common offering, it does help GoTo stand out, especially if this is your first time using VoIP as a business.

GoTo Connect’s online support center is incredibly comprehensive, if a little bit confusing. There are articles and user guides that answer virtually every question you could think of. However, there are few screenshots or videos, and many steps require you to first visit another how-to article. 

It’s easy to get lost, so using the documentation center requires some patience.

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GoTo Connect: Security

GoTo Connect encrypts all communications by default, regardless of whether you’re communicating via VoIP or video call. For both audio and video conferences, you also have the option to lock your meetings, which keeps new participants in a waiting room until approved. 

In terms of account security, two-factor authentication (2FA) helps protect somewhat against password leaks, and there are other industry-standard features. GoTo also has a useful Trust & Security Center. 

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GoTo Connect: The competition

GoTo Connect’s primary competitor is RingCentral, which similarly bundles VoIP and business messaging with a video conferencing platform. For most businesses, RingCentral will be more expensive. 

RingCentral's plans start at $19.99 per user per month (annually), but you’ll need to upgrade to a $24.99 per user per month plan if you want more than 20 users, video conferencing, or integrations with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office 365.

However, RingCentral’s call routing features aren’t as advanced as what GoTo Connect offers. For most businesses, we think GoTo Connect offers better value and a more flexible VoIP service.

It's also worth checking out Vonage, Aircall, Zoom, and 8x8. 

GoTo Connect: Final verdict

GoTo Connect is a very capable VoIP service that bundles phone, SMS messaging, and video conferencing. The service offers a simple, user-based pricing structure and is compatible with over 180 hardware devices so you can likely continue using your current VoIP-enabled phones. 

We especially like GoTo Connect’s call routing, monitoring, and reporting features. These give you an impressive amount of control over your phone network and are very easy to use. 

Overall, GoTo Connect is a competitively priced and well-featured service that's well worth checking out to get the best VoIP service in 2024. 

• Sign up to GoTo Connect

Further reading

• The best VoIP services
• What is VoIP? A guide for businesses
• How to choose a small business VoIP phone service

Despite its name, Vonage for Home should not be discounted by businesses that are looking for the best VoIP services, especially those on a tighter budget. 

While Vonage does offer its own enterprise VoIP solution via Vonage Business Cloud, the offering is better suited to larger businesses, the kind that will make the most of its collaboration and CRM integrations. 

Vonage for Home, on the other hand, is a wonderfully affordable and time-tested option from Vonage that represents a fantastic VoIP option for SMBs or sole traders. 

The service comes complete with great international calling rates, online tracking, easy transportability, anonymous call blocking, and excellent call quality. In short, everything you'll get from more expensive options. 

• Sign up to Vonage for Home

There are numerous advanced calling features included at no extra cost, and Vonage Extensions, a free mobile app, means you can take your Vonage calling plan with you wherever you go.

Although many businesses have recently been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, communication tools like VoIP telephony and video conferencing platforms have proven their worth. 

For smaller firms, in particular, VoIP solutions have helped employees remain connected with colleagues and customers even when they’ve not been able to visit the workplace. 

Alternatively, for SMBs that are have always worked from a home office environment, VoIP tools have long been associated with reliability. And that’s certainly what’s on offer with Vonage for Home.

• How we test, review and rate on TechRadar

Vonage for Home: Plans and pricing

Vonage for Home offers numerous different pricing plans, depending on a company’s home market. 

Vonage North America offers unlimited nationwide calling (as well as unlimited calls to Mexico, Canada, and Puerto Rico) for $9.99 per month for the first six months. This plan also comes with a free phone adapter, free shipping, and free activation. 

UK customers have the option of two different plans: Talk UK 1,000 and Premium Mobile 1,000, which cost £10.25 and £13.25 per month, respectively. The latter plan comes with reduced calling rates and free international calls to five countries.

Vonage also offers its customers a number of different international plans, which could be worth exploring for SMBs that conduct a lot of business overseas. 

The most extensive of these is the Vonage World plan, which comes with all the standard VoIP features, plus unlimited international calling to landlines in more than 60 countries and mobile phones in 10 countries. The regular price is $27.99 per month, but customers will only be charged $9.99 per month for the first six months when they sign a 12-month agreement.

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Vonage for Home also offers several add-on features for an extra free, including the ability to use a virtual number. Many SMBs like to use a virtual number when contacting customers for the local area code, which helps give businesses a local feel. Virtual numbers cost between $5 and $10 per number. 

Businesses can also add a dedicated fax line for an additional $9.99 per month, additional calling lines for $9.99 for the first three months (although prices do increase after this), and toll-free 1-800 numbers for $4.99 per month. 

In addition, businesses can purchase a Vonage softphone, accessible from their computer, for an extra $9.99 a month. This comes with 500 minutes per month. 

For SMBs that are still relying on old-fashioned landline phones, switching to Vonage for Home could result in some significant savings. Plus, because extra features can be added quickly if required, this is a VoIP service that provides the kind of flexible pricing that small businesses often prefer. 

So... a lot of different options, and it's worth checking out the Vonage's pricing website to see the exact features and what's right for your business. 

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Vonage for Home: Basic features

Just because Vonage for Home sounds geared towards residential use, doesn’t mean that SMB users have to miss out on any of the essential features you expect to be included with a B2B VoIP solution. 

Some of the most popular features on offer here are VoiceMail Plus, which lets users receive their voicemail messages by phone, email, or via an online account, and Caller Display, which reveals the number of the incoming caller.

Other widely-used features are Call Divert, which lets users divert incoming calls to another number, and International Call Barring, which prevents users from making international calls. 

Altogether, these features give SMB owners more control over their telephony network. Whether they are sole traders or have a handful of employees, being able to see who is calling and transfer calls appropriately is a great way of ensuring that important conversations aren’t missed. 

Other call management features include an anonymous caller block, the option of keeping your own number private when making a call, and a do not disturb option that diverts all incoming calls to voicemail. 

Another feature that small businesses will be thankful for is SimulRing, which lets multiple lines ring at once when an incoming call is received. When expecting important calls, this can be a great way of ensuring that customers aren’t neglected. When SimulRing is employed, the caller is much more likely to get through, with the first recipient to answer, taking the call.

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Vonage for Home: Advanced features

Vonage for Home also offers several advanced features that SMBs may want to consider, includeing three-way calling, particularly useful with more firms adopting hybrid working policies. In-person meetings may become less and less common in the workplaces of the future, increasing the importance of having different conferencing call options. 

There are also other features that will give SMBs more autonomy regarding how they receive their calls. Call Hunt lets incoming calls be distributed to multiple lines on your account, Ring Lists allow you to control how an incoming call is routed, and there’s also the option of adding a dedicated fax line. 

For small businesses that simply need a reliable VoIP offering that comes with all the standard features that you’d expect, then Vonage for Home ticks all the boxes. While Vonage may not have fancy integrations with CRM platforms like those that are on offer with the Vonage Business Cloud platform, for many SMBs that is unlikely to be an issue. 

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Vonage for Home: Installation and Setup

Many smaller companies might not have access to IT teams or large numbers of technical staff to help with the installation of new workplace digital tools. As such, ease-of-use is one of the most important goals for any VoIP solution – and one that Vonage for Home undoubtedly meets. 

Getting started with Vonage for Home is straightforward. 

First users should activate their Vonage account before setting up their Vonage Box. However, there’s no need to worry about either of these steps. No engineer visits are required and there are no installation costs to contend with. In fact, individuals can even keep their existing phone numbers. Setup is as simple as plugging your Vonage Box into your home router, and then connecting your home/business phone to your Vonage Box. Any mobile device can connect to the Vonage service remotely over a Wi-Fi connection. 

With the installation complete, SMBs can start making calls straight away, whether that’s from a mobile, tablet, laptop, desktop, office, or home phone. Like other VoIP services, Vonage works by sending audio data over an internet connection. Unlike with traditional phone systems, this means that calls are significantly cheaper (particularly international calls). It also allows businesses to access the kinds of advanced features that simply wouldn’t be possible with a traditional landline. 

With modern workplace trends meaning that employees are less and less likely to be sat at the same desk from nine until five every day between Monday and Friday, the added mobility provided by VoIP solutions like Vonage for Home is essential. SMBs can’t afford to neglect potential customers because their employees are based in a variety of locations.

With Vonage for Home the ability to answer calls to a work number from a variety of devices means that the number of missed calls will be significantly reduced. 

Another factor making Vonage for Home easy to use is the addition of the Vonage Extensions mobile app. This allows businesses to use their landline plan on their smartphone, meaning they can make calls remotely as long as they are connected to either an LTE  mobile data plan or a Wi-Fi connection. 

Having this added flexibility means that small businesses and their employees can enjoy the added freedom of working wherever they like, without the worry of missing an important phone call. 

• Empty list

Vonage for Home: The competition

• Empty list

Vonage for Home: Final verdict

Don’t let the name fool you, Vonage for Home is a great VoIP option for small businesses. With its affordable rates, simple installation, and impressive list of features, SMBs will find a VoIP platform that ticks all the boxes. The inclusion of the free mobile app, Vonage Extensions, is also a nice bonus, allowing firms to take calls on the go, wherever they are. 

• Sign up to Vonage for Home

San Francisco-based Dialpad is one of the world’s best VoIP services, but the company faces some stiff competition in the light of more businesses committing to Internet-based communication platforms. 

If you're shopping around for a VoIP business phone system it's worth considering, could Dialpad's VoIP services be right for your team? The answer to the question will depend on the size of your business, your calling needs, whether you care about AI features, and so much more. 

• Sign up for Dialpad

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, and many businesses around the world use the tech to replace transitional calls. There are a lot of services on the market and so we recommend spending some time checking out both Dialpad and its competition. 

Every business needs something specific, and VoIP offerings can range from fairly cheap for small businesses to feature-heavy behemoths that cost a pretty penny. Many services offer a free trial, which might be the perfect way to read test without having to commit to a subscription. 

In TechRadar's Dialpad review, we take a close look at every aspect of this company, including its customer service, plans and pricing, main features, and more, to help you decide whether it's the best VoIP service available for your business.

• How we test, review and rate on TechRadar

Dialpad VoIP: Plans and pricing

Dialpad has a wide range of services available that get bundled together in three different tiers, including video conferencing tools. Every plan gets unlimited calling (within your country, the US, and Canada), unlimited SMS and MMS messaging, and unlimited video calling, so things look pretty promising from the get-go.

The Standard plan costs $23 per user per month (or the equivalent of $15 when paid annually), and leverages some pretty smart AI for things like real-time call and voicemail transcription and even automated post-call summaries. In terms of third-party integrations, Google Workspace is as far as it goes.

If you’re looking to integrate with other apps like Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zendesk, and HubSpot, the Pro tier may sound more attractive, and supports up to 10 office locations and gets the important addition of 24/7 support. Expect to pay $35 per user per month (or $25 per month paid annually).

The top-end Enterprise plans take things to the limit with unlimited office support, a claimed 100% uptime, and single sign-on (SSO) with tools like Okta. Pricing for this plan is not disclosed publicly and you'll have to speak to Dialpad directly. 

Regardless of plan, video calling is restricted to 10 participants (Nextiva can host up to 250 members), but each meeting can last up to five hours (compared with Nextiva’s 45-minute limit). This is where the separate ‘Meetings’ plans come in.

The 14-day free trial is an industry standard. While we prefer trials that last a month (or 30 days), two weeks should still be enough time for a dedicated IT team to try things out. 

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Dialpad VoIP: Features

Dialpad provides an excellent VoIP for business service, backed by numerous advanced features. Let's dive in. 

Based on machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), Dialpad’s built-in voice intelligence features are excellent. They are designed to provide automatic call notes and transcripts, assist customer service agents in real time, and more. 

Dialpad isn’t the only company to offer AI assistance, though, so if this is important to you, it may be worth considering other offerings like RingCentral, which has recently announced a bundle of AI updates.

To go above and beyond standard VoIP voice calling, Dialpad includes impressive audio and video conference calling features, such as screen sharing, conference on-hold music, and various user controls. 

If it’s just something you may need occasionally, the included capabilities should be fine. A pair of video conferencing-specific plans do exist if you need to branch out – one free, and another for $20 per user per month ($15 annually). 

If it’s primarily the phoning functions that interest you, it’s refreshing to see that every single plan gets call forwarding, three-way calling, and recording functionalities. Hold queues are also standard on all but the cheapest plan.

Finally, Dialpad enables virtual faxing directly from your desktop dashboard. You will have to purchase a fax add-on for this, but this shouldn’t be too expensive – although the price will vary depending on what plan you’re using.

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Get a Dialpad VoIP free trial

To start a free trial with Dialpad, simply work through a short sign-up process. Here, you can choose a phone number, select the plan you want to use after the free trial has finished, and confirm personal details.

Download the desktop app on Windows or macOS, and mobile apps on Android or iOS, and log in to your account to get started.

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Dialpad VoIP: User interface

We trialled the Dialpad VoIP Windows desktop and web apps, and came away very impressed with the service. 

For starters, the web app is simple and intuitive, if a little basic, and lets you make calls, send messages, listen to voicemail and recorded calls, and manage your contacts. 

The Windows app is similar, but with even more features, meaning that the old enterprise adage that having a desktop app holds true as the dedicated desktop clients will almost always provide the best experience. 

And finally, the web dashboard lets you view analytics, manage the program’s settings, and set up your business phone system with many more features included.

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Dialpad VoIP: Support

When you’re setting up your Dialpad account, there’s every chance that you will run into some sort of problems or need advice on something. If so, you can speak with the customer service team via phone, live chat, or online ticket submission. There’s also an online forum where you can ask questions and browse previous conversations. 

On top of this, Dialpad has a comprehensive Help Center containing hundreds of articles, guides, video tutorials, and other self-help resources. Use the search bar at the top of the screen to find relevant information or simply browse by category. 

Pro and Enterprise plans get 24/7 support, but the standard 24/5 support on Standard plans should be adequate for smaller companies that are unlikely to run into issues on the weekend.

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Dialpad VoIP: Security

It’s always nice to see transparency and openness surrounding a company’s security measures, and Dialpad excels here. It provides clear information about the tools it uses to ensure your personal information and any sensitive data is kept safe at all times, and it does this well. 

At the simple end of the spectrum, it includes tools to enable you to define clear user permissions and access controls, manage which users have access to which integrations and features, and ensure things are being run the way they should be. 

In addition, all communications are fully encrypted using TLS (Transport Layer Security) technology and AES 256-bit security. And what’s more, all data is encrypted while at rest, greatly reducing the risk of hacks or data breaches. 

All things considered, Dialpad’s security features are excellent.

Dialpad VoIP: The competition

Dialpad provides excellent business VoIP service across the board, but there are plenty of other providers worth considering. 

For example, the 8x8 X Series is an excellent option for those on a tight budget. It’s similarly priced at $15 per user per month, and all plans are fairly well equipped including the most basic.

Another decent option is Aircall, which focuses on providing high-quality VoIP services coupled with a whole host of CRM integrations, all in a neat and easy-to-use package. It is a little more expensive, but it still offers a lot to like. 

We recommend checking out GoTo Connect, RingCentral, Zoom, and Nextiva, to make sure your business gets the right fit. 

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Dialpad VoIP: Final verdict

Dialpad impressed as soon as we landed on its website for the first time, and nothing changed during our review. 

The VoIP service's features are excellent, and are backed by powerful security integrations, plus there are versatile subscription options for businesses of all shapes and sizes, from one-man-bands to enterprises. 

What’s more, its prices are quite competitive, and most plans come with a 14-day free trial. Ultimately, we’d recommend signing up for the trial and testing the platform if you’re looking for a reliable, feature-rich VoIP service provider. 

• Sign up for Dialpad

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to traditional phone lines, letting users to make voice calls over an internet connection. 

Since you don’t need the cable infrastructure, it’s easier to set up and can be more cost-effective to run. In 2024, it's well worth finding the best VoIP service for your business, no matter the scale. 

Due to the large number of providers out there, working out which VoIP provider is the right one can be difficult. 8x8 is a popular provider that offers several different All-in-One Communications plans under the banner 8x8 X Series. (The service was formerly known as Virtual Office Pro.) 

• Sign up to the 8x8 X Series

In this 8x8 All-in-One Communications review, we assess the pricing, features, interface, support, and security offered by this VoIP service.

Every company has its own needs – sometimes very specific needs – and so we recommend checking out our reviews of RingCentral, GoToConnect, Zoom, Aircall, and the best VoIP services to make the absolute right decision. 

• How we test, review and rate on TechRadar

8x8 X Series: Plans and Pricing

We have to be upfront here: assessing the pricing for 8x8 is difficult as the new tiers are available only upon request. What we do know is how much these plans, or at least similar plans, cost prior to this update, as detailed in previous reviews. 

Starting off, 8x8 offers five tiers: X2, X4, X6, X7, and X8. As you can imagine, each of these adds on something to the prior tiers, from X2 to X8, and many of these upgrades are applicable to larger organisations. 

In past reviews, the price of the X2 plan was $28/user/month, the X4 was $57/user/month, the X6 was $112/user/month, the X7 was $131/user/month, and the X8 was $170/user/month. While 8x8 is unlikely to have changed these levels too drastically, it's worth checking with them based on your specific needs. 

Some of the core considerations will be whether your business needs to make international calls, whether you need video conferencing, internet fax, and so on. We'll get into the features in more detail below. 

As with most companies on our radar – but not all – there are savings to be had if you’re willing to pay for one year upfront. The exact saving depends on which plan you’re considering and where you are in the world, but they’re mostly somewhere between 14% and 24%, which is can be a nice discount. 

• Best VoIP service for the home office of 2024

8x8 X Series: Features

The call options offered by 8x8 are more than just the standard VoIP calls. 

The X Series enables high-definition audio and video conferencing with up to 100 participants, and there are multiple moderation controls available, including host delegation and participant lobbies. 

8x8 has also added the ability to record the audio, video, and chat, to be published to the cloud for those who missed the meeting.

A large amount of cloud analytics data is efficiently collected on 8x8's single platform, enabling easy access and analysis. The dashboards are updated in real time and can be customized to your liking. 

With detailed data like speech analyses of every call, you can identify employee and customer trends and interpret them to solve problems and increase efficiency.

Besides making calls from 8x8’s own app, you can integrate the service into other apps and software that your employees may already use, such as Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Google Workspace, and Slack. This makes your processes more efficient and reduces the time that employees need to spend learning new software.

Larger companies will value the extra features that come with the higher-level X tiers, like hot desking, wider call handling capabilities, and 30-day UC meeting and call storage.

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8x8 X Series: User interface

The setup process for 8x8 X Series is simple. It only takes a few minutes to provide the basic information about your business needed to get going, and you can then access the web dashboard, as well as the mobile and desktop apps.

All the interfaces are well designed for efficient use. The main app for employees is called Work and has a simple layout that makes it easy to navigate. It functions as a central hub from which you can access voice calls, video calls, text messaging, meetings, and more.

The browser-based dashboards for supervisor use are more complex but have a wide range of functions, including analytics and switchboard control.

8x8 X Series: Support

If you run into problems when setting up or running your 8x8 X Series system, there are various support options available. You’re first sent to an AI assistant, which will direct you to articles on the knowledge base relevant to your question. 

If these don’t help, you can contact technical support via text chat, ticket, or phone. However, the live assisted support is only available to those on the X2 plan or above, not 8x8 Express. The quality of tech support does seem to be variable - many customers have complained that communication has been poor, or that problems have been passed on from phone call to email. There are plenty of positive reviews to counter this, though, so it’s likely that 8x8 is no different to other companies. 

8x8 X Series: Security

When you’re running a business that handles financial information or other confidential customer data, it’s crucial to know that your systems are secure. 8x8 excels in this respect, as it has multiple security measures in place, and it’s open and transparent regarding them.

Communications are fully encrypted using Transport Layer Security and Secure Real-time Transport Protocol, so you can be sure messages and calls aren’t being intercepted. Secure coding practices are used to ensure that the technology is safe. Fraud detection tools are also built into the system.

We like additional steps that end users can take to protect their own data, and 8x8 delivers in this respect, too, with two-factor authentication (2FA).

8x8 X Series: The competition

One popular choice is Dialpad, which has prices beginning at $15 per user per month when paid annually. It has an impressive range of features and like 8x8, has comprehensive security and decent video conferencing performance.

Another option is RingCentral MVP (formerly known as RingCentral Office). This is more expensive, starting at $19.99 per user per month, but it comes with a suite of advanced features and integrations with numerous CRM programs and other software, including some pretty impactful AI-driven features like call monitoring.

8x8 X Series: Final verdict

There’s not much to fault with the 8x8 X Series. The app combines multiple methods of communication into one efficient workspace, and there are multiple useful features, such as analytics, integration with other software, and video conferencing. Also, the security is among the best on the market.

One downside is that the quality of tech support seems to be a little sub-standard. However, the pricing is quite good, with plenty of features packed into one of the most affordable VoIP packages that you’ll find.

While the basic 8x8 Express plan includes all main features, the increased support options and international calling make the X2 plan the most likely choice for most small and medium businesses. If you’re looking for a comprehensive and reliable VoIP provider, we recommend signing up for a trial with 8x8.

• Sign up to the 8x8 X Series

• We've featured the best cloud phone systems.

If you’re struggling to balance your communications with clients and team members, finding the best Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service could help streamline all your messages through a single cloud-based app. Pretty nifty. 

VoIP provider Nextiva, used by more than 100,000 businesses, markets itself as being built for “non-technical business owners, not IT wizards.” For smaller teams, that might be music to your ears.

In our review, we examine the various plans available, their features, the software’s usability, and how it compares to its competitors. Overall, we were happy with Nextiva, and think the plans work especially well for smaller businesses.

• Sign up to Nextiva

Of course, as with everything in business, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and we do recommend checking out TechRadar's extensive coverage of the VoIP market and competitors like RingCentral, 8x8, and GoTo Connect, all of which excel in their own specific way. 

Every business is different, even in very subtle ways, and there is no cost to checking the pricing and feature lists for every VoIP service out there. 

Let's dive into our Nextiva VoIP review. 

• How we test, review and rate on TechRadar

Nextiva VoIP: Plans and pricing

If you decide to purchase VoIP software through Nextiva, you can choose between three plan types: Essential, Professional, and Enterprise.

All plans get voicemail transcription, unlimited internet fax, and video calls up to 45 minutes each as part of the package. Opt for Essential and you’ll get 1,500 toll-free minutes for $17.95-$30.95 per user per month, depending on how many employees you have in your organization and whether you’re willing to commit to an annual subscription to keep the prices down.

Mid-tier Professional members get up to 3,000 minutes for $21.95-$35.95/user/month, while the range-topping Enterprise plan brings 12,500 minutes with it for the price of $31.95-$45.95 per user per month.

Exact pricing is based on whether you have 1-4, 5-19, 20-99, or more than 100 employees. Savings for annual payments are between 17% and 28%.

There’s a 14-day free trial available, which is pretty average, but nothing special. If you’re unsure whether a VoIP service is the right solution for your business, there are companies out there that offer free trials at least twice as long as this.

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Nextiva VoIP: Features

If you choose Nextiva, you can make unlimited calls to any phone in the US or Canada. Its real-time presence feature also allows you to see which of your contacts is currently available, while the call queue allows you to handle calls during busy times.

Nextiva claims its calls are of HD quality to eliminate static, though this is fairly common by today’s standards.

Previously, Nextiva offered different levels of video conferencing depending on the plan, but this has changed and every plan comes with video call support for up to 250 participants, with a time limit of 45 minutes. Like most video conferencing solutions, Nextiva allows you to share screens and files during your conferences. You can also use Nextiva’s video function to livestream virtual events and webinars. 

If you receive a voicemail, the message will be delivered directly to your email’s inbox, and the software also gives you the ability to record your outgoing voicemail message. Some plans add SMS notifications, too.

If you choose Nextiva, you can send and receive an unlimited number of text messages with your customers, which can enable you to perform tasks such as delivering updates and scheduling appointments.

If you’re chairing a meeting, this feature will allow you to set up a dedicated line for this event. As well as setting these meetings up, you can moderate your conferences and record them in HD. 

The software also allows you to send and receive unlimited faxes as you would with email. You’ll receive a text alert whenever a new fax arrives.

If you choose one of the more expensive Enterprise or Ultimate packages, you can also benefit from voice analytics. Voicemail transcription, standard on all paid plans, allow you to keep comprehensive written records of your calls which can be handy for keeping records without the need for large audio files.

The company’s Sales Pipeline CRM allows you to create and manage contacts and accounts, as well as seeing a consolidated view of all your conversations with the client.

Should you choose the Ultimate plan, you’ll benefit from automated surveys and analytics related to your customers’ journeys through the sales process, which can provide invaluable insights into your users’ behavior.

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Nextiva VoIP: User interface

When we signed up for a free trial with Nextiva, we found the process extremely straightforward and were able to gain access to its services without any difficulties.

Although the design of the system’s dashboard is not especially dynamic and its graphics perhaps feel a little dated, the system has clearly been designed with usability and functionality in mind. By dividing its tools on the basis of communication, sales, and service, the company allows you to find the features you need as soon as you log in.

You’ll also benefit from various integrations with the software, which vary according to the plan you choose. We really value the Google Contacts and Microsoft Outlook integration that’s standard on all plans, because being able to maintain one central database rather than having multiple digital phone books helps avoid mistakes. 

There are plenty of other integrations reserved for mid-spec and/or high-spec plans, like Salesforce, Zendesk, and Netsuite, just to name a few.

According to the company’s website, its systems experience an uptime of 99.99%. It’s also one of the most widely adoptable platforms, with apps for Windows and Mac, as well as iOS and Android. That’s on top of the (watered down) browser web app.

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Nextiva VoIP: Support

If you have a question regarding your plan, you can contact Nextiva over the phone, through an online ticketing system, via email, or online chat. When we used the online chat function, we received a polite response containing all the information we needed.

We previously criticized Nextiva for its average support - there was nothing to write home about. Things have changed, and the company now gives 24/7 access to phone, email, and chat support to all paying customers. Many other companies reserve this for their highest paying customers. 

Should you have a more general query, the website has a selection of product guides and a blog, which contains articles on topics relevant to business, such as communications, customer experience, leadership, marketing, productivity, and sales. 

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Nextiva VoIP: Security

When you’re dealing with potentially sensitive business information, security and privacy can be of paramount importance. 

Nextiva’s interface gives you the option to create a whitelist of authorized IP addresses, which allows you to grant users access to your system only through trusted computers. 

You can also use your account’s centralized management system to block email addresses from accessing your services.

If you opt for a plan through Nextiva, your communications will also be encrypted via TLS and SRTP, which are both designed to protect your privacy when you’re communicating over the internet. Working in real time, this protection ensures your conversations aren’t left vulnerable to snoopers in the always-on environment of cyberspace, and you can also safeguard information such as your call history.

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Nextiva VoIP: The competition

Despite its undoubtedly impressive features, Nextiva is far from your only option if you’re considering a VoIP service for your business.

RingCentral MVP (previously RingCentral Office) is one of the most highly regarded options on the market, with prices beginning at $19.99 (usual price $29.99) per user per month for two to 20 users on an annual plan. Like Nextiva, the company offers a comprehensive range of plans depending on your organization’s needs, and many customers praise its user-friendly design and interface. Read our Nextiva vs RingCentral review. 

If CRM is a priority for your business, you could consider purchasing a plan through Aircall, which allows you to set up a call center within minutes and includes a wide range of help desk features.

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Nextiva VoIP: Final verdict

If you’re considering cloud-based communication for your employees and customers, Nextiva certainly has many points in its favor, including flexible pricing plans and a range of features to match many of its rivals. We also value its wide range of third-party integrations, and the fact that basic plans don’t just get the basic features - Nextiva seems pretty generous all-round

Also vital for companies running complex IT solutions is Nextiva’s 24/7 support, which represents a huge leap forward from previous years. If you’re still undecided, it might be worth signing up for the trial to see if Nextiva is the right solution for your organization.

• Sign up to Nextiva

LiveChat is a real-time communication tool that lets businesses connect instantly with website visitors. It offers a customizable chat widget for websites or mobile apps. Unlike email or phone support, LiveChat gives quick answers to customer questions. This makes communication smooth and efficient.

LiveChat assists users in many ways. It answers product questions, resolves issues, provides tech support, and schedules appointments. It also helps convert prospects into customers. Support teams can reach out to website visitors based on their browsing habits. They can direct customers to review sites or social media, gather feedback, and handle multiple chats at the same time. With tools like canned responses, file sharing, and typing previews, agents can offer quick, personal support while managing up to six chats.

While there's a ton of live chat software in the market, LiveChat offers the most solid ROI improvements. 79% of businesses using LiveChat report improvement in sales, revenue, and customer loyalty. For instance, Sephora raised its average order value by 25%. Pioneer Millworks saw a 16% increase in opportunity value. And, Auto Accessories Garage experienced a 485% boost in conversions after using LiveChat.

Yet of the 76,000+ companies using LiveChat, most customers are small businesses with less than fifty employees. Its flexible nature allows employees from various departments to use it. But it's mostly picked up by sales and support teams looking for better automation. If you're wondering if LiveChat is right for you, this review will help you decide. We've spent the weeks putting the platform to the test from different angles, from going through the first-time user onboarding to dropping customer support requests. Here's what we have found.

Plans and pricing

For almost all pieces of business software, cost is a key consideration. That's why this LiveChat review takes an early look at plans and pricing. LiveChat offers three basic plans, each of which is available through a month-to-month or annual subscription.

The Starter plan costs $20 per agent per month (paid annually) and is impressively full-featured. The biggest limitation is that you can only keep 60 days' worth of chat history. You also miss out on some customization and reporting features. This is a shame as customization is often a key reason why some business tools stand out from their competitors. This is certainly the case when looking at the best CRM software, where the advanced customization options of tools like Salesforce help is out-perform its rivals.

The Team plan costs $41 per agent per month and unlocks unlimited chat archiving, chat tagging, and file sharing through your chat box. You can also create reports to monitor your support activity and identify pain points for customers.

The reports are especially useful as they give managers added visibility into the performance of their support channels. With the reports and analytics features on offer, you can gain a general overview or in-depth data about your chat and agent activity.

The Business plan costs $59 per agent per month and offers SMS messaging from your chat box along with more advanced reporting. You can also add single sign-on to the Business plan for an additional $20 per agent. For larger businesses, LiveChat also offers an Enterprise plan with custom pricing.

You can test out the Team plan for 14 days for free before committing to LiveChat.

LiveChat: Features

LiveChat offers a wide range of features to improve customer communication and support efficiency. The platform goes beyond basic messaging by providing tools that work together for a smooth customer experience. With over 200 integrations, LiveChat connects with major platforms like Shopify, Mailchimp, Salesforce, and WhatsApp to centralize interactions.

What makes LiveChat unique is its blend of strong functionality and user-friendly design. Support teams can handle multiple chats at once, share files, schedule meetings, and use canned responses while keeping a personal touch. Detailed analytics offer insights into customer behavior and agent performance, helping businesses improve support strategies.

Real-time communication tools

LiveChat's main feature is its real-time chat interface, which allows instant communication between businesses and customers. Agents can see typing previews, letting them know what customers are writing before they send messages. This helps agents prepare responses and speeds up resolution times, boosting customer satisfaction.

The platform also has proactive chat features. Businesses can start conversations based on visitor actions, like time spent on a page or exit intent. This can stop cart abandonment and solve customer issues before they escalate, leading to higher conversion rates and sales.

Customization and branding

LiveChat offers many customization options to match the chat experience with a business's brand. Companies can change chat buttons, widget styles, and window designs to fit their website. Adjustments include colors, animations, and even custom HTML buttons.

This creates a consistent brand experience across all customer interactions, which can enhance brand recognition and trust. Businesses with consistent branding have seen up to 20% more growth and 33% higher revenue than those with mixed messages.

Agent efficiency tools

LiveChat provides tools to boost productivity and response quality for support teams. Canned responses let agents quickly reply to common questions with pre-written answers. File sharing allows the exchange of documents and images to help solve problems. The queue management system ensures urgent inquiries are prioritized.

These tools enable one agent to manage multiple chats at once, unlike phone support, where agents handle one customer at a time. Agents can also switch conversations and collaborate, so that customers can get technical help faster. It reduces costs while keeping service quality high. Some businesses report handling up to 4,000 daily chat messages with just 50 agents.

AI-powered assistance

LiveChat uses AI technology with its writing assistant, Copilot. This tool helps agents navigate the platform and provides real-time insights. The AI can improve agent responses, suggest tags for chats, and create summaries, making support teams more efficient.

This AI integration automates routine inquiries, allowing human agents to focus on complex customer needs. The result is faster responses, consistent service quality, and less agent burnout, all leading to better customer satisfaction and retention.

Omnichannel integration

LiveChat excels at integrating customer communications across channels into one dashboard. It combines messages from websites, mobile apps, Facebook Messenger, SMS, Apple Business Chat, and email. This creates a central hub for all customer interactions and ensures consistent service no matter how customers reach out.

By providing a unified view of customer communications, LiveChat helps businesses maintain context and offer personalized support. Agents can see a customer’s full history across channels, reducing frustration from repeated explanations and creating a smoother experience that builds trust and satisfaction.

LiveChat: Integrations

As we noted earlier, LiveChat integrates with more than 200 different third-party apps. For instance, if you're the owner of an ecommerce platform, LiveChat lets you display your products directly in the chat, organize tailored conversations with customers, and streamline the checkout process. Integrations include the ecommerce heavy hitters Shopify and BigCommerce.

There's even Zoom for LiveChat, because sometimes it's easier to discuss customer issues on video. Given the rise of hybrid work, more customers are likely to have become familiar with using video conferencing on a regular basis so may be more inclined to take option of using it within the LiveChat solution.

For marketing too, LiveChat offers some useful integrations. For example, it's easy to integrate with Mailchimp making it easy to send personalized marketing to customers following a chat. Other email marketing integrations include Constant Contact and ActiveCampaign.

Whether a CMS, CRM, messaging tools or marketing platforms are key to your daily operations, there is likely to be a native integration with LiveChat. This is hugely helpful for many businesses as they are likely to already have a suite of business tools that they use on a daily basis. The tight integrations offered here mean they won't have to change their existing tools to provide a seamless experience for customers.

LiveChat: Analytics

LiveChat provides a full set of analytics and reporting tools. These tools give businesses actionable insights into customer service data. Firtst, the reporting dashboard shows key metrics in an easy-to-use format. This lets managers see performance trends, spot improvement areas, and make decisions based on data. But the analytics go beyond basic chat stats. They include detailed customer behavior, agent performance metrics, and predictive tools to help with staffing and resource use.

The Total Chats report is central to LiveChat's analytics. It shows chat volume trends over time — daily, weekly, or monthly. This report tells a story of customer interactions, not just numbers. It helps businesses see peak chat times and seasonal trends. Also, Staffing Prediction uses past data to estimate how many agents you need based on expected chat volume. This helps with resource planning. Other important reports include Response Times, Queued Chats, and Customer Satisfaction metrics. Each can be filtered by factors like date ranges, tags, agents, or departments to show the precise information needed.

LiveChat's analytics are even better with the Google Analytics integration. This lets you track chat events alongside other website metrics. The integration offers deeper insights into chat conversions and customer interactions. It helps companies improve marketing and sales strategies by understanding website traffic and visitor behavior. For those needing more advanced analysis, LiveChat provides powerful APIs. Plus, it can export raw data in many different formats for external business intelligence systems.

LiveChat doesn't just report data, but turns them into actionable insights. Its reports are easy to understand to begin with, even for those without data experience. But, managers can use additional insights to identify top agents, recognize common customer issues, track goals, and compare performance with industry standards. Sharing these stats with team members could also foster transparency and accountability. The option to create custom reports ensures your team can track metrics relevant to their goals.

LiveChat: Ease of use

The LiveChat web app was, for the most part, seamless. The most important aspect, the messaging interface, uses a similar layout to Facebook Messenger. You can easily see all of your current chats and queued chats in a column on the left-hand side of the window, and then focus on a single chat in a center column.

On the right, you’ll get a detailed overview of the customer you’re messaging that includes what platform they’re messaging from, what pages of your site they’ve visited, and whether they’re a returning customer.

LiveChat also enables you to track hundreds of visitors to your website in real time. You can initiate a chat with any individual visitor and personalize your message based on the pages they’re currently exploring.

We found that LiveChat paid attention to details that make the support system even easier to use. For example, canned responses can be accessed instantly using a predefined tag. You can also add tags to a chat for archiving purposes at any time, rather than tagging it from memory when it’s archived.

LiveChat: Support

LiveChat offers strong customer support. They are available 24/7 through live chat, email, and a knowledge base. This lets users get help whenever they need it. You can pick the support method that fits your needs and urgency.

Interestingly, LiveChat uses its own chat widget to offer support on their website. This serves as both a support channel and a demo of their product. It lets potential and current customers see the platform's features in action, even while getting help. The support team is known for fast response times and skilled agents who handle technical issues and product questions efficiently.

LiveChat also has a large knowledge base covering many topics, from basic setup to advanced features. A self-service option lets users find answers on their own, cutting down on direct support needs. For more complex issues or custom requests, LiveChat offers personalized help, working closely with businesses to adapt the platform to their needs.

Moreover, LiveChat offers dedicated support to new customers during onboarding. They help set up accounts, customize chat widgets, and integrate the platform with your existing tools. This very hands-on approach helps businesses start using LiveChat quickly, improving customer satisfaction with a faster time-to-value.

LiveChat: Security

LiveChat takes the security of your account very seriously, and all chats are protected by 256-bit encryption. Team and Business users can enable two-factor authentication, although we’d like to see this feature made standard for all users. (If you're unsure exactly what two-factor authentication (2FA) is, be sure to check out our post, "What is 2FA and MFA?" and everything should become clear.)

As a plus-point for LiveChat's security, administrators can also limit the number of IP addresses that can log into LiveChat at once to prevent unauthorized use of your support line.

To protect your customers, credit card numbers are automatically masked in chats and aren’t archived along with the rest of your chat history.

LiveChat: The Competition

While many helpdesk tools offer live chat, one of the closest competitors to LiveChat is SnapEngage. SnapEngage is dedicated to live chat and offers the same multi-channel support as LiveChat. It also offers HIPAA-compliance as an add-on feature (this is only available with a LiveChat Enterprise plan). However, we think LiveChat offers better value for most users since SnapEngage charges extra for many features, including SMS messaging, and doesn’t offer 24/7 support.

Of course, with the emergence of increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled chatbots, this is an increasingly competitive field. Other contenders for the title of best live chat software include HubSpot Live Chat and Tidio. However, in those cases, the software is either overly limited in its free version or simply overly expensive.

LiveChat: Final Verdict

LiveChat is an extremely powerful and flexible tool for messaging with your customers across all of your online channels. The platform integrates chats from multiple services, makes it easy to work within teams of support agents or across departments, and takes a proactive approach to support and security. The only thing we don’t love about LiveChat is the price tag, but given the quality of this software, we think it’s still solid value for your money.

We've also highlighted the best helpdesk software.

To run business and office space in 2024, finding the best VOIP provider might not be the sexiest task, but it's certainly one of the most essential to have a smooth-running workplace where everyone can communicate easily. 

While a cloud phone system may have seemed like science fiction in the recent past, this next-generation communications tech is becoming increasingly popular. More and more businesses are recognizing the value of managed, portable phone systems, and RingCentral is one of the best providers around.

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, and the tech basically does just that: transfer calls over the internet, avoiding out-dated landlines and other potential problems. As offices move towards remote working, VoIP providers have added new features into their offerings.

• Sign up to RingCentral Phone

As we dive into our RingCentral Phone review, we put one of the industry’s best business phone services through its paces, testing the standout features of this virtual phone system to help your business make the right call.

Of course, it's also worth checking rivals products from Zoom, 8x8, and Dialpad before making any final decisions – being prepared is the key – but our testing found RingCentral offers a complete package.

• How we test, review and rate on TechRadar

RingCentral: Plans and Pricing

RingCentral offers three plans: Core, Advanced, and Ultra, with each then being tailored to work with anywhere between one and 100+ employees. 

Starting off, the Core plan costs $20/user/month for an annual subscription, or $30/user/month for a monthly subscription, and includes business phone or toll-free numbers, up to 100 toll-free minutes, unlimited domestic calls in the US or Canada, visual voicemail, shared lines, and much more. 

Advanced costs $25 or $35 per month per user and includes everything in Core, plus up to 1,000 toll-free minutes, enhanced business SMS for 100/user/month (up from 25 for Core), advanced call queues, up to eight-digit extensions, hot desking, breakout rooms, and many other features. 

Finally, Ultra costs $35 or $45 per month per user and includes all of the aforementioned features alongside up to 200 video call participants, unlimited file storage, custom roles, advanced analytics, workflow customisation, and more. 

It's worth checking RingCentral's detailed pricing lists to see if the feature that keeps your business running smoothly comes with Core, Advanced, or Ultra. RingCentral is also keen to encourage annual subscribers, and one-off yearly payments receive an up to 33% discount.

Adding more than 100 users gives a further discount, but that likely only equates to a few dollars saved per month. All plans also come with a 15-day free trial. We were pleased to see how easy it was to scale up too, with options to add international and toll-free numbers as needed.

• Best cloud phone system and PBX of 2024

RingCentral: Features

RingCentral’s phone service is packed with features. In fact, there are over 50 in total, which is both pretty staggering and means your specific needs are likely to be met. 

Call quality is a very important consideration, and RingCentral ensures HD audio regardless of your calling location. The provider also limits the disruption of switching to a new phone service by helping keep any existing numbers. (There are also options to set up local numbers.)

We found RingCentral’s voicemail-to-email feature particularly interesting as it enables you to receive voicemails whilst out of office – a great feature for remote teams – and it's something few others offer. 

RingCentral has also put lot of consideration into incoming-call management, with call screening, call delegation, and call forwarding options available to users. In addition, the Call Flip feature helps users switch calls from a desktop to a mobile phone during a conversation.

As we alluded to above, RingCentral has not scrimped on adding features and pretty much any little thing your business might want to do will be there, from integrations into business apps to call logs to remote desktop control. 

The company has also been getting involved in the recent AI craze, adding live transcriptions, closed captioning, video summaries, note taking, translation, and a whole lot more to all three plans, to make life a little easier. 

• Best productivity tool of 2024

RingCentral: User interface

Once you sign up with RingCentral you’ll need to download the desktop app. The process is quick and easy, and the RingCentral interface is user-friendly and navigable. There are also nifty iOS and Android apps, too. 

Any RingCentral users should be aware that the app doesn’t just display the provider’s phone settings: From the admin dashboard, you can access video, messaging, and upcoming tasks. Clear icons on the left-hand side of the screen make accessing any core services easy.

The basic functionality of RingCentral’s business phone service is fairly easy to understand. A pop-up dial pad is there to make calls from a selection of numbers on a dropdown, and voicemails are easily accessible and displayed visually. That said, some advanced features are more difficult to locate. 

For example, call screening functions need to be enabled first, and you’ll only be able to confirm that you’ve enabled them when you receive a call. RingCentral offers a great deal in terms of features, but we would have preferred to see them displayed more prominently.

• The best VoIP headsets in 2024

RingCentral: Support

RingCentral has been generous here: 24/7 support is available on all three tiers, which is an improvement on previous generations that only offered such support on more expensive plans. 

RingCentral also has a dedicated support website where you can access comprehensive FAQs split up into well-defined categories, consult instructional videos, download technical information, and join its community development group.

The company has a live chat feature too, but with such a comprehensive cache of documentation, you probably won’t need it.

• Best small business software of 2024

RingCentral: Security

Reliability and security are some of RingCentral’s key concerns. As a result, the measures in place to prevent downtime and disruption to the provider’s service have led to some standout security features.

These include end-to-end network monitoring to ensure performance and real-time analysis of network stability, disaster recovery protocols involving the migration of data to alternative data centers, and cloud-based measures for service continuation even during a period of internet outage.

RingCentral: The competition

Nextiva offers a similar service to RingCentral but at a reduced cost – its Enterprise plan is just a few dollars more than RingCentral’s Core plan and includes up to 10,000 toll-free minutes.

That said, RingCentral’s multi-tool platform, with video and messaging facilities, does give it an edge, and the provider’s Essential plan is competitively priced if you don’t need the extra functionality. But small businesses that just want a simple, cheap way to integrate their phone services might prefer Nextiva.

It's also worth checking out offerings from 8x8, Zoom, GoToConnect, Vonage, Aircall, Ooma, and more of the best VoIP services, with your specific needs in mind. Each one is slightly different, and might work well.

• Best ERP software of 2024

RingCentral: Final verdict

RingCentral is one of the best cloud phone providers available. Clearly, the team behind the platform is well versed in the requirements of business phone users, and the wide range of features tick all the boxes.

However, RingCentral's long list of features might actually over complicate the product, and we would have preferred fewer features but in more accessible places. Of course, having 'too many features' is a small problem if you invest the time in working out how best to use them. 

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