RingCentral Alternatives: Compare Features, Pricing, Pros & Cons

Introduction

The world today successfully runs on uninterrupted communication. Effective communication has become the cornerstone of every business. To optimize company operations and enhance team collaborations, every organization needs a reliable communication platform. RingCentral has been popular for its VOIP feature in the past and for providing communication solutions. But there are many reasons why organizations may look for alternatives. In this guide, we will explore RingCentral alternatives and provide an overview of cost considerations, features, pros and cons, and how to find the best alternative right for your business needs. 

6 Best RingCentral Alternatives

1. Emitrr
2. Dialpad
3. Nextiva
4. Aircall
5. Ooma
6. OpenPhone

Emitrr

Emitrr is one of the best RingCentral alternatives that offers the best communication platform with VOIP and texting features at its core. Whether it’s making VoIP calls or sending texts on the go, Emitrr has your back for seamless communication. Our cutting-edge texting features and user-friendly interface make staying connected effortless. 

Key Features Of Emitrr

IVR/Call Tree

• With Emitrr, you can set up 1 or multiple Call Trees.
• You can forward calls on key press to –
  • Phone number
  • Extension
  • Call Queue Groups
  • Ring Everyone
  • To another call tree 

Call queue groups

• You can setup call groups with multiple extensions/team members
• You can also define call routing rules for each call queue group
  • Call forwarding
    • Simultaneously
    • Sequentially
  • When call is missed
    • To another extension
    • To a number
    • To a voicemail

Extensions

• Emitrr allow you to setup multiple extensions – one for each individual user
  • Setup user hours
  • Setup user availability by day
  • Setup call forwarding rules for each user/extension 

General phone settings

• With Emitrr, define how your VOIP is setup during and after hours
  • Ring everyone
  • Ring an extension
  • Forward to a call tree/IVR etc
  • Call recording settings – Automatically record / not record all calls
  • Setup general business working hours

Bulk/Mass Text Messaging

• Send 1000s of text messages and achieve 98% open rate
• Send personalized 2-way text messages at a scale
• Create groups for sending text messages to a group of cistomers 
• Import your contacts and lists to the platform with few clicks
• Create lists to segment your audience and set up multi-touch text messaging campaigns
• Automatically sync data from your current CRM (EMR/PMS/Scheduling Platforms). Emitrr supports over 500+ integrations 
• Automatically follow up using drip campaigns
• Allow customers to respond to your marketing texts which go right into your inbox

Automated Text Reminder

• Send automated reminders by text, email, and voice
• Use editable templates to personalize your reminders
• Define your reminder cadence and frequency – weekly, daily, hourly, or on the same day
• Automatically write back confirmation status 
• Allow customers to reschedule, cancel via text message conversations
• Schedule a campaign for unconfirmed appointments, no shows and last minute cancellations
• Pause automated campaigns and reminders at any point. Send personalized follow ups 

Online Appointment Bookings

• Reduce customer calls and save 100s of hours with online scheduling
• Easy scheduling through the website, or by sending a link
• Customized online scheduling (visit type, insurance details, provider, location) to help you get the critical customer information 
• Send automated booking confirmations via text and email 

Emitrr provides robust features when it comes to VOIP and Text messaging helping you to optimally stay connected with your customers without overburdening your team. From quite some time, 100s of Ringcentral customers have migrated to Emitrr for better texting and not just VOIP. 

Emitrr Reviews

Dialpad

Dialpad offers advanced communication features for businesses. From voice calling to video conferencing and messaging, Dialpad aims to streamline communication processes and enhance collaboration within organizations. In this overview, we’ll take a closer look at what Dialpad has to offer, its key features, and considerations for businesses evaluating their communication needs.

Key Features Of Dialpad

Call Queues: Dialpad’s Call Queues attempt to organize incoming calls, but its effectiveness may vary. It aims to reduce wait times, but might not suit complex call routing needs.

Call Recording: Dialpad offers basic call recording capabilities. However, its features may lack depth compared to other platforms, limiting its usefulness.

Call Monitoring: Dialpad allows supervisors to monitor calls in real-time or review recordings. Yet, its monitoring features might not be robust.

Multi-Channel Communication: Dialpad supports various channels for communication. However, its integration between channels might not be as smooth compared to other platforms.

VoIP Connection: Dialpad relies on VoIP technology for voice communication. However, the quality and reliability may be subject to internet conditions.

Video Conferencing: Dialpad provides video conferencing capabilities for users to enable smooth and effective communication.

CRM Integration: Dialpad integrates with CRM platforms for accessing customer information. However, the depth of integration may be limited, affecting workflow efficiency.

Dialpad Drawbacks

• Call drops disrupt communication flow, causing frustration.
• Connectivity issues and lag create obstacles in smooth conversations.
• Buggy conferencing features result in unreliable virtual meetings.
• Integration problems hamper seamless synch between platforms.
• Dialpad’s poor support and customer service contribute to user dissatisfaction.

Dialpad Reviews

Nextiva

Nextiva stands out as a premier voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) service, renowned for its unparalleled features and seamless communication solutions. Elevating your operations, Nextiva offers comprehensive business solutions, including dedicated business numbers and hassle-free faxing. Let us deep-dive into the features of Nextiva

Key Features Of Nextiva

Call Center Management: Nextiva offers basic call center management features, but its capabilities may be limited for businesses with complex call center needs, potentially leading to inefficiencies in managing customer interactions.

Call Conferencing: Nextiva provides call conferencing functionality, but its features may lack advanced options found in other platforms, potentially limiting its usefulness for large-scale or high-profile meetings.

Call Queues: Nextiva’s call queue management aims to organize incoming calls, but its effectiveness may vary depending on the complexity of your call routing needs, potentially resulting in longer wait times for customers.

Call Recording: While Nextiva offers call recording capabilities, its features may be basic compared to more robust solutions, potentially limiting its usefulness for detailed analysis or compliance purposes.

Multi-Channel Communication: Nextiva supports various communication channels, but its integration between channels might not be as seamless or intuitive compared to dedicated platforms, potentially impacting collaboration efficiency.

VoIP Connection: Nextiva relies on VoIP technology for voice communication, but the quality and reliability of its VoIP connection may be subject to internet conditions, leading to potential disruptions in communication.

Video Conferencing: Nextiva provides video conferencing capabilities, but its features and user experience might not be as advanced or polished compared to standalone video conferencing solutions, potentially limiting its appeal for organizations with demanding video conferencing needs.

Nextiva Drawbacks

• The interface of Nextiva lacks user-friendliness, making navigation challenging and frustrating.
• Users often face the inconvenience of managing too many dashboard logins, leading to inefficiency and confusion.
• Nextiva’s support services are subpar, leaving users feeling unsupported and dissatisfied with their experience.
• Navigating Nextiva’s platform can be cumbersome and difficult due to its complex layout and lack of intuitive design.
• Setting up Nextiva is often a challenging process, requiring significant time and effort to configure effectively.

Nextiva Reviews

Aircall

Aircall is a phone and communication platform aimed at enhancing business communication and collaboration. While it promises to streamline workflows and improve customer interactions, it’s essential to examine its features and functionalities to determine if it aligns with your organization’s needs.

Key Features Of Aircall

Call Center Management: Aircall provides tools to efficiently manage call center operations, including call routing, agent performance tracking, and queue management, aimed at improving customer service and productivity.

Call Conferencing: Aircall facilitates seamless conference calls, allowing multiple participants to join meetings and collaborate effectively, enhancing communication within teams and with clients.

Call Queues: Aircall’s call queue feature organizes incoming calls and distributes them to available agents, reducing wait times for callers and ensuring efficient handling of customer inquiries.

Call Recording: Aircall offers call recording functionality, enabling businesses to record and store conversations for training purposes, quality assurance, and compliance with industry regulations.

CRM Integration: Aircall integrates with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms, allowing agents to access customer information during calls, personalize interactions, and streamline workflows.

Real-Time Reporting: Aircall provides real-time reporting and analytics tools, allowing businesses to monitor call metrics, track agent performance, and make data-driven decisions to optimize communication processes.

VoIP Connection: Aircall leverages Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to establish high-quality voice connections over the internet, offering flexibility, cost savings, and scalability for businesses.

Aircall Drawbacks

• Limited Integrations: Aircall’s integration options are limited, potentially restricting its compatibility with other software systems and limiting workflow automation possibilities.
• High Price: Aircall’s pricing may be considered relatively high compared to competitors, making it less accessible for smaller businesses or those operating on a tight budget.
• Contract: Aircall may require users to sign lengthy contracts, locking them into a commitment that could be inconvenient or restrictive.
• Billing Team Ethics: Some users have reported ethical concerns regarding Aircall’s billing team, suggesting potential issues with transparency or fair billing practices.
• Unstable Connection: Aircall’s connection stability may be inconsistent, leading to dropped calls or poor call quality, which can disrupt business operations and frustrate users.

Aircall Reviews

Ooma

Ooma is a VoIP phone designed to streamline business operations and enhance connectivity. While it boasts features aimed at improving collaboration and customer interactions, it’s important to take a closer look at what Ooma has to offer for businesses wanting to evaluate their communication.

Key Features Of Ooma

Call Center Management: Ooma offers tools to efficiently manage call center operations, including call routing, agent performance tracking, and queue management, aimed at improving customer service and productivity.

Call Conferencing: Ooma facilitates seamless conference calls, allowing multiple participants to join meetings and collaborate effectively, enhancing communication within teams and with clients.

Call Recording: Ooma provides call recording functionality, enabling businesses to record and store conversations for training purposes, quality assurance, and compliance with industry regulations.

Caller ID: Ooma displays caller identification information, allowing users to see the incoming caller’s phone number or name before answering the call, enhancing call screening and prioritization.

Chat/Messaging: Ooma offers chat and messaging capabilities, enabling real-time communication between team members and clients, fostering collaboration and quick information exchange.

Multi-Channel Communication: Ooma supports various communication channels, including voice calls, messaging, and conferencing, allowing users to communicate seamlessly across different platforms and devices.

VoIP Connection: Ooma leverages Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to establish high-quality voice connections over the internet, offering flexibility, cost savings, and scalability for businesses.

Ooma Drawbacks

• False Promises: Users have reported instances of Ooma failing to deliver on promised features or performance, leading to disappointment and frustration.
• Limited Features: Ooma may lack advanced features compared to competitors, limiting its functionality and versatility for businesses with complex communication needs.
• Lack of Call Hold/Transfer: Ooma’s absence of call hold and transfer features can hinder efficient call management, potentially leading to delays and disruptions in customer service.
• Poorly Designed User Interface: Some users find Ooma’s user interface to be poorly designed and unintuitive, making it difficult to navigate and utilize effectively.
• Rude Customer Service: Ooma’s customer service representatives have been criticized for being rude or unhelpful, resulting in negative experiences and dissatisfaction among users.

Ooma Reviews

OpenPhone

OpenPhone offers innovative communication solutions tailored for businesses seeking to streamline their operations and enhance customer interactions. With a focus on simplicity and versatility, OpenPhone provides a range of features designed to meet the diverse needs of modern organizations. In this overview, we’ll delve into what OpenPhone has to offer and highlight key considerations for businesses. 

Key Features Of OpenPhone

Automated Attendant: OpenPhone offers an automated attendant feature, allowing businesses to set up virtual receptionists to greet callers and route them to the appropriate departments or extensions, improving call handling efficiency.

Call Conferencing: OpenPhone facilitates seamless call conferencing, enabling multiple participants to join a conference call simultaneously, enhancing collaboration and communication among team members and clients.

Call Logging: OpenPhone provides call logging functionality, allowing users to keep track of incoming and outgoing calls, including timestamps, durations, and caller information, aiding in call management and follow-up.

Call Recording: With OpenPhone’s call recording feature, users can record phone conversations for training, quality assurance, and compliance purposes, ensuring accurate information capture and facilitating performance evaluation.

Call Routing: OpenPhone offers call routing capabilities, enabling businesses to customize call forwarding rules based on various criteria such as time of day, caller ID, or department, ensuring calls are directed to the appropriate recipients promptly.

Mobile Access: OpenPhone provides mobile access to its communication platform, allowing users to make and receive calls, send messages, and access voicemail from their smartphones, ensuring connectivity and accessibility on the go.

VoIP Connection: OpenPhone leverages Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to establish voice connections over the internet, offering cost-effective and reliable communication solutions for businesses without the need for traditional phone lines.

OpenPhone Drawbacks

• Inability to Answer Calls: Users have reported issues with OpenPhone where calls cannot be answered, leading to missed opportunities and frustration.
• Automatic Call Disconnections: Some users experience automatic call disconnects while using OpenPhone, disrupting communication and causing inconvenience.
• Calls Not Received: OpenPhone may fail to receive incoming calls at times, impacting accessibility and potentially causing missed connections with clients or colleagues.
• Poor Quality Customer Service: Users have encountered instances of poor-quality customer service from OpenPhone, characterized by unhelpful responses and lack of resolution to issues.
• Terrible Calling Quality: OpenPhone users have reported experiencing terrible call quality, including issues such as dropped calls, static, or poor audio, negatively impacting communication effectiveness.

OpenPhone Reviews

Comparison Table For All The Alternatives

What To Look For In Ringcentral Alternative?

Now that we have explored so many alternatives in the market along with their feature offering, it’s time to look into some key considerations before finalizing your favorite alternative. When considering alternatives to RingCentral, it is important to assess various factors to ensure that the chosen VOIP solution meets your business needs effectively. Exploring these key features will allow you to make informed decisions that align with your business communication requirements and goals.

Pricing Plans

Understanding the pricing structure of alternatives will help you assess affordability and value for money. Look for transparent pricing plans that offer the features you need without hidden fees or unnecessary add-ons.

Ease of Set Up

A user-friendly setup process ensures a smooth transition to the new communication platform, minimizing downtime and disruption to operations. Seek alternatives with intuitive interfaces and straightforward setup instructions. 

Customer Support

Reliable customer support is essential for resolving issues quickly and maximizing the benefits of the chosen communication solution. Prioritize alternatives with responsive support teams that offer multiple channels of assistance, such as live chat, phone support, and comprehensive online resources.

Scalability

As business grows and evolves, your communication needs may change. Look for RingCentral alternatives that offer scalability, allowing you to easily adjust features, users, and resources to accommodate future expansion without significant downtime or additional costs.

Security

Protecting sensitive business data and communication channels is very much crucial in today’s changing times. Choose alternatives that prioritize security measures such as encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular security updates to safeguard against cyber threats and data breaches.

Integrations

Seamless integration with existing CRMs/EHR/EMR/PMS and software enhances workflow efficiency and productivity. Evaluate RingCentral alternatives that offer a wide range of integrations with popular business applications, and CRM systems.

Why Businesses Seek Ringcentral Alternative?

While RingCentral has been a popular choice for businesses seeking comprehensive communication solutions, there are instances where customers have found it difficult to continue with RingCentral. Whether due to limitations in features, issues with customer support, or scalability concerns, businesses may seek alternatives to RingCentral to address their evolving communication needs.

Lack of Basic Texting Features

RingCentral’s texting feature is often criticized for its simplicity, lacking advanced features found in other platforms.

Limited Support Access

Users may find it challenging to reach RingCentral’s support team when encountering issues, leading to frustration and delays in problem resolution.

Scaling Costs

RingCentral’s pricing structure can become very expensive as businesses scale up, potentially exceeding budget constraints.

Limited Integrations

RingCentral offers limited integrations with CRMs, hindering workflow efficiency and productivity.

Ethical Concerns with Billing

Some users have reported ethical issues with RingCentral’s billing team, raising questions about transparency and fair billing practices.

Connection Stability

RingCentral’s connection may suffer from instability, leading to dropped calls and poor call quality, impacting business communication.

Platform Bugs and Glitches

Users experience frequent bugs and glitches within RingCentral’s platform, making it difficult to perform tasks efficiently and reliably.

Call Quality Issues

RingCentral users often encounter low call quality leading to hindrance in communication. 

Issues With RingCentral Pricing

RingCentral’s pricing is one of the highest in the industry, for businesses looking for more cost-effective solutions.

Contractual Restrictions

Businesses may find themselves locked into lengthy contracts with RingCentral, limiting flexibility and hindering the ability to adapt to changing needs.

What Make Emitrr The Best RingCentral Alternative?

Emitrr is your go-to solution for boosting customer communication and experiences through VOIP and Text Messaging. Packed with a range of features and over 1000 integrations for automated tasks, it’s a rising star on review platforms like Capterra, G2, and Software Advice.

Unlike other options, Emitrr goes above and beyond VOIP features. Perfect for businesses aiming to save 100+ manual hours, 3x their team productivity, and supercharge lead conversion by 10x. Experience the future of customer communication and engagement with Emitrr.

With Emitrr you can – 

• Access Emitrr’s cloud phone on any desktop or app unlike legacy phone systems. This will help you receive and make calls from anywhere and everywhere. 
• You can sync with internal team members using extensions with direct dial.
• You can delight customers with advanced call routing/trees, call queues, extensions, transfers, and a lot more
• Record your calls, make notes to monitor call quality, usage, and more
• Move beyond stand-alone phone systems with the power of text, web chat, group chats, bulk SMS, automation, and a lot more
• Never miss a call with automated missed call-to-text capabilities
• Allow customers to respond to your marketing texts which go right into your inbox
• Check metrics for incoming, outgoing and missed calls for day, week, month
• Look at your team’s performance through metrics – Total Answered Calls, Avg. Answered Call Duration, Total Outgoing Calls, Avg. Outgoing Call Duration

How Emitrr Stands Out From Other Alternatives?

Emitrr Offers the best of all the VOIP, Texting Features along with top-notch customer support and more. Let’s have a look at how Emitrr’s other offerings makes it the best VOIP choice for your business. 

• Excellent call quality – no delays, no call drops
• Transparent pricing – no hidden charges
• 24/7 Human Support – Via Text, Email and Phone
• Centralized platform for texting and calling with a single number
• Make the switch and enjoy 24/7 support via text, email, and phone. Don’t feel stuck again
• Free onboarding and training support for all the plans
• 1000+ CRM integrations to automate workflows

Conclusion

With Emitrr, your transition is synonymous with seamless execution, expert guidance, and access to advanced features that fuel your business growth.

Equipped with all the insights, the moment has come to seize this opportunity. If you’re a RingCentral user seeking enhanced capabilities, competitive pricing, 24/7 customer support, and an escape from software glitches, the choice is crystal clear – embrace Emitrr for a future of smooth communication.

Book a Demo, now! 

FAQs