Two of the most prominent players in the VoIP market are 3CX and RingCentral. Both offer robust solutions with a variety of features and pricing plans, but how do they stack up against each other? In this analysis, we will compare 3CX vs RingCentral, focusing on features, pricing, ease of use, and overall value for UK businesses.
3CX vs RingCentral
| Feature/Aspect | 3CX | RingCentral |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | On-premises or cloud (self-hosted or 3CX-hosted) | Fully cloud-based |
| Pricing | Licence-based (e.g. Standard: from £135/year) | Per-user, per-month (e.g. Essentials: from £12.99/user/month) |
| Free Plan Availability | Yes, for Standard Edition (limited features) | No free plan, but 14-day free trial available |
| Call Handling Features | IVR, call routing, call queuing, auto-attendant, ring groups | IVR, call forwarding, call queuing, auto-receptionist |
| Video Conferencing | Basic video conferencing with screen sharing and recording | Advanced video conferencing (HD), webinars, team collaboration tools |
| Mobility and Remote Working | Mobile apps (iOS/Android), WebRTC support | Seamless mobile apps, cross-device collaboration, integrated team messaging |
| Unified Communications | Primarily focused on VoIP and phone systems | Complete UC solution (voice, video, messaging, and file sharing) |
| Integrations | Limited native integrations (e.g. Microsoft 365, Salesforce, HubSpot) | 200+ integrations (e.g. Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce) |
| Hosting Flexibility | Self-hosting option available (on-prem or cloud) | No self-hosting; entirely cloud-based |
| Scalability | Scalable based on simultaneous calls (paid licence required for more features) | Easy scalability through cloud-based pricing plans |
| Ease of Use | Requires technical expertise for set-up (especially self-hosted) | Easy to set up and maintain, low technical skills required |
| Support | Email and knowledge base (phone support for Pro/Enterprise editions) | 24/7 phone, email, and chat support on all plans |
| Customisation | High level of customisation with call routing and system set-up | Less customisation but strong out-of-the-box functionality |
| Uptime and Reliability | Dependent on hosting provider (self-hosted or cloud) | 99.999% uptime SLA, highly reliable |
| Licencing and Hosting Costs | Separate hosting fees for cloud; free plan for small businesses | All-in-one cost with no additional hardware or hosting fees |
| Target Business Size | Small to large businesses (more suited to those with IT resources) | Small to enterprise-level businesses |
Features comparison
Both 3CX and RingCentral provide a wide range of features suitable for businesses of all sizes. However, there are notable differences in the way these features are implemented and the overall functionality.
Call handling and routing
3CX offers extensive call management features, including:
- IVR (Interactive Voice Response)
- Call routing and queuing
- Call forwarding and transfers
- Auto-attendant
- Ring groups
One of the standout features of 3CX is its customisable call routing and ability to handle complex call flows, which can be a big plus for larger organisations or businesses with a heavy reliance on customer service.
RingCentral also excels in call handling, offering:
- Auto-receptionist
- Call forwarding and screening
- Call queuing
- Multi-level IVR
RingCentral’s advantage lies in its integration with other communication channels, such as SMS, video calls, and chat, all within a single platform. This provides more flexibility for businesses looking for a unified communications (UC) solution.
Video conferencing and collaboration tools
While 3CX provides basic video conferencing capabilities, it is primarily known for its call handling and phone system functionalities. Its video conferencing solution is available without extra costs, supporting features like:
- Screen sharing
- Recording
- Scheduling through a web portal
However, RingCentral offers a more comprehensive solution with RingCentral Video, which includes:
- HD video conferencing
- Webinars
- Screen sharing
- Team messaging
- File sharing
RingCentral’s video conferencing is more advanced, making it a strong choice for businesses that need seamless team collaboration tools alongside their telephony services.
Mobility and remote working
Both systems are designed with remote working in mind, but their approaches differ.
3CX is primarily a self-hosted solution, although cloud hosting is available through 3CX or third-party providers. It offers:
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
- Web-based client for softphone capabilities
- Support for WebRTC for browser-based communication
This gives 3CX a flexible, budget-friendly option for businesses that prefer self-hosted systems but still require mobile functionality.
RingCentral, on the other hand, is a cloud-first solution, with mobile apps that allow employees to work from anywhere. Its platform integrates seamlessly across devices and locations, making it ideal for businesses that need strong support for distributed teams. Additionally, with full support for team messaging, file sharing, and video, RingCentral provides an all-in-one platform for remote collaboration.
3CX vs RingCentral pricing comparison
Pricing is often a decisive factor when choosing a phone system, and 3CX and RingCentral have markedly different pricing structures.
3CX pricing
3CX is a licence-based system that can be hosted either on-premises or in the cloud. It offers a free tier, which is suitable for small businesses or those that don’t require advanced features. The paid licences are tiered based on the number of simultaneous calls, and businesses can choose between Standard, Pro, and Enterprise editions.
- Standard edition (up to 4 simultaneous calls): Free for one year, then approx. £135/year
- Pro edition (up to 8 simultaneous calls): Starts at approx. £225/year
- Enterprise edition (up to 16 simultaneous calls): Starts at approx. £270/year
These licences include core features, but businesses may need to factor in additional costs for hosting, SIP trunks, and any third-party integrations they choose to use.
RingCentral pricing
RingCentral’s pricing is more straightforward, with four main plans based on per-user, per-month pricing. UK pricing is typically quoted in GBP, and the tiers include Essentials, Standard, Premium, and Ultimate.
- Essentials: From £12.99/user/month
- Standard: From £19.99/user/month
- Premium: From £24.99/user/month
- Ultimate: From £34.99/user/month
The higher tiers include more advanced features like CRM integration, automatic call recording, analytics, and unlimited video meetings. RingCentral’s pricing model is particularly attractive for businesses that want predictable costs with full cloud functionality and no additional hardware or infrastructure expenses.
Ease of use and deployment
3CX offers flexibility, especially for tech-savvy organisations that prefer to control their own infrastructure. It can be deployed on-premises or hosted on cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud. The ability to choose between different hosting options gives businesses more control over costs and performance.
However, this flexibility comes at the cost of complexity. Setting up and maintaining a 3CX system requires more technical expertise, particularly if you opt for self-hosting. For businesses with limited IT resources, this can be a disadvantage.
RingCentral, being a fully cloud-based service, excels in ease of deployment. It requires no additional hardware or IT infrastructure, and its intuitive interface ensures that even non-technical staff can manage the system effectively. It’s an ideal option for businesses that want a low-maintenance solution that works out-of-the-box with minimal setup time.
Integrations and third-party apps
In today’s business environment, integration with other software is critical for efficiency.
3CX offers native integrations with popular CRM systems such as Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, and HubSpot. However, integration capabilities are more limited compared to RingCentral, and often require additional configuration or third-party tools to work seamlessly.
RingCentral, on the other hand, offers an extensive range of integrations with over 200 business applications, including:
- Microsoft Teams
- Google Workspace
- Salesforce
- Zendesk
- Slack
For businesses that rely heavily on third-party apps, RingCentral’s broad integration ecosystem gives it a clear advantage.
Customer support and reliability
3CX is known for its responsive support, but businesses using the free version may find that support options are limited. Paid customers have access to email support and a knowledge base, but phone support is only available for Pro and Enterprise licences.
RingCentral offers 24/7 phone support, email, and live chat for all users, even on lower-tier plans. With a global presence, RingCentral also has a strong track record for reliability and uptime, boasting 99.999% SLA for its service.
Final verdict – 3CX vs RingCentral
For UK businesses deciding between 3CX vs RingCentral, the choice largely depends on the specific needs and priorities of the business:
- 3CX is a cost-effective option for businesses that prefer a self-hosted solution with strong call management capabilities. It offers flexibility and scalability but requires more technical expertise and may incur extra costs for hosting and third-party services.
- RingCentral is a fully cloud-based platform with a robust set of features, especially for businesses looking for unified communications. It is easier to deploy and maintain, with stronger integration and collaboration tools, making it an excellent choice for businesses with distributed teams or those wanting a hassle-free experience.
Ultimately, businesses should consider their need for advanced features, ease of use, and total cost of ownership when making their decision. If your business is focused on cost savings and flexibility, 3CX may be the better option. However, for businesses that prioritise all-in-one collaboration, cloud-first infrastructure, and ease of use, RingCentral is likely to be the superior choice.
FAQ
RingCentral is easier to set up as it is entirely cloud-based with minimal technical knowledge required. 3CX offers flexibility with self-hosting, but it demands more technical expertise, especially for on-premises deployments or advanced configurations.
Both offer robust call handling features like IVR and call queuing, but 3CX provides more customisation for call routing and flow. RingCentral integrates more seamlessly with additional communication channels such as SMS, video, and messaging, making it a better all-in-one solution.
RingCentral excels in video conferencing with HD quality, webinars, and integrated collaboration tools. 3CX offers basic video capabilities like screen sharing and recording, but it doesn’t match the full suite of collaboration features that RingCentral provides.
3CX offers a free Standard edition for up to four simultaneous calls, making it a budget-friendly option. RingCentral doesn’t have a free plan, though they offer a 14-day free trial. For small businesses, 3CX’s free option may be more appealing.
RingCentral is better suited for remote working, providing a seamless, cloud-based system with strong mobile apps and team collaboration tools. While 3CX offers mobile and WebRTC support, its on-premises hosting option can complicate remote setup for businesses without cloud infrastructure.
RingCentral has a wider range of integrations, supporting over 200 third-party applications like Google Workspace, Salesforce, and Slack. 3CX offers fewer native integrations, though it supports key CRM tools like Microsoft 365 and Salesforce, which may require additional configuration.
3CX offers more customisation options, particularly in terms of call routing, system setup, and infrastructure. Businesses can tailor the system to specific needs, especially when self-hosted. RingCentral, while more user-friendly out-of-the-box, has limited customisation compared to 3CX.
RingCentral provides 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and chat for all users. 3CX’s support is more limited, with phone support only available for Pro and Enterprise licences. However, 3CX does offer a comprehensive knowledge base and email support for its users.
For small UK businesses, RingCentral offers a simpler, more comprehensive solution with predictable costs. However, 3CX may be more cost-effective for businesses with some IT expertise, especially for those looking to self-host or run the free Standard edition.