When choosing a communications platform for your business, two leading providers frequently stand out in the UK market: 8×8 vs RingCentral. Both companies offer cloud-based VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) solutions tailored to business needs, enabling voice, video, messaging, and collaboration tools under a single umbrella. In this article, we’ll compare the features, pricing, and pros and cons of each provider to help you decide which one best suits your company.
Detailed comparison
| Category | 8×8 | RingCentral |
|---|---|---|
| Key features | – Unlimited global calling to up to 48 countries – Advanced analytics – All-in-one communications (voice, video, messaging, contact centre) – AI-enhanced contact centre – Security & GDPR compliance | – Extensive integrations with over 200 apps – Video conferencing for up to 200 participants – Team collaboration tools (messaging, file sharing, task management) – Cloud PBX for call routing and management – Mobile optimisation |
| International calling | Unlimited calling to up to 48 countries | Unlimited calling mainly within the UK and EU |
| Video conferencing | Up to 500 participants | Up to 200 participants |
| Integrations | Limited integrations | Over 200 integrations including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce |
| Analytics | Comprehensive call analytics and reporting | Advanced analytics and reporting, included in higher plans |
| Mobile app | Full access to platform features | Fully optimised for iOS and Android |
| Security & compliance | Encryption, GDPR compliance, secure voice services | Secure platform with encryption, GDPR compliance |
| AI features | AI-powered contact centre tools (e.g., sentiment analysis, real-time transcription, chatbots) | No specific AI tools offered in basic plans, more focused on integrations |
| Small business plan | 8×8 Express: £9.99/user/month (basic features, unlimited calling to 14 countries) | Essentials: £9.99/user/month (unlimited calling within the UK and EU, team messaging, file sharing) |
| Mid-tier plan | X2: £22/user/month (unlimited calling to 48 countries, video conferencing for up to 500) | Standard: £22/user/month (unlimited video conferencing for up to 100, business SMS, app integrations) |
| Advanced plan | X4: £38/user/month (advanced analytics, contact centre features) | Premium: £28/user/month (unlimited video for up to 200 participants, CRM integrations, advanced call management) |
| Enterprise solution | X6 & X8: Custom pricing for advanced contact centre solutions | Ultimate: £35/user/month (device status reports, more advanced analytics) |
| Pros | – Excellent for international calling – Robust analytics – All-in-one solution | – Extensive app integrations – Strong team collaboration tools – Scalable with diverse meeting needs |
| Cons | – Fewer integrations compared to RingCentral – Advanced tools increase costs | – Higher pricing for advanced features – Limited international calling options |
| Best for | Companies with global operations or those requiring advanced customer interaction tools | Businesses prioritising third-party integrations, team collaboration, and video conferencing |
8×8 vs RingCentral features comparison
Both 8×8 and RingCentral offer an impressive range of features designed to streamline business communications. However, there are differences in the specifics and depth of these offerings that may influence your decision.
8×8 features
- Unlimited global calling: 8×8 sets itself apart by offering unlimited calling to up to 48 countries, making it an excellent choice for businesses with an international presence or those looking to expand globally. This is especially valuable in the UK where businesses may engage with European, American, and Asian markets.
- Advanced analytics: 8×8 provides a comprehensive set of analytics and reporting tools, including call quality, customer engagement, and workforce productivity. This is crucial for decision-makers aiming to optimise business processes through data-driven insights.
- All-in-one communications: 8×8 brings together voice, video conferencing, team messaging, and contact centre functionalities. This single interface helps businesses avoid the complexity of juggling different platforms, making it easier to manage communication workflows.
- AI-enhanced contact centre: 8×8 leverages AI for real-time transcription, sentiment analysis, and chatbots in their contact centre solutions, offering an advanced feature set for companies seeking to improve customer service efficiency.
- Security and compliance: 8×8 provides robust security features such as encryption, GDPR compliance, and secure voice services, which are critical for UK businesses dealing with sensitive customer data.
RingCentral features
- Extensive integrations: RingCentral integrates with over 200 popular business apps, including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Salesforce. This extensive compatibility makes it a top choice for businesses already using third-party software.
- Video conferencing: RingCentral’s video conferencing supports up to 200 participants, with features such as breakout rooms, webinars, and live streaming capabilities, making it highly versatile for businesses with diverse meeting needs.
- Team collaboration tools: The platform offers robust team messaging, file sharing, task management, and project tracking. This allows teams to collaborate more effectively, especially in hybrid or remote work settings.
- Cloud PBX: RingCentral’s cloud-based phone system ensures seamless handling of business calls, with features like call forwarding, routing, auto-attendant, and voicemail-to-email transcription.
- Mobile optimisation: RingCentral’s mobile app is intuitive and optimised for both iOS and Android devices. It provides complete access to the platform’s features, which is particularly beneficial for businesses with on-the-go employees.
8×8 vs RingCentral pricing comparison
The cost of a communications platform is a crucial factor for businesses, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that need to manage tight budgets while accessing a full suite of tools.
8×8 pricing
8×8 offers a range of pricing tiers based on the feature set and level of functionality required.
- 8×8 Express: £9.99 per user/month. This plan is designed for small businesses and includes unlimited calling to 14 countries, team messaging, and basic call management features.
- X2: £22 per user/month. This tier offers unlimited calling to 48 countries, video conferencing for up to 500 participants, and analytics tools.
- X4: £38 per user/month. Includes more advanced analytics, supervisor tools for call management, and additional contact centre features.
- X6 and X8: Custom pricing available for larger enterprises that need contact centre solutions and AI-powered tools.
8×8’s pricing is particularly attractive for businesses with global operations, thanks to its unlimited international calling options.
RingCentral pricing
RingCentral’s pricing is also tiered but tends to be slightly higher compared to 8×8.
- Essentials: £9.99 per user/month. Includes unlimited calling within the UK and EU, along with basic team messaging and document sharing.
- Standard: £22 per user/month. Adds unlimited video conferencing for up to 100 participants, integrations with apps such as Office 365, and business SMS.
- Premium: £28 per user/month. This plan offers unlimited video meetings for up to 200 participants, CRM integration, advanced analytics, and call management features.
- Ultimate: £35 per user/month. Includes everything in Premium plus device status reports and more advanced analytics.
RingCentral tends to be more cost-effective for businesses primarily focused on UK and European markets, especially those seeking advanced collaboration tools.
Pros and cons
8×8 pros
- Cost-effective for international businesses: 8×8’s unlimited global calling to multiple countries is a standout feature, making it an excellent choice for companies with international clients or teams.
- Robust analytics: With advanced analytics and reporting, 8×8 offers actionable insights into workforce productivity and customer interactions.
- All-in-one platform: By combining voice, video, messaging, and contact centre functionality, 8×8 simplifies communication management.
8×8 cons
- Less app integration: 8×8’s integration capabilities are more limited than RingCentral, which could be a drawback for businesses heavily reliant on third-party software.
- Price hikes for advanced tools: While 8×8’s base pricing is competitive, the costs can quickly escalate for businesses requiring more advanced AI and contact centre tools.
RingCentral pros
- Extensive app integrations: The ability to connect with over 200 apps gives RingCentral a clear advantage for businesses using multiple tools.
- Comprehensive team collaboration features: RingCentral’s emphasis on team messaging, task management, and file sharing makes it ideal for organisations with remote or hybrid workforces.
- Scalability: RingCentral’s suite of features is designed to scale with your business as it grows, particularly in terms of video conferencing and mobile support.
RingCentral cons
- Higher price point: For businesses on a budget, RingCentral’s pricing, especially in the higher tiers, can be a significant consideration.
- International calling limitations: RingCentral’s international calling options are more restrictive than 8×8’s, which could be a disadvantage for businesses with global operations.
Conclusion – 8×8 vs RingCentral
Both 8×8 vs RingCentral offer robust communications platforms suitable for UK businesses, but the choice largely depends on your specific needs.
- 8×8 is ideal for businesses with global operations, thanks to its unlimited international calling and strong analytics features. Its pricing is also competitive for companies looking for an all-in-one solution.
- RingCentral shines in terms of app integrations, scalability, and collaboration tools, making it a better fit for organisations prioritising team communication and third-party software integration.
Ultimately, the right choice for your business will depend on whether you value global reach and analytics (8×8) vs extensive integrations and collaboration (RingCentral). Carefully assessing your company’s needs and future growth plans will help guide your decision.
FAQ – 8×8 vs RingCentral
Answer: 8×8 is better for international calling, offering unlimited calls to up to 48 countries in many plans. RingCentral focuses more on UK and EU calling with fewer international options, so 8×8 is ideal for businesses with global operations.
Yes, both offer video conferencing. 8×8 supports up to 500 participants, while RingCentral allows up to 200 participants, depending on the plan. Both platforms include screen sharing, HD video, and team collaboration features, but 8×8 offers larger-scale conferencing for bigger teams or events.
RingCentral offers significantly more app integrations, with over 200 available, including major business tools like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Salesforce. 8×8 has fewer integrations, making RingCentral a better choice if your business relies heavily on third-party apps.
Both offer strong analytics, but 8×8 has more advanced call analytics and workforce management tools, especially in its higher-tier plans. RingCentral offers analytics but focuses more on integration with CRM tools and external platforms for reporting.
8×8 offers more advanced contact centre features, including AI-enhanced tools like real-time transcription and sentiment analysis. RingCentral provides basic contact centre functionality, but it doesn’t match the AI-powered tools available with 8×8’s contact centre solutions.
8×8 generally offers more competitive pricing for international calling and contact centre tools. RingCentral can be more expensive, especially for businesses requiring advanced features, though its pricing for UK and EU operations is more straightforward for businesses focused locally.
Yes, both platforms are well-suited for remote teams. RingCentral excels with its robust team messaging, task management, and mobile app support. 8×8 offers a unified platform for voice, video, and messaging, but RingCentral’s collaboration tools are more extensive.
Yes, both have mobile apps for iOS and Android. RingCentral’s app is highly optimised for mobile use, offering seamless access to messaging, calls, and meetings. 8×8 also provides full mobile functionality, but RingCentral’s mobile optimisation is often considered more user-friendly.
8×8 offers a very affordable plan for small businesses (£9.99/user/month) with international calling included. RingCentral also has a £9.99 plan, but its focus is more on local markets. Small businesses with global needs might prefer 8×8, while RingCentral is better for UK-based operations.
Both scale well, but RingCentral is particularly strong in this area due to its wide range of integrations and advanced collaboration tools. 8×8 is also scalable, especially with its advanced contact centre features, but RingCentral may be more adaptable for growing teams needing flexible, integrated solutions.