Choosing the right business communication system is essential for efficiency and customer satisfaction. As UK businesses increasingly rely on cloud-based solutions, VoIP services like Google Voice and RingCentral have become prominent contenders. Both platforms offer robust solutions for businesses of all sizes, but their features and pricing differ significantly. This article delves into the comparison of Google Voice vs RingCentral, helping UK business owners make an informed decision based on features and costs.
Google Voice vs RingCentral
| Category | Google Voice | RingCentral |
|---|---|---|
| Call management | Basic call forwarding, voicemail transcription, call screening | Advanced features like auto-attendant, call queues, call analytics |
| Integrations | Integrates with Google Workspace (Gmail, Calendar, Meet) | Extensive integrations with Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Slack, Zendesk |
| Collaboration tools | Basic voice and video calls via Google Meet | Unified platform with calls, messaging, video conferencing, file sharing |
| Mobile app experience | Simple and lightweight, basic calling and texting features | Feature-rich, includes calls, team messaging, and video meetings |
| Video conferencing | Google Meet integration for video calls | Integrated HD video conferencing with up to 200 participants |
| Voicemail transcription | Included | Included with advanced voicemail management options |
| Call analytics | Limited basic reports | Advanced call analytics and real-time data reporting |
| IVR (Interactive Voice Response) | Not available | Multi-level IVR included with Premium plan and above |
| User limit | 10 users on Starter plan | No limit on any plan |
| UK call costs | Included with all plans | Unlimited calls to UK numbers on all plans |
| Third-party apps | Limited third-party app integration | Extensive third-party app integration options |
| Pricing (per user/month) | Starter: £8, Standard: £16, Premier: £24 | Essentials: £14.99, Standard: £19.99, Premium: £24.99, Ultimate: £29.99 |
| VoIP phones support | Available on Standard and Premier plans | Supported on all plans |
| 24/7 support | No | Included from Standard plan upwards |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial available | 14-day free trial available |
| Best for | Small businesses using Google Workspace | Medium to large businesses with complex communication needs |
Feature comparison
Both Google Voice and RingCentral are designed to streamline business communication, but they cater to different types of users and business needs. Below is an overview of their main features:
1. Call management
- Google Voice: Offers basic call management features such as call forwarding, voicemail transcription, and call screening. It’s designed to work seamlessly within the Google ecosystem, making it ideal for businesses already using Google Workspace. However, its functionality is limited compared to more advanced platforms.
- RingCentral: Provides a more comprehensive call management suite. It includes features like auto-attendants, multi-level IVR (Interactive Voice Response), call queues, and advanced call analytics. It’s particularly suitable for businesses needing to handle a large volume of customer service or sales calls.
Verdict: RingCentral offers more advanced call management features, making it the better choice for businesses with complex communication needs.
2. Integrations
- Google Voice: Integrates smoothly with other Google services like Google Calendar, Gmail, and Google Meet. However, its third-party integrations are somewhat limited compared to other VoIP services.
- RingCentral: Offers extensive third-party integrations with popular business apps, including Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Slack, and Zendesk. This makes it highly adaptable to businesses with a more diverse set of tools.
Verdict: RingCentral’s wider range of integrations makes it a more versatile option for businesses using non-Google tools.
3. Collaboration tools
- Google Voice: Collaboration is mainly supported through integration with Google Workspace. Users can make voice calls and video calls via Google Meet, but other collaborative tools are minimal.
- RingCentral: In addition to calls, RingCentral offers messaging and video conferencing within its platform. Users can collaborate in real-time through team messaging, file sharing, and video meetings, all within a single app. RingCentral also supports HD video conferencing with up to 200 participants.
Verdict: RingCentral is far more equipped for real-time collaboration, which is crucial for growing businesses with remote teams.
4. Mobile app experience
- Google Voice: Google Voice’s mobile app is lightweight, user-friendly, and offers essential calling, texting, and voicemail services. It’s a reliable choice for smaller businesses that need a simple, mobile-first communication tool.
- RingCentral: RingCentral’s mobile app is more feature-rich, providing access to calls, team messaging, video conferencing, and integrations from a single platform. It allows for a more dynamic work environment, especially for businesses with a mobile workforce.
Verdict: RingCentral’s mobile app delivers a more comprehensive experience, making it suitable for businesses where mobility and flexibility are priorities.
Google Voice vs RingCentral cost comparison
Pricing plays a crucial role when comparing business communication solutions. Here’s how Google Voice and RingCentral stack up in terms of pricing in the UK:
1. Google Voice pricing
Google Voice offers three tiers of pricing, all of which require a Google Workspace subscription:
- Starter: £8 per user/month – Includes call forwarding, voicemail transcription, and Google integrations, but is limited to 10 users per account.
- Standard: £16 per user/month – Adds advanced features such as multi-level auto-attendants, desk phone support, and support for unlimited users.
- Premier: £24 per user/month – Includes all Standard features, plus international locations and advanced reporting.
Google Voice’s pricing is affordable, but it comes with limitations, especially for businesses with growing communication needs.
2. RingCentral pricing
RingCentral offers more pricing tiers with additional flexibility:
- Essentials: £14.99 per user/month – Includes unlimited calls within the UK, team messaging, and integrations with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.
- Standard: £19.99 per user/month – Adds unlimited internet fax, video meetings for up to 100 participants, and 24/7 customer support.
- Premium: £24.99 per user/month – Introduces advanced features like CRM integration (Salesforce, Zendesk), video meetings with up to 200 participants, and real-time analytics.
- Ultimate: £29.99 per user/month – Offers the most advanced features, including device status reports and call queue insights, making it ideal for large-scale enterprises.
Verdict: While RingCentral’s pricing is higher than Google Voice, its feature set justifies the cost for medium and large businesses that require advanced tools and integrations.
Pros and cons summary
Google Voice
Pros:
- Seamless integration with Google Workspace
- Simple and affordable pricing
- Suitable for small businesses or Google-centric environments
Cons:
- Limited features compared to competitors
- Lacks advanced call management and integrations
- Only available with a Google Workspace subscription
RingCentral
Pros:
- Comprehensive feature set with advanced call management
- Extensive third-party integrations
- Offers a unified platform for messaging, calling, and video conferencing
- Scalable to fit medium to large businesses
Cons:
- Higher cost compared to Google Voice
- Can be overkill for small businesses with minimal communication needs
Which should your business choose?
Choosing between Google Voice vs RingCentral largely depends on the size and specific needs of your business.
- Google Voice is an excellent option for small businesses or startups already using Google Workspace. It’s cost-effective, easy to set up, and sufficient for companies with basic communication needs. However, it lacks the scalability and advanced features that larger businesses or those with more complex communication requirements might need.
- RingCentral, on the other hand, offers a far more comprehensive and scalable solution. It’s better suited for medium to large businesses, especially those with remote teams or departments that require seamless collaboration across multiple tools. While it comes at a higher price, the extensive feature set, robust integrations, and excellent mobile experience make it a worthwhile investment for growing businesses.
In conclusion, Google Voice may save you money, but RingCentral could save you time and improve your communication efficiency, making it a more valuable option in the long run. Assess your business’s current and future communication needs to make the best choice.
FAQ – Google Voice vs RingCentral
Google Voice is ideal for basic communication, especially within Google Workspace. RingCentral offers a comprehensive platform with advanced features like call queues, IVR, and extensive integrations, making it suitable for businesses with more complex communication needs.
Yes, RingCentral provides advanced call management features such as multi-level IVR, auto-attendants, and call analytics, which are not available on Google Voice. Google Voice focuses more on basic call forwarding and voicemail features.
Google Voice integrates mainly with Google Workspace apps like Gmail and Calendar. RingCentral integrates with a wider variety of business tools, including Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Slack, and many other third-party applications.
Google Voice is generally more affordable, with prices starting at £8 per user/month. RingCentral has higher pricing, starting at £14.99 per user/month, but offers more advanced features and flexibility, particularly for medium to large businesses.
Google Voice is better suited for small businesses that use Google Workspace and have simple communication needs. RingCentral, though more expensive, offers more scalable solutions for growing businesses that require advanced features like team messaging and video conferencing.
Yes, RingCentral includes HD video conferencing for up to 200 participants within its platform. Google Voice relies on Google Meet for video conferencing, which is separate from the core voice and messaging features.
RingCentral’s mobile app is more feature-rich, supporting calls, messaging, and video conferencing in one place. Google Voice’s mobile app is more basic, offering essential voice calling, texting, and voicemail functionality without the integrated collaboration tools found in RingCentral’s app.
RingCentral provides 24/7 customer support on its Standard plan and above. Google Voice does not offer 24/7 support, and assistance is primarily available through Google Workspace channels, which may be slower and more limited in scope.
Google Voice is easier to set up, especially if your business is already using Google Workspace. RingCentral, while more feature-packed, may require more setup time due to its comprehensive options and integrations with other business tools.
RingCentral is the better option for large-scale businesses due to its advanced communication features, scalability, and extensive third-party integrations. Google Voice is more limited in scope and best suited for smaller teams with simpler communication needs.