As UK businesses increasingly rely on cloud-based communication solutions, choosing the right provider becomes critical to ensure seamless operations. Both Mitel vs 8×8 offer extensive cloud-based phone and Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) solutions, but they cater to different types of organisations depending on their size, requirements, and budget. In this article, we will dive deep into the key features and costs of Mitel vs 8×8, helping you make an informed decision on which platform suits your business needs.
Mitel vs 8×8
| Feature | Mitel | 8×8 |
|---|---|---|
| Unified Communications | Offers robust UCaaS features, including VoIP, video conferencing, instant messaging, and team collaboration. Customisable with third-party integrations (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft Teams). | Comprehensive UCaaS solution with voice, video, messaging, and contact centre tools. Strong integration with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. |
| Collaboration Tools | Customisable solutions with team collaboration and integrations. | Unified platform for messaging, meetings, and file sharing. In-built analytics for team performance monitoring. |
| Contact Centre | MiCloud Connect CX offers multi-channel customer support (voice, email, chat, social media) and AI-driven analytics. | 8×8 Contact Center supports omnichannel communication, AI-powered virtual assistant, and CRM integration. |
| VoIP and Mobility | VoIP and mobile apps allow seamless call handoffs between devices. Suitable for mobile workforces. | Offers HD voice, call recording, and unlimited calling to over 48 countries (in higher-tier plans). Strong mobility features with the 8×8 Work app. |
| Analytics and Reporting | Standard reporting and monitoring tools. Requires advanced setup for detailed analytics. | Built-in advanced analytics and performance monitoring tools. Ideal for businesses focused on metrics tracking. |
| Security and Compliance | Data encryption, GDPR compliance, and secure data centres with disaster recovery. | Industry-leading security with end-to-end encryption and compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and other international regulations. |
| Pricing (per user per month) | Prices start around £15 to £20 for basic UCaaS solutions. Custom quotes for enterprise solutions. | Express: £9.99 (small businesses); X2: £22 (mid-tier, unlimited calling to 14 countries); X4: £38 (advanced features, unlimited calling to 48 countries). Contact Centre: £70+ per user/month. |
| Global Reach | Suitable for UK-based and international businesses. Custom global solutions available. | Unlimited international calling to 48 countries in higher-tier plans, making it ideal for global businesses. |
| Ease of Use | More complex setup with higher customisation; may require IT expertise. | User-friendly interface, simple setup, ideal for businesses without dedicated IT departments. |
| Scalability | Highly scalable, suitable for small businesses to large enterprises, with custom options. | Flexible and scalable, ideal for small to large businesses with simple pricing tiers. |
| Mobile App | Mitel’s mobile app provides VoIP and team collaboration tools. | 8×8 Work app offers voice, messaging, video conferencing, and meeting tools on mobile. |
| Integrations | Strong integrations with Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, and other enterprise software. | Deep integrations with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and other cloud platforms. |
| Best suited for | Mid to large enterprises needing custom communication solutions. | Small to mid-sized businesses looking for affordable, easy-to-deploy UCaaS and contact centre tools. |
Key features comparison
1. Unified Communications and collaboration tools
- Mitel: Mitel’s UCaaS platform focuses heavily on flexibility and scalability. It offers robust collaboration tools, including VoIP, video conferencing, instant messaging, and team collaboration software. Mitel also integrates with popular third-party applications like Salesforce and Microsoft Teams, which can be highly beneficial for businesses already using these tools. Mitel provides users with the ability to customise the solution according to their communication needs.
- 8×8: 8×8 is renowned for its comprehensive UCaaS offering, covering voice, video, messaging, and contact centre capabilities. One of its standout features is the built-in analytics and reporting tools, which help businesses monitor performance and track key metrics. Additionally, 8×8 provides deep integrations with tools like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, making it ideal for businesses that are already entrenched in these ecosystems.
Verdict: Both platforms offer solid Unified Communications features, but 8×8’s analytics tools may give it an edge for businesses focused on performance monitoring and reporting.
2. Contact centre solutions
- Mitel: Mitel offers MiCloud Connect CX, a robust contact centre solution built for organisations that require advanced customer interaction tools. MiCloud provides multi-channel customer support, including voice, email, chat, and social media. It also offers workforce management, quality monitoring, and AI-powered speech analytics to improve customer service.
- 8×8: 8×8’s contact centre solution, 8×8 Contact Center, is similarly feature-rich and includes an AI-powered virtual assistant, skills-based call routing, and integrations with CRM platforms like Salesforce. 8×8 Contact Center has a specific focus on omnichannel communication, ensuring that customers can be served via their preferred channels, whether that be voice, chat, or social media.
Verdict: Both Mitel and 8×8 offer powerful contact centre solutions, but 8×8’s omnichannel focus and AI assistant may provide greater flexibility for customer service teams.
3. VoIP and mobility
- Mitel: Mitel offers a range of VoIP solutions that cater to both small businesses and large enterprises. Its MiCloud Connect platform is an all-in-one cloud communication solution that includes business phone systems, VoIP, conferencing, and team collaboration. Mitel’s mobile app allows users to stay connected from anywhere, with seamless call handoffs between devices, ensuring flexibility for a mobile workforce.
- 8×8: 8×8 delivers one of the best VoIP solutions on the market, with HD voice, call recording, and unlimited calling to over 48 countries (in higher-tier plans). The 8×8 Work app allows users to make and receive calls, attend meetings, and chat with colleagues on the go, ensuring constant connectivity for remote teams.
Verdict: Both Mitel and 8×8 deliver highly capable VoIP and mobility solutions, but 8×8’s global reach and unlimited international calling could make it a better choice for businesses with international operations.
4. Security and compliance
- Mitel: Mitel ensures data security through multiple layers of encryption and compliance with industry standards such as GDPR. Their data centres are designed with redundancy and disaster recovery in mind, ensuring uptime and reliability for businesses.
- 8×8: 8×8 boasts industry-leading security standards, with features like end-to-end encryption, GDPR compliance, and compliance with various international data protection regulations. They also offer compliance with HIPAA, making it a good choice for healthcare organisations.
Verdict: Both providers deliver strong security measures, but 8×8’s added compliance with international regulations could make it a more attractive option for businesses handling sensitive customer data.
Mitel vs 8×8 cost comparison
Understanding the cost implications of Mitel vs 8×8 is crucial for any UK business, particularly in terms of scalability and total cost of ownership over time.
1. Mitel pricing
Mitel’s pricing tends to be more customised, depending on the size and specific needs of the business. Typically, their UCaaS solutions are offered on a subscription basis, with prices starting at around £15 to £20 per user per month for smaller businesses. The pricing for enterprise-level solutions, including advanced contact centre features, is significantly higher and often requires a tailored quote. Mitel’s pricing structure can include a mix of upfront costs and monthly subscription fees.
2. 8×8 pricing
8×8 offers more transparent pricing with tiered plans:
- 8×8 Express: £9.99 per user per month – suitable for small businesses with basic needs.
- X2 Plan: £22 per user per month – includes unlimited calling to 14 countries, video conferencing, and team messaging.
- X4 Plan: £38 per user per month – includes advanced analytics, unlimited calling to 48 countries, and additional enterprise features.
For contact centre solutions, 8×8 Contact Center pricing starts at around £70 per user per month, which includes omnichannel support and advanced AI-driven tools.
Scalability and ease of use
- Mitel: Mitel’s platform is designed for businesses of all sizes, but it is particularly well-suited for enterprises and mid-sized companies that need a highly customisable solution. However, Mitel’s flexibility often means that its implementation may require more IT expertise compared to 8×8.
- 8×8: 8×8 is highly scalable and can cater to small businesses as well as large enterprises. Its intuitive interface and user-friendly mobile apps make it easier for businesses without dedicated IT departments to deploy. The tiered pricing structure also allows businesses to scale up their services as needed without major cost increases.
Final verdict – Which is better for your business?
When deciding between Mitel vs 8×8, the key factor is your business’s specific needs:
- Choose Mitel if: Your business requires a highly customisable solution with strong enterprise-grade features and a focus on flexible, scalable communications. Mitel may be the better option for businesses that prioritise customisation, advanced contact centre tools, and integrations with legacy systems.
- Choose 8×8 if: You want a solution that is easy to implement, cost-effective, and offers a broad range of UCaaS and contact centre features. 8×8’s pricing transparency, excellent global reach, and robust analytics make it a strong choice for businesses that require flexibility and performance monitoring.
Both platforms provide robust solutions, but 8×8’s user-friendly, feature-rich platform may be better suited to small and mid-sized businesses, while Mitel’s more complex and customisable features could serve larger enterprises with specific needs.
Ultimately, your choice will depend on your business’s size, industry, and whether you need a more straightforward solution or a fully customisable, enterprise-level system.
FAQ – Mitel vs 8×8
8×8 is generally better for small businesses due to its simple, affordable pricing and ease of use. Mitel, while powerful, tends to cater to larger enterprises or organisations with more complex communication needs, making it less suitable for smaller setups.
Yes, both offer mobile apps. Mitel’s mobile app enables seamless VoIP communication and collaboration on the go. 8×8’s Work app provides voice, messaging, and video conferencing, ensuring that mobile and remote teams remain connected with an easy-to-use interface across devices.
8×8 may be better for global operations due to its unlimited international calling in higher-tier plans (up to 48 countries). Mitel can also support international business, but 8×8’s pricing structure and features make it more accessible for globally distributed teams.
Mitel offers more customisation, especially for large enterprises with specific requirements. Its solutions can be tailored to fit complex organisational needs, while 8×8 focuses on ease of deployment with predefined plans that suit most small to mid-sized businesses.
Yes, both offer contact centre solutions. Mitel’s MiCloud Connect CX offers multi-channel support and workforce management tools, while 8×8 Contact Center provides omnichannel support with AI-driven tools, making it ideal for businesses focused on improving customer service.
8×8 has better built-in analytics tools, offering detailed performance reports and insights for both UCaaS and contact centres. Mitel also provides reporting capabilities, but advanced analytics may require additional setup or third-party integrations.
Yes, both Mitel and 8×8 are GDPR compliant. They ensure the security and privacy of customer data through encryption and other security measures, making them suitable for businesses handling sensitive information in the UK and across Europe.
8×8 is easier to set up due to its straightforward plans and user-friendly interface. Mitel’s solutions may require more IT expertise and setup time, especially for large organisations or businesses looking for custom configurations and integrations.
8×8 provides better international calling options, offering unlimited calls to over 48 countries in its X4 plan. Mitel also supports international calls, but 8×8’s transparent pricing structure and wide international coverage make it a more attractive option for businesses with global operations.
8×8 is more cost-effective for small to mid-sized businesses due to its transparent, tiered pricing structure. Mitel’s pricing is more customised and tends to be higher, especially for larger businesses or those needing extensive customisation and enterprise-level features.