Choosing the right business communication platform is crucial for the success and efficiency of your company. Among the top contenders, Nextiva vs 8×8 are two well-known providers in the UK that offer robust unified communications as a service (UCaaS) platforms. However, with their different features and pricing models, making the right choice can be challenging. This article will compare the two providers, focusing on features, pricing, and suitability for different business needs, helping you make an informed decision.
Overview of Nextiva vs 8×8
Nextiva is a UCaaS platform that offers VoIP phone systems, video conferencing, team messaging, and customer relationship management (CRM) integrations. Known for its scalability and user-friendly interface, Nextiva is popular with small and mid-sized UK businesses seeking to streamline their communication systems.
8×8, on the other hand, is a global player in the UCaaS space. It is best known for its comprehensive range of communication and collaboration tools, including voice, video, messaging, and contact centre solutions. 8×8 also provides integrated analytics and reporting features that make it an attractive choice for larger enterprises or businesses with a focus on data-driven insights.
Nextiva vs 8×8 comparison
| Category | Nextiva | 8×8 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voice calling | Unlimited HD voice calling across all plans | Unlimited calling with high-quality voice support | Tie |
| Video conferencing | Basic video conferencing with fewer features | Advanced video conferencing with up to 500 participants | 8×8 |
| Team messaging | Integrated messaging with file sharing, task management | Team messaging with workspaces and productivity tool integrations | 8×8 |
| Collaboration tools | Integrates with Microsoft Teams, Slack, etc. | Seamless integration with Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams | 8×8 |
| Contact centre | Basic contact centre with voice, email, live chat | Advanced contact centre with AI-powered analytics, workforce management | 8×8 |
| Analytics & reporting | Basic call analytics, CRM integration | Advanced AI-powered analytics and real-time reporting | 8×8 |
| CRM integration | Integrates with Salesforce, HubSpot, etc. | Integrates with Salesforce, Zendesk, and Microsoft Dynamics | Tie |
| Pricing (starting) | £16 per user/month | £24 per user/month | Nextiva |
| Ease of use | Simple, user-friendly interface | Slightly more complex due to advanced features | Nextiva |
| Scalability | Scalable, but fewer enterprise-level tools | Highly scalable with advanced enterprise features | 8×8 |
| Video participants | Limited to small groups | Up to 500 participants in large meetings or webinars | 8×8 |
| Integration with other apps | Basic integration with common tools | Extensive integration with a wide range of apps and platforms | 8×8 |
| Customer support | 24/7 support with Professional and Enterprise plans | 24/7 support on all plans | 8×8 |
| Contract flexibility | Month-to-month and annual plans available | Similar flexible contract options | Tie |
| Best for | Small to mid-sized businesses with basic communication needs | Mid-sized to large businesses with advanced communication and customer service needs | Depends on business size |
Key insights:
- Nextiva is best suited for small to mid-sized businesses, especially those looking for cost-effective voice communication and basic video conferencing.
- 8×8 stands out for larger businesses with complex communication needs, such as video conferencing for large teams and contact centre operations, though it comes at a higher price point.
Feature comparison
1. Voice and video communication
Both Nextiva and 8×8 offer excellent VoIP solutions, but there are differences in their approach to video communication.
- Nextiva: Offers unlimited HD voice calling across all plans, alongside video conferencing. However, its video capabilities are more basic compared to 8×8, with fewer features for large-scale meetings or webinars. Nextiva’s video conferencing is typically suited for smaller teams and less complex virtual meetings.
- 8×8: Comes with powerful video conferencing features. Its ‘X Series’ plans include unlimited video meetings with high-quality HD video, screen sharing, and meeting recording capabilities. 8×8 also supports larger meetings with up to 500 participants and advanced webinar functionality, which makes it ideal for larger teams or external presentations.
Verdict: If video communication is a primary concern, 8×8’s advanced features and scalability offer more value.
2. Messaging and collaboration
Both platforms include team messaging and collaboration tools, which are essential for remote work and distributed teams.
- Nextiva: Nextiva provides team messaging via its Nextiva App, which integrates voice, video, and chat in one place. It also includes file sharing, task management, and integration with third-party tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack.
- 8×8: Offers robust messaging capabilities, along with team workspaces where users can collaborate, share files, and manage tasks. 8×8 integrates smoothly with third-party collaboration tools such as Google Workspace and Microsoft Teams, allowing businesses to expand their productivity options.
Verdict: Both providers offer solid messaging and collaboration features, but 8×8’s more seamless integration with popular productivity tools may appeal to larger or more complex teams.
3. Contact centre features
If your business requires customer support capabilities, contact centre features are essential.
- Nextiva: Includes a built-in contact centre solution that supports omnichannel communication, such as voice, email, and live chat. However, its offering is more basic compared to 8×8, as it lacks advanced features like AI-driven analytics or workforce optimisation tools.
- 8×8: Provides an industry-leading contact centre with its ‘X Series’ plans. The platform supports AI-powered analytics, real-time monitoring, and workforce management features that can significantly enhance productivity in customer-facing roles.
Verdict: 8×8 is the better choice for businesses with heavy customer service requirements, thanks to its advanced contact centre tools.
4. Analytics and reporting
Both Nextiva and 8×8 offer analytics features, but they vary in terms of depth and usability.
- Nextiva: Offers basic reporting and call analytics, allowing you to track call volumes, durations, and other metrics. It also offers customer journey tracking and integrates with CRM platforms like Salesforce and HubSpot to give businesses an overall picture of their customer interactions.
- 8×8: Has more advanced analytics, including real-time insights across voice, video, and messaging interactions. The platform’s AI-powered analytics help businesses forecast demand, identify performance trends, and manage workflows more effectively.
Verdict: 8×8 leads in this category with its detailed and AI-enhanced reporting, which can be particularly useful for data-driven companies.
Nextiva vs 8×8 pricing comparison
Pricing is a crucial factor when choosing a UCaaS provider, especially for small businesses or startups that need cost-effective solutions.
Nextiva pricing (UK)
- Essential Plan: From £16 per user/month – Includes unlimited voice, basic video conferencing, team messaging, and integrations with third-party platforms.
- Professional Plan: From £20 per user/month – Adds enhanced video conferencing, call recording, and CRM integration.
- Enterprise Plan: From £28 per user/month – Offers advanced analytics, unlimited video participants, and more integrations with third-party apps.
8×8 pricing (UK)
- X2 Plan: From £24 per user/month – Includes unlimited calling, video meetings for up to 100 participants, and basic contact centre features.
- X4 Plan: From £32 per user/month – Adds advanced analytics, team messaging, and contact centre solutions, as well as video conferencing for up to 500 participants.
- X6 Plan: From £45 per user/month – Designed for enterprise-level businesses, it includes everything in X4 plus AI-powered analytics and workforce management tools.
Verdict: Nextiva’s pricing is more competitive for smaller teams, especially at the lower tiers. However, 8×8 offers more advanced features at higher price points, which can be worthwhile for larger organisations needing contact centre solutions or in-depth analytics.
Pros and cons summary
| Provider | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Nextiva | – Affordable pricing for small businesses – Strong voice calling capabilities – Simple video conferencing for small teams | – Video conferencing is limited compared to 8×8 – Contact centre features are less advanced |
| 8×8 | – Powerful video conferencing – Best-in-class contact centre features – AI-driven analytics for detailed insights | – Higher pricing, especially for enterprise plans – May offer more features than some small businesses need |
Which is right for your business?
The choice between Nextiva vs 8×8 will ultimately depend on your business size, communication needs, and budget.
- Small businesses or startups: Nextiva’s lower pricing and straightforward features make it a solid option for companies looking to upgrade their voice and video capabilities without overpaying for extra features.
- Medium to large businesses: If your business requires advanced video conferencing, contact centre capabilities, or detailed analytics, 8×8 is likely the better choice despite the higher price point.
- Customer service-focused businesses: 8×8’s contact centre features, including AI-powered analytics and workforce management, are hard to beat. For businesses where customer support is key, 8×8’s additional costs may be justified by the enhanced functionality.
Final thoughts
Both Nextiva and 8×8 are strong contenders in the UCaaS market, each offering unique advantages depending on your business requirements.
Nextiva excels in affordability and simplicity, making it a great option for smaller teams. Meanwhile, 8×8’s robust features, especially for video conferencing and contact centres, make it ideal for larger, data-driven organisations.
Carefully assess your business’s needs before making a decision to ensure the best fit for your long-term communication strategy.
FAQ – Nextiva vs 8×8
8×8 offers more advanced video conferencing, supporting up to 500 participants with additional features like screen sharing and meeting recording. Nextiva provides basic video conferencing, which is ideal for smaller teams but lacks the scalability of 8×8.
8×8 excels with its advanced contact centre, featuring AI-driven analytics, workforce management, and omnichannel support. Nextiva offers a more basic contact centre solution, covering essential features like voice and email but without the same advanced capabilities.
Nextiva is generally more affordable, with plans starting at £16 per user/month. 8×8’s plans begin at £24 per user/month, offering more advanced features. For businesses needing basic communication tools, Nextiva offers better value, but 8×8 justifies its price for more advanced needs.
Both providers offer 24/7 customer support, but 8×8 includes it across all plans, even at the entry level. Nextiva provides 24/7 support only on its higher-tier plans, so 8×8 may offer more reliable assistance for businesses on lower-priced plans.
Both Nextiva and 8×8 integrate with popular CRM systems like Salesforce, but 8×8 offers more extensive integration options, including Zendesk and Microsoft Dynamics. Nextiva focuses on basic CRM integrations, making 8×8 the better choice for businesses relying heavily on CRM tools.
Nextiva is more suitable for small businesses due to its lower pricing and simpler feature set. It provides essential communication tools without overwhelming users. 8×8, with its advanced functionality, may be overkill for small businesses unless they need more comprehensive solutions.
Nextiva is generally easier to use, with a more straightforward interface and fewer complex features. 8×8, while powerful, can be more complex due to its wide range of advanced options, making Nextiva better for businesses seeking simplicity.
8×8 offers more detailed, AI-powered call analytics, including real-time reporting and predictive analytics. Nextiva provides basic call tracking, including call volumes and durations, which may be sufficient for smaller businesses. For data-driven companies, 8×8 is the superior choice.
8×8 offers broader third-party app integrations, including Google Workspace and Microsoft Teams. Nextiva also supports integrations but is more limited in scope. For businesses relying on a wide range of tools, 8×8 provides more flexibility.
8×8 is better suited for large businesses due to its advanced features, including powerful video conferencing, contact centre tools, and AI-driven analytics. Nextiva, while scalable, lacks some of the enterprise-level capabilities that larger companies may require.