With a plethora of cloud-based communication tools available, two standout solutions are Nextiva and RingCentral. Both companies offer robust unified communication services designed to streamline business operations and improve productivity. However, to help UK businesses determine which is the better fit, this article provides a detailed comparison of Nextiva vs RingCentral for features and costs.
Nextiva vs RingCentral
| Feature | Nextiva | RingCentral |
|---|---|---|
| VoIP and call management | Unlimited calling, voicemail-to-email, call recording, auto-attendant, advanced call analytics, CRM integration. | Unlimited calling, call forwarding, voicemail-to-text, integrations with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Salesforce. |
| Video conferencing | HD video calls for up to 250 participants, screen sharing, integrates with Nextiva App. | HD video calls for up to 500 participants, screen sharing, advanced integrations with Slack, Trello, etc. |
| Team collaboration | Basic messaging, group chat, file sharing, and task management. | Robust messaging, group chat, file sharing, task management, and integrations with Asana, Monday.com, etc. |
| CRM integration | Built-in CRM system with customer management and communication tools. | No built-in CRM but integrates with popular third-party CRMs like Salesforce and Zoho. |
| Security and compliance | SOC 2 compliant, encryption, built-in redundancy, GDPR compliant. | End-to-end encryption, GDPR compliant, SOC 2, HIPAA compliance, strong international security standards. |
| Customer support | 24/7 support for all plans, highly rated for customer service. | 24/7 support for higher-tier plans, comprehensive support options available. |
| Integrations | Limited third-party integrations. | Extensive third-party integrations with apps like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, and more. |
| Call analytics | Advanced call analytics included in all plans, providing insights into call performance and customer service. | Advanced call analytics available, integrated with team performance monitoring tools. |
| Mobile and desktop apps | Dedicated apps for mobile and desktop with call, messaging, and video functionality. | Comprehensive mobile and desktop apps with seamless transition between voice, video, and messaging. |
| Pricing | Starts at £16.50/user/month (Essential Plan), up to £25.50/user/month (Enterprise Plan). | Starts at £19.99/user/month (Essentials Plan), up to £39.99/user/month (Ultimate Plan). |
| Video conferencing participants | Up to 250 participants. | Up to 500 participants. |
| Voicemail transcription | Available in higher-tier plans (Enterprise Plan). | Available in all plans. |
| Call recording | Available from Professional Plan onwards. | Automatic call recording from Premium Plan onwards. |
| Storage | Limited storage based on plan. | Unlimited storage in Ultimate Plan. |
| Best suited for | Small to medium-sized businesses looking for an integrated CRM and communication system at a competitive price. | Medium to large businesses that need extensive third-party app integrations and advanced collaboration tools. |
Overview of Nextiva vs RingCentral
Nextiva is known for its comprehensive business communication solutions that focus on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems, team messaging, video conferencing, and customer relationship management (CRM) integration.
Meanwhile, RingCentral offers a similar suite of services, with a significant emphasis on seamless integration with third-party apps, making it highly versatile for businesses with existing systems.
Both platforms have been praised for their scalability, reliability, and strong customer support. However, differences in features, pricing, and integrations may sway your decision depending on your specific business requirements.
Key features comparison
To help UK businesses make an informed choice, let’s explore how Nextiva vs RingCentral compare across key features.
1. VoIP and call management
Both Nextiva and RingCentral provide excellent VoIP services, but they differ slightly in execution and additional functionalities.
- Nextiva: Nextiva’s VoIP offering is feature-rich with unlimited calling, voicemail-to-email, call recording, and auto-attendant. It also comes with advanced call analytics, which gives businesses valuable insights into call performance and customer service efficiency. Nextiva integrates smoothly with CRM systems, allowing businesses to streamline their customer communications.
- RingCentral: RingCentral offers similar VoIP capabilities, including unlimited calling, call forwarding, and voicemail-to-text. A standout feature is its extensive integration with third-party apps such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Salesforce, which can be a major benefit for businesses that rely on these systems. RingCentral also provides a detailed call analytics dashboard that businesses can use to monitor team performance and call quality.
2. Video conferencing
As businesses increasingly rely on video meetings, this functionality is critical for any unified communications platform.
- Nextiva: Nextiva’s video conferencing service supports HD video calls and can host up to 250 participants, making it suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It integrates well with the Nextiva App, allowing users to switch between devices during calls. However, it doesn’t offer as many third-party integrations as RingCentral in this area.
- RingCentral: RingCentral has a more advanced video conferencing platform, supporting HD video and up to 500 participants. It also offers screen sharing, team collaboration tools, and robust integration with popular software solutions like Slack and Trello. RingCentral’s platform is highly flexible, allowing users to switch between chat, video, and phone seamlessly.
3. Team collaboration
Collaboration tools are essential for fostering teamwork, especially in remote working environments.
- Nextiva: Nextiva’s team messaging feature is relatively basic compared to RingCentral. It offers group messaging, file sharing, and task management. However, it lacks some of the advanced collaboration features that RingCentral includes, such as integrations with external project management tools.
- RingCentral: RingCentral excels in team collaboration, with a robust messaging platform that supports direct messaging, group chats, and file sharing. The service integrates seamlessly with third-party apps, including Asana, Monday.com, and Microsoft Teams, making it a versatile choice for businesses with more complex collaboration needs.
4. CRM integration
CRM systems are critical for businesses that manage large client bases or need to track customer interactions closely.
- Nextiva: One of Nextiva’s standout features is its built-in CRM, which provides businesses with a seamless way to manage customer data and communications. This is ideal for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution where communication and customer management tools are integrated.
- RingCentral: While RingCentral does not offer a native CRM, its extensive integrations with third-party CRM systems such as Salesforce and Zoho provide businesses with flexibility. This could be beneficial for businesses that already use an established CRM and do not want to switch platforms.
5. Security and compliance
Security is a critical concern for businesses, particularly when handling sensitive customer data.
- Nextiva: Nextiva is SOC 2 compliant and provides encryption for all data transmissions. It also includes built-in redundancy, ensuring that businesses experience minimal downtime, making it a reliable choice for those with stringent security requirements.
- RingCentral: RingCentral offers enterprise-grade security, including end-to-end encryption and compliance with various international standards, including GDPR, making it particularly appealing for UK businesses concerned with data privacy.
Nextiva vs RingCentral cost comparison
When it comes to pricing, both Nextiva and RingCentral offer tiered plans. However, pricing structures can vary depending on the number of users and features required.
Nextiva pricing
Nextiva offers three main pricing tiers for its communication services:
- Essential Plan (£16.50/user/month): Includes unlimited calling within the UK, team messaging, voicemail-to-email, and unlimited internet faxing.
- Professional Plan (£20.50/user/month): Adds unlimited conference calling, call recording, and CRM integration.
- Enterprise Plan (£25.50/user/month): Includes advanced features like voicemail transcription, unlimited video conferencing, and additional CRM functionalities.
All plans include 24/7 support, making Nextiva an attractive option for businesses that require constant assistance.
RingCentral pricing
RingCentral’s pricing is slightly higher, but it offers more integration options and advanced features:
- Essentials Plan (£19.99/user/month): Includes unlimited calling within the UK, team messaging, and voicemail-to-email.
- Standard Plan (£24.99/user/month): Adds video conferencing for up to 100 participants, unlimited internet fax, and integration with apps like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.
- Premium Plan (£29.99/user/month): Offers automatic call recording, analytics, and integrations with CRM systems like Salesforce.
- Ultimate Plan (£39.99/user/month): Includes everything in the previous tiers, with additional advanced features like device status reports and unlimited storage.
While RingCentral is more expensive, the added integrations and collaboration tools may be worth the investment for larger businesses with complex needs.
Pros and cons of Nextiva
Pros:
- Built-in CRM system.
- Competitive pricing for SMEs.
- Excellent customer support.
- Simple, user-friendly interface.
Cons:
- Fewer third-party app integrations.
- Limited collaboration features compared to RingCentral.
Pros and cons of RingCentral
Pros:
- Extensive third-party app integrations.
- Advanced collaboration and video conferencing tools.
- Strong security and compliance features.
Cons:
- Higher price point.
- No built-in CRM.
Final verdict – Which should you choose?
For UK businesses, the choice between Nextiva vs RingCentral depends largely on your specific needs. Nextiva is a great all-in-one solution for small to medium-sized businesses looking for an integrated CRM and reliable communication platform at a lower cost. Its user-friendly design and excellent support make it a good fit for companies without complex integration needs.
On the other hand, RingCentral may be the better option for larger businesses or those with more complex collaboration and integration requirements. Its extensive third-party app support and advanced video conferencing features make it ideal for businesses that rely heavily on external tools and need a scalable communication platform.
In summary, if your business prioritises a lower cost, built-in CRM, and simpler communication features, Nextiva is the better choice. However, if you need robust integrations, collaboration tools, and don’t mind paying a premium, RingCentral is likely the better fit.
FAQ
Nextiva and RingCentral both provide excellent VoIP features, but Nextiva includes advanced call analytics and built-in CRM integration. RingCentral excels with third-party app integrations and offers similar VoIP services, including voicemail-to-text and call forwarding.
RingCentral offers more advanced video conferencing features, supporting up to 500 participants, with screen sharing and better integrations. Nextiva supports up to 250 participants, which is suitable for small to medium businesses but lacks some of the more sophisticated collaboration tools.
Nextiva generally offers lower pricing, starting at £16.50/user/month. RingCentral is more expensive, with prices beginning at £19.99/user/month, but includes more third-party integrations and advanced features like higher participant limits for video conferencing and automatic call recording.
RingCentral excels in collaboration tools, offering robust messaging, file sharing, and integration with platforms like Asana and Microsoft Teams. Nextiva offers basic team messaging and task management but falls short in terms of advanced collaboration features compared to RingCentral.
Nextiva includes a built-in CRM system, making it ideal for businesses that want to manage customer interactions directly within their communication platform. RingCentral doesn’t have a built-in CRM but integrates with popular third-party CRM solutions like Salesforce and Zoho.
Nextiva is often considered more suitable for small businesses due to its lower pricing and built-in CRM, which provides an all-in-one solution. RingCentral, while slightly more expensive, offers better scalability and integrations, making it ideal for growing businesses with complex needs.
RingCentral is the leader in third-party integrations, with seamless connections to platforms like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, and Trello. Nextiva, while offering a few integrations, doesn’t match the extensive range of apps available with RingCentral.
Both Nextiva and RingCentral offer 24/7 customer support. Nextiva is highly rated for its responsiveness and personal customer service. RingCentral offers comprehensive support options, but its 24/7 service is only available for higher-tier plans, which may be limiting for smaller businesses.
RingCentral is typically more scalable due to its extensive integrations, collaboration tools, and higher participant limits in video conferencing. It’s well-suited for medium to large businesses. Nextiva, though scalable, is more targeted at SMEs with simpler communication needs.
Both Nextiva and RingCentral offer strong security measures. Nextiva is SOC 2 compliant and offers built-in redundancy. RingCentral also provides end-to-end encryption, is GDPR compliant, and offers HIPAA compliance, making it ideal for businesses with strict security and privacy requirements.