Selecting the ideal communications platform is a significant decision for UK businesses aiming to improve efficiency and collaboration. With various providers on the market, RingCentral and Sipgate stand out, each offering unique solutions that cater to different business needs. This analysis delves into the features, costs, pros, and cons of RingCentral vs Sipgate to help you determine which might best suit your organisation’s needs.
RingCentral vs Sipgate
| Feature | RingCentral | Sipgate |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Offering | Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) | VoIP and SIP Trunking |
| VoIP Calling & Call Management | HD voice, IVR, call routing, call forwarding | VoIP, call forwarding, voicemail; more basic call management |
| Unified Communications | Yes – includes calling, messaging, video conferencing, and team collaboration | No – limited to VoIP, SMS, and fax |
| Integrations | Extensive, with over 200 integrations (e.g., Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Slack) | Limited API integrations |
| Mobile App Functionality | Full features including video, messaging, call management | Basic calling and SMS features |
| Scalability | Highly scalable, suitable for businesses of all sizes | Best for SMEs; less adaptable to complex, large-scale needs |
| Video Conferencing | Yes, starting from Standard plan, up to 100 participants | No |
| Team Messaging | Yes, in-app messaging and file sharing | No |
| CRM Integration | Yes, with major CRMs in Premium and Ultimate plans | Limited to API customisation |
| Customisation | Extensive, with advanced settings and custom workflows | Basic, mainly limited to essential needs |
| Analytics & Reporting | Comprehensive analytics on Premium and Ultimate plans | Basic call logging |
| Call Recording | Available on all plans, with expanded storage on higher tiers | Available on Sipgate Team plan |
| Pricing | Essentials: £8.99; Standard: £14.99; Premium: £19.99; Ultimate: £22.99 | Basic: Free; Team: £9.95 per user/month; Trunking: Custom pricing |
| Free Plan | No | Yes, Sipgate Basic for basic VoIP services |
| Ideal For | Businesses of all sizes, particularly those needing comprehensive UCaaS | Small to medium businesses with essential VoIP needs |
| Customer Support | 24/7 support on higher-tier plans, online resources | Basic support; more extensive for Team and Trunking plans |
| Best For | Unified communications, collaboration, remote/hybrid teams | Basic, cost-effective VoIP for SMEs |
Key features comparison
When comparing RingCentral vs Sipgate, examining their core features provides insight into their respective strengths. Both platforms cater to businesses seeking advanced VoIP services, but they vary in terms of unified communications, customisation, and scalability.
1. VoIP calling and call management
- RingCentral: Known for robust VoIP and call management capabilities, RingCentral supports HD voice quality, call routing, call forwarding, and interactive voice response (IVR). Advanced call management tools allow for seamless collaboration across departments, whether staff are in-office or remote.
- Sipgate: Sipgate offers reliable VoIP services with features like call forwarding, conferencing, and voicemail. However, it focuses primarily on the essentials without the depth of call management features found in RingCentral, which may impact larger organisations that require more complex call handling.
2. Unified communications
- RingCentral: As a fully integrated Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) platform, RingCentral consolidates calling, messaging, video conferencing, and team collaboration into one system. This centralisation is particularly beneficial for businesses looking to streamline internal communication and boost productivity.
- Sipgate: Sipgate offers VoIP calling, SMS, and fax but lacks a fully developed UCaaS system. Although it does provide basic communication features, the absence of team messaging and video conferencing could limit its appeal for businesses seeking an all-in-one solution.
3. Integrations
- RingCentral: RingCentral provides over 200 integrations with popular third-party software, including Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Slack, and Google Workspace. This extensive integration ecosystem is ideal for businesses that rely on multiple software applications and need them to work seamlessly with their communication platform.
- Sipgate: Sipgate’s integrations are limited compared to RingCentral. It supports basic API integrations, which enable customisations but lacks the extensive native integrations RingCentral offers. This could be a disadvantage for businesses looking for out-of-the-box compatibility with other tools.
4. Mobile app functionality
- RingCentral: RingCentral’s mobile app offers a comprehensive suite of features, including video meetings, messaging, and call management, allowing employees to stay connected on the go. This is particularly beneficial for businesses with remote or hybrid working models.
- Sipgate: While Sipgate offers a mobile app with core calling and SMS features, it lacks the extended functionalities found in RingCentral’s app. This makes it suitable for basic mobile use but less versatile for businesses with a mobile-first approach.
5. Scalability
- RingCentral: Designed to support businesses of all sizes, RingCentral’s scalable solutions make it easy for organisations to add users, phone lines, and services as they grow. This scalability is complemented by a variety of packages to cater to different business sizes and needs.
- Sipgate: Sipgate offers a straightforward pricing model and is generally well-suited to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) but may require additional third-party tools as businesses scale. For organisations expecting rapid growth, RingCentral may prove more adaptable.
Cost comparison – RingCentral vs Sipgate
The pricing structures for RingCentral vs Sipgate vary significantly. While both offer pay-as-you-go models, RingCentral’s structure includes feature-rich packages aimed at providing complete solutions, whereas Sipgate offers more basic, budget-friendly plans.
RingCentral pricing
RingCentral has several tiered packages to meet diverse business needs:
- Essentials: £8.99 per user/month, offering core VoIP calling, SMS, and integrations with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.
- Standard: £14.99 per user/month, adding video conferencing for up to 100 participants, enhanced integrations, and unlimited audio meetings.
- Premium: £19.99 per user/month, includes CRM integrations, advanced call management, and analytics tools.
- Ultimate: £22.99 per user/month, offers all features, including device status reports and advanced analytics.
While RingCentral’s pricing is on the higher end, the comprehensive feature set could justify the cost for larger businesses that benefit from its extensive tools.
Sipgate pricing
Sipgate offers a more simplified pricing model:
- Sipgate Basic: Free, provides essential VoIP services, suitable for freelancers and very small businesses needing minimal functionality.
- Sipgate Team: £9.95 per user/month, includes VoIP calling, SMS, fax, and basic customisation options, making it an affordable choice for small to medium businesses.
- Sipgate Trunking: Custom pricing, aimed at enterprises needing SIP trunking solutions for PBX systems.
Sipgate’s pricing is competitive and attractive for SMEs seeking essential services without committing to larger monthly fees. However, for businesses that require a robust communications suite, additional third-party tools may need to be factored into the budget.
Pros and cons
RingCentral pros and cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive UCaaS with advanced team collaboration tools.
- Extensive integrations with widely used software.
- Scalable for businesses of all sizes.
- Feature-rich mobile app for versatile use.
Cons:
- Higher monthly costs may be prohibitive for small businesses.
- Extensive features may be unnecessary for businesses needing basic VoIP services.
Sipgate pros and cons
Pros:
- Affordable pricing and basic services are ideal for SMEs.
- Simple, transparent pricing structure.
- Easy to set up and use for teams with basic requirements.
Cons:
- Lacks comprehensive unified communications tools.
- Limited third-party integrations.
- Less scalable for large businesses with complex needs.
Which platform is best for your business?
Deciding between RingCentral vs Sipgate comes down to the complexity of your communication needs and budget.
- Choose RingCentral if you’re seeking a fully-featured UCaaS platform with robust collaboration tools, extensive integrations, and scalability. RingCentral is ideal for larger businesses or those anticipating growth, as its features and add-ons are designed to support complex workflows and diverse teams.
- Choose Sipgate if you’re a small to medium-sized enterprise with straightforward communication requirements. Sipgate’s affordability and simplicity make it a strong contender for SMEs that need reliable VoIP services without the added cost of advanced collaboration and integration tools.
Verdict – RingCentral vs Sipgate
While RingCentral and Sipgate both offer reliable VoIP solutions, they cater to different business needs.
RingCentral excels in unified communications and scalability, offering a wide array of features and integrations ideal for larger or rapidly growing businesses.
On the other hand, Sipgate’s cost-effective model and simplicity appeal to SMEs looking for essential communication features without a hefty price tag.
Carefully consider the unique needs of your business, factoring in both current requirements and future growth projections, to make the choice that will support your organisation’s communications most effectively.
FAQ
RingCentral offers a comprehensive UCaaS suite, integrating calls, messaging, video, and collaboration tools. Sipgate, on the other hand, focuses on essential VoIP services, catering primarily to SMEs seeking cost-effective, basic communications without a full UC platform.
RingCentral includes video conferencing starting with its Standard plan, accommodating up to 100 participants. Sipgate does not offer video conferencing as part of its service, making RingCentral the preferred choice for businesses needing video communication.
RingCentral supports over 200 integrations with popular tools like Salesforce, Microsoft 365, and Google Workspace. Sipgate’s integrations are limited, relying mainly on basic APIs, which makes it less versatile for businesses needing extensive software compatibility.
Sipgate is generally more affordable, with plans starting as low as free for basic users and £9.95 per user/month for SMEs. RingCentral’s plans begin at £8.99 per user/month but offer more advanced features, making it better suited for larger organisations despite the higher cost.
Only Sipgate offers a free plan, called Sipgate Basic, designed for freelancers and very small businesses needing essential VoIP services. RingCentral does not have a free plan, instead offering feature-rich, paid options aimed at business-grade UC needs.
RingCentral’s mobile app provides complete functionality, including video, messaging, and call management. Sipgate’s mobile app focuses on essential calling and SMS capabilities, making RingCentral the stronger choice for businesses needing comprehensive mobile features.
RingCentral is designed to scale with businesses of all sizes, from SMEs to large enterprises, with a flexible UCaaS model. Sipgate is better suited to small and medium businesses with simple needs and may require added solutions for larger-scale operations.
RingCentral offers 24/7 support for its higher-tier plans and a robust online resource library. Sipgate provides basic support, although customers on the Team and Trunking plans receive more assistance. RingCentral’s support structure is generally more comprehensive.
RingCentral provides advanced call management tools like IVR, call routing, and voicemail management, ideal for companies with complex workflows. Sipgate offers basic call handling features but lacks RingCentral’s depth in call management capabilities, making it better for simpler needs.
Sipgate’s setup is straightforward, particularly for SMEs needing basic functions, making it quick to get started. RingCentral, while still user-friendly, involves more configuration for its comprehensive features, which may suit businesses ready for a more complex UC system.