Choosing the right VoIP provider is crucial for businesses that rely on phone calls, SMS, video meetings, and team messaging. 

Two of the biggest names in the industry, 8×8 and RingCentral, offer robust cloud-based phone systems with advanced call routing, integrations, and AI-powered features.

While both providers cover the essentials VoIP calling, SMS texting, team chat, and video conferencing, their strengths differ.

RingCentral prioritizes team collaboration, offering AI-enhanced video meetings, project management tools, and a large integration ecosystem. 8×8, on the other hand, stands out with its unlimited SMS, broader international calling coverage, and live-streaming capabilities.

In this in-depth comparison, we break down the key differences between 8×8 vs RingCentral, covering pricing, features, and all other aspects that impact business communication.

⏩30 Sec Summary

• For large-scale video meetings, 8×8 supports up to 500 participants with live streaming, while RingCentral allows up to 200 participants with AI video meetings, AI-powered transcriptions, and automation.

• RingCentral offers advanced AI-driven call monitoring, analytics, and automation, while 8×8 provides robust global calling features with unlimited international calling in select plans.

• 8×8 integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Teams without additional licensing, whereas RingCentral offers deeper CRM integrations, including Salesforce and HubSpot.

• Both providers offer unlimited domestic calling in the U.S. and Canada. However, 8×8 offers unlimited calling to 48 countries on higher-tier plans.

How We Compared RingCentral and 8×8?

We evaluated RingCentral vs 8×8 based on their overall value, features, user experience, and communication capabilities, considering how well they perform in real-world business scenarios.

Here’s a breakdown of the key factors we analyzed:

• Pricing and value: We compared each plan’s VoIP features, call routing, SMS texting, and video meetings to determine their overall cost-effectiveness.

• User experience: We tested both desktop and mobile interfaces to assess how intuitive and user-friendly the platforms are.

• Calling and texting: We analyzed unlimited calling areas, SMS limits, and overall flexibility for businesses relying on phone and text communication.

• Phone system features: We examined IVR menus, call queues, call monitoring, and routing rules to measure customization and efficiency.

• Team collaboration: We tested team messaging, file sharing, project management tools, and video meetings to see how well each platform supports teamwork.

• Integrations: We reviewed the number and quality of third-party integrations, focusing on CRM compatibility with tools like Salesforce and Slack.

8×8 vs RingCentral at a Glance

Both RingCentral and 8×8 offer VoIP calling, SMS texting, team messaging, and video conferencing. However, RingCentral provides stronger team collaboration tools and AI-powered video meetings, while 8×8 offers a larger unlimited calling area and unlimited SMS texting on all plans.

Factors	8×8	RingCentral
Pricing	Quote-based pricing (2 plans)	Starts at $20 per user/month (3 plans)
Communication Channels	Phone, SMS (unlimited), Team chat, Video conferencing	Phone, SMS (200 per month), Team chat, Video conferencing
Phone System Features	Unlimited calling in 14 or 48 countries, IVR menu, Call queues, Call monitoring, Supervisor analytics	Unlimited calling in the US & Canada, IVR menu, Call queues, Call monitoring, Business Analytics
Team Chat Features	File sharing	File sharing, Project management, One-click video huddles
Video Meetings	24-hour meetings, Up to 500 participants, Live streaming to YouTube, Polls	24-hour meetings, Up to 200 participants, AI transcripts & summaries
Integrations	60+ integrations (Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Zoho, Okta, Slack)	300+ CRM integrations (Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, HubSpot, MailChimp, Gong)
Customer Support	Knowledge base, 24/7 phone, email & chat support (X4 plan)	Knowledge base, 24/7 phone & chat support (Standard plan & up)
Best For	Companies needing unlimited SMS & international calling	Companies prioritizing team collaboration & AI-driven video meetings

8×8 vs RingCentral: Pricing and Value

At first glance, you could say that RingCentral is the cheaper option. Plans for $20 to $35 per user per month undercut 8×8’s X2 and X4 plans, which were $24 and $44, respectively. 

If you run a business that’s looking for core VoIP features such as call routing, SMS texting, team chat, and video meetings, RingCentral is a great value. Additionally, it provides features such as call monitoring and real-time analytics at a lower price point than 8×8, making it a popular choice for those looking for it.

Pricing, though, is just the beginning. 8×8 includes unlimited SMS texting within the US on all plans, whereas RingCentral doesn’t. Moreover, its X2 plan has unlimited calling to 14 countries, while the X4 plan includes unlimited calling to 48 countries. 

For businesses with a global presence or those relying heavily on SMS, 8×8’s higher price might translate into better long-term value.

Verdict: RingCentral’s plans appear less expensive, but as with most things, the decision really comes down to what you need. RingCentral falls under the best small business phone service that does better for users who want a budget-friendly business telephony solution. On the other hand, 8×8 may be of more value for companies that need to reach beyond country borders and want unlimited texting.

8×8 vs. RingCentral: Phone System and Calling Area

RingCentral and 8×8 are both excellent options for high-quality voice calls and essential call routing tools such as IVR (Interactive Voice Response), call queues and call monitoring. 

But their strengths are in different areas. RingEX’s phone system from RingCentral has more customizable call distribution settings, including advanced rules such as skills-based routing, which can tie into CRM systems. It is thus a strong choice for businesses that need to get calls handled and automated precisely.

On the flip side, 8×8 is an exception, as it offers unlimited calling coverage. RingCentral’s unlimited calling is limited to the U.S. and Canada, while 8×8 plans range from 14 to as many as 48 countries, depending on the tier. 

Both providers offer direct inward dialing (DID) and toll-free numbers from over 100 countries, giving providers a global reach, but 8×8 may have wider coverage to suit international businesses.

Verdict: It’s a close call. RingCentral offers superior call routing flexibility that is perfect for businesses that want to automate and integrate CRM. However, 8×8’s expansive international calling area helps it stand out for companies with a need to communicate globally. 

The best choice is the one that matches the business priorities more closely with the feature set that is being used.

8×8 vs RingCentral: SMS Texting

8×8 has a huge advantage when it comes to SMS texting. RingCentral limits users to 25, 100, or 200 texts per month, depending on the plan, whereas all 8×8 plans include unlimited SMS texting within the U.S.

Both providers have some essential SMS features, such as desktop and mobile texting, image support, and SMS templates. 8×8’s API capabilities go a step further and both of them offer SMS APIs for automating marketing campaigns. 

Moreover, businesses can automate shipping notifications, delivery updates, and interactive messages with embedded links, expanding the potential use cases beyond standard marketing outreach.

Verdict: 8×8 takes the lead in SMS functionality. RingCentral is fine for basic needs, but business SMS volume restrictions on texting may be too limiting. 8×8 delivers more flexibility and long-term value for companies that heavily rely on SMS texting as a part of their customer engagement strategy.

8×8 vs RingCentral: Team Messaging

Both RingCentral and 8×8 provide built-in team messaging with essential collaboration tools like file sharing, threaded conversations, and emoji reactions. 

They both provide chat services for PC and mobile, which support one-to-one or call group and link sharing. However, RingCentral has superior functionalities that help in increasing productivity within the team.

However, to the best of my knowledge, RingCentral has a messaging platform that has integrated project management where users can assign tasks and deadlines within the chat interface, which is not present in 8×8. 

Also, using RingCentral, people can switch to video huddles in an instant with a single click, which is convenient when moving from chatting to face-to-face interaction. Although 8×8 has good team messaging, it doesn’t offer as many collaboration tools as are included in RingCentral.

Verdict: Team messaging is the domain of RingCentral. Its built-in task management, as well as one-click video huddles, provide a more dynamic collaboration experience and is the better choice for teams that want to streamline communication and workflow in one place.

8×8 vs RingCentral: Video Meetings

Both RingCentral and 8×8 offer high-quality video meetings with essential collaboration tools like breakout rooms, team chat, and live polls. 

But their strengths are for different needs. What distinguishes RingCentral from other business messaging software is its use of AI for features like AI video meetings, live transcription, automated summaries, and meeting highlights. It also provides interactive tools such as whiteboards and real-time note-taking, which makes it a good option for teams who value in-depth collaboration.

However, 8×8 is scalable as well. It tops RingCentral’s 200-participant limit for its more expensive plans and can host up to 500 at a time. 

The other difference between RingCentral and 8×8 is that 8×8 supports live streaming to YouTube as well, making it a better choice for webinars or large virtual events. While it has the basics of key collaboration features, it does not compare to RingCentral’s AI-powered features or video-focused integrations.

Verdict: RingCentral takes the lead with superior AI tools and a more interactive meeting experience, making it ideal for teams that rely on deep collaboration. However, 8×8 is the better choice for businesses that need larger meeting capacities or live-streaming capabilities.

8×8 vs RingCentral: Analytics and AI

Both 8×8 and RingCentral offer real-time analytics, providing insights into queue status, agent activity, call volume, and channel usage. 

Supervisors can track inbound vs. outbound calls, missed vs. answered calls, transfers, and queue wait times—allowing businesses to optimize operations effectively. In terms of core analytics capabilities, both platforms are fairly evenly matched.

However, RingCentral pulls ahead with more advanced customization. It allows users to build personalized dashboards by combining widgets, visuals, and key performance indicators (KPIs), offering a more flexible approach to data visualization. 

This level of customization isn’t available on 8×8, making RingCentral a stronger choice for businesses that need tailored reporting.

Verdict: RingCentral stands out  8×8 in analytics due to its customizable dashboards. While both platforms provide detailed real-time metrics, RingCentral’s ability to personalize reports makes it a better fit for organizations that require deeper data analysis and performance tracking.

Which Provider Should You Choose?

RingCentral offers a cost-effective business VoIP solution with strong team collaboration features, while 8×8 stands out for unlimited SMS texting and international calling. Both providers include call routing, team messaging, and video meetings, but their strengths cater to different needs.

Choose RingCentral if you need

• Cost-effective phone system: RingCentral’s Core plan starts at $20 per user/month, offering IVR, call queues, and ring groups at a lower cost than 8×8.

• AI-powered video meetings: RingCentral includes live transcripts, summaries, and auto-generated highlights, which 8×8 lacks.

• Team collaboration: With built-in task management, deadlines, and one-click video huddles, RingCentral’s team messaging is more advanced.

Choose 8×8 if you need

• Unlimited SMS texting: Unlike RingCentral, 8×8 allows unlimited texting in the US on all plans.

• Large international calling area: 8×8 supports 14 or 48 countries for unlimited calling, ideal for businesses making frequent international calls.

• Live streaming for video meetings: 8×8’s meetings support live streaming to YouTube, which RingCentral doesn’t offer.

Wrapping Up

Both RingCentral and 8×8 provide strong VoIP solutions but the best option will vary based on your business needs. RingCentral excels in team collaboration with AI-powered video meetings, project management tools, and a vast integration ecosystem. At the same time, 8×8 is unique in offering unlimited SMS, broader international calling, and live streaming.

RingCentral is a good choice if you need cost-effective VoIP with strong collaboration features. Still, if international communication and huge volumes of texting are vital to your business, 8×8 might be a better choice.

In the end, both providers offer dependable cloud phone systems with additional features, so the best among them depends on whether you require AI-powered collaboration tools or greater international scalability.

FAQs

What is 8×8 VOIP?

8×8 is a cloud-based VoIP provider offering business phone systems, SMS texting, video meetings, and team messaging. It provides advanced call routing, IVR, call monitoring, and integrations with platforms like Microsoft Teams and Salesforce.

Does 8×8 Cost Money?

Yes, 8×8 offers paid plans with pricing based on features and international calling options. While it doesn’t have a free tier, businesses can choose from different plans to match their communication needs.

Why Should I use RingCentral?

RingCentral is ideal for businesses looking for a cost-effective VoIP solution with strong collaboration tools. It offers AI-powered video meetings, project management features, and over 300 integrations with CRM and productivity apps.

Does RingCentral Offer a Softphone?

Yes, RingCentral includes a softphone application that lets users make and receive calls on desktops, mobile devices, and web browsers. It serves as a full-featured cloud phone system with calling, messaging, and video conferencing.