Best Dialpad Alternatives

The search engine powerhouse, Google, offers Google Voice as part of its Workspace suite to help businesses have reasonably priced office communications. There are three tiers to choose from that start with the Starter plan for $10 per user, per month. This plan is good for offices with up to 10 lines at a domestic location. It includes calls between Google Voice numbers, and calls to a U.S. or Canadian location from the Google Voice number. There is unlimited text messaging for domestic numbers. It offers voicemail transcription and Google Calendar and Meet integrations. Apps are available for both Android and iOS devices.

The Standard plan offers everything that the Starter plan includes and more for $20 per user, per month. It’s available for unlimited users who can have a domestic or regional location. This plan also includes a multilevel auto attendant, ring groups and desk phone with support. Administrators have the ability to record calls as desired. The Standard plan is considered the best value by Google.

For $30 per user, per month, businesses can upgrade to the Premier plan. This plan adds the ability to have an international location. This plan has all the features of the Standard plan, plus it offers advanced reporting so that administrators can understand how their resources are being utilized. Call recording is automatic in this plan.

Learn more: Read our full Google Voice review.

Who should use it:

Google Voice is the best solution for business owners who rely on device apps to integrate their VoIP systems.

RingCentral comes in at the top spot in our best VoIP phone services article with a 4.8 out of 5 star rating. The company offers cloud-based telecommunication services for businesses, both large and small. It offers three plans for businesses to choose from, with all plans offering a 14-day free trial and discounted pricing through its current promotion. The first is the Core plan for $20 per user, per month when billed annually. In the Core plan, users get unlimited domestic calling, SMS and MMS messaging, interactive voice response and single sign-on for convenience. It also offers APIs that integrate with Google, Microsoft apps and other popular software solutions. Administrators gain access to analytics.

The most popular plan is the Advanced plan for $25 per user, per month when billed annually. Users get everything found in the Core plan, plus auto call recording and advanced call monitoring and handling. The Advanced plan also allows users to have multiple locations and gives access to Salesforce and Zendesk among 300-plus apps. Users also get access to an internet fax number so the business is complete with everything it needs to communicate with the public.

The Ultra plan is the top-tiered plan. It costs $35 per user, per month when billed annually. It offers everything that the Advanced plan has, along with unlimited HD video, whiteboards and messaging. Administrators and team leaders can access customizable business insights. There is unlimited file sharing along with unlimited file storage for documents and videos. It also offers the most comprehensive business analytics suite.

Learn more: Read our full RingCentral review.

Who should use it:

RingCentral is the best option for any business seeking a unified communications system through a VoIP provider.

Intermedia Unite offers comprehensive communications systems for business owners and enterprises. There are two plan options to choose from: the Unite Pro and Unite Enterprise. The Unite Pro is available for $27.99 per user, per month and offers almost everything a small business owner will need. This includes a free device, a free mobile app and unlimited domestic calling. There is an auto attendant and call pickup with caller ID. Teams can take advantage of call transfer, call hold and three-way calling. There is music while on hold. Teams can utilize paging to notify team members of a call. Call recording is included in this plan so teams can learn and teach based on actual calls. Businesses also get a web fax with this plan.

The Unite Enterprise plan upgrades the Unite Pro plan by increasing file backups from 50GB to 200GB. It also upgrades video conferencing from 100 maximum participants to 200 participants. It syncs with Salesforce, ServiceNow, NetSuite and Microsoft Dynamics. It also gives supervisor functions such as monitor, whisper and barge. The Unite Enterprise plan is available for $32.99 per user, per month.

Learn more: Read our full Intermedia Unite review.

Who should use it:

Intermedia Unite is a good solution for a business that doesn’t want to spend a lot on hardware when establishing a VoIP solution.

Nextiva is a cloud-based business solution for VoIP communications systems. There are three tiered plans to choose from, starting with the Essential plan for $18.95 per user, per month when billed annually. In this plan, users get unlimited voice and video calling. Video calling in a baseline plan is a highlighted feature. The plan also includes voice mail, toll-free numbers and numerous integrations with business solutions such as Outlook and Google Contacts. You also get an unlimited fax to use as needed.

The next tiered plan is the Professional plan, available for $22.95 per user, per month when billed annually. This plan includes everything in the Essential plan plus unlimited conference calls with up to 40 participants. There is unlimited video conferencing and screen sharing. The system comes with an auto attendant and allows mobile and desktop SMS and MMS messaging. The integrations are upgraded to include Salesforce and HubSpot.

The most popular plan is the Enterprise plan for $32.95 per user, per month when billed annually. This plan takes everything from the Professional plan and adds more. You get unlimited participants in voice and video conferencing. There is call recording and unlimited video conference recording. Users can take advantage of voice mail transcription. Integrations include Microsoft Teams as well as other custom integrations. The whole system utilizes a single sign-on for convenience.

Learn more: Read our full Nextiva review.

Who should use it:

Nextiva is a good solution for businesses wanting to integrate office software to build a complete unified communications system.

The 8×8 VoIP platform is used and trusted by more than 3 million businesses across the globe. It offers five plans and requires a conversation with sales before offering pricing for either plan. The first plan is the X2 plan, which offers unlimited users with unlimited voice calls to 14 different countries that include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands and New Zealand. It has comprehensive conferencing features that allow up to 500 active participants per call. Teams can stay connected with team chat and utilize the Microsoft Teams integrations. There are hot desking abilities along with a multilevel auto attendant. The baseline plan also includes voice mail transcription.

The second plan is the X4 plan. This plan includes everything from the X2 plan and more. One of the nice features is free calling to 48 countries. This plan offers a front desk receptionist and document sharing for team members. There is public or private live streaming of meetings via YouTube channels. Users can also take advantage of advanced moderator controls for audio or video meetings. Integrations include CRM integration plus productivity and service apps.

Learn more: Read our full 8×8 review.

Who should use it:

For businesses that do a lot of international calling and want to pay less for it, 8×8 is the best solution.

The popular video conferencing platform, Zoom, offers three telecommunications plans in Zoom Phone. The US & Canada Metered plan is the first tier that costs $120 per user, per year. This plan may be priced affordably, but users need to be aware that they’ll pay additional fees for outbound calls. The U.S. rate is 0.0205 cents per minute for either a landline or mobile phone. This can become quite costly for companies with many outbound calls. The plan also includes SMS and MMS messaging for domestic numbers. Users can make calls from multiple devices with this plan.

Business owners will want to go with the US & Canada Unlimited plan to get unlimited domestic calling. This makes inbound and outbound domestic calls unlimited. There is also a management portal so that administrators can maximize employee time. For companies that need more dynamic calling options, this plan allows businesses to upgrade to unlimited calling to 19 countries that include Italy, Portugal and Spain.

For businesses seeking to call 48 countries on an unlimited basis, the Global Select plan is the best option. It costs $240 per user, per year (or $20 per user, per month). Businesses can get a U.S. or Canadian number. There is also a direct dial number, so incoming calls go to a general number to be dispersed throughout the team.

Zoom does the math for you and determines the best value is the US & Canada Unlimited plan if you have outbound calls that average more than eight minutes. If they are shorter calls, then the US & Canada Metered plan is the best value.

Learn more: Read our full Zoom Phone review.

Who should use it:

Businesses looking to host video conferencing will get a lot out of Zoom’s features.

Ooma Office packs a lot of features in its starting plan, which includes a virtual receptionist, call part, ring groups and call forwarding. It offers one toll-free number in its baseline Essentials plan available for $19.95 per user, per month. This plan also features music on hold, a digital fax, a mobile app and email audio attachments. Users can take advantage of distinct ringtones and utilize three-way calling. There is call blocking and an intercom to make interoffice communications more efficient.

The most popular plan is the Pro plan, which costs $24.95 per user, per month. This plan has everything that the Essentials plan offers, plus adds a desktop app, text messaging, videoconferencing and call recording. It gives users more control with enhanced call blocking. Users can also take advantage of voice mail transcription for convenience. There is a dynamic caller ID and the system integrates with Google and Microsoft 365. Management has access to analytics and can review teams with a user leaderboard.

Ooma Office says its best-valued plan is the Pro Plus plan, available for $29.95 per user, per month. This plan offers everything that the Pro plan has and more, which includes call queuing, Salesforce integration and Microsoft Dynamics 365 integration. There is advanced call management and meeting recordings. Users can take advantage of hot desking so the phone rings where it is going to be answered quickly. Additionally, users can take advantage of call screening and digital call deflection to become more efficient throughout the day.

Learn more: Read our full Ooma Office review.

Who should use it:

Ooma Office is a great solution for a business that needs a toll-free number and wants it included in the price of the plan.