Buyer guide, Alternatives · 13 min read
Best RingCentral alternatives: every big business phone system compared
By the CallRoute team ·
RingCentral is the incumbent in cloud business phones. Its RingEX plans put calling, team chat, video meetings and desk phones under one vendor, and it now sells three AI products on top. So why do teams search for a RingCentral alternative, often around renewal time? Usually because of fit: the best prices need a yearly term, Core includes 25 texts per user, a shared text inbox is a paid booster, AI answering and coaching are add-ons, and setup for two or more users goes through professional implementation. This guide covers every big alternative, fairly, with prices we checked on November 3, 2026.
What RingCentral is in 2026
RingCentral RingEX comes in three self serve plans, priced per user per month:
- Core, $30 billed monthly or $20 billed yearly, with US and Canadian calling sold as unlimited, 25 texts per user, on demand recording and video meetings for 300 people.
- Advanced, $35 or $25, adding CRM integrations, multi site setup, core reporting and 100 texts per user.
- Ultra, $45 or $35, adding historical and real time insights, unlimited storage, Webinar and 200 texts per user.
Above 100 users, and for its AI Customer Engagement Bundle, RingCentral quotes through sales. The AI line has three names: the AI Virtual Assistant (live notes, summaries and an AI writer) is included on every plan, AI Receptionist is an add-on from $39 a month with 100 minutes, and AI Conversation Expert (coaching, sentiment and call scoring) is an add-on from $60 per user. For the full breakdown, read RingCentral pricing explained.
RingCentral's real strengths are worth saying plainly: calling sold as unlimited within the US and Canada, certified desk phones, video meetings and webinars, Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace add-ins, hundreds of apps in its App Gallery, compliance programs that large buyers ask for, and a fast moving AI roadmap.
Why teams look elsewhere
- Yearly terms. The lowest prices need a yearly term, and review sites often mention auto renewal and notice windows. Read your own agreement for the exact terms.
- A small texting allowance. Core includes 25 texts per user. A shared text inbox with templates is the Business SMS Booster at $25.
- AI sold as add-ons. AI Receptionist, AI Conversation Expert and the Call Queues Booster all sit on top of the plan price.
- Setup. The pricing page lists professional implementation for two users and above.
- Billing and support themes. On Trustpilot, RingCentral held a TrustScore of 1.7 from 2,027 reviews when we checked on November 3, 2026, with cancellation, billing and reaching support among the common themes.
How we compared them
We looked at the price per user, monthly and yearly where published, the billing term, how much US and Canadian calling and texting is included, which plan includes recording and AI summaries, how AI answering is priced, desk phones and video, and whether you can try it first. Prices are what each provider published when we checked on November 3, 2026. Plans change, so confirm on each provider's pricing page before you decide.
The alternatives, one by one
Dialpad
The closest match on AI. Recording, live transcripts and AI Recaps come with every Connect plan. Standard is $27 and Pro $35 per user per month billed monthly, or $15 and $25 billed yearly, with a three seat minimum on Pro. Its Resolve AI agents cost $1.99 per voice conversation. Best for teams that want AI throughout the phone system and a big integration list. See CallRoute vs Dialpad.
Quo (formerly OpenPhone)
A clean business phone app for calling and texting, renamed from OpenPhone in 2025. Starter is $19, Business $33 and Scale $47 per user per month, or $15, $23 and $35 billed yearly. Calling and texting are sold as unlimited under fair use, and its Sona AI agent comes with about 10 free calls, then credit packs from $25. Best for teams that live in a shared inbox and want good mobile apps. See CallRoute vs Quo.
Nextiva
The most similar suite to RingCentral, with phone, video, messaging and contact center tools, listed from $15 per user per month on NEXT Core. Its XBert AI is $99 a month for 100 conversations or $1.50 per conversation. Sold with a demo rather than a self serve trial. See CallRoute vs Nextiva.
8x8
Enterprise communications and contact center software, sold mostly through its sales team, so expect a quote rather than a price list. Best for larger organizations with procurement, many sites and contact center needs. See CallRoute vs 8x8.
Zoom Phone
Calling inside the Zoom platform, with its US and Canada calling plan at $18 per user per month billed monthly or $16 billed yearly, and Zoom's AI Companion included. Best for teams that already run their meetings on Zoom and want the phone in the same app. See CallRoute vs Zoom Phone.
Vonage Business
A long running business phone service with mobile and desktop apps, listed from $19.99 per line per month. Best for teams that want a familiar provider with desk phone support. See CallRoute vs Vonage.
Aircall
Cloud phone software for sales and support desks, with a large integration marketplace. Essentials is $38 and Professional $63 per user per month billed monthly, or $30 and $50 billed yearly, with a three license minimum. It includes 50 AI Voice Agent minutes a month, then $0.29 a minute. Best for desks that live in queues and CRM workflows. See CallRoute vs Aircall.
JustCall
A cloud phone and texting tool for sales and support, with dialers and coaching. Team, Pro and Pro Plus are $29, $49 and $89 per user per month billed yearly, with a two seat minimum, and its AI Voice Agent starts at $0.15 a minute. See CallRoute vs JustCall.
KrispCall
A low cost cloud phone with numbers in more than 100 countries and bundled minutes. Starter is $15, Advance $40 and Max $60 per user per month billed monthly, or $12, $32 and $48 yearly, with user caps on the lower plans. Recording starts at Advance and AI summaries are an add-on. See CallRoute vs KrispCall and the best KrispCall alternatives.
Grasshopper
A virtual phone number that forwards calls to the phones you already have, priced per account and advertised from $14 a month. Best for a solo owner or a very small office that mainly needs a second number. See CallRoute vs Grasshopper.
Ooma Office
Known for desk phones and simple setup, from $19.95 per user per month. Best for offices that want physical phones without a big rollout. See CallRoute vs Ooma.
Google Voice
A phone add-on for Google Workspace at $10, $20 or $30 per user per month, with Starter capped at 10 users. You need a Workspace subscription first. Best for teams already on Workspace that need basic calling and texting. See CallRoute vs Google Voice and the best Google Voice alternatives.
CallRoute
A business phone with a number and extension for every teammate and one inbox for calls, texts and voicemail. Business is $32 and Business Plus $49 per user per month, billed monthly, with no contract, no seat minimum and no implementation call. Business includes 200 minutes and 250 texts per user and Business Plus 400 and 450, pooled across the team, then $0.04 a minute and $0.025 a text. Both plans include call recording with AI transcripts, summaries and action items, the inbox with templates, and departments with their own admin, main line and wallet. The AI receptionist is $0.25 per minute with no monthly fee, with 30 minutes per user included on Business Plus, and it takes messages in the caller's language. Business Plus adds WhatsApp, notes, mentions and assigning, Slack, HubSpot, GoHighLevel, the API and webhooks. You can also use live call translation in 33 languages and start with a 7 day free trial.
Where RingCentral is ahead: Core is cheaper on a yearly term at $20 per user, its US and Canadian calling is sold as unlimited while ours has allowances, and it has desk phones, video meetings, fax, call queues, monitor, whisper and barge, spam call controls, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce and a much longer app list. Its AI Receptionist routes callers, books into Google and Outlook calendars and can answer for other phone systems. CallRoute has no yearly price, its AI receptionist does not book or transfer calls yet, and its iPhone app is on the way. See CallRoute vs RingCentral.
Also worth a look
- CloudTalk, call center software priced in euros, from EUR 34 per user per month billed monthly. See vs CloudTalk.
- Talkroute, a virtual phone system priced per account. See vs Talkroute.
- GoTo Connect, MightyCall and CallHippo, other cloud phone providers with their own mix of plans. Check their current plans and support before you move a main line.
Side by side
| Provider | Entry price per user, monthly / yearly | Texts on the entry plan | AI answering |
|---|---|---|---|
| RingCentral RingEX | $30 / $20 | 25 per user | Add-on from $39 a month with 100 minutes, then $0.50 a minute |
| Dialpad Connect | $27 / $15 | Check the plan | Resolve, $1.99 per voice conversation |
| Quo (formerly OpenPhone) | $19 / $15 | Sold as unlimited, fair use | Sona, about 10 free calls, then packs from $25 |
| Nextiva | From $15 | Check the plan | XBert, $99 for 100 conversations |
| 8x8 | Quote | Through sales | Through sales |
| Zoom Phone | $18 / $16 | Check the plan | Sold separately as a virtual agent |
| Vonage Business | From $19.99 | Check the plan | Sold separately |
| Aircall | $38 / $30 | Check the plan | 50 minutes included, then $0.29 a minute |
| JustCall | Yearly from $29 | Check the plan | From $0.15 a minute |
| KrispCall | $15 / $12 | 100 per user | AI Voice Agent coming soon, custom pricing |
| Grasshopper | From $14 per account | Check the plan | Not a core feature |
| Google Voice | $10 with Workspace | Check the plan | No |
| CallRoute | $32, monthly only | 250 per user | $0.25 a minute, no monthly fee, 30 minutes per user on Business Plus |
Prices as published on November 3, 2026. Product names are trademarks of their owners.
How to leave RingCentral
- Read your agreement for the end date of your term and how much notice it needs to stop it renewing, so the move finishes in time.
- Sign up with the new provider and take a temporary number so your team can start right away.
- Get the account number from the billing area of the RingCentral admin portal, set a transfer PIN with RingCentral support, and download a recent invoice.
- Start the port with the new provider. Carriers usually accept a date at least 7 days out.
- Recreate your menus, hours, greetings and contacts while you wait, and plan for any rented desk phones.
- Cancel RingCentral only after each number shows as active with the new provider.
Our step by step guide for this move is at switch from RingCentral, and every other move is on the switch page. Side by side notes for each provider are on the compare page. Weighing other providers too? Read the best Dialpad alternatives and the best OpenPhone (Quo) alternatives. Then check pricing, the AI receptionist, or start a free trial.