Buyer guide, Comparison · 12 min read
Dialpad vs Quo, RingCentral, Grasshopper, Nextiva, 8x8 and CallRoute: head to head
By the CallRoute team · · Updated
If you are searching for Dialpad vs one particular rival, you are probably down to two or three names. This page puts every big pairing in one place so you can see them against each other, not just against Dialpad. Each pair ends with a plain verdict: pick Dialpad if, pick the other if. CallRoute is in the table as one more option, and gets its own short section at the end. Prices were checked on November 3, 2026.
All of them in one table
| Provider | Per user, monthly / yearly | Seat minimum | US/CA calling | AI answering | Apps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dialpad Connect | $27 / $15 Standard, $35 / $25 Pro | None, 3 on Pro | Sold as unlimited | Resolve, $1.99 per voice conversation | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, desk phones |
| Quo (formerly OpenPhone) | $19 / $15 Starter, $33 / $23 Business | None published | Sold as unlimited, fair use | Sona, about 10 free calls, then packs | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows |
| RingCentral RingEX | $30 / $20 Core, $35 / $25 Advanced | None published | Included in plan | AI Receptionist from $39 a month with 100 minutes, then $0.50 a minute | Web, mobile, desktop, desk phones |
| Grasshopper | From $14 per account | Per account | Forwarded to your phones | Not a core feature | Mobile and desktop apps |
| Nextiva | From $15 | Not published | Check plan details | XBert, $99 for 100 conversations | Web, mobile, desktop, desk phones |
| 8x8 | Quote | Through sales | Check plan details | Through sales | Web, mobile, desktop, desk phones |
| Aircall | $38 / $30 Essentials | 3 licenses | Check plan details | 50 minutes, then $0.29 a minute | Web, mobile, desktop |
| Zoom Phone | $18 / $16 | None published | Included in plan | Sold separately | Zoom apps, desk phones |
| CallRoute | $32 Business, $49 Business Plus, monthly only | None | 200 or 400 minutes per user, then $0.04 | $0.25 a minute, 30 minutes per user on Business Plus | Web and Android, iPhone app on the way |
Prices as published on November 3, 2026. Plans and app lists change, so confirm on each provider's site. Product names are trademarks of their owners.
Dialpad vs Quo (formerly OpenPhone)
These two are the closest match in this list. Both sell a modern phone app with calling, texting and AI. Dialpad Standard is $27 monthly or $15 yearly, Quo Business is $33 monthly or $23 yearly, and Quo Starter is $19 or $15. Dialpad puts recording, live transcripts and AI Recaps on every plan; Quo keeps automatic recording and AI summaries for Business and up. Quo includes Sona with about 10 free calls a month and then sells credit packs, while Dialpad bills its Resolve agents at $1.99 per voice conversation.
- Pick Dialpad if you want live transcripts and coaching during calls, video meetings in the same app, desk phones, or numbers outside the US and Canada.
- Pick Quo if your team lives in a shared text and call inbox, you want AI answering without a sales call, and US and Canadian numbers are enough.
More detail: CallRoute vs Quo and CallRoute vs Dialpad.
Dialpad vs Grasshopper
Different tools for different stages. Grasshopper gives you a business number, extensions and a simple auto attendant, and forwards calls to the phones you already carry. It is priced per account, advertised from $14 a month. Dialpad is a full phone system priced per user, with apps, recording, AI summaries and departments.
- Pick Dialpad if you have a team, want recordings and AI summaries, or need calls to ring an app rather than a personal cell.
- Pick Grasshopper if you are a solo owner or a tiny office that mainly needs a second number forwarded to your phone.
Moving off a forwarding setup? Read CallRoute vs Grasshopper.
Dialpad vs Nextiva
Both are broad platforms. Nextiva lists NEXT Core from $15 per user per month and sells phone, video, messaging and contact center tools from one vendor, usually after a demo. Its XBert AI is $99 a month for 100 conversations or $1.50 per conversation. Dialpad publishes its Connect prices and offers a self serve 14 day trial.
- Pick Dialpad if you want to try before you talk to sales, and AI transcripts and recaps on every plan.
- Pick Nextiva if you want a contact center and phone system bought together, with a guided rollout.
See CallRoute vs Nextiva.
Dialpad vs 8x8
8x8 is enterprise communications and contact center software, mostly sold through quotes. Dialpad also has an Enterprise tier with a 100 user minimum, but most of its plans are self serve with published prices. Both offer desk phones, video and contact center products.
- Pick Dialpad if you want published prices and AI built into the base phone plans.
- Pick 8x8 if you are a larger organization that wants to negotiate a contract covering phones and contact center across many sites.
See CallRoute vs 8x8.
Dialpad vs RingCentral
The two big names in cloud phones. RingCentral RingEX is $30, $35 and $45 per user per month billed monthly, or $20, $25 and $35 yearly. Dialpad Connect is a few dollars cheaper at each step. RingCentral has the longer hardware and integration history, and sells its AI Receptionist as an add-on from $39 a month. Dialpad leads with AI on every call and its own language model.
- Pick Dialpad if AI transcripts, recaps and live coaching matter most and you want a lower seat price.
- Pick RingCentral if you need deep desk phone support, many sites, or a very long list of integrations from one established vendor.
Dialpad vs Aircall
Aircall is built for sales and support desks, at $38 or $63 per user per month billed monthly, or $30 and $50 yearly, with a three license minimum. It includes 50 AI Voice Agent minutes a month, then $0.29 a minute. Dialpad Connect is cheaper for a general office, and Dialpad Sell competes with Aircall for sales floors.
- Pick Dialpad if you need one phone system for the whole company, not only the desk.
- Pick Aircall if your team works in queues inside a CRM and you value its integration marketplace.
See CallRoute vs Aircall.
Dialpad vs Zoom Phone
Zoom Phone's US and Canada calling plan is $18 per user per month, or $16 yearly, and Zoom's AI Companion is included. Dialpad Standard yearly is a little cheaper, and it includes its own meetings for up to 10 people.
- Pick Dialpad if the phone is the main tool and meetings are a side need.
- Pick Zoom Phone if your company already runs on Zoom and wants calls in the same app.
Where CallRoute fits
CallRoute is 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 seat minimum. Both plans include call recording with AI transcripts and summaries, a phone menu with business hours, extensions and departments with their own admin, main line and wallet. The AI receptionist is $0.25 per minute, with 30 minutes per user included on Business Plus, and Business Plus adds WhatsApp, the team inbox, Slack, HubSpot and the API.
- Pick CallRoute if you want AI answering priced by the minute, departments without a cap on any plan, WhatsApp next to calls and texts, UK or Australian numbers, or live call translation in 33 languages.
- Pick one of the others if you want the lowest seat price, calling sold as unlimited, a transcript on screen during calls, spam call labels, video meetings, desk phones, Mac and Windows apps, or a yearly plan. CallRoute has none of those today.
Next steps
For the full list of options, read the best Dialpad alternatives. For costs, see Dialpad pricing explained. Every side by side is on the compare page, and you can check our pricing or start a free trial.