8x8 vs Openphone: Which one is the best for your business?

October 10, 2023
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Explore the showdown: 8x8 vs. OpenPhone. Determine the best communication solution for your business. Let the battle unfold!

Presenting 8x8: Redefining business communication through cloud services. Centralize voice, video, text on one platform. Benefit from unlimited calling, team messaging, call monitoring, analytics. Choose from 3 business communication plans and 3 contact center options.

And now, making their entrance on the opposing side... OpenPhone! Experience the future of communication with this all-in-one phone system that effortlessly merges calls, texts, and contact management in one app. Discover perks such as call recording, voicemail transcription, and seamless CRM integration.

Compare 8x8 and Openphone plans and features

How many users do you need?

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8x8 OpenPhone
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Price for users /month /month
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Cost difference widens with 8x8 and OpenPhone plan upgrades

The X2 plan costs subscribers $28 per user per month. This is inclusive of unlimited calling to 14 countries and several more features such as hot desking, voicemail transcriptions and call queueing.

An X4 subscription gives businesses access to unlimited calling in 48 countries. The monthly subscription fee is $57 per user. This is also inclusive of other premium features such as CRM integrations, call monitoring and supervisor analytics.
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The difference between OpenPhone and 8x8 pricing becomes more apparent with upgraded plans.

The OpenPhone Standard plan subscription includes unlimited calling across the USA and Canada for $17 per user per month. The plan also includes other communication features such as call recording, shared contacts and more.

With a subscription fee of $25 per user per month, the OpenPhone Premium plan is an upgrade from the Standard plan. In addition to the Standard plan features, it includes IVR-based call routing, group calling, call analytics and many more exclusive features. It is also easier to integrate with other apps.
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A step-by-step comparison between 8x8 and Openphone

To help you find what solution fits best your need between Zoom Phone and Ringcentral, we have conducted an unbiased comparison based on 8 criterias:
#1 Manage your office calls : How will you handle calls while at the office? Can you use computer-based calls or do you require an office phone?
#2 Manage your calls on the go: Does it offer a mobile app with VoIP calls? Do you need to set up call forwarding to your mobile device?
#3 Auto-attendant : Can you easily distribute calls to your team?
#4 Greetings Management : Can you set up company greetings on your own? How easy is it to create and manage announcements?
#5 Call Tracking : How easy is it to monitor your business calls?
#6 Call recording : Can you record and listen to calls?
#7 Call billing : How much does it cost to make and receive calls? Is everything included?
#8 Activation : How easy is it to activate a phone number and set up your phone system?
COMPARE
  • Manage Your Office Calls
  • Manage Your Calls On The Go
  • Auto-attendant
  • Greetings Management
  • Call Tracking
  • Call recording
  • Call billing
  • Activation

#1 Manage Your Office Calls

Missing deskphone supports puts 8x8 ahead of OpenPhone

Office interface options for 8x8 include a web browser, desktop apps and a deskphone.

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8x8 and OpenPhone have similar access points.

OpenPhone users can make and receive calls from a desktop application for Windows and MAC devices or a web browser.

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#2 Manage Your Calls On The Go

Assured connectivity on the go with 8x8 and OpenPhone

8x8 services can be accessed through smartphone apps for Android and iOS devices.

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8x8 and OpenPhone subscribers can make and receive calls through a smartphone app for Android and iOS devices.

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#3 Auto-attendant

8x8 Automated receptionist versus OpenPhone IVR for incoming call routing

8x8 subscribers can customize menus for an auto attendant to route all incoming calls. With both the X2 and X4 plans, users can customize multi-level menus to give customers faster query resolutions and better brand interaction experiences.

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While 8x8 relies on auto attendants, subscribing to any OpenPhone plan gives you access to basic IVR features to route incoming calls to incoming/external numbers. The Premium plan routes calls to these numbers or voicemail. If the caller does not take action, the Standard plan IVR menu will be repeated but in the case of the Premium plan, administrators can choose one of 7 actions to be taken.

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#4 Greetings Management

Customized message recording options from both 8x8 and OpenPhone

Business subscribers with admin access can set up custom greetings for all incoming calls.

Step 1. Select Auto Attendants from the Admin console.

Step 2. Click on edit (pencil icon).

Step 3. Choose between Weekdays/ Holidays/ Alternate and Open Hours Menu/ Closed Hours Menu/ Lunch Hours Menu.

Step 4. Select the Create Audio Files button. You can upload a prerecorded message or call to record a new message through your phone.

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Customized greetings are a common feature included in 8x8 and OpenPhone plans.

OpenPhone subscribers can customize voicemail greetings from the desktop/mobile app.

Step 1: Sign in as admin.

Step 2: Go to My Phone Numbers and pick a number.

Step 3: Select change from the Voicemail section.

Step 4: Upload a recorded greeting or type the text for your greeting and choose the text to speech option.

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#5 Call Tracking

Expansive call management options make 8x8 preferable

Subscribing to the X2 plan gives team supervisors can monitor calls. They can see status updates as to when their agents are available to take a call, when they are busy and when they are unavailable. They can also prioritize call follow-ups by reading voicemail transcripts from their email inboxes. In addition, they can control participant mics and cameras during audio/video conferences.

In addition to the reports available with the Express and X2 plans, the X4 plan gives supervisors access to advanced call analytical reports and live call monitoring capabilities. Team supervisors can listen to calls, whisper to agents without the other call participant’s knowledge, join a call or take over calls from agents.

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When it comes to call monitoring, OpenPhone is at a disadvantage compared to 8x8.

With OpenPhone, admin users can view activity across all phone numbers and user accounts and create message templates for call, voicemail and text responses. Agents can customize these templates and shorten their response time. Messages can also be customized and scheduled for delivery at slated times.

Upgrading to the Premium account gives people in admin roles access to reports on account usage for easier analytics. This plan also allows users to redirect calls to internal or external phone numbers.

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#6 Call Recording

Inclusion of call recording features in OpenPhone starter plan puts it ahead of 8x8

All calls made and received by X2 and X4 subscribers can be recorded and assessed later for compliance and quality control.

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Unlike 8x8, OpenPhone subscribers do not have to upgrade to access call recording.

Businesses subscribing to an OpenPhone plan can automate or manually control incoming and outgoing call recording.

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#7 Call Billing

International call billing on actual usage for both service providers

All 8x8 plans are inclusive of unlimited calls to certain destinations. Voice calls to other destinations are billed at a per minute rate. The billing rate for each country is different. For example, calls to Sweden are charged a $0.03 per minute rate while calls to Norway are charged a $0.04 per minute rate.

As with 8x8, international calls to numbers outside the USA and Canada by OpenPhone subscribers are billed at a per minute rate. This depends on the location and type of phone number. For example, calls to Beijing are billed at $0.04 per minute while calls to Chinese mobile numbers are billed at $0.11 per minute.

#8 Activation

At par ease of online registration for 8x8 and OpenPhone

After browsing through the plans, you can create an 8x8 account on the 8x8 website. You can register using a valid email address. You can then define user rules and customize operational hours, etc. 8x8 services can be accessed through the web browser or through free apps for all smartphone, laptop and desktop devices. These services are also available through IP desk phones.

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8x8 and OpenPhone both have easy account setup processes.

Once you have chosen a plan, you can set up an OpenPhone account online. You need a current email address for this. You can sign in to the dashboard as an admin and define user roles. Agents can choose to handle calls through desktop and smartphone apps or a web browser.

phone system for small business