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

October 10, 2023
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Brace yourself for a clash of features: 8x8 vs. Vonage. Discover the best phone system for your business. Let the duel unfold!

Introducing 8x8: Revolutionizing business communication with cloud services. Unify voice, video, and text on one platform. Enjoy unlimited calling, team messaging, call monitoring, and analytics. Choose from 3 business communication plans and 3 contact center options.

And now, making their entrance on the opposing side, Vonage. Their cloud-driven platform melds voice, video, and text in 40+ features, enhancing global bonds and streamlining remote teamwork. Uncover contact center solutions and customizable APIs through three tailored plans.

Compare 8x8 and Vonage plans and features

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Budget-friendly starter plans from 8x8 put it ahead of Vonage

The 8x8 X2 plan for $28 per user per month gives subscribers access to all the basic calling features as well as hot desking, voicemail transcriptions and call queues. 8x8’s most advanced business communication plan, the X4 is priced at $57 per user per month. It includes unlimited calling to numbers in 48 countries as well as advanced features like call monitoring, supervisor analytics and CRM integrations.
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Subscription rates for 8x8 plans have a wider range as compared to Vonage. In addition to all the standard features, the Vonage Mobile plan includes unlimited calling within the USA. This is priced at $19.99 per line per month. Paying a user license fee of $29.99 per month gives businesses a monthly subscription to the Premium plan. This plan includes all the features of the Mobile plan as well as advanced features like unlimited meetings with up to 100 participants and CRM integration. An Advanced plan subscription gives businesses access to exclusive features like group calls and on-demand call recording as well as all the Premium plan features. This is priced at $39.99 per line per month.
phone system for small business

A step-by-step comparison between 8x8 and Vonage

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

Easy accessibility options for 8x8 and Vonage service users

You can log in to your 8x8 account to make and receive calls from the web, a desktop app or IP deskphone.

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In the case of both 8x8 and Vonage, smartphone and desktop apps can be used to make and receive calls. The Premium and Advanced plan also includes access through IP desk phones.

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#2 Manage Your Calls On The Go

Seamless mobile connectivity with both 8x8 and Vonage

8x8 users can make and receive calls through a free app for Android and iOS devices.

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Like 8x8, Vonage subscribers can make and receive calls through smartphone apps.

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#3 Auto-attendant

Not just cheaper, 8x8 starter plans also include call routing

The X2 and X4 plans gives you the added benefit of multi-level attendant menus. Call flows can be established based on location, customer size and other rules.

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8x8 and Vonage both route incoming calls but take a different approach to it. A virtual receptionist service is included in all Vonage plans. In addition, Premium and Advanced plan subscribers can set up a multi-level auto attendant.

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#4 Greetings Management

Both VoIP service providers offer options to customize greetings

8x8 subscribers can greet callers with custom messages. This can be set up by account admins. Step 1. Select Auto Attendants from the admin console. Step 2. Click on the edit icon and choose the right day from the call handling menu. Step 3. Select the appropriate hours for the message. Step 4. Click Create Audio Files and choose between recording or uploading a new greeting. Account admins can record or upload customized greetings for incoming calls.

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8x8 and Vonage offer similar options for greeting customization. You can customize greetings for all incoming calls from the admin dashboard. Step 1: Click on "phone system" and navigate to the relevant feature. Step 2: Record a new greeting or upload a recorded message.

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#5 Call Tracking

Wider range of call management options puts 8x8 ahead of Vonage

Supervisors of teams using the X2 plan services can monitor agents through status reports to know when they are free, busy and unavailable. They can also read voicemail transcripts to get an idea of call quality and prioritize responses. If the subscribers participate in audio or video conference calls, supervisors can exercise advanced moderator controls to keep the call flowing smoothly. Upgrading to the X4 plans gives team supervisors access to all the Express and X2 features as well as live call monitoring capabilities. Supervisors can listen to live calls, coach agents through query resolution without the other call participant’s knowledge, join a call and take over the call if required. They also get access to reports on advanced call analytics.

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The difference between call monitoring features for 8x8 and Vonage becomes apparent in the advanced plans. The Vonage dashboard gives subscribers real-time insights into account statuses and call logs. This includes identifying caller ID information and call durations. You can see which extensions are available to take a call, which are busy and which are otherwise unavailable. Supervisors can also use the call conferencing feature to have three-way conversations between themselves, an agent and a customer. In addition, voicemail transcriptions are accessible through email for easy response prioritization.

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#6 Call Recording

Call recording capability limited to upgraded plans for both 8x8 and Vonage

Call recording is available only to X2 and X4 plan subscribers. These recordings can be stored on the 8x8 cloud, a dropbox account or your desktop.

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While both 8x8 and Vonage don't include call recording in their starter plans, Vonage does provide add-on packs. The ability to record calls is included only in the Advanced plan. Subscribers can record up to 15 hours of conversation. Mobile and Premium plan subscribers can get an add-on call recording pack if required.

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#7 Call Billing

Requirement for add on international calling packs puts Vonage at a disadvantage

Calls to certain countries are included in 8x8 plans. Calls to other countries are billed on a per minute rate. For example, calls to India are billed at a $0.06 per minute rate while calls to Sudan are billed at a $0.25 per minute rate.

Like 8x8, Vonage includes unlimited calls to the USA and Canada in its plans. To make international calls, Vonage subscribers require an international calling add-on pack. These are grouped by location and include 1000 to 100000 call minutes.

#8 Activation

Easy registration options from 8x8 and Vonage

Subscribers can use their email address to create 8x8 accounts on the website. Once an account has been created, user roles and other customizations can be defined. You can also do this through the 8x8 application for desktops and smartphones. These applications are free to download. If you prefer using a deskphone, you can see the supported devices on the 8x8 website.

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Businesses can create an account with Vonage online as they do with 8x8. Vonage accounts can be activated at the time of creating the account or at any time within 45 days of account creation. People with admin access can define user roles, extensions, etc. from the Vonage dashboard. Once the account is activated, services can be accessed by smartphone or desktop apps. Premium and Advanced plan subscribers also have the option of accessing services through IP desk phones. If you do not have a deskphone, the same can be purchased online from the Vonage website.

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All prices indicated are before tax and all information has been taken from the websites of the companies concerned as of 10/10/2023

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