Is Aircall leaving gaps in your communication strategy? Perhaps you’re struggling with limited integrations, missing key features, or facing challenges with call quality.
Don’t settle for “good enough.” This guide cuts through the crowd and breaks down the best Aircall alternatives. We’ll discuss each competitor’s key features, strengths, weaknesses, pricing, and more, so you can make confident decisions, upgrade your business communications, and achieve better efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Why Businesses Choose Aircall
Aircall is popular for a reason. It offers compelling features, ease of use, and affordability that appeal to many businesses, especially those starting out or with smaller teams. Here’s a closer look at what makes Aircall attractive:
- User-friendly interface: Aircall is known for its intuitive design, making it easy for teams to get up and running quickly with minimal training.
- Solid core features: It covers essential communication needs with features like call routing, interactive voice response (IVR), voicemail, call recording, and basic analytics.
- Integrations with popular tools: Aircall connects with popular CRMs like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive, streamlining workflows and centralizing customer data.
- Affordable pricing: Aircall’s pricing plans are competitive, making it accessible to businesses with tighter budgets.
- Good for small teams: Aircall’s features and pricing suit small to medium-sized businesses with basic communication needs.
However, as your business grows and your needs change, Aircall may reach its limits. The search for alternatives becomes unavoidable.
Why You Should Consider an Aircall Alternative
If you’re finding yourself bumping up against Aircall’s limitations, it’s time to consider an alternative. Here are some common reasons why businesses look for alternatives to Aircall:
Limited advanced features
While Aircall offers standard features like call forwarding and hold, it lacks advanced controls in other business phone systems. It’s missing features like call barging, whisper coaching, and quality assurance options to effectively manage complex call scenarios or provide real-time support to your team.
Aircall’s built-in analytics dashboard provides basic call metrics, but may not be sufficient for data-driven insights. You need to purchase their top plan to get advanced and detailed analytics. It still lacks detailed data, custom reporting tools, or integration with advanced analytics tools to get you deeper insights into call patterns, agent performance, and customer behavior.
The lack of dedicated workforce management features like call forecasting, agent scheduling, and performance monitoring, obstructs optimizing your team’s productivity even further.
Integration constraints
If you rely on other business applications like help desk software, marketing automation platforms, or e-commerce platforms, Aircall’s integration options come across as limited. You don’t want data silos, manual data entry, and inefficient workflows.
Its native CRM features aren’t as strong as other unified communications platforms. Even with supported integrations, the setup process or data synchronization isn’t always as smooth as expected, resulting in implementation delays and requiring additional technical expertise. One G2 reviewer mentions limited customizability with integrations.
“There are limitations to the customizability of integrations, and I particularly dislike that they have two Salesforce integration versions, which prevent us from using the product for sales engagement. The Zapier actions available are also weak.”
Call quality concerns
Some users report occasional issues with call quality, such as dropped calls, latency, or poor audio. If reliable communication is critical for your business, these issues are dealbreakers.
Pricing that doesn’t scale
As your team grows, Aircall’s pricing structure becomes less competitive.
For example, a team of 50 with Aircall’s “Professional” plan could be looking at $50 per user/month (billed annually), totaling $2,500, while a comparable plan with Nextiva might come in under $1,500.
The lower-tier plans have a cap on the number of users and minutes included. A larger business will have to upgrade to a more expensive plan. Some advanced features or integrations are available as add-ons at an additional cost, increasing the overall cost.
It’s not worthwhile to pay for features you don’t fully use, especially if you have more specific or complex needs. Some pricing details for features such as outgoing domestic phone calls are not explicitly available on the website. You’ll have to contact Aircall to find out more and it’s difficult to compare the rates and make a decision at a glance.
Customer support challenges
Aircall might not offer 24/7 support or have limited availability of preferred communication channels. Getting timely assistance can get tricky.
One user on Trustpilot reported long wait times when contacting a support agent.
The quality of support interactions can also vary, with some users on G2 reporting unhelpful answers or unresolved issues.
“Customer service is frustrating at times. Often, I’m sent an article to troubleshoot a problem. The ticketing system can be confusing as the type of problem isn’t always clear so it’s hard to submit a ticket. Calls aren’t always “crisp” and lots of calls drop. Our users weren’t taken care of by person but just by multiple “articles” being sent to us over and over again.”
Slow response times can cause uncertainty and affect your confidence in Aircall’s ability to address timely concerns.
When exploring alternatives to Aircall, it’s all about finding the right solution for your business model and priorities. If you’re experiencing any of these limitations, it’s time to find out what else is out there.
Top 10 Aircall Alternatives To Try
The following table quickly compares the popular Aircall competitors. Use it as a starting point to inform your research. (12 companies included. Slide right to see more).
Feature | Nextiva | Grasshopper | OpenPhone | Dialpad | RingCentral | Zoom Phone | Phone.com | GoTo Connect | 8×8 | OnSIP | Ooma Office | Twilio Flex |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Strength | Unified customer experience management | Cost-effectiveness | Mobile app | AI-powered coaching | Unified Communications | Zoom integrations | Affordability | Unified Communications | Enterprise-grade features | Flexibility | User-friendly interface for small teams | Customizable contact center |
Starting price | $20 | $14 | $15 | $15 | $20 | $10 | Usage-based from $12.99/month | Contact for quote | Contact for quote | $18.95 (minimum 5 users) | $19.95 | $1/user/hour |
Ideal for | Growing businesses, remote teams | Solopreneurs, micro-businesses | Mobile-heavy teams, startups | Sales teams, remote call centers | Enterprises and large businesses | Companies already using Zoom | Price-conscious businesses, startups | SMBs needing unified communication | Larger businesses, international companies | Businesses wanting to retain existing numbers | Small businesses, ease of use prioritized | Businesses with specific workflow needs, developers |
Calling features | Extensive: IVR, automatic call distribution (ACD), call routing, etc. | Basic call forwarding, routing | Call forwarding, IVR, shared numbers | AI-powered routing, call queues | Advanced call handling, IVR, call queues | Basic call handling, call forwarding | Call forwarding, IVR, call queues | Call center features, call routing | Advanced call routing, monitoring | Call routing, IVR, call queues | Call blocking, ring groups | Highly customizable routing, IVR |
Mobile app | ✅ (NextivaONE app) | ✅ | ✅ (Core focus) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Video calling | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (Integrated) | ✅ (Core integration) | ✅ | ✅ (Integrated) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Can be integrated |
Team chat | ✅ (Within NextivaONE) | ❌ | Limited | ✅ | ✅ (Integrated) | ✅ (Integrated with Zoom Chat) | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | Limited | ✅ (Pro Plus plan) | Can be integrated |
SMS/MMS | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Limited | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (Pro Plus plan) | ✅ |
CRM integrations | Built-in with popular CRMs | ❌ | HubSpot, Salesforce | Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho | Built-in CRM, integrations | Integrates with some CRMs | Zoho, Zapier integrations | Integrations available | Integrations available | Limited | Limited | Extensive, customizable |
AI features | AI voicemail transcription | ❌ | AI call summaries | AI-powered call coaching, sentiment analysis | Some AI capabilities in UCaaS | AI Companion for Zoom Phone | AI Connect add-on | AI call summaries | Some AI capabilities | ❌ | ❌ | Can be integrated |
Analytics & reporting | Advanced call analytics | Basic | Basic | Real-time analytics | Extensive reporting tools | Basic usage reporting | Call analytics (Pro plan) | Call center analytics | Real-time and historical reporting | Basic call logs | Limited | Customizable reporting |
Customer support | Highly rated | Mixed reviews | Generally positive | 24/7 support (Pro plan) | 24/7 support | Varied support options | Support available | Support available | Support available | Support available | Support available | Developer-focused support |
Here’s a deep dive into each:
1. Nextiva
Nextiva is a unified communications powerhouse known for its reliability, excellent call quality, and vast feature set (over 40 standard and advanced options). It’s highly rated for ease of use and customer support.
Top features: Advanced call analytics, screen pops with customer details, the NextivaONE app for unified communication, customizable auto attendants, and built-in CRM integrations.
Pricing: Nextiva offers feature-packed plans that match small business budgets. The tiers (billed annually) include:
- Core at $30/user/month: Unlimited voice and video calling, business SMS, AI voicemail transcription, video meetings, and smart call routing options.
- Engage at $40/user/month: Adds a chatbot and inbound call center software, plus toll-free numbers & minutes, advanced reporting, voice call recording, and MS Teams integration.
- Power Suite at $60/user/month: Adds intelligent routing, a unified team interface, a supervisor dashboard.
Why it’s a good Aircall alternative: Nextiva surpasses Aircall in terms of features and value, especially for growing teams. Its extensive feature set, strong customer support team, and focus on unified communications make it a better choice for businesses that need more than just a basic phone system.
Best for: Growing businesses, remote teams, and those who prioritize a balance of features, reliability, and support.
2. Grasshopper
Grasshopper is a budget-friendly option ideal for solopreneurs and small teams. It integrates your business line with your personal cell phone, offering features like vanity numbers and custom greetings.
Top features: Vanity numbers, custom greetings, virtual receptionist services, and mobile app accessibility.
Pricing: Grasshopper caters to small businesses with four feature-packed plans at affordable price points. The tiers differ based on the number of users, business numbers, and extensions supported:
- True Solo: For a single-person business, it includes 1 phone number for $14 per month billed annually.
- Solo Plus: For a business with multiple users, it includes 1 phone number for $25 per month billed annually. You can add additional users to your account for free.
- Small Business: For businesses that need flexibility and customization and include 4 phone numbers for $55 per month billed annually. You can add additional users to your account for free.
Why it’s a good Aircall alternative: If you’re a solopreneur or a very small team on a tight budget, Grasshopper provides a more cost-effective solution than Aircall, especially if you primarily use your mobile phones.
Best for: Solopreneurs, budget-conscious small businesses.
3. OpenPhone
OpenPhone is a mobile-first business phone system designed for startups and small businesses. It allows you to add a business line to your existing device and offers features like a multi-channel inbox and call recording with transcriptions.
Top features: Shared phone numbers, multi-channel inbox for managing communication, call recording and transcription, and a user-friendly mobile app.
Pricing: OpenPhone offers three main pricing plans, each with optional features and add-ons:
- Starter: $15 per user, per month, billed annually. Includes one new local or toll-free phone number per user, voicemail transcripts, calling, and messaging to US and Canadian numbers.
- Business: $23 per user, per month, billed annually. All Starter features include group calling, custom ring orders, call transfers, AI call summaries and transcripts, HubSpot and Salesforce integrations, phone menus, analytics and reporting, and auto call recording.
- Enterprise: Custom contract and pricing, a dedicated account manager, priority support, and an audit log.
Why it’s a good Aircall alternative: OpenPhone is a great alternative to Aircall if you need a mobile-first solution with shared phone numbers and a strong focus on ease of use. Its pricing is also competitive for smaller teams.
Best for: Startups, small teams, and businesses needing a flexible, mobile-centric solution.
4. Dialpad
Dialpad stands out with its AI-powered features for call coaching and real-time analytics. It’s a great option for sales teams and remote call centers.
Top features: Real-time call transcription, AI-powered sentiment analysis, live agent coaching tools, and integrations with popular CRMs.
Pricing: Dialpad provides three main pricing tiers (billed annually):
- Standard Plan $15/user/month: Includes unlimited calling, voicemail transcription, real-time analytics, Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 integrations, SMS, MMS & team messaging, and up to 3 departments/ring groups.
- Pro Plan ($25/user/month): Includes all features of the Standard Plan, plus 24/7 live agent support, CRM integrations, open APIs, international SMS, up to 25 departments/ring groups, and more.
- Enterprise Plan (Contact Sales): Includes all features of the Pro Plan, plus unlimited office locations, unlimited departments/ring groups, priority live agent support, and more.
Why it’s a good Aircall alternative: If you’re looking for a data-driven approach to call center management, Dialpad’s AI-powered features give it an edge over Aircall. Its real-time analytics and coaching tools help you optimize agent performance and improve customer interactions.
Best for: Sales-driven organizations, remote teams, and businesses that want AI to improve call performance.
5. RingCentral
RingCentral is a UCaaS platform that combines team messaging, video conferencing, and a business phone system. It works for businesses of all sizes.
Top features: Integrated messaging and video meetings, robust call management features, a wide range of integrations, and strong mobile apps.
Pricing: RingCentral offers a variety of plans with different features and pricing tiers. The most basic plan starts at $20/user/month, while the most popular plan, which includes video conferencing and business SMS, starts at $35/user/month.
Why it’s a good Aircall alternative: RingCentral is a good option if you need a unified communication platform that provides a more complete solution than Aircall.
Best for: Large businesses needing advanced call management capabilities.
6. Zoom Phone
Zoom Phone extends the functionality of the popular Zoom platform by adding integrated business phone capabilities. It’s a natural choice for companies already using Zoom.
Top features: Seamless integration with Zoom meetings, unified call history, SMS messaging, and a user-friendly interface.
Pricing: Starts at $10/user/month. Zoom Phone offers “Metered,” “Unlimited,” and “Select” plans, each with varying levels of features and included minutes.
Why it’s a good Aircall alternative: If your business relies on Zoom for video conferencing, Zoom Phone provides an easy way to integrate your phone system with your existing workflow. It offers a user-friendly experience and tight integration with the Zoom ecosystem.
Best for: Businesses prioritizing video conferencing integration and smaller teams.
7. Phone.com
Phone.com prioritizes affordability and provides essential communication tools at a competitive price point. It’s a good option for budget-conscious businesses that don’t require a lot of bells and whistles.
Top features: Voice tagging, call queues, video conferencing, and fax support.
Pricing: Phone.com offers three pricing tiers:
- Basic at $12.74/user/month: Usage-based, includes 500 pooled minutes, one phone number per account, and video conferencing with 10 participants.
- Plus at $18.69/user/month: Unlimited minutes and text messaging, one phone number per user, and video meetings with 25 participants.
- Pro at $27.19/user/month: All features of Plus users, plus call recording, call analytics, and voicemail transcription.
Why it’s a good Aircall alternative: For businesses on a tight budget, Phone.com offers a more affordable alternative to Aircall if you have low to moderate call volumes. Its usage-based pricing is cost-effective for smaller teams.
Best for: Price-sensitive businesses, startups, and small teams with basic communication needs.
7. GoToConnect
GoTo Connect (formerly Jive) is another all-in-one communication suite that combines phone, meetings, and messaging in a single platform.
Top features: Call center software, hot desking, personal meeting rooms, and integration with other GoTo products.
Pricing: GoTo Connect offers a variety of communication features including phone services, video conferencing, messaging, and a contact center. No pricing is listed on the website, but a free trial is offered. Users can contact GoTo Connect for a quote.
Why it’s a good Aircall alternative: GoTo Connect is a strong contender if you’re looking for a unified communications platform with contact center capabilities. Integration with other GoTo products can be beneficial for companies already using their ecosystem.
Best for: Small to medium-sized businesses prioritizing team collaboration.
9. 8X8
8×8 offers a strong cloud-based phone system and communications platform with a focus on enterprise-grade features and global capabilities.
Top features: Real-time call monitoring, advanced call routing, global calling options, and integrations with popular business apps.
Pricing: 8×8 pricing requires custom quotes across five tiers:
- X2: Provides bundled voice, video, chat, global calling, meetings, SMS, and Microsoft Teams integration.
- X3: Builds on X2 with unlimited global calling to over 48 countries and administrative features.
- The X6, X7, and X8 contact center plans: Add omnichannel support, analytics, automation tools, and workforce optimization.
You need to speak to an 8×8 salesperson to get a pricing quote for these plans.
Why it’s a good Aircall alternative: If you need a business communications platform with advanced features, global capabilities, and contact center solutions, 8×8 is a strong alternative to Aircall.
Best for: Larger businesses, international companies, and those needing advanced contact center software.
10. OnSIP
OnSIP is a hosted VoIP provider that allows businesses to keep their existing phone numbers. The platform offers features like skill-based routing and video meetings, with pricing plans catering to different call volumes.
Top features: Skill-based routing, video conferencing, call recording, and a variety of add-on features.
Pricing: Onsip offers two main pricing plans:
- Unlimited: An all-in-one business phone system with free desk phones or headsets for $18.95 per month, per user, with a minimum of five users.
- Basic: Built for customers with a lower call volume and costs $49.95 per month, per account. Calling minutes are not included with the Starter plan.
Why it’s a good Aircall alternative: OnSIP is a good choice if you want to retain your existing phone numbers and need a customizable plan with flexible pricing. Its ability to add features à la carte gives you more control over your costs compared to Aircall.
Best for: Businesses wanting to retain their current numbers, those needing customizable plans, and companies with varying call volumes.
11. Ooma Office
Ooma Office is a user-friendly and cost-effective solution for small teams, focusing on ease of use and essential features.
Top features: Call blocking, conference calling, ring groups, and virtual fax.
Pricing: Ooma offers three straightforward pricing tiers:
- Ooma Office Essentials: Costs $19.95 per month per user and includes unlimited calling to the US, Canada, and Mexico, along with voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, and a free Ooma Telo Air device.
- Ooma Office Pro: Costs $24.95 per month per user and includes all the features of Ooma Office Essentials, plus international calling discounts, a toll-free number, and auto-attendant.
- Ooma Office Pro Plus: Costs $29.95 per month per user and includes all the features of Ooma Office Pro, plus 1,000 text messages per month and call recording.
Why it’s a good Aircall alternative: If you prioritize simplicity and affordability, Ooma Office is a good alternative to Aircall. It’s very user-friendly and offers a good selection of essential features at a competitive price.
Best for: Small businesses, those prioritizing ease of use, and teams that need a simple, affordable phone system.
12. Twilio Flex
Twilio Flex is a highly customizable contact center solution that allows developers to build tailored communication experiences.
Top features: Omnichannel communication, customizable interface, intelligent routing, and plenty of integrations.
Pricing: Twilio Flex pricing varies by user with 5000 free user hours and two pricing tiers:
- Per-hour pricing: $1 per user, per hour. Good for companies with part-time agents or those that experience seasonal traffic fluctuations.
- Per-user pricing: $150 per user, per month, for businesses with a predictable number of agents who will be using Flex for a full month.
Why it’s a good Aircall alternative: If you need a highly flexible and customizable contact center solution tailored to your specific needs, Twilio Flex offers a level of control that Aircall doesn’t. Its developer-friendly platform allows you to create unique communication workflows.
Best for: Businesses with specific workflow needs, developers, and companies looking for a highly adaptable contact center solution.
Choosing the Right Aircall Alternative
Selecting the right Aircall alternative requires considering more than just your business needs. Here’s a breakdown of key factors to assess:
- Business size and call volume: Your team size and the number of phone calls you handle daily will influence your feature requirements and scalability needs.
- Essential features: Identify the must-have features for your call center operations, such as advanced analytics, specific CRM integrations, or AI-powered call coaching.
- Budget: Compare pricing structures and choose a solution that aligns with your budget while providing the necessary features.
- Ease of use: Consider the user interface and onboarding process, ensuring a smooth transition for your team.
- Customer support: Assess the importance of readily available, responsive, and reliable customer support.
- Integration capabilities: Ensure the chosen alternative integrates seamlessly with your existing tech stack (CRM, helpdesk, etc.).
- Scalability: Prioritize solutions that can scale with your business as you grow.
- Security and Compliance: If you handle sensitive call data, prioritize providers with strong security measures and compliance certifications (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR).
- Call quality: Look for cloud phone systems with a reputation for reliable call quality and minimal downtime.
Don’t rush your decision. Request free trials or demos to get a hands-on feel for the platforms. Remember to compare features side by side and involve your team in the evaluation process.
Why Is Nextiva the Best Aircall Alternative?
The ideal communication solution strikes a balance between features, cost, ease of use, and scalability. It integrates with your existing workflow and drives your business forward. And Nextiva does just that.
Nextiva offers a slew of features — over 40 standard and advanced phone system features that can be customized to fit any call or contact center solution.
It’s also highly rated by users for ease of use, allowing you to set up complex call flows and routing in just minutes. Whenever questions arise, Nextiva’s amazing support team is ready to guide users through any aspect of the service.
However, features and support wouldn’t matter much without rock-solid reliability and security. Nextiva delivers both military-grade data centers and end-to-end encryption protecting every conversation.
Nextiva’s extensive features, ease of use, stellar support, and ironclad security, earned it the #1 spot as U.S. News’ top-rated business phone provider for two years straight.
Businesses seeking to take their phone connectivity to the next level need look no further.
Ready to take your phone system to the next level?
Check out Nextiva’s transparent pricing plans.
Note: Aircall, Grasshopper, OpenPhone, Dialpad, Phone.com, GoToConnect, 8×8, OnSIP, Ooma Office, and Zoom have no relationship with Nextiva, Inc. and are the registered trademarks of their respective owners.
FAQs
Aircall is a cloud-based phone system and call center software that helps businesses manage their phone calls, contacts, and customer interactions. It offers features like call routing, IVR, analytics, and integrations with popular CRMs.
While Aircall is a solid platform, competitors are attracting users by offering features that Aircall might lack, such as:
– More competitive pricing for larger teams.
– More advanced analytics and reporting.
– Stronger customer support.
– More robust integration capabilities with specific CRMs or other business tools.
– A greater focus on specific needs like mobile-first solutions or AI-powered features.
Yes, most VoIP providers, including Nextiva and many of the alternatives listed here, allow you to port your existing business phone numbers. This means you can keep your current numbers even if you switch to a new platform.
Nextiva offers several advantages over Aircall, including:
– More comprehensive features: Nextiva provides a wider range of features, including advanced call analytics, screen pops with customer details, a unified communications app, and more.
– Stronger customer support: Nextiva is known for its excellent customer support, with readily available and helpful representatives.
– Better value for money: Nextiva’s pricing is competitive, and its features provides more value, especially for growing teams.
– Unified platform: Nextiva goes beyond basic calling features by integrating phone, video, and messaging into a single platform.
Switching from Aircall to Nextiva is easy:
– Sign up for a Nextiva account: Choose the plan that best suits your needs.
– Port your numbers: Work with Nextiva to port your existing business phone numbers.
– Set up your system: Configure your Nextiva account with your preferred settings, call flows, and integrations.
– Train your team: Familiarize your team with the Nextiva platform and its features.
– Go live! Once everything is set up, you can start using Nextiva for your business communications.