10 Best Dialpad Alternatives & Competitors in 2026

Dialpad’s AI-centric approach has been quite well-received in shaping modern business telephony. However, for many businesses, the extra cost for AI features doesn’t make sense if they need a simple, reliable business phone system with good support. Given complex pricing structures and a steep learning curve, many users are looking for Dialpad alternatives.

If you’re looking for a user-friendly and cost-effective phone system that prioritizes human interaction over AI automation, you’ve come to the right place.

In this guide, we’ve ranked the top 10 Dialpad alternatives for 2026, breaking down their features, strengths, weaknesses, and pricing to help you find the optimal solution for your business needs.

Why Businesses Are Looking for Dialpad Alternatives

Before we look at Dialpad alternatives, it’s important to understand why customers are switching. Dialpad is known as an AI-powered workspace and can be a powerful tool for forward-thinking businesses with the necessary budget. However, many businesses experience discrepancies between Dialpad’s sticker prices and the actual benefits.

Here are the main reasons why growing businesses look for a Dialpad alternative:

1) AI features are not for everyone

Dialpad’s unique selling point is its voice intelligence (Vi), which enables live transcription and sentiment analysis. While impressive on paper, it comes with practical challenges:

• High bandwidth requirements: The always-on AI streams data continuously. For remote teams with fluctuating internet speeds, this can lead to stuttering, latency, and audio dropouts that don’t occur with a traditional VoIP service.
• Accuracy issues: Customers report that without a manually programmed company dictionary, the AI ​​struggles with industry jargon and accents. This results in inaccurate transcripts that distract employees rather than help them.
• The human factor: In sensitive industries (healthcare, legal, consulting), real-time AI-generated assessments can feel impersonal or intrusive, as efficiency metrics take precedence over genuine human interaction.

2) Critical security (SSO) is gated

This is a major obstacle for mid-sized businesses. Single Sign-On (SSO), essential for secure employee login via Okta, Azure & OneLogin, is exclusively available in the Enterprise version. The Enterprise version requires at least 100 seats. Businesses with 50 employees that need SSO for compliance reasons cannot get this solution.

3) Support access is tiered

At Dialpad, 24/7 phone support is reserved for Pro and Enterprise plans. Standard plan users can only access web chat and support tickets during business hours. Many Dialpad competitors offer 24/7 phone support across all plans, ensuring that help is available regardless of the chosen subscription.

4) Seat minimum requirements

The requirement to pay for a minimum number of licenses can be a deal-breaker for solopreneurs and small businesses.

• Dialpad Enterprise: 100-license minimum. Businesses with say 50 employees needing uptime guarantees (SLAs) will not find a plan tailored to their needs.
• Dialpad Pro: Requires a minimum of 3 users to unlock specific office or departmental features.

5) The add-on fee structure

While Dialpad offers competitive base rates, the final invoice includes line items that competitors bundle for free.

• Toll-free numbers: Incur a separate monthly lease fee plus per-minute charges.
• Internet fax: An add-on across plans that requires a separate paid license plus per-page usage fees.
• SMS limits: Unlimited plans don’t show a fair usage cap on SMS volume, compelling high-volume SMS users to purchase additional credit bundles.
• International caps: Global calling packages include a cap (usually around 1,500 minutes), after which standard rates apply.

6) Technical glitches and resolution times

User reviews on platforms like G2 and Capterra point to stability issues, such as the need to restart the app to resolve bugs and dropped calls, and delays. More importantly, the lack of immediate phone support for standard users experiencing such technical problems can lead to extended downtime, preventing teams from quickly resolving critical communication bottlenecks.

7) Slow customer support team

Some users have reported slow or unhelpful customer support experiences, particularly with complex issues. This can be frustrating for businesses needing quick resolutions. Users on G2 and Trustpilot have mentioned unresponsiveness and product issues, leading them to switch providers.

Best Dialpad Alternatives by Category

To mitigate Dialpad’s limitations, here’s a summary of the best Dialpad competitors to consider (by their respective strengths).

All-in-one UCaaS platforms (best for reliability)

• Nextiva: The price-performance winner. Best for businesses that need a unified communications platform (voice, video, customer service) with 24/7 phone support and no AI bloat.
• RingCentral: For complex integrations (over 300 apps) or global offices.
• 8×8: For unlimited international calling plans, ideal for multinational teams.
• GoTo Connect: For Microsoft Teams users who prefer a simple, visual drag-and-drop setup.

Video-first & app integrations

• Zoom Phone: Perfect if you already pay for Zoom Meetings and want to consolidate your bill into one interface.
• Vonage: Best if you have developers who want to build custom video/voice workflows via APIs.

Sales & support specialists

• Aircall: Designed for sales teams living in Salesforce or HubSpot who need a power dialer to hit targets.

Budget & simplicity (startups & solopreneurs)

• Quo (formerly OpenPhone): Offers a sleek interface and shared inboxes, best for startups and digital natives.
• Grasshopper: Best for solopreneurs who just want a business number forwarded to their personal cell phone.
• 3CX: Ideal for IT experts who want a free/cheap license and are willing to self-host the server.
• OnSIP: Best for seasonal businesses or small offices that prefer a pay-as-you-go model.

Top 10 Dialpad Alternatives & Competitors Compared

Need a quick answer? Here’s how the best Dialpad competitors stack up.

Provider	Starting price (annual)	Best for	Standout feature	Key AI capabilities	Support access
Nextiva	$15/user/mo	Small and mid-sized businesses	Unified CX platform	Voicemail with AI transcription, AI transcription and summarization,	24/7 phone, chat, email (all plans)
Quo (formerly OpenPhone)	$15/user/mo	Startups	Shared inbox	Sona AI agent, AI message responses, AI tags	Email (lower tier plans) Live chat and phone (higher tiers
Zoom Phone	$10/user/mo	Zoom users	Video meetings	AI Companion	Limited support options for lower tiers; Ticket, live chat, and phone support for premium Zoom apps
Aircall	$30/user/mo (Minimum 3 licenses)	Sales teams	CRM power dialer	AI transcripts, A voice agent	24/5 live chat, email, and phone; premium paid support
3CX	$350 (8 simultaneous calls)	IT experts	Budget DIY hosting	Transcription	Paid tickets
Grasshopper	$14/user/mo	Solopreneurs	Virtual number overlay	❌	24/7 phone, email, social media, and chat support
8×8	Custom quote	Global enterprises	Unmetered international calling	Speech analytics, AI-powered voicemail transcription	24/7 web case submission, live chat, and phone support
Vonage	$13.99/user/mo	Developers	Custom voice APIs	Paid add-on	24/7 chat and phone
GoTo Connect	Custom quote	Microsoft Teams users	Direct teams routing	AI chat analysis, AI call summaries	24/7 phone
OnSIP	$18.95/user/mo (Minimum 5 users)	Small teams	Pay-as-you-go option	❌	Email and phone during business hours; off-hours ticketing support

Here’s a deeper dive into the top Dialpad alternatives based on value, reliability, and how they address key issues Dialpad users face (such as access to support and AI bloat).

1) Nextiva: Best unified communications platform

Best for: Small and mid-sized businesses that need a unified customer experience (CX) platform.

If you’re looking for a cloud-based phone system that doesn’t require complicated configurations and unifies all your customer communication — whether by phone, video, email, chat, or even social media — on a unified platform, Nextiva is the best choice. While Dialpad is AI-heavy right off the bat, Nextiva focuses on delivering a unified customer experience with carefully crafted AI features that flexibly adapt to your needs.

Key features:

• Omnichannel support: Manage all communication channels in one place.
• Advanced reporting: Track key call metrics across all channels.
• Extensive integrations: Connect with popular CRMs and helpdesk solutions.
• Team collaboration: Built-in collaboration tools for team messaging, file sharing, and task management.
• Mobile-first: Powerful mobile apps for iOS and Android mirror the desktop experience.

Why choose Nextiva over Dialpad

Nextiva’s Core plan ($15/mo) is more feature-rich than Dialpad’s entry-level tier, offering superior reliability (99.999% uptime) and 24/7 customer support access. On top, Nextiva’s intuitive interface outshines Dialpad’s complex setup.

👉 Watch the video review 👇

Pricing:

With Nextiva, you get flexible plans tailored to meet your various business needs. The top plans are:

• Core ($15/user/mo): Unlimited calling, video meetings, and business SMS.
• Engage ($25/user/mo): Adds a toll-free number, 2,000 toll-free minutes, and advanced reporting.
• Power Suite CX ($75/user/mo): Includes AI transcription, omnichannel routing, and unlimited toll-free minutes.

Check out all of Nextiva’s pricing options ↗

The verdict: Switch to Nextiva if you want an intuitive and reliable communication platform with excellent customer service. Nextiva is the best replacement for Dialpad and eliminates its associated support problems.

2) Quo (formerly OpenPhone): The modern choice for startups

Best for: Solopreneurs, startups, and teams needing a sleek mobile app.

Quo eliminates the cumbersome hardware feel of traditional VoIP systems and replaces it with a clean, app-based user interface. It is ideal for SMS and shared mailboxes, making it perfect for teams that use both text messaging and voice calls.

Key features:

• Shared phone numbers: Collaborate with your team seamlessly.
• CRM integrations: Connect with Salesforce and HubSpot.
• Custom phone book: Easily manage your business contacts.
• Unlimited calling and texting within the US and Canada.

Pros:

• Shared numbers: Multiple teammates can call and text from a single number (e.g., support line).
• UI/UX: The interface is more modern than Dialpad’s.

Cons:

• Routing limits: Lacks the complex IVR and call center routing of enterprise tools.
• No video meetings: Unlike Dialpad, Quo is voice/text only. You will need a separate Zoom account.

Pricing:

Quo has three pricing plans with a la carte options for additional features:

• Starter ($15/user/mo): Basic calls and SMS.
  Business ($23/user/mo): Adds HubSpot/Salesforce integrations and call recording.
• Enterprise: For organizations with more complex requirements, request a quote from Quo’s sales team.

The verdict: Choose Quo if you’re a startup with fewer than 10 employees and value a great mobile app over advanced call center features.

3) Zoom Phone: The business telephony solution for Zoom users

Best for: Teams already paying for Zoom Meetings.

If your team spends a lot of time in Zoom meetings, adding Zoom Phone is a logical step. Zoom’s VoIP phone service integrates a phone system directly into your existing Zoom app, simplifying your billing and software landscape.

Key features:

• Integrated UCaaS: Combine phone, meetings, chat, and more in one app.
• Familiar interface: Easy to adopt for existing Zoom users.
• Popular communication channels: Supports email, web chat, social media, and more.

Pros:

• Consolidation: One bill for video and phone.
• Video integration: Seamlessly elevate a phone call to a video meeting with one click.

Cons:

• Support costs: 24/7 support is a paid add-on or reserved for higher tiers.
• Add-on fees: Hardware leasing and advanced features can quickly drive up the cheap base price.

Pricing:

Zoom Phone has a freemium pricing model with tiered paid plans for individual users, small teams, and businesses.

• Metered ($10/user/mo): Pay per minute (good for low call volumes).
• Unlimited ($15-$20/user/mo): Standard unlimited calling plan.
• Global Select 48 countries: Unlimited calling to 48 countries, including the US, Canada, and many European countries, for $240 per year per user.

The verdict: Choose Zoom Phone if you want to consolidate invoices and already use the Zoom interface.

4) Aircall: The CRM tool for sales and support

Best for: Sales and support teams living in HubSpot or Salesforce.

Aircall is designed for teams that use their phone system as an integral part of their CRM system. If your daily workflow is based on Salesforce or Zendesk, integrating Aircall is tighter and faster than integrating Dialpad.

Key features:

• Real-time analytics: Monitor call performance and agent activity.
• Call monitoring & recording: For quality assurance and training.
• Customizable IVR: Create personalized greetings and route calls efficiently.

Pros:

• PowerDialer: A strong tool for outbound sales teams to speed up calling lists.
• Fast setup: You can add numbers and users quickly.

Cons:

• Price: Starts at $30/user (with a 3-user minimum), making it double the cost of Dialpad for small teams.
• No video: Like Quo, Aircall is purely for voice.

Pricing:

Aircall offers two main subscription plans with a free trial available:

• Professional ($50/user/mo): Adds Salesforce integration and PowerDialer.
• Essentials ($30/user/mo): Basic features + simple integrations.

The verdict: Choose Aircall if your sales team uses Salesforce and needs a power dialer to make outbound calls.

5) 3CX: The budget DIY option

Best for: IT teams and companies with on-premise server hardware.

3CX is unique because it offers an affordable software license if you host the server yourself. It’s a powerful system, but it does require technical expertise.

Key features:

• Advanced phone service functionality for granular control and customization.
• Web browser and mobile app access for convenient communication.
• QR code softphone configuration for easy user setup.

Pros:

• Cost: Hard to beat if you have the hardware and skills.
• Flexibility: You choose your own SIP trunk provider (carrier), which can save money on per-minute rates.

Cons:

• Complexity: This isn’t a simple plug-and-play installation. If you’re not an IT expert, setting it up will be quite difficult compared to Dialpad.
• Support: Support is ticket-based or sold through partners.

Pricing:

3CX offers two key pricing tiers:

• Free/SMB: Free for up to 10 users (self-hosted).
• Pro/Ent: Tiered based on simultaneous calls, not users.

The verdict: Choose 3CX if you have a dedicated IT manager who wants full control over the PBX backend.

6) Grasshopper: Separate business calls on mobile

Best for: Solopreneurs requiring a dedicated business line on their personal device.

Grasshopper isn’t a full-fledged VoIP system, but rather a virtual extension of your existing mobile network. If Dialpad is too complicated for you, Grasshopper’s virtual phone system is the perfect solution for separating business and personal calls.

Key features:

• Virtual receptionist: Automatically route calls based on caller input.
• Toll-free numbers: Establish a professional presence.
• Easy setup: Get started quickly and easily.

Pros:

• Simplicity: No new apps or hardware required (though an app is available). It just forwards voice calls.
• Flat rate: Pricing is per account, not per user, which can be cheaper for a small team.

Cons:

• Features: No video, no chat, no integrations.
• WiFi calling: Relies on your cellular signal quality.

Pricing:

Grasshopper offers the following pricing plans:

• True Solo ($14/mo): 1 user, 1 number, 1 extension.
• Solo Plus ($25/mo): Unlimited users, 3 extensions, 1 phone number.
• Small Business ($55/mo): Unlimited users, 4 phone numbers, unlimited extensions.

The verdict: Choose Grasshopper if you’re a solopreneur who wants a second number for business clients.

7) 8×8: Scale globally with unmetered calling

Best for: Multinational corporations with offices in multiple countries.

8×8 is a unified communications platform that directly competes with Dialpad’s Enterprise offering. Its X Series plans include unlimited calls to approximately 48 countries, which can provide significant cost savings for global teams.

Key features:

• Integrated platform: All communication tools in one place.
• Contact center solutions: Advanced features for high-volume call centers.
• Global coverage: Connect with customers around the world.

Pros:

• Global reach: One of the best international calling plans on the market.
• Unified dashboard: Includes strong contact center and video tools.

Cons:

• Interface: Can feel clunky and dated compared to other alternatives.
• Support: Mixed reviews on responsiveness for billing issues.

Pricing:

8×8’s pricing plans are not public and need a sales conversation. Contact its sales team for a custom quote.

The verdict: Choose 8×8 if you have branches worldwide and want only one invoice for all of them.

8) Vonage: Build custom communication workflows

Best for: Businesses needing custom programmable voice APIs.

Vonage is particularly powerful if you have developers. Its API platform allows you to integrate custom video and voice experiences into your own app or website.

Key features:

• Developer-friendly APIs: Customize and integrate with your existing systems.
• Conversational commerce tools: Engage customers across multiple channels.
• CPaaS options: Build custom communication solutions.

Pros:

• Customization: Build exactly what you need with APIs.
• Uptime: Strong global reliability infrastructure.

Cons:

• Nickel-and-dime: Many features (call recording, on-demand call queues) are paid add-ons, making the final bill unpredictable compared to Dialpad’s bundles.

Pricing:

Here are the pricing options you get with Vonage for 20-99 users:

• Mobile ($13.99/mo): Basic mobile-only access.
• Premium ($20.99/mo): Adds desk phone support and meetings.
• Advanced ($27/mo): Adds call groups and visual voicemail.

The verdict: Choose Vonage if you need to embed calling into your own product or app using APIs.

9. GoTo Connect: Streamlined management for Microsoft Teams

Best for: Microsoft Teams users.

GoTo Connect (formerly Jive) is a reliable unified communications platform. It stands out with its direct routing integration with Microsoft Teams and its highly visual dialing plan editor.

Key features:

• Webinar and conference calling: Host large online events.
• User-friendly interface: Easy to set up and use.
• Add-ons: Get business continuity and SD-WAN.

Pros:

• Visual editor: Drag-and-drop editor for setting up call flows is one of the best in the industry.
• Reliability: Excellent uptime history.

Cons:

• Price: Starts higher (around $26/mo) than Nextiva or Zoom.
• Interface: The desktop app can feel a bit dated.

Pricing:

GoTo Connect’s pricing isn’t public. Contact its sales teams for specifics and potential volume discounts. Here’s an estimate based on industry data.

• Phone system (~$26/user/mo): Full PBX features.
• Connect CX (~$34/user/mo): Adds customer engagement tools.

The verdict: Choose GoTo Connect if you want a reliable system with a stratightforward drag-and-drop setup.

10) OnSIP: Simple VoIP for small teams

Best for: Seasonal businesses or low-volume offices.

OnSIP is easy to set up and use for people without technical expertise. Although it doesn’t have the extensive features of Dialpad, it’s a more streamlined and cost-effective solution for businesses that value simplicity. It provides essential call management features, making it a good choice for small teams with basic communication needs.

Key features:

• Basic call management: Call forwarding, voicemail, and call parking.
• Integrations: Connect with HubSpot and Zendesk.
• Web-based administration: Easy system management.

Pros:

• Pay-as-you-go: Great for offices that might only make 50 calls a month.
• BYOD: Works well with existing SIP desk phones.

Cons:

• Outdated UI: The interface feels older than modern tools.
• Feature limits: Lacks the advanced AI and SMS features of Dialpad.

Pricing:

Here are the main OnSIP pricing plans:

• Unlimited ($18.95/user/mo): Standard per-user pricing.
• Basic ($49.95/account/mo): Pay for usage + features separately (calling minutes and messaging not included).

The verdict: Choose OnSIP if you’re a seasonal business (like a tax accountant) who needs a flexible bill.

Honorable mention: RingCentral

Best for: Enterprises migrating from complex legacy systems. While not in our top 5 for simplicity, RingCentral is a direct competitor to Dialpad for large-scale deployments. It offers a deeper app ecosystem (300+ integrations) but suffers from similar hidden fee issues as Dialpad.

How To Choose the Right Dialpad Alternative

You can easily get lost in the sea of ​​recommended options and Dialpad competitors. Choosing a VoIP provider boils down to a few considerations. You can then narrow your options and pick the best Dialpad alternative for your business.

• Budget: Determine your budget and compare pricing models (per user, per feature, etc.).
• Team size & scalability: Consider the number of team members and whether you need to scale in the future.
• Essential features: Prioritize must-have features like video calls, international calling, or call recording.
• Integrations: Ensure the platform integrates with your CRM, help desk software, and other key tools.
• Communication style: Assess whether you need a solution for remote teams, a contact center, or a small office.
• Customer support: Evaluate the level of support offered (phone, email, chat, 24/7 availability).
• Ease of use: Consider the interface and see if it’s intuitive for your team.
• Mobile app functionality: See if you need a robust mobile app for on-the-go communication.
• Security: Look for features like encryption and compliance certifications to protect customer data.

Summary Comparison: Nextiva vs. Dialpad

If you’re narrowing it down to the top two, here’s a direct comparison.

Feature	Nextiva	Dialpad
Key focus	Customer experience & reliability	AI & transcription
Reliability	99.999% uptime	High, but reliant on a strong internet
Support	24/7 phone/chat/email (all plans)	Web-only for lower tiers
Pricing	Starts at $15/mo	Starts at $15/mo
Video calls	Included (unlimited)	Included
SMS	Team shared inbox	Standard SMS

The verdict:

• Stick with Dialpad if you absolutely require real-time AI sentiment analysis during calls and have a strong IT team to manage it.
• Switch to Nextiva if you want a reliable, easy-to-use phone system that unifies calls, texts, and video without the AI complexity. Nextiva rivals Dialpad’s top tiers by including AI features but at a more transparent price point.

Why Nextiva Is a Top Dialpad Alternative

Nextiva offers a robust feature set, reliable service (backed by a 99.999% uptime SLA), and highly-rated 24/7 customer support accessible to all users. Its focus on unifying communication channels into one intuitive platform helps businesses manage interactions efficiently.

Nextiva has consistently received praise in the industry:

• U.S. News & World Report: Named Nextiva the Best Business Phone System for four consecutive years.
• Forbes Advisor: Gave Nextiva a 4.6 out of 5-star rating, highlighting its reliability and features.
• CrazyEgg: Described Nextiva as highly reliable and praised its ease of use.

Companies like Shelby America, Veterans Home Care, and Orange County Rescue Mission have chosen Nextiva for their business communications needs.

“Setting up a phone tree for a gazillion people is not easy but the questions that our Nextiva reps asked and what they have done with other companies made it easy. What I like the most about Nextiva is how scalable it’s been. We started at 400 employees and we’re at almost 1800 employees now.”

Annie Izquierdo, Leadership & Process Trainer at Titan Solar Power

Dialpad, Aircall, 3CX, OnSIP, Quo, Grasshopper, Zoom, Vonage, GoTo Connect, and 8×8 have no relationship with Nextiva, Inc. and are the registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)