RingCentral vs. Vonage: which solution is right for you? Here’s our head-to-head comparison so you can make the best decision for your business.
In recent years, an increasing number of business users have begun to move away from traditional landline phones to flexible and cost-effective VoIP services. These Internet-based telephony systems come packaged with a range of sophisticated integrations that help make enterprise sales and support functions more accessible, responsive, and easier to manage. But with so many different service providers on the market, it can be difficult to ascertain which one fits your requirements the best.
Also Read: VoIP Advantages and Disadvantages for Small Business
To help you with your decision, we have analyzed the pricing, quality and overall functionality of two of the most popular VoIP solutions available today, RingCentral vs. Vonage. Here is what they have to offer.
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RingCentral vs. Vonage Target Audience
With over 2 million customers across the globe, Vonage is one of the oldest and largest VOIP providers in the world. Although Vonage was initially developed for residential users, the company has recently made headway into the commercial sector with their Vonage Essentials and Vonage Premier plans. The former is primarily marketed to smaller businesses while the latter is more suited to large organizations. However, Vonage also provides a range of add-ons for each particular package so that customers can customize their plans according to the number of phone lines and specific features that they require.
By comparison, RingCentral was purpose-built as an enterprise communications tool for organizations at every scale. As a result, even the free version of RingCentral offers valuable features including multi-participant video conferencing, team messaging, call recording, private chat, and screen/app sharing. The software works seamlessly across all devices and operating systems, and it can integrate with a wide variety of applications so implementation should be relatively simple. RingCentral’s paid VOIP services are currently available in four tiers. A basic Essentials plan, a Standard plan, a Premium plan, and an Enterprise plan. Each of these options is designed to serve a specific segment of business users, so prospective customers can simply pick out the appropriate package from RingCentral’s website instead of worrying about building a plan of their own.
VoIP Pricing
The basic version of the Vonage Essentials plan is available for $39.99 per user per month. This package comes with 40 standard features, but buyers will generally need to customize their plan to find a combination of features that are more suited to their needs. This process can add or reduce the final cost of the package. Vonage does not provide a standard rate for its advanced Premier plan as this service is entirely customized so final pricing will be completely dependent on the user. In either case, customers can avail a 14-day refund guaranteed trial to test the company’s services before committing to a purchase.
RingCentral’s pricing is far more straightforward. Their Essentials plan can be purchased for just $19.99 per user per month, while the higher tier Standard plan is priced at $24.99. At the top-end, the Premium and Enterprise plans are available for $34.99 and $49.99 respectively. Even though Vonage offers more flexible pricing schemes, users will generally be able to get more value through RingCentral’s fixed price plans even at the Enterprise level.
Feature Comparison
Vonage Features
Standard Vonage features include:
- Free 911 calling.
- Voicemail.
- Caller ID and Caller ID blocking.
- Voicemail to email.
- Various call handling options such as call hold, call screening, call logging, call waiting, call transfer, click-to-call, and click-to-dial, call forwarding.
- Hold music.
- A Work-From-Anywhere option that allows users to unplug their work phone and use it at location where a high-speed Internet port is available.
- Busy lamp field.
- Vonage has recently begun to offer integrated teleconferencing through Amazon Chime. This service offers a range of collaborative tools including video conferencing support, real-time chat, screen sharing, app sharing, virtual whiteboards, Microsoft Outlook integration, remote desktop control.
Additional add-ons include:
- A spam shield.
- Call recording.
- Visual Voicemail.
- Paperless fax.
- Call monitoring.
- Call groups.
At the Premier tier, you can access further features including:
- A variety of call forwarding modes for when you’re busy, unreachable, or merely unwilling to answer a specific caller.
- Last number redialing.
- Call transfer.
- Priority caller alerts.
- Virtual numbers (allows you to set up custom numbers for different regions).
- Use the same number on multiple lines.
- Selective call acceptance and rejection.
At this level optional features include:
- Speak-to-dial.
- MobileConnect softphone.
- Fax mail (a separate fax line).
- Toll-free numbers.
- Auto Attendant.
- Video and web connect.
Users can also integrate their VOIP system with a variety of app platforms including:
- Salesforce.
- Office 365.
- Microsoft Dynamics.
- Zendesk
- NetSuite
- Zoho
RingCentral Features
RingCentral’s most popular pricing plan is its Premium tier offering which comes in at a lower price than Vonage’s essential plan while offering a wider range of features for business users. The functionalities offered include:
- Unlimited users.
- 50 person video conferencing.
- A variety of call handling features such as call forwarding, call transfer, call flip, call logging, call parking, intercom tools, paging, presence indicators, and call screening.
- Visual Voicemail.
- Voicemail to email.
- Automatic call recording.
- Unlimited business SMS.
- Auto attendant (Interactive IVR), this includes automated reception features for greeting and redirecting customers.
- Hold music.
- Shared line usage.
- Caller ID monitoring and management.
- HD Voice capabilities.
- Internet fax.
- Virtual numbers
- Choice of local or toll-free numbers.
- 2,500 toll-free minutes.
While Vonage has outsourced their conferencing tools to Amazon, RingCentral offers an in-house service app (formerly known as Glip) that integrates seamlessly with their existing interface. Glip’s consolidated platform provides all the functionalities a business user could need including:
- Support for unlimited users and guests.
- Supports real-time sharing of mobile, desktop and web apps.
- Allows direct emails to all team members on the app. Users can also send email attachments during ongoing project meetings.
- Link extraction, sharing and archiving.
- HD video conferencing.
- Unlimited integrations.
- Real-time note taking and document editing.
- Screen sharing.
- Real-time syncing with calendar management tools such as Outlook and Google Calendar.
- Enterprise-grade security.
- File synching with Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.
- Real-time task management.
RingCentral Premium supports a broader range of integrations. Compatible systems and applications include:
- Salesforce
- Microsoft Dynamics/Office 365
- Zendesk
- Oracle Sales Cloud
- Okta
- ServiceNow
Mobility
Both Vonage and RingCentral offer mobile apps that allow users to access their business phone systems from any location through their iOS or Android devices.
Customer Service and Reliability
RingCentral
RingCentral boasts a fully redundant server infrastructure with backup data centers available at selected sites around the world. As a result, the company can guarantee 99.99% uptime for customers. RingCentral is also willing to sign an SLA as a further assurance of their quality of service. Users can also access a self-help portal through their RingCentral accounts to check up on the current status of their VOIP systems.
RingCentral’s US-based customer service center is open 24/7, and representatives can be contacted through both phone and chat. The company website also offers many self-help tools including comprehensive FAQs and tutorials.
Vonage
Vonage does not provide a clear indicator of their reliability on their website, nor does the company enter into any service level agreements with their clients. However, as one of the largest VOIP providers in the world, it’s safe to say that Vonage’s network is probably more well-established than RingCentral’s. In terms of reporting and monitoring, Vonage’s website offers a very basic status check toolbar.
Vonage’s customer service is available from 9 AM to 9 PM on weekdays, and 8 AM to midnight on weekends. They also provide a variety of self-help tools through their website including explainer videos, how-tos, webinars, case studies, and comprehensive user guides.
The Verdict
As a dual-purpose VOIP provider, Vonage does not offer the same range of functionality as RingCentral in its basic packages. However, users with an in-depth understanding of telephony can leverage the company’s customizable plans to build more tailored service plans for themselves. Of course, this may cost your company more in the long run.
By comparison, RingCentral provides a fully functional, enterprise-ready package that is available at a lower price point than the most comparable Vonage package. This cost-effectiveness combined with the company’s in-house applications makes RingCentral a more attractive option for most business users.
