Every modern business needs effective communication tools for phone calls, messages and video conferences. Today’s business phone systems do more than connect phone calls; they also integrate with popular CRM tools and provide detailed analytics to help businesses make smarter decisions. However, identifying the best unified platform with the ideal mix of features can be a challenge when so many good choices are available.
Two of the leading options for cloud-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone solutions are RingCentral and Dialpad. We’ll compare the features between these two similar products so you can identify the best solution for your business communications needs.
Both RingCentral and Dialpad are effective unified communications platforms with a long list of features and tools. However, you’ll want to consider the key differences between the two before making a purchase.
Similarities | Differences |
---|---|
Both offer all-in-one business communications for calling, messaging and video conferencing. | Dialpad offers AI-powered customer service and sales tools with real-time coaching. |
Both have call center solutions for inbound and outbound support. | RingCentral lets you hold an audio conference with up to 1,000 people. |
Both provide free and unlimited video meetings. | Dialpad is faster to set up. |
Both guarantee more than 99% uptime for enterprise customers. | RingCentral integrates with thousands of third-party apps. |
RingCentral is a reliable cloud-based phone system with effective tools for calls, messages and video conferences. The company boasts an uptime of 99.999%, which equates to only 78 seconds of interruption per quarter.
RingCentral’s core product is RingCentral MVP, which ranges in price from $19.99 to $49.99 per user per month if billed annually. RingCentral supports hundreds of meeting participants, hundreds of software integration and advanced features for monitoring calls in real time, whispering to your employees as they assist customers, and entering into conversations as needed.
We recommend RingCentral for businesses of any size looking for a powerful and collaborative phone system. Here are some of RingCentral’s distinguishing features:
Want to learn more about RingCentral? Read our full RingCentral review to see why we selected it as the best business phone system for collaboration.
Dialpad is a cloud-hosted communications platform designed for team and customer interactions across phone, chat and video. The company’s all-in-one business communications solution is available through three plans that range in price and features from $15 to $25 per user per month if billed annually.
Dialpad’s phone system offers extensive calling and routing features. Its artificial intelligence (AI) technology can transcribe meetings in real time, automate post-call summaries, detect customer sentiment, log action items, and create to-do lists. All of Dialpad’s intelligent voice tools are designed to help companies make the most of every conversation and customer interaction. The company has contact center options with inbound and outbound support in addition to its outbound sales dialer offering.
We recommend Dialpad for small businesses that embrace new technology and place a strong emphasis on efficient systems. Here are some of Dialpad’s most attractive features:
Want to learn more about Dialpad? Read our full Dialpad review to see why we selected it as the best business phone for voice analytics.
Take a quick look to understand where RingCentral and Dialpad are strongest when compared side by side. For the purpose of this chart, we assumed the role of a small or midsize business with an upper-tier plan from each provider.
Criterion | Winner |
---|---|
Plans | RingCentral |
Pricing | Dialpad |
Features | Tie |
Ease of use | Dialpad |
Integrations | RingCentral |
Support | RingCentral |
Employee self-service | Tie |
Additional services | RingCentral |
Winner: RingCentral offers more variety and customization in its subscription plans, and it does not impose minimum seat requirements for its top offering.
Winner: Dialpad’s starting price and midlevel plans are both less expensive than similar offerings from RingCentral.
Winner: It’s a tie. Dialpad stands out with more advanced features that can help businesses make the most out of every meeting and customer interaction. However, RingCentral allows far more meeting participants and integrations that many businesses will find attractive.
Winner: You can get Dialpad up and running with new phone lines and department designations for an entire business in just a few minutes.
Winner: RingCentral’s selection of software integrations is larger.
Winner: RingCentral’s professional implementation specialists give it the edge here.
Winner: The two companies offer similar self-service and educational resources for employees.
Winner: RingCentral has a slight edge over Dialpad, with more ways to customize and expand your communication system’s capabilities.
Both RingCentral and Dialpad are solid choices for a unified communications platform to handle all of your calls, meetings and messages. However, these two companies do have enough variety in their features to make one of them a better fit for your business.
Choose RingCentral if any of the following are true:
Choose Dialpad if the following statements represent your needs:
Dialpad offers free video meetings with 10 participants for up to 45 minutes per meeting. While the free version is limited compared to the $15-per-month Business option, it still offers features such as call recording, screen sharing, HD audio and chat. The free version also integrates with Salesforce, Slack, Intercom, Evernote, HubSpot, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar.
RingCentral has a free video conferencing and team messaging solution. RingCentral Video Pro allows you to host meetings with up to 100 participants for 24 hours per meeting. Its limited free service also includes 10 hours of call recording and the ability to store your meetings for up to seven days. Meeting participants can enjoy HD video and voice, virtual backdrops, closed captioning, and screen sharing.
Analog desktop phones may require an adapter to function properly. Dialpad is compatible with certain Polycom and Obihai desk phones that you can purchase directly from the company and assign to user accounts. RingCental also sells pre-configured IP desk, cordless, receptionist and conference phones to fit every business need.