Nextiva vs. Ooma

Nextiva vs. Ooma Compared

Who Do We Recommend Nextiva For?

In our most recent review of Nextiva’s cloud-based business phone system, we reviewed the service’s three pricing tiers: Essential, Professional and Enterprise.

The Essential package comes with standard features, including unlimited voice and video calling, voicemail and toll-free numbers. The Professional plan has all of the features in the Essential package, plus unlimited audio and video conference calling, auto attendant SMS/MMS (text messaging) and screen sharing. The Enterprise tier offers everything in Professional, plus audio and video conference call recording, voicemail transcription and additional third-party integrations. 

Nextiva is one of the simplest-to-use business phone systems, thanks to features such as the drag-and-drop call-flow builder, which allows even the most inexperienced users to easily set up a menu for callers and route calls. For more complex routing activities, a drop-down menu offers suggestions that help users get the most out of their system. 

The system works with any internet-connected device, such as a desktop computer or smartphone, and the Call Pop feature provides useful information, such as previous interactions and survey responses, thereby ensuring a positive experience for both the employee and the caller.

Nextiva’s Call Pop feature provides the caller with useful information to ensure improved conversations with personalized service. Image source: Nextiva

Nextiva boasts excellent HIPAA-compliant security, a must-have for most retail and healthcare businesses. Notably, Nextiva’s pricing for the Essential and Professional packages has dropped significantly, bringing this system in line with most competitors.

Nextiva’s Professional package also offers integrations with Salesforce and HubSpot, two of the best CRM software platforms, and the Enterprise level adds Microsoft Teams and custom integrations.

Nextiva Highlights

• Threaded conversations combine all contacts and conversations into a clean, searchable stream for easy access.
• Call Pop provides personalized caller information, thus ensuring better customer interactions.

• Call Flow Builder simplifies the process of building and changing call flows for first-time users.

• Nextiva’s outstanding security delivers HIPAA-compliant voice, fax and video services.

Nextiva offers a wide range of high-quality phones ranging from $130 to $420. Image source: Nextiva

Who Do We Recommend Ooma For?

In our most recent review of Ooma’s business phone system, we particularly liked its lower cost and wide range of easy-to-use features. Ooma offers three plan tiers: Essential, Pro and Pro Plus. 

Essential boasts over 50 communications features, including a virtual receptionist, ring groups and hold music. The Pro tier has everything in Essential, plus a desktop app, text messaging, voicemail transcription, third-party integrations and more. Pro Plus includes everything in Pro and adds more integrations, call queuing, meeting recordings, hotdesking and advanced call management.

Ooma focuses on small businesses, with features and pricing structures designed to fit with lower budgets. It stands out for offering a comprehensive list of features in its lowest tier, which is uncommon among competitors. Small businesses also benefit from Ooma’s ease of use and quick implementation.

Ooma’s interface is one of the simplest to use, making it great for inexperienced users. The drop-down menus help even the most non-tech-savvy business owners get up and running quickly by making it easy to set up accurate call direction, receptionist greetings and hours of operation. Even more-advanced features, such as hotdesking and call queuing, are quick and simple to set up.

Additionally, the app presents a consistent interface across platforms, including iOS and Android, resulting in a streamlined user experience. 

Ooma Highlights

• The Find Me Follow Me feature allows users to take calls on multiple devices simultaneously.
• Caller Info Match matches callers with detailed background information drawn from your customer relationship management (CRM) system and other places, including social media.
• Overhead paging lets you make announcements, including for emergencies, over your paging system.
• The Admin Portal allows you to manage the system from an easy-to-use online portal.

Ooma’s phones range from $59.99 for standard phones to $599.99 for IP conference phones. Image source: Ooma

Features

Nextiva

Nextiva includes a solid selection of options in its entry-level package, and they improve at each subsequent level. Threaded conversations, Call Pop and Call Flow Builder are great features, especially for larger retail businesses.

Ooma

The selection of features in Ooma’s entry-level tier is nearly unrivaled. More than 50 features come standard in the entry-level plan, including Find Me Follow Me, Caller Info Match and Overhead Paging. 

Winner: Ooma

Ooma has a slight advantage for its entry-level package, which includes a huge number of features. However, the higher-tier packages are about even at the two companies. 

Third-Party Integrations

Nextiva

Nextiva’s third-party integration features are a big plus, with Outlook and Google Contacts offered in the entry-level plan. The next level adds Salesforce and HubSpot, and the Professional level includes Microsoft Teams and custom integrations.

Ooma

Ooma does not offer any integrations in its entry-level plan. It adds Office 365 and Google integrations at the Pro tier and includes Microsoft 365 and Salesforce at the Pro Plus level.

Winner: Nextiva

Nextiva is the clear winner here, with integrations at every level and more across the board.

Customer Service

Nextiva

Nextiva’s customer service is a key feature, with 24/7 support offered at all tiers. Nextiva also includes an in-app help button, product updates, system status info and password reset options at every level.

Ooma

Ooma offers 24/7 support across all levels.

Winner: Nextiva

Although both companies offer 24/7 support, Nextiva has much broader customer service.

Pricing

Nextiva

At $25.95, $30.95 and $40.95 per user per month, Nextiva’s plans are among the more expensive systems on the market. Annual pricing reduces the monthly cost significantly, but it’s based on the size of the business, with savings of up to 27% monthly for an annual contract.

Ooma

Ooma’s entry-level phone system costs $19.95 per user per month, making it one of the least-expensive systems available. The next levels cost $24.96 and $29.95 per user per month. 

Winner: Ooma 

Ooma wins this category for its cost-effective pricing tiers that don’t sacrifice the most important features small businesses need in a business phone system.

Security

Nextiva

Nextiva uses North American data centers with eight points of presence, all of which are all SSAE 16-certified and SOC II-audited and offer PCI-DSS certification. The network is monitored 24/7, and data is protected with transport layer security and encryption between all endpoints. Nextiva is also HIPAA compliant.

Ooma

Ooma is not HIPAA compliant, although it can be upgraded “with some tweaks by the customer.”

Winner: Nextiva

Nextiva is HIPAA compliant, while Ooma is not (at least not without additional work on your end).

Ease of Setup

Nextiva

A Nextiva system can be operating the same day it’s ordered.

Ooma

An Ooma system can be up and running in as little as five minutes.

Winner: Draw

Both Nextiva and Ooma are easy to set up and get running the same day you purchase them.

Nextiva vs. Ooma Recap

Choose Ooma if: 

• You’re a small business.
• You need to keep costs down.
• You’re looking for a wide range of features at the entry level.

Choose Nextiva if:

• You’re a healthcare business.
• You need top-level security.