When it comes to important purchases, like a new car or a high-tech TV, it’s safe to assume you do your research first. Why should choosing a business phone system be any different? This is a decision that’ll have a major impact on your team’s communications and operations, so it’s crucial to thoroughly vet your options.
Nextiva is a big player in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony, with over 80,000 customers worldwide. Clients ranging from contact centers to small businesses to corporate teams use its cloud-based phone service.
But in recent years, the company’s seen some stiff competition crop up. New and improved VoIP providers are offering innovative features that bring the customer experience to the next level.
In this article, we’ll explain why Nextiva might not be your best business phone option. Then, we’ll discuss 10 Nextiva alternatives to meet your business needs, so you can make an informed decision.
Best Nextiva alternatives
It can be overwhelming having to sort through the pros and cons of every VoIP phone provider out there. We’ve made things easy for you by comparing Nextiva’s top competitors all in one list.
1. OpenPhone
OpenPhone is a top-of-the-line business VoIP system. Once you download OpenPhone, chances are you’ll never look back. With OpenPhone, you can select your new local phone number (and even sign up for a toll-free number). You’re able to share numbers, allowing your teammates to communicate more effectively with clients. And you’ll have access to a mini customer relationship management (CRM) system right in your address book. Automated text messages and auto-attendant menus free up more time for you to focus on one-on-one conversations with clients.
As if that weren’t enough, you’re also able to set multiple voicemail greetings and business hours. SMS and MMS capabilities come built into each OpenPhone plan, so you can communicate with your team using photos, GIFs, or any other medium you wish.
OpenPhone’s pricing model is clear, transparent, and consistent — you pay per user per month, so you know exactly what to expect on your bill.
OpenPhone is also the perfect choice for growing businesses looking for a phone plan that can scale to fit their changing needs. Unlike Nextiva, if you have a small team you won’t pay more per user and can easily scale your business phone system as your business grows. Plans start at just $13 per user per month.
Try out OpenPhone free for seven days by signing up for a free trial. During your trial, you can use a temporary phone number to make sure it’s a great fit. Then when you’re ready, you can always port any existing number to OpenPhone you wish to use.
If you have any questions about your VoIP service, OpenPhone’s dedicated support team is just a phone call, text, or email away.
2. Grasshopper
Grasshopper is another popular Nextiva alternative. Its legacy business phone system works best for small businesses rather than large companies. Grasshopper’s calling features aren’t cutting-edge, but they get the job done. Auto-attendant, voicemail transcription, and incoming call controls all help you take more control of your business communication platform.
The downside? Grasshopper doesn’t offer call recordings or integrations with other apps. Plus, vital features like call blasting (the ability to share responsibility for incoming calls with your teammates) are only available as paid add-ons with Grasshopper. If you have budget constraints, you’ll have to carefully weigh your business needs before opting for each feature.
Learn more how these two platforms stack up in our Nextiva vs Grasshopper guide.
3. Ooma
Compared to Grasshopper, Ooma’s Office plan offers more integrations and greater overall functionality. Ooma works with Zendesk, Microsoft Office 365, Salesforce, and other popular business applications you probably use on a daily basis.
Looking at Ooma vs Nextiva, both have some similar issues though. Standard features most businesses need, including call recordings, voicemail transcriptions, and even access to their desktop app, are only available on Ooma’s higher-tier plan. If you sign up for a toll-free number with them, Ooma requires you to pay for a separate calling plan. Users also report that Ooma’s customer service team can be slow to respond to issues — not something you want to take a chance on when your business’s reputation hangs in the balance.
4. Vonage
Vonage business may be a bit glitchy, but it does come with lots of features and integrations. The cons tend to outweigh the pros, however. The Vonage interface is outdated and clunky. It doesn’t support MMS, a must-have in today’s business climate.
With tons of hidden fees, Vonage users have to read between the lines to understand how much they can expect to pay for each feature. And if you run into problems, the support team isn’t very accomodating, meaning you could go days or weeks without a resolution.
Find out how Vonage and Nextiva compare further by checking out our Nextiva vs Vonage guide.
5. Dialpad
Dialpad is much more agile than some of the other Nextiva alternatives on this list. The service provider allows you to toggle live calls between devices and supports conference calls. Its ease of use and top-notch audio quality make it a reliable option for managing your business communications.
But at the end of the day, its video calling options aren’t super user-intuitive and it doesn’t have good SMS text messaging capabilities — you’ll have to upgrade to use multiple local numbers or to create separate lines for each of your internal teams. Even then, you’ll have to pay extra for toll-free numbers and other business features. These major drawbacks stop Dialpad short of becoming an industry leader.
6. Aircall
Routing issues and a lack of an internal messaging system are Aircall’s main problems. Otherwise, this respectable VoIP service delivers on interactive voice response (IVR), integrations, and call recording. Placing inbound and outbound calls is a breeze for the dialer.
However, Aircall’s mobile app is lacking some of the features present in the desktop app. With Aircall, you have to upgrade if you wish to place simultaneous outbound calls from the same number or if your team has more than three users. If these restrictions aren’t compatible with your business model, it’s time to look for Aircall alternatives.
7. RingCentral
RingCentral’s voice and video conferencing options are some of the most straightforward around. It’s easy to invite guests to your call, even when they’re outside the platform. RingCentral also offers calling reports, but unless you’re using the call center plan, real-time reports will be difficult to come by — all other plans generate reports with a 24-hour lag. Some users also report connectivity issues and app glitches, whether you’re running on Android or iOS. And for what you get, it isn’t the best value for your money compared with other RingCentral competitors, especially if you’re a low-usage user.
For a full breakdown of how RingCentral compares to Nextiva, check out our RingCentral vs. Nextiva guide.
8. Google Voice
Although Google is a reputable company and a solid Nextiva competitor, its VoIP phone service isn’t what it’s famous for. Google Voice for Google Workspace (Google Voice’s business phone platform) doesn’t integrate with any other tools except apps in the Google ecosystem. Google Voice also doesn’t offer auto-replies and snippets to be more responsive. Plus, you’ll need an active Google Workspace account ($6 per month) to even access Google Voice for Google Workspace.
Google Voice’s free option doesn’t allow you to choose your number, distinguish between personal and work calls, share access to your number with teammates, or set business hours. It’s also lacking in customer support. The general consensus is that Google Voice is great for the occasional free VoIP call, but may only impede your business communications. For a fully functional VoIP phone system, there are better Google Voice alternatives out there.
9. Phone.com
Phone.com is an affordable and effective Nextiva alternative but can cause quite a few bottlenecks. Calls and messages from contacts are only visible in separate inboxes, so you can expect to spend more time catching up on conversations before you can reply. Call recordings and shared phone numbers are also only available if you’re ready to pay beyond their base plan. You certainly won’t find an accessible team messaging solution with Phone.com either.
Users even report delayed text messages on iOS, making real-time communication difficult. Phone.com is a simple, decent option for businesses on a budget, but if you’re looking for team collaboration tools and advanced features, you might want to look elsewhere.
10. Sideline
Rounding out our list is Sideline, an app that functions as a secondary phone line. It also operates via cellular network rather than VoIP. Sideline technically works for separating your business and personal inboxes but isn’t the optimal solution for business communications. Good call quality and auto-reply features are pluses. However, it’s impossible for most users to contact customer support, so you might have to fend for yourself when experiencing service issues.
There’s also no easy way to block spam or unwanted callers, which any business owner knows is a must-have. And finally, you’ll find yourself having to pick and choose from various feature options, since no plan offers them all. With all the more modern Sideline alternatives on the market today, there’s no reason for you to settle for any less than the very best.
Why seek Nextiva alternatives?
Although Nextiva has many customers, it’s not the perfect business phone service for everyone.
For starters, its pricing model is a bit confusing. There are three plans to choose from, but the cost of these plans varies depending on number of users, desired features, and billing frequency.
Then there’s the fact that to activate SMS capabilities on a Nextiva phone, you have to contact the company directly each time you set up a new number. And with no MMS support, you won’t be able to send pictures, emojis, or links — all essentials in today’s dynamic business world.
Additionally, many Nextiva users complain about customer service inconsistencies and difficulties with account setup. Nextiva is a platform built for larger companies as well, so most small- to medium-sized enterprises will want access to a more scalable Nextiva alternative. Let’s dive into a summary of the main Nextiva competitors on the market today.
Try out the best Nextiva competitor: OpenPhone
Out of all the above Nextiva competitors, OpenPhone offers the most value — and the clearest path to scale your business phone solution as your team grows. OpenPhone lets you also easily streamline your communication through auto-replies, snippets, and even internal threads to collaborate internally with your team on any conversation. OpenPhone was built for modern teams and is constantly releasing innovative updates to help users reach their organizational goals.
Sign up for your free trial today to learn what this VoIP service is all about.
By day, Celita is a Florida-based freelance writer specializing in technology, marketing, sustainability, and a plethora of other topics. Nothing makes her happier than reading and writing well-researched content. By night, Celita can be found developing her talents, which include her black belt in karate, her fluent Italian, and her knack for vegan cooking.
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