Saturday, January 29th
2022 Business Phone System Reviews
8x8
- Over 2 million users
- Five tiers of service to choose from, starting at just $12/user per month
- Global reliability with 99.999% uptime SLA and 35+ public and private data centers
- Analytics for every employee and customer interaction
- Open integration framework with popular apps like Google Workspace and Microsoft Teams
- Free one-month trial of 8x8 Express small business phone system
There are more than two million business users who partner with 8x8 for their phone systems, from small insurance companies and banks to big names like Acer and the Kansas City Royals (you can even click on those businesses' names on the main 8x8 site if you'd like to see case studies!)
5 tiers of service
We appreciate the simplicity of the pricing structure with 8x8. There are just five overall plans to choose from: 8x8 Express ($12/user/month), X2 All-in-one Voice/Video/Chat ($32user/month), and X4 with advanced call handling and analytics ($57/user/month). If your business also needs to have contact center features, your price will jump to $125/user or $138/user per month. The prices shown by default on the 8x8 site reflect discounts when paying on an annual basis instead of monthly.
Business Phone System Costs
- Anywhere from $12/month to $138/month per user
- Discounts available when paying annually vs. monthly
Calculate your potential savings
Can switching to 8x8 save you money? It's possible. On their homepage, look for the link towards the bottom that says "Calculate your savings in 60 seconds" to use their ROI tool. Of course, you can always click to chat with a sales rep or schedule a meeting if you want to discuss your business' specific needs in more depth.
Check out all features with a one-month trial
Speaking of money, you get a lot of advanced features even with the most basic business phone system they offer. The 8x8 Express requires no contract, only costs $12/user, and you even get a one-month free trial. It includes unlimited domestic calling with visual voicemail and advanced call management, unlimited video conferencing for up to 100 participants, and unlimited chat with both team and 1:1 instant messaging plus file sharing.
X series is where the best features are found
However, if you need more advanced capabilities, you'll be turning to a package from 8x8's X series. Still, starting with the X2 plan at $24/month per user (when paying annually), you get a lot of bang for your buck. It features unlimited voice calling to 14 countries, integration with apps like Zoho and Hubspot, and more. It was a little awkward having to consult a data sheet to compare the X series plans instead of having a handy side-by-side chart right on the site, though.
Rapidly declining reputation
Still, it all sounds really good - on paper, anyway. Sadly, 8x8 tanks when it comes to customer satisfaction. Their listing with the Better Business Bureau is nothing but disappointing: a "B-" rating and no accreditation. There were over 130 complaints filed there in the year leading up to this evaluation, with comments like "worst customer service ever" and "corrupt company" as just a few of the ones that jumped out at us. Even more troubling are the clients who say that 8x8 continued to bill them for service months after cancellation: not because of a dispute over a contract or a missed automatic renewal, but just straight-up error. That's hard to reconcile with some of the kudos 8x8 gets from experts at places like PCMag - but those evaluations tend to stop after they've tried it out and don't get into what customer service is like after several months or years down the road.
Consider other business phone systems first
Is 8x8 the absolute worst choice for business phone systems? No. Could you wind up with a configuration that works well for your company? Yes. However, you could also spend a ton of money and wind up deeply disappointed if that feedback from former clients is any indication. We suggest checking out a few higher-rated providers before getting a quote from 8x8.
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Which Company Offers the Best Business Phone System?
To answer that question, you first need to decide what exactly you need your system to accomplish. Is it just the basics, like having a separate number for business calls and being able to route them to different employees? Or are you looking for something fully-featured, with the ability to handle video conferencing and file sharing, integrate with apps you're already using, and extend your reach globally?
No matter what type of phone system your business needs, you've got options! Even if you're a solo entrepreneur, there's a provider for you. If you're wondering whether it's going to be a huge investment to set up your business phones, that depends on how you look at it.
Business Phone System FAQ
Continued from above...
Gone are the days of having to buy equipment and install landlines: most business phone systems today rely on mobile phones and can often use what you already have, minimizing hardware expenses like never before. That doesn't mean it's going to be cheap, though: expect monthly costs ranging anywhere from $12 to over $100 per user, depending on the features you require and which provider you choose.
However, that doesn't mean you'll end up spending more money. Those costs can quickly be offset by increased productivity, getting more customers because of faster response times, and all-in-one packaging that eliminates the need for multiple vendor contracts.
There are a lot of business phone system services out there, and it can be a little daunting narrowing down the possibilities. Want some help? Keep these four Cs in mind as you look for the one that will be the best fit for your company:
- Convenience. How easy is it to set up and use the business phone system? Will it save you time and hassle over the long run? Does it work well with the phones, apps, and other processes your company already uses?
- Cost. How much will you pay to get the business phone system that meets your day-to-day operational needs? How do those fees compare with rival systems? Do you get a good value for the money?
- Contracts. Do you have to make a commitment of a year or longer? Does paying for a year-long contract get you a discount on your monthly fees? What happens if you need to break your contract?
- Customer Support. It's easy to make big promises about service and savings but not as easy to keep them. How does the provider respond after the sale, to keep your system up and running with little to no downtime?
To help you get the right phone system for your business, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked the top providers on the market today. We're confident that this information will help you easily sort through the options and find the perfect match for your company!
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