What’s the Best Softphone for Large Businesses? Assessing the Top 5 Providers

In the past, business communication largely happened over email and by phone. But times have changed. While email is still as relevant as it ever was, voice communication has evolved. We live in a world of distributed work and digital experiences — a world in which legacy PBX increasingly feels like a millstone rather than a business tool.

That’s why more and more companies are incorporating custom softphone apps into their communications suite.

For a larger organization, however, this is often easier said than done. A well-established enterprise typically maintains a complex hardware and software ecosystem which creates a host of integration challenges. Factor in the considerable resource demands of large businesses, and it becomes difficult to find a vendor that can keep up.

With that in mind, we’d advise looking for a softphone provider specialized in working with large businesses. Acrobits is one such provider. It just so happens that we know of a few others, as well.

Acrobits (Cloud Softphone)

Overview

Finally, we come to Acrobits. Our low-code Cloud Softphone platform is the result of decades of experience in the VoIP space. Customers can instantly make calls with our intuitive softphone app.

And if for companies looking for a more customized experience, you can leverage our white label packages to create a fully branded UCaaS app, complete with messaging, calling, group chats, file sharing, and more, all possible thanks to SIP technology.

Pricing

Acrobits Cloud Softphone is unique from the other entries on this list in that we don’t do per-user pricing.

Every single one of our bundles, from the most basic up to the most advanced, allows for unlimited user activations. We charge a fixed setup fee and flat-rate pricing for each bundle, allowing customers the freedom to choose whichever option best suits their needs.

Notable Features

• Native Desktop App.
• Integration-friendly, API-ready.
• Over 100 premium enterprise softphone app features.
• Flexible pricing bundles.
• Best push notification on the market.

Pros

• Native Desktop App.
• Built to simplify complex integrations.
• Compatible with the top headset brands.
• No-code app development.

Cons

• Lacks 24/7 support.
• Initial upfront cost offers significant cost-savings, but may be too expensive for some small businesses and startups.

RingCentral

Overview

Originally known as RingCentral Office, RingCentral MVP is an all-in-one softphone solution targeted towards both small businesses and larger organizations.

It combines messaging, video, and audio calling onto a single platform for communication and collaboration. It also integrates readily with multiple leading CRM, collaboration, and productivity tools, including ZenDesk, Salesforce, Canvas, and Smarsh.

RingCentral MVP is available on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, offering a generally cohesive cross-platform experience. It equips administrators with a comprehensive suite of tools for visualizing and managing their deployment, including call monitoring, automatic transcripts, and advanced analytics.

Also, there’s a new AI powered focused product called RingEX, make sure to be aware of this.

Pricing

RingCentral MVP is available in four tiers: Essentials, Standard, Premium, and Ultimate, and charges monthly based on the number of active users.

It charges less per user for larger deployments, and Essentials is only available to organizations with 20 or fewer employees. Clients can choose to pay monthly or receive a discount by paying annually.

The prices below are for an organization with 100+ employees.

Notable Features

• Task management, calendar sharing, and file sharing.
• Video meetings with up to 200 participants.
• 50+ advanced business phone features, including auto-attendant, whisper, barge, and hot desking.
• Modular integration with other solutions such as RingCentral Rooms.

Pros

• Highly scalable.
• Integrates with most leading enterprise software, with development tools for custom integrations.
• Intuitive interface.
• No limit on user numbers.

Cons

• Limited flexibility, particularly in terms of choosing one’s VoIP provider.
• Fewer customization options compared to other providers.
• Best features are available exclusively in higher-tier subscriptions.
• Pricing can feel somewhat steep.

8×8

Overview

Named a leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for UCaaS for more than a decade, 8×8’s eXperience Communications Platform provides an all-in-one communications and collaboration tool.

Its Cloud PBX business phone solution represents one component of the overall platform. Clients can access the other elements of the platform with ease, as everything is available via a single app.

Contact centers represent one of the primary use cases for 8×8, which means it works mostly with larger organizations — an advantage from a support perspective.

Pricing

For business communications, 8×8 offers two options, though it emphasizes that customers can mix and match features by talking to sales. The first, X2, provides all-in-one voice, video, and chat. The second, X4, adds advanced call handling and analytics.

Notable Features

• Unlimited calling, SMS, and fax in up to 48 countries.
• Multi-level auto attendant with flexible call flows.
• Call forwarding, transfer, waiting, parking, monitoring, and queues.
• Role-based access controls, user provisioning, and multi-site support.

Pros

• Access to an incredibly rich selection of features through the eXperience platform.
• Easy control of costs, licensing, and customer relationships for contact centers.
• Integrates with business apps such as Microsoft Teams.
• All features and functionality available via a single app.

Cons

• Expensive.
• Not a suitable fit for businesses that don’t require the extra contact center or UCaaS functionality.
• Can be challenging and time-consuming to deploy at higher tiers.
• Steep learning curve.

DialPad

Overview

Dialpad’s real claim to fame is its AI-powered customer engagement and communications tools, with use cases that include contact centers, sales enablement, voice, and chat.

However, it also offers a formidable software-based business phone system. Available through both a desktop and mobile app, the secure and flexible solution is further augmented by enterprise-grade automations and integrations with Microsoft 365, Salesfore, and more.

Pricing

Notable Features

• Built-in analytics dashboard to assess both calls and customer feedback.
• Smart call routing and predictive dialers.
• Advanced auto-attendant and IVR.
• Robust security and encryption.

Pros

• Access to sophisticated artificial intelligence and machine learning functionality.
• Seamlessly transition between different devices and platforms.
• Simple, transparent pricing.
• Built to be GDPR compliant.

Cons

• Voicemail transcription is somewhat hit or miss.
• Occasionally
• 24/7 support available only to Enterprise tier
• Lacks worldwide availability.