As a cloud communication service provider, 8x8 aims at unifying all business communication through voice, video and text to a single platform. 8x8 offers a wide range of services including unlimited calling in the USA and Canada, team messaging, call monitoring and call analytics. These features are available in the form of subscriptions to 3 business communication plans and 3 contact center plans. Subscribers can access 8x8 services through smartphone and desktop apps for Android, iOS, MAC and Windows devices or IP desk phones.
As a business phone communication platform similar to 8x8, Grasshopper is a popular choice for startups and small businesses. It allows businesses to leverage VoIP technology for internal and external communication. In addition to calls and texts, Grasshopper plans include access to voicemail, call queue management, etc. All plans include common features but they can be accessed by a different number of users. If required, additional numbers can be purchased for a monthly fee.
8x8’s starter plan, the Express plan costs subscribers $15 per user per month. This is inclusive of unlimited calling within the USA and Canada as well as access to certain features such as voicemail, audio/ video conferencing and team messaging.
As an all-in-one voice, video and chat platform, the X2 is popular with larger teams. It costs subscribers $28 per user per month. The subscription is inclusive of unlimited calling to numbers in 14 countries. It also includes voicemail transcription, app integrations, etc.
For $57 per user per month, businesses can subscribe to the 8x8 X4 plan. This subscription allows businesses to call numbers in 48 countries without worrying about costs and gives them access to features such as CRM integrations, call monitoring and supervisor analytics.
8x8 plans start at a lower price point as compared to Grasshopper.
This is a good plan for entrepreneurs. The $28 monthly subscription to the Solo plan includes a phone number with 3 extensions through which your team can access virtual voicemail, incoming call controls, call forwarding, custom greetings, etc.
Larger businesses can subscribe to the Partner plan for 3 business numbers and 6 extensions. These numbers can have different area codes. Features remain mostly the same.
Small business plan subscribers can get 5 phone numbers with unlimited extensions to access all the Grasshopper features.
A desktop app, IP deskphone or web browser can be used by 8x8 subscribers to make and receive calls.
Like 8x8 subscribers, Grasshopper subscribers can use a desktop app to make and receive calls.
You can answer and make calls from anywhere using the 8x8 smartphone app.
Like 8x8, Grasshopper offers an easy-to-use app for Android and iOS devices through which calls can be made and received.
Incoming calls made to 8x8 Express plan subscribers can be routed through an automated receptionist. X2 and X4 plan subscribers can also route incoming calls through an auto attendant but upgrading to these plans gives subscribers the benefit of multi-level call flows.
In contrast to 8x8 plans, Grasshopper subscribers can get an add-on Ruby virtual receptionist service pack.
8x8 subscribers with admin access can customize auto attendant greetings from the Admin console.
Step 1. Click Auto Attendants.
Step 2. Click the Pencil icon and choose between Weekdays/ Holidays/ Alternate from the Call Handling Menus.
Step 3. Select Open Hours Menu/ Closed Hours Menu/ Lunch Hours Menu.
Step 4. Click Create Audio Files and upload your recording or record a new greeting.
8x8 and Grasshopper offer similar processes for greeting customization.
Subscribers can customize greetings by recording a message, uploading a prerecorded message or having the script voiced and recorded through the Grasshopper Voice Studio.
All 8x8 account supervisors can get status reports on devices. This shows them which devices are free and which are busy as well as when and how users access their accounts. The plan does not include live call monitoring or call recording facilities.
Along with all the features of the Express plan, upgrading to the X2 plan allows supervisors to see when agents are free, on a call or unavailable. They can also access voicemail transcriptions from their email inbox to prioritize responses. They can also use advanced moderator controls during audio/ video conference calls.
The X4 plan is the only 8x8 business communication plan that gives team supervisors the ability to monitor live calls. They can listen to live calls, talk to inexperienced agents without the other call participant knowing, join a call as a third participant or takeover calls from their agents. They can also read advanced call analytics reports.
8x8 offers a wider range of call monitoring features as compared to Grasshopper. Grasshopper does not offer live call monitoring in any of its plans. That said, agents have the option of forwarding calls to supervisors if they require assistance. In addition, voicemail messages are transcribed and emailed to subscribers for easier access and quicker responses. To help supervisors assess team productivity, Grasshopper offers reports on call analytics with a focus on KPIs such as call type, call duration, etc.
Only the 8x8 X2 and X4 plans include call recording. This feature can be automated or controlled manually.
Unlike 8x8, Grasshopper does not include call recording in any of its plans.
International call rates depend on location and the plan chosen. Each plan is inclusive of calls to certain countries. All others are billed according to usage. For example, a call to China is billed at a billed at $0.06 per minute rate.
Like 8x8, Grasshopper includes unlimited calls to certain locations while calls to other locations are billed additionally.
Calling numbers within the USA and Canada except for those in Hawaii and Alaska is free for Grasshopper subscribers. Other calls are billed on usage. For example, calls to Milan landline numbers are billed at 65¢ per minute.
You can create an account with 8x8 through the VoIP service provider’s website. Once you have entered your email address and other particulars, you can then define user roles, etc. from the 8x8 dashboard. Users can make and receive calls through free apps for smartphones, laptops and desktops or certain IP desk phones. The latter are available on the 8x8 website.
As with 8x8, businesses can create a new Grasshopper account online. Existing numbers can be ported or you can get a new number on the Grasshopper website. Agents can then access their accounts through smartphone or desktop apps. Supported landline phones can also be used once their calling card feature has been activated. Grasshopper customer support can help with this.
