Brace yourself for a clash of features: 8x8 vs. Vonage. Discover the best phone system for your business. Let the duel unfold!
Introducing 8x8: Revolutionizing business communication with cloud services. Unify voice, video, and text on one platform. Enjoy unlimited calling, team messaging, call monitoring, and analytics. Choose from 3 business communication plans and 3 contact center options.
And now, making their entrance on the opposing side, Vonage. Their cloud-driven platform melds voice, video, and text in 40+ features, enhancing global bonds and streamlining remote teamwork. Uncover contact center solutions and customizable APIs through three tailored plans.
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You can log in to your 8x8 account to make and receive calls from the web, a desktop app or IP deskphone.
In the case of both 8x8 and Vonage, smartphone and desktop apps can be used to make and receive calls. The Premium and Advanced plan also includes access through IP desk phones.
8x8 users can make and receive calls through a free app for Android and iOS devices.
Like 8x8, Vonage subscribers can make and receive calls through smartphone apps.
The X2 and X4 plans gives you the added benefit of multi-level attendant menus. Call flows can be established based on location, customer size and other rules.
8x8 and Vonage both route incoming calls but take a different approach to it. A virtual receptionist service is included in all Vonage plans. In addition, Premium and Advanced plan subscribers can set up a multi-level auto attendant.
8x8 subscribers can greet callers with custom messages. This can be set up by account admins. Step 1. Select Auto Attendants from the admin console. Step 2. Click on the edit icon and choose the right day from the call handling menu. Step 3. Select the appropriate hours for the message. Step 4. Click Create Audio Files and choose between recording or uploading a new greeting. Account admins can record or upload customized greetings for incoming calls.
8x8 and Vonage offer similar options for greeting customization. You can customize greetings for all incoming calls from the admin dashboard. Step 1: Click on "phone system" and navigate to the relevant feature. Step 2: Record a new greeting or upload a recorded message.
Supervisors of teams using the X2 plan services can monitor agents through status reports to know when they are free, busy and unavailable. They can also read voicemail transcripts to get an idea of call quality and prioritize responses. If the subscribers participate in audio or video conference calls, supervisors can exercise advanced moderator controls to keep the call flowing smoothly. Upgrading to the X4 plans gives team supervisors access to all the Express and X2 features as well as live call monitoring capabilities. Supervisors can listen to live calls, coach agents through query resolution without the other call participant’s knowledge, join a call and take over the call if required. They also get access to reports on advanced call analytics.
The difference between call monitoring features for 8x8 and Vonage becomes apparent in the advanced plans. The Vonage dashboard gives subscribers real-time insights into account statuses and call logs. This includes identifying caller ID information and call durations. You can see which extensions are available to take a call, which are busy and which are otherwise unavailable. Supervisors can also use the call conferencing feature to have three-way conversations between themselves, an agent and a customer. In addition, voicemail transcriptions are accessible through email for easy response prioritization.
Call recording is available only to X2 and X4 plan subscribers. These recordings can be stored on the 8x8 cloud, a dropbox account or your desktop.
While both 8x8 and Vonage don't include call recording in their starter plans, Vonage does provide add-on packs. The ability to record calls is included only in the Advanced plan. Subscribers can record up to 15 hours of conversation. Mobile and Premium plan subscribers can get an add-on call recording pack if required.
Calls to certain countries are included in 8x8 plans. Calls to other countries are billed on a per minute rate. For example, calls to India are billed at a $0.06 per minute rate while calls to Sudan are billed at a $0.25 per minute rate.
Like 8x8, Vonage includes unlimited calls to the USA and Canada in its plans. To make international calls, Vonage subscribers require an international calling add-on pack. These are grouped by location and include 1000 to 100000 call minutes.
Subscribers can use their email address to create 8x8 accounts on the website. Once an account has been created, user roles and other customizations can be defined. You can also do this through the 8x8 application for desktops and smartphones. These applications are free to download. If you prefer using a deskphone, you can see the supported devices on the 8x8 website.
Businesses can create an account with Vonage online as they do with 8x8. Vonage accounts can be activated at the time of creating the account or at any time within 45 days of account creation. People with admin access can define user roles, extensions, etc. from the Vonage dashboard. Once the account is activated, services can be accessed by smartphone or desktop apps. Premium and Advanced plan subscribers also have the option of accessing services through IP desk phones. If you do not have a deskphone, the same can be purchased online from the Vonage website.
