{"id":43914,"date":"2024-06-10T14:48:07","date_gmt":"2024-06-10T21:48:07","guid":{"rendered":"\/us\/en\/blog\/?p=43914"},"modified":"2025-11-10T04:23:40","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T12:23:40","slug":"unified-communication-platforms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/us\/en\/blog\/unified-communication-platforms\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 8 best unified communication platforms for 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re on the lookout for new unified communications platforms for your small business, you\u2019re in luck\u2014there\u2019s a huge variety of options on the market. But how do you choose the one that\u2019s right for you? The sheer number of options can be overwhelming.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every cloud communications platform provider says they\u2019re the best at what they do, but who\u2019s actually offering the highest quality product at the right price? Where do you even begin to wade through the different tools and decide which one is best for your team?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As an expert and popular choice in the world of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/cloud-collaboration-software\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cloud communications<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, we know a thing or two about UCaaS services (and our competitors). Today, we\u2019re ready to share the scoop. We\u2019ve rounded up eight of the top unified communications platforms in the business and ranked them with small businesses in mind. Here are the criteria we used for this comprehensive ranking of UCaaS products:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Ease of use<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Time is a valuable resource for small businesses, so we looked into customer reviews about each product\u2019s ease of use and customer support.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mobility: <\/b>\u00a0Is your communication system truly mobile-friendly and capable of supporting your team&#8217;s need for flexibility and remote work. Does it offer powerful mobile features so you can work from anywhere?<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Quality of service<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. In a small business, outages can mean loss of real customers. How reliable is the cloud phone connection?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Affordability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Every dollar counts when you run a business. How much will this service impact your bottom line?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Integrations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. How well does the platform sync with your current applications, like your CRM or email client? The less toggling you have to do, the better.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Customer support<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. How easy is it to reach them, and how helpful are they in a crisis?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Overall value<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Affordability is important, and what you get for that price determines a product\u2019s true value. An \u00e0 la carte app might look cheapest on the surface, but add-ons can really add up.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, we\u2019ll cover:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#unified-communications-platform\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a \u201cunified communications platform\u201d?<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#8-of-the-best\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8 of the best unified communications platforms, ranked by value<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#5-benefits\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5 benefits of unified communications platforms for small businesses<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#how-to-choose\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to choose the right unified communications platform for your business<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\ud83d\udd0d <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>AI is changing the game for small businesses<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">Discover how AI can transform your small or medium-sized business by enhancing customer engagement and streamlining communications. Download our free eBook to learn innovative strategies and practical tips for leveraging AI to keep your customers connected and satisfied.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"download-form-widget standart-download-form\" data-url=\"https:\/\/assets.ringcentral.com\/us\/whitepaper\/ai-smb-customers-connected.pdf\" data-id=\"6a083e933a21c\" id=\"6a083e933a21c\">\n\t\t<button tabindex=\"on\"  on=\"tap:6a083e933a21c.toggleClass(class='open')\" class=\"open-modal-download-action download-form-button\" type=\"submit\">\u2705 Get the eBook<\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"download-form-modal\">\n<div class=\"download-form-modal-body\">\n<div class=\"download-form-modal-content\">\n<div class=\"download-form-modal-title\">\ud83d\udc40 \u200a Learn how AI is helping connect small business and customers.<\/div>\n<form class=\"download-form SMB\" method=\"post\">\n<div class=\"download-form-part\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input class=\"download-form-input\" aria-label=\"Full Name\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" type=\"text\" name=\"fullname\" placeholder=\"Full Name\" data-dl-events-hover=\"true\" data-dl-element=\"text\" data-dl-additional-info=\"download form\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"download-form-part\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input class=\"download-form-input\" aria-label=\"Email (please enter a work email address)\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" type=\"email\" autocomplete=\"on\" name=\"email\" placeholder=\"Email (please enter a work email address)\" data-dl-events-hover=\"true\" data-dl-element=\"email\" data-dl-additional-info=\"download form\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"popup_form\" value=\"1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"Asset_ID__c\" value=\"ODAM-03814\" class=\"download-form-input\"><\/div>\n<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"Lead_Entry_Source__c\" value=\"RC Blog\" class=\"download-form-input\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"download-form-part\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"download-form-submit\" type=\"submit\" data-dl-element=\"button\" data-no-auto-dl=\"true\" data-dl-additional-info=\"download form\" data-dl-name=\"Download now\">Download now<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<button on=\"tap:6a083e933a21c.toggleClass(class='open')\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"  class=\"download-form-modal-close\"><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"download-form-modal-thank\">Enjoy! <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"unified-communications-platform\" class=\"heading h2\"><a id=\"one\"><\/a>\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a unified communications platform?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unified communications is the theory of bringing all your communications channels together in one place. A great <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unified communications<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> platform acts as a one-stop shop, giving your teams everything they need\u2014without having to constantly hop between apps. These platforms usually have a few standard features:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UCaaS basic features to look for<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every unified communications as a service (UCaaS) platform is a little different, but most top UCaaS providers will allow you to do the following on any device:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chat and collaborate with team members<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start and join video meetings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make and receive phone calls<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019d call these features the bare minimum of any solid UCaaS platform. If the product you\u2019re investigating doesn\u2019t have them, head for the hills.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And by \u201cthe hills,\u201d we mean \u201cthe rest of this post.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"tip\">\n<div class=\"tip-heading\"><b>\ud83c\udfc6 Did you know:\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"tip-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingCentral has been named a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/ringcentral-named-a-gartner-magic-quadrant-leader-9-years-in-a-row\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader nine years in a row<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> because of its reliable service and easy-to-use app (among other reasons)!<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UCaaS premium features to look for<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some additional features that make a unified communication platform worth its monthly bill:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business SMS\/MMS: Text customers from any device<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital fax: No machines required<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Easy-to-use mobile app: An intuitive interface accessible from anywhere<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Download-free <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/best-video-conferencing-for-small-businesses\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">video conferencing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Great for meetings with clients or stakeholders who might not want to download an app<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/best-file-sharing-app\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">File sharing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, annotation, and organization<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Third-party integrations: Sync with your favorite work apps<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Secure voice and video<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High-def voice and video<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The silver lining: on some platforms, these features won\u2019t cost much more than the basic package. Plus, they\u2019re likely to pay for themselves over time thanks to a boost in efficiency, team collaboration, and customer satisfaction.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"8-of-the-best\" class=\"heading h2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8 of the best unified communication platforms, ranked by value<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s our definitive ranking of unified communication platforms, with a focus on value for small businesses. The further you go down the list, the fewer features are offered for the price:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#ringex\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingEX by RingCentral<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#8x8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8\u00d78<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#vonage\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vonage<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#dialpad\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dialpad<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#centurylink\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CenturyLink Connected Voice<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#broadvoice\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Broadvoice<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#grasshopper\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grasshopper<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#3cx\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3CX<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3 id=\"ringex\" class=\"heading h3\"><a id=\"rc\"><\/a>1. RingCentral: Best overall on quality and value<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a small business owner, you\u2019ve probably learned that real value beats the cheapest price every time. RingEX is both affordable and offers a high-quality <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/what-is-a-voip-phone.html\">VoIP phone<\/a> system for businesses of all sizes. Plus, the app has a clean, beautiful interface:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-56670\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Messaging-3-1.png\" alt=\"An example of the intuitive RingCentral interface\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1080\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingEX is so much more than a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/solutions\/office\/call.html\">cloud phone system<\/a>, though. This modern platform also boasts:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One unified business number for all communications. Make calls from your personal cell phones &#8211; without giving out your personal cell phone numbers!<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HD quality for voice and video<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/teams\/overview.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Team messaging and collaboration<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Group chat, file sharing, tasks<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Less than 6 minutes of downtime so you never drop your calls again<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Full cloud PBX service in 40+ countries, with international <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/how-does-virtual-phone-number-work.html\">virtual numbers<\/a> in 100+ countries, so you can go global without having to open a physical office.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Easy-to-use <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/desktop-app.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">desktop and mobile app<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business numbers for desk and mobile devices: Over 200 area codes available in the USA alone<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlimited domestic calling, audio conferencing and video meetings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Up to 100 video conference participants on the least expensive plans and 200 on the Ultra plan<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business SMS\/MMS to boost customer engagement. Send automated replies, appointment reminders, promotions, and more.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Secure, compliant, unlimited online fax on the Advanced and Ultra plans<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Voicemail transcription for easy reading<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">300+ pre-built integrations to connect RingCentral to the tools you use everyday to help sync contacts, track conversations, keep your CRM up to date<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">24\/7 live support: Phone, chat, email<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Industry-leading security across all devices<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Real-time metrics for monitoring quality of service<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To further enhance this connected experience, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/products\/customer-engagement-bundle.html\">RingCentral Customer Engagement Bundle<\/a> brings together calls, texts, and queue management\u2014helping businesses deliver smoother, more responsive customer engagement across every channel.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>\ud83d\ude97 \u00a0Get a test drive of RingCentral and see how it works by booking a product tour:<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><button data-href=\"#leadform-popup\" class=\"js-open-popup-activator btn primary\" >Choose a time<\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\ud83d\udcb0<\/span> You can also <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/roi-calculator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"s2\"><b>use this calculator<\/b><\/span><\/a><b> <\/b>to see roughly how much your business could save by using RingCentral to support your team&#8217;s communication with each other\u2014and clients.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingCentral customer reviews<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s one thing to brag about our own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/office\/features\/voip\/overview.html\">VoIP phone service<\/a>, but how do these features hold up in the real world? Here\u2019s what customers have said about RingCentral:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingCentral has been so helpful to get not only our team connected but to provide a better service to our customers! We have team members outside of the US, and it was imperative that we have a system they could use to be able to contact our customers easily. We have 3 companies and RingCentral made it easy to set things up the way we wanted it!<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d \u2013 Jenny H, RingCentral user<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe had a smooth transition, we were given a great price, the system has plenty of bells and whistles. My users have not complained once due to the change but have rather thanked me for making the decision to transition to ring central because it made their job easier.\u201d \u2013 Steve B, RingCentral user<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re interested, we\u2019ve compiled all of our online reviews for easy reading. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/whyringcentral\/reviews.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more RingCentral customer reviews.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingCentral app integrations<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingCentral also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/office\/integrations\/overview.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">integrates seamlessly with over 300 popular apps.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You can sync a CRM like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/office\/features\/salesforce-integration\/overview.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Salesforce with RingCentral<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to track and route every call for better customer service:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43919 size-full\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/image5-1.png\" alt=\"An example of the Salesforce and RingCentral integration\" width=\"1122\" height=\"758\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All of these features add up to time saved on manual tasks and toggling between different tools, and that means more time spent on the work that matters most to growing your business.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\ud83d\udd79\ufe0f<\/span> Get a hands-on look at how RingCentral works by booking a product tour:<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><button data-href=\"#leadform-popup\" class=\"js-open-popup-activator btn primary\" >Choose a time<\/button><\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcb0 You can also <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/roi-calculator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">use this calculator<\/a> <\/strong>to see roughly how much your business could save by using RingCentral to support your team&#8217;s communication with each other\u2014and clients.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 id=\"8x8\" class=\"heading h2 h3\"><a id=\"eightbyeight\"><\/a>2. 8&#215;8: Good value for the price<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8\u00d78 is another solid choice for small businesses in need of a UCaaS platform, and it\u2019s ranked high because of its affordability. They offer competitive quotes, short contracts, and deep discounts. But buyers beware: their pricing can be a real study in \u201cyou get what you pay for.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43927 size-full\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/image13.png\" alt=\" An example of how 8x8 looks on a mobile device and laptop\" width=\"800\" height=\"596\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We recently did a deep dive on 8\u00d78, and here\u2019s what we found. Compared with RingCentral, 8\u00d78 falls short on their number of app integrations (a couple dozen versus RingCentral\u2019s 300+). They still deliver good service and a user-friendly interface, and they rank well overall as a VoIP service provider. But you\u2019ll end up paying as much as you would for some other services on this list if you need <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/contact-center\/skills-based-routing.html\">skills-based routing<\/a> or omnichannel support.<\/span><sup><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s the verdict? 8\u00d78 could be the right choice if your budget is super tight. But be prepared to pay more for additional features over time. This might mean outgrowing their service more quickly than an all-inclusive, scalable choice like RingCentral.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"tip\">\n<div class=\"tip-heading\"><b>\ud83d\udcd6\u200a Read more: <\/b><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/alternatives-to-8x8\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201cAlternatives to 8&#215;8: What\u2019s best for small businesses?\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3 id=\"vonage\" class=\"h2\"><a id=\"vonage\"><\/a>3. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vonage Business Communications by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/alternatives-to-vonage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vonage<\/a>: A fan of small businesses<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/alternatives-to-vonage\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vonage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a big name in the communications game, and for good reason. Like RingCentral, they offer an extensive set of features with several tiers of pricing and service, so you can choose the plan that makes the most sense for your small business and the option to add on a customer engagement suite.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They also have a good-sized base of customers who are small business owners, which means they know what they\u2019re doing when it comes to your unique needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43921 size-full\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/image7-1.png\" alt=\"Some visual examples of VBC in use on different devices\" width=\"620\" height=\"620\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are, of course, a few catches.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vonage owns less of its tech than RingCentral for some of their features. That means behind their app, Vonage is juggling several different platforms, which might lead to snags in seamlessness on your end.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"dialpad\" class=\"heading h3\"><a id=\"dial\"><\/a>4. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dialpad: Easy to use<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/alternatives-to-dialpad\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dialpad<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> users typically appreciate the easy installation and ease of use. The platform also integrates with a few of the big-name apps: Salesforce, Zendesk, Microsoft 365, and a handful of others. Their paid plans include some of the features RingCentral offers: cloud phone, video, and text messaging capabilities, as well as internal group chat in one app.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43920 size-large\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/image6-2-1024x698.png\" alt=\"An example of the Dialpad interface\" width=\"1024\" height=\"698\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One important thing to note, however, is that online fax is only ever available as an additional add-on, for an extra monthly charge.<\/span><sup><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 <\/span><\/sup><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s in contrast to RingEX, which has online fax built-in on the Advanced and Ultra plans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If, then, your definition of a unified communications platform is one with fax without having the hassle of additional add-ons\u2014say, if you work in healthcare\u2014Dialpad may not be the best choice for you. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"centurylink\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. CenturyLink Connected Voice: Also an internet provider<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CenturyLink is pretty different from the other UCaaS providers on this list, because they are also an internet provider for small businesses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This means they could be pricier than other services you\u2019ll find here if you decide to use them as a full-service product, but it might be nice to have your internet and cloud services under one umbrella if there\u2019s an issue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Professional Line version of the brand\u2019s Connected Voice product is their unified communications offering. It includes internal collaboration tools like group messaging and file sharing as well as video conferencing, but <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.top10.com\/voip\/reviews\/centurylink-business\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reviews of Century Link, and particularly the mobile app<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are largely negative.<\/span><sup><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/sup><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. CenturyLink offers a 99.99% uptime SLA, which falls short of RingCentral\u2019s 99.999%.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They also offer limited out-of-the-box integrations with popular business software, so you could find yourself doing a lot more toggling between different apps. And some pretty basic features\u2014auto attendant and call recording, for example\u2014are add-ons you have to purchase separately.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"broadvoice\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Broadvoice: Affordable upfront<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Broadvoice is another solid PBX provider, especially for small businesses on a budget. They\u2019re an affordable, no-frills cloud phone service that touts flexibility and scalability, with a generally happy base of customers. Their b-hive solution is what you\u2019re looking for when it comes to a unified communication platform: phone, video, and team messaging are included there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-56672\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/image2-2.png\" alt=\"Broadvoice\u2019s app as it appears on mobile devices\" width=\"1024\" height=\"716\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As with the other more affordable options on the list, you\u2019ll end up paying more for certain features. These include call recording, virtual fax, global availability, and the b-hive Communicator app. All of these are only available at their highest price points. Beware the \u00e0 la carte apps, reader.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\ud83d\udcd6\u200a Read more:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/alternatives-to-broadvoice\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAlternatives to Broadvoice: The definitive ranking\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"grasshopper\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. Grasshopper Connect: Good on price<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grasshopper<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is likely to be a more affordable business phone solution on the surface, so check them out if your main concern is price. You\u2019ll get the basic cloud communications features for your investment: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/business-phone-numbers.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">business phone numbers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, SMS capabilities, and call and voicemail routing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43916 size-large\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/image2-1-1024x593.png\" alt=\"Grasshopper\u2019s unified communications platform on laptop and mobile devices\" width=\"1024\" height=\"593\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are some limitations, however. Grasshopper currently offers no video conferencing or third-party integrations, which could mean a lot of toggling between different apps.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They also don\u2019t offer a solution for your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/contact-center.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">contact center<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at this time. Details on the breadth and depth of their features are also pretty thin on the ground, which isn\u2019t usually the best sign. Compare their features page with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/office\/phone-system-features.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingCentral\u2019s features page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. We\u2019ll wait here.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"3cx\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8. 3CX: Super cheap<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/alternatives-to-3cx\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3CX<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> just might be the VoIP service provider for your small business if you\u2019re on a super-tight budget. While most other applications cost around $20 per user, per month, give or take, for a middle-of-the-road plan, 3CX\u2019s most inexpensive plan starts at $145 annually, billed per system NOT per user (as of the writing of this post).<\/span><sup><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/sup><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They do also offer a very limited plan for free, with different capacities depending on expected simultaneous calls.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-43923\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/image9-1024x746.png\" alt=\"3cx UI\" width=\"1024\" height=\"746\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can probably imagine where this is going. 3CX is probably the least \u201cunified\u201d product of the UCaaS companies listed here, with few features beyond handling phone calls.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Integrations are extremely limited, focused mostly on CRMs, Microsoft 365, and a few others. They do offer a CRM template creator for systems that don\u2019t sync with 3CX, however.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One way 3CX can keep their prices so low, besides offering a no-nonsense phone system without the bells and whistles, is by not owning their cloud technology. To get up and running with cloud phones, you first have to choose your cloud provider: Google Cloud, Amazon Lightsail, or one of several others.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This might be great if you already use the cloud for other aspects of your small business, but we can see this outsourcing causing issues if you run into a technical problem with the cloud down the line. Will 3CX be able to help quickly, or will you have to call multiple companies just to get back online with your customers?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"5-benefits\" class=\"heading h3 h2\"><a id=\"two\"><\/a>5 benefits of unified communications platforms for small businesses<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Running a small business is a one-of-a-kind experience, and streamlining your communications with the right unified communications platform from the list above can have some big benefits:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Save time<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think about your most recent work day. How many different apps and platforms did you have to switch between? Three, five, ten, more? This kind of inefficiency might seem small at first, but it adds up to time lost, tasks missed, and mistakes made.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you funnel all of your communication channels into one efficient app, it eliminates the constant switching of gears. That could mean more focused employees and more time spent on the real work of growing your business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also means better work-life balance for you and your employees. For small business owners and their employees, this constant intrusion can lead to burnout and diminished productivity. A robust UCaaS solution can alleviate this pain point by supporting a healthy work\/life balance through professional handling of communications and a clear separation between work and personal lives. For example, use different business numbers for work, or customize your ringtones to distinguish between work and personal calls.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Handle more customers with a small team<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speaking of efficiency: a unified communication platform allows you to expand your customer base without doubling your team members\u2014or losing the personal touch your customers love.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This kind of sustainable scalability is a critical win for small businesses. Automation is a small business owner\u2019s friend, and the right UCaaS solution for your business should cut down on the manual tasks that slow down your employees.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One example: as you grow, you\u2019ve probably noticed your team answers the same questions over and over again. But with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/contact-center\/interactive-voice-response.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interactive Voice Response<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as part of your UCaaS platform, you could create a self-service menu for callers that allows them to help themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether they\u2019re checking their balance, confirming an upcoming appointment, or looking for your business hours, more customers will get the help they need without taking up your team\u2019s time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Improve team communication<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a small business, it\u2019s important to have all your departments on the same page, but in a lot of cases, they aren\u2019t even in the same book.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When each team has its own set of tools, silos can develop, and things start slipping through the cracks. And if you have remote team members, as so many of us do today, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/the-importance-of-effective-communication-in-the-workplace\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">effective communication<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> becomes even more of a challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unified communications platforms tear down silos by pulling everyone into the same space for their daily tasks. With features like team messaging and video conferencing, coworkers are just a click away from each other no matter where they work. And with file sharing and task tracking right inside the platform, it\u2019s easy to keep everyone up to speed and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/collaboration-in-the-workplace\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">collaborating on common goals<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Delight (and keep) your customers<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every customer counts when you run a small business. One surefire way to keep them around is to look professional and offer excellent customer service. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/customer-experience\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">customer experience<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> encompasses every interaction you and your team have with someone: before, during, and after a sale. A powerful unified communication platform can help optimize every step of the customer journey so folks feel seen, heard, and valued.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Put yourself in your customer\u2019s shoes. Is there anything more annoying than having to call a business multiple times to have a simple question or concern addressed? That\u2019s why your service team\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/first-call-resolution-industry-standard\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">first call resolution rate (FCR)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is critical to customer retention.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unified communication platforms that offer <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/contact-center\/automatic-call-distribution.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">automatic call distribution<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and other advanced call routing features can be clutch for improving your FCR. For example, if you have tech support on hand, you can use skill-based routing to ensure customers who call with IT issues reach an expert the first time, every time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best UCaaS platforms also give your customers more ways to interact with you: phone, video, SMS, even online chat for collaboration with your team if needed. Whether your fans are introverts or extroverts, they\u2019ll feel comfortable reaching out, and more likely to stick around as a result.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\ud83d\udcd6\u200a Read more:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/customer-service-objectives\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c4 essential customer service objectives for a small business\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Empower your employees<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s not just important to keep your customers happy as a small business. It costs real time and money to replace an employee when they leave.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, it\u2019s cheaper to keep your employees on board. How can a cloud communications app help? The right UCaaS platform could improve your employee\u2019s experience by:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Making work more flexible<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The ability to work remotely has become essential. The \u201cwork from anywhere\u201d trend is here to stay, and now we know people can be just as effective from home as they are in an office setting. Unified communication platforms make flexible work more possible than ever before, and it\u2019s what teams want. Why not leverage these tools for happier employees? UCaaS allows your teams to work together from anywhere, via video conferencing, team messaging, and more.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strengthening teamwork<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Communication breakdowns, especially across departments, are a huge cause of frustration for employees. Increased frustration can lead to greater attrition. See where we\u2019re going with this? With a unified communication platform, you can rid your team of siloed discussions and improve <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/virtual-collaboration-how-to-improve-remote-work\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">virtual collaboration<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Plus, with remote productivity tools such as team huddle, asynchronous video clips from any device, your team might get faster answers to questions, which means fewer mile-long email threads full of misunderstandings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Providing tools for success<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The right unified communication platform for your business will equip your team with automation to help them do their best work. Employees will love the ability to set their own task reminders, sync the app with their calendar, annotate shared files, and collaborate via their preferred channels.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\ud83d\udcd6\u200a Read more:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/employee-retention-strategies\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c7 employee retention strategies that won\u2019t break the bank\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-to-choose\" class=\"heading h2\">How to choose the right unified communications platform for your business<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our list of the best unified communications platforms should have helped you on your way to finding the right solution for your business. What else can you do, though, to ensure you get the software you need?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Assemble a diverse search team<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the best ways to ensure you decide on the best UCaaS platform\u2014and add some enthusiasm to implementation\u2014is to enlist folks from every corner of the office in the process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By doing so, you\u2019re more likely to choose a product that best fits everyone\u2019s daily needs the first time, instead of finding gaps and shortcomings once teams start to use the unified communication system.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brainstorm your biggest needs<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sit with your team and create a UCaaS wish list based on everyone\u2019s daily app usage and tasks. As with any good brainstorm, the word \u201cno\u201d should be off the table in the first round. Let everyone shout out their ideas; you never know what useful tools might come to light.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From there, narrow down the list. It\u2019s helpful if the tools you prioritize align with your business goals for the year; that way, everyone understands the criteria for the new unified communication software\u2019s specs. For example, if one goal is to improve internal communication, a powerful messaging feature should be a must-have on your final list.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decide on a budget (hint: value &gt; price)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take a look at different platforms and decide what you\u2019re willing to spend. As you\u2019ve seen, most UCaaS platforms offer several pricing tiers with small businesses in mind, while also catering to enterprise unified communications needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A note of caution: while some products might look like a steal on the surface, you might end up paying more in the long run\u2026 either in supplementary tools or lost customers to lower quality service. Be sure to consider the upfront price and the long-term value of these services before buying.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Long-term value includes features like scalability\u2014so you don\u2019t outgrow the platform and need to shop again in two years\u2014and an impressive uptime SLA (the monthly number of minutes the phone service is up and running). For example, RingCentral\u2019s uptime is 99.999%, which is hard to beat.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Test drive different UCaaS platforms<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just about every platform we\u2019ve included here gives you a way to try before you buy. This could be a demo, a trial period, or even a free tier of their plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a good idea to include both tech-happy and tech-averse people on your team in these demos or test runs. That way, you can see which platform is really the easiest to use for folks of all technical comfort levels.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ask lots of questions<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is when that wish list you made really comes in handy. As you shop around and test your options, don\u2019t be afraid to ask about all of the features you need. Make sure a software provider can meet as many of your must-haves as possible so you don\u2019t have to start the whole process over in a year or two.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choose your favorite platform and implement<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve settled on the right unified communication platform, it\u2019s time to roll it out to your team. Take advantage of the tool\u2019s online <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/create-knowledge-base\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">knowledge base<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to train everyone on the new software. For example, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/university.ringcentral.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingCentral has an entire training site<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> full of self-guided modules, helpful videos, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During these early stages, don\u2019t be afraid to reach out to the software provider for assistance! Some platforms, like RingCentral, even offer a few hours of custom training with a member of their team. Take advantage of everything a service offers to make sure your whole office is comfortable with their new product.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evaluate the tool regularly<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you\u2019re planning the implementation of your new UCaaS platform, make sure to schedule out some check-ins throughout the year. It\u2019s important to take the temperature of new users to see what\u2019s going well and where there are snags, if any.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be sure to make the UCaaS provider aware of any serious issues so they can correct them, and you and your team can get back to work. Also, don\u2019t be afraid to ask if something new is possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you decide to go with a platform like RingCentral, which owns all of the unified communications technology it uses, your big idea could improve the way the software supports your team and others.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UCaaS providers: Which one is right for your business?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingCentral is the clear industry leader and offers some serious bang for your buck, thanks to its ease of use and setup, hundreds of integrations, team <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/online-collaboration-tools\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">collaboration tools<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for marketing (and sales, and customer service), and high-quality phone and video service.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But we know every small business is different, and that\u2019s why we pulled together this diverse set of tools for you to investigate as you weigh your options and priorities. Whatever you choose, UCaaS might be a way to become a leader in your own field by innovating the way your team works.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s always a good idea to take these products for a test drive with your team, so you can choose with confidence the option that makes their lives easier and increases productivity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get in touch today for a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/view_demo.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">free demo from RingCentral<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why use a unified communications platform?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The biggest advantage of using a unified communications platform is that it eliminates the need for your staff to switch between multiple platforms. Instead, they can simply do everything from a single tool, from starting a <a class=\"waffle-rich-text-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/video-call.html\">video call<\/a>, through sharing files, to sending messages. This streamlines your workflows and gives productivity a terrific boost.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s the best way of selecting the right unified communications solution for my business?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, it\u2019s crucial to establish exactly what your company\u2019s operational needs are. Smaller organizations might be able to get by with a simple solution, whereas larger companies may require one with a broader range of features. You can often opt for a free trial to make sure the solution you\u2019re going for is a good fit for your business before you make a final decision.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><sup><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/sup><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> https:\/\/www.8&#215;8.com\/products\/plans-and-pricing<\/span><\/p>\n<p><sup><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/sup><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> https:\/\/www.dialpad.com\/pricing\/<\/span><\/p>\n<p><sup><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/sup><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> https:\/\/www.top10.com\/voip\/reviews\/centurylink-business<\/span><\/p>\n<p><sup><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/sup><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> https:\/\/www.g2.com\/products\/3cx\/pricing<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re on the lookout for new unified communications platforms for your small business, you\u2019re in luck\u2014there\u2019s a huge variety of options on the market. But how do you choose the one that\u2019s right for you? The sheer number of options can be overwhelming. Every cloud communications platform provider says they\u2019re the best at what &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1143,"featured_media":43793,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17901],"tags":[4606,3180,18819,14203,18778,18820,18776,13709,18821,14212,296,18777,5113,14218],"class_list":["post-43914","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-leadership","tag-ucaas","tag-11-tips-for-ceos-starting-a-personal-twitter-account","tag-3cx","tag-8x8","tag-broadvoice","tag-centurylink","tag-dialpad","tag-fuze","tag-grasshopper-connect","tag-mitel","tag-ringcentral","tag-star2star","tag-unified-communications","tag-vonage"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.3 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Top 8 Best Unified Communication Platforms for 2025<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the top 8 unified communication platforms for 2025. 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