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Nextiva vs. RingCentral.
Which one should you choose for VoIP services?
We did a comparison to help you make the best buying decision …and possibly save some money.
Spoiler Alert: While Nextiva and RingCentral are popular VoIP solutions, a closer look reveals business-critical shortcomings.
For instance, Nextiva reviews on G2 point to a phone system riddled with intermittent connection issues and occasional app crashes. Bad news for call-heavy businesses.
Meanwhile, RingCentral is reportedly plagued with substandard customer support, service outages, and a steep learning curve.
That’s why we’re throwing iPlum in the Nextiva vs RingCentral debate.
iPlum is a competitively priced alternative to RingCentral and Nextiva, especially if you’re in for a mobile-first business phone system.
With a 99.99% uptime, responsive support, and a wide range of features, iPlum offers a reliable business communication system without the sky-high costs or complexity of traditional VoIP providers.
Nextiva vs RingCentral and How They Compare to iPlum at a Glance
Before we dive into the specifics, here’s a quick overview of how the three platforms compare on some core elements.
Quick Note: Here are 8 things to keep in mind when choosing a business phone system.
Moving on…
Nextiva vs RingCentral — Features [And How They Compare with iPlum]
Nextiva, RingCentral, and iPlum are feature-rich, albeit with different capabilities.
Here’s what you should know.
Calling and Messaging
RingCentral and Nextiva are fully-fledged VoIP systems. Top calling features include unlimited calls in the United States and Canada, auto-attendants, and call routing.
iPlum, in contrast, is a mobile-first business phone system. It provides a second phone line for calls and texts in the United States and Canada, allowing you to separate business and personal communications on one device.
You can also get an 800 toll-free vanity line with iPlum and RingCentral, a feature Nextiva lacks.
Note: Nextiva and RingCentral VoIP services heavily rely on stable internet connectivity. iPlum is different. It lets you switch between Wi-Fi and cellular networks. That way, you can still use your phone’s regular network for calls if your internet is sloppy.
For messaging, Nextiva and RingCentral have SMS and team chat integrated within their platforms, complemented by file-sharing capabilities.
iPlum has similar messaging features but pushes the envelope with top-level security tailored to highly regulated sectors like healthcare, legal, and finance.
That said, all three platforms support auto-text replies with signatures, allowing businesses to send professional responses to missed calls and messages when unavailable.
Let’s talk about call recording.
iPlum pulls ahead here with HIPAA-ready call recording for regulated industries. In contrast, you must use RingCentral's “masking” feature to record sensitive information. Nextiva, on the other hand, requires agents to pause and turn off automated voicemail-to-email transcripts when handling sensitive information.
Call Management
Nextiva and RingCentral boast robust call management features, like multi-level IVRs and call queuing for businesses handling high volumes of inbound inquiries.
iPlum holds its own with a virtual phone tree. The service allows you to set up extensions like “press 1 for sales” or “press 2 for support,“ which is perfect for solo users and small teams who need a structured phone system without the overhead of a VoIP system.
RingCentral, Nextiva, and iPlum offer call screening and blocking. However, iPlum adds an extra control layer with filter-based screening to stop spam calls.
All three platforms pack similar voicemail and transcription capabilities. iPlum, for instance, allows you to leave out-of-office greetings, letting callers know when you’ll be back.
For businesses that require call monitoring, RingCentral and Nextiva have call barging and whisper features, which can be handy for employee training and supervision.
While iPlum doesn’t have these exact features, it supports compliance-focused call recording and logging, making it a solid RingCentral and Nextiva alternative for industries with strict regulations.
Security and Compliance
Nextiva's security measures include Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP) encryption, backed by 24/7/365 monitoring. It also complies with standards such as ISO/IEC 27001, PCI, and HIPAA for industry-standard data protection.
RingCentral, in comparison, ensures enterprise-grade security with TLS and SRTP encryption, SOC 2/SOC 3 compliance, and STIR/SHAKEN standards. It strengthens account protection with single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
It is worth mentioning that while RingCentral supports HIPAA compliance, it requires customers to be "covered entities" or "business associates." It also requests a business associate agreement, which may involve extra activation steps.
iPlum's compliance measures span HIPAA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other measures include TLS, SRTP, and SOC2.
Meanwhile, its end-to-end encryption protects data in transit and at rest, ensuring compliance with regulations like the Dodd-Frank Act and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rules.
iPlum bolsters security with 2FA and strict password policies. And, unlike RingCentral, its HIPAA compliance is readily available without extra agreements.
Integrations and Compatibility
RingCentral and Nextiva integrate with a wide range of third-party applications, including CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot, as well as collaboration tools like Teams and Slack.
iPlum, on the other hand, doubles down on API-based connectivity.
Businesses can use iPlum’s REST API to integrate the service into their existing systems, including EHR (Electronic Health Records) for healthcare and EMS (Emergency Management Systems).
You can also use the API for VoIP CRM integration. This makes iPlum a solid choice for regulated industries that need customized solutions rather than off-the-shelf integrations.
Regarding compatibility, Nextiva and RingCentral are primarily desktop and cloud-based, with softphone apps for mobile devices.
In contrast, iPlum is a mobile-first business phone system designed for users who want a dedicated business line on their existing phone without a VoIP desk setup.
Faxing
RingCentral offers cloud-based internet faxing, allowing users to send and receive faxes via email, mobile apps, and desktop applications. It also supports fax broadcasting, which means you can simultaneously send a single fax to multiple recipients.
However, faxes are only stored for 30 days, limiting their usefulness for businesses that require long-term archiving or regulatory compliance.
Nextiva, on the other hand, provides unlimited internet faxing through email and its web portal. But, it only stores faxes for 6 months.
iPlum, in contrast, comes with a dedicated, cloud-based faxing solution. Unlike RingCentral and Nextiva, which treat faxing as a secondary feature within their VoIP platforms, iPlum provides HIPAA-compliant faxing with a Business Associate Agreement (BAA).
It also includes secure storage and archiving for up to 12 months, ensuring documents remain protected. In addition, iPlum includes international faxing and has REST API integration for faxing automation.
Customer Service
RingCentral and Nextiva provide multiple support channels, including phone, live chat, and email. Both platforms also offer dedicated account managers for higher-tier plans. However, like many big carriers, they often transfer calls between different support agents, which can slow down resolution times.
iPlum, by comparison, takes a more direct and expert-backed strategy for customer support. The provider directs customer queries to professionals who actually work on the product rather than outsourced support teams.
Furthermore, iPlum provides email and ticket-based support, coupled with technical assistance via live Zoom calls. And then there’s the extensive knowledge base, allowing users to quickly troubleshoot common issues without waiting for a support agent.
Nextiva Reviews
We read Nextiva reviews of G2 and Capterra.
A few things came up.
Most reviewers appreciate the platform’s user-friendly interface and the “all-in-one” design. Others love the customizable.
However, some users say the solution is expensive, especially if you’re only in for the phone service and don’t necessarily need the other features.
Here’s what a section of customers had to say about Nextiva.
“It integrates phone service, video conferencing, and customer relationship management (CRM) tools, making it a one-stop solution for business communication needs.” — Jon S, G2.
“I began experiencing intermittent connection issues; incoming calls not ringing, and other times the call would go directly to my voicemail with no notification.” —JJ K, G2.
“The app often crashes and is not reliable at all. Whenever there is an update, prepare for Nextiva to have lots of issues for a period of time.” — Melissa E, G2.
RingCentral Reviews
RingCentral reviews on Capterra point to a service whose users appreciate the robust VoIP features and unified communications for calls, texts, and video conferences.
However, users also report challenges with customer support, citing long wait times and unhelpful responses.
They also experience service outages and internet dependency issues that disrupt their phone service.
Here are some RingCentral reviews on Capterra.
"RingCentral is a solid small business phone service " — Rick K, Capterra
“Dropping of calls, disconnects calls. Would like for RingCentral to help with that.” — Ally R, Capterra
“Good, but can be excellent. The app, most of the time,e works very slow.”— Dionel R. Capterra
iPlum Reviews
As the iPlum reviews below show, HIPAA compliance is one of the top reasons users choose the phone system.
“I appreciate iPlum taking HIPAA compliance and BAA's seriously. I could meet my need for a business number and secure text options without carrying a second cell phone.” — Rebecca N, Capterra.
“I like knowing that my calls and texts are HIPPA compliant! “— Taylor B. G2.
“We can manage our practice's workload in one uniform place while maintaining HIPAA compliance. Very user-friendly.” — Ashley N. G2
Furthermore, iPlum offers responsive customer support, including a Zoom call, to help you get up and running as quickly as possible.
Here’s a good example.
Nextiva vs RingCentral — Pricing [And How They Compare with iPlum]
Nextiva, RingCentral, and iPlum offer tiered pricing structures with monthly and annual subscription options.
Here’s a quick breakdown of each platform’s monthly pricing.
Nextiva pricing starts at $30 per user per month, with features like VoIP calling, business SMS, video meetings, call routing, file sharing, and an auto-attendant.
However, you must upgrade to higher-tier plans to access advanced tools like customer-to-team SMS, toll-free numbers, IVR, and skills-based routing.
RingCentral pricing, like Nextiva, starts at $30 per user per month for its Core plan, which includes unlimited domestic calling, business SMS/MMS, IVR, and HD video meetings.
Nonetheless, features like auto-call recording, unlimited fax, and expanded HD meetings are only available on higher-tier plans.
In comparison, iPlum offers a budget-friendly option, starting at $13.99 per user per month. This includes US/Canada calling and texting, voicemail, a phone tree, spam blocking, and out-of-office greetings.
The Professional plan, at $14.99 per user per month, adds features like web texting, voicemail transcription, encrypted texting, HIPAA compliance, and text archiving. Meanwhile, the Premium plan, available for $19.99, comes with a toll-free number and live Zoom support.
How to Get iPlum Cheaper?
iPlum is among the most competitively priced phone number systems on the market, given its suite of features.
But even at that, nothing stops you from saving a few more dollars to channel into other parts of your business.
You can get iPlum cheaper by signing up for annual plans.
Let’s crunch the numbers.
The Standard plan costs $11.99 per user per month, amounting to $167.88 annually. However, with the 36% annual discount, the yearly cost drops to $107.45 per user, saving you $60.43 per year.
The Professional starts at $20.99 per user per month, so a monthly plan would cost $251.88 per year. However, if you opt for the annual discount (29% off), you’d pay $178.33 annually, saving you $73.55 per user.
Now, let’s say you’re paying for three users on the Professional plan. With a monthly plan, your total cost for the year would be $755.64. But with the annual discount, you’d only pay $534.99, saving you $220.65.
Fax plans also offer savings. The Standard fax plan costs $8.99 per month or $107.88 per year when paid monthly. With the 25% annual discount, you’d pay $80.91 annually, saving $26.97.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Are the Disadvantages of Nextiva?
Based on Nextiva reviews, some of the platform’s disadvantages include inconsistent connection issues and lackluster customer service. A section of reviewers also say that the platform has a steep learning curve.
What Phone System Is Better Than RingCentral?
The choice of one phone system over the other may vary depending on your specific needs.
That said, iPlum is a good RingCentral alternative if you’re looking for an affordable mobile-first solution with a decent feature collection, including a free IVR with any local or toll-free phone number subscription.
Does Nextiva Record Phone Calls?
Yes, Nextiva allows you to record phone calls. You can archive the call recording for up to 60 days.
Nextiva vs RingCentral — Why You Should Pick iPlum
Nextiva and RingCentral are solid business phone systems.
However, if you’re looking for a more affordable, mobile-first solution with top-tier security, iPlum is the robust alternative.
Moreover, iPlum offers more flexibility, allowing you to switch between Wi-Fi, LTE, and cellular networks to keep you connected even when the internet is inconsistent.
Plus, iPlum lets you separate business and personal calls on the same device using a second line, all while reducing spam calls and protecting your privacy.
Add the end-to-end encrypted calls coupled with HIPAA-compliant messaging, and you get a business phone system that prioritizes security and convenience without the hefty price tag.
Whether you're a solo user, a small business, a team, or part of a regulated industry like healthcare or finance, iPlum ensures your communications remain private, compliant, and easily manageable.
Sounds good?
Create your free account below to experience the iPlum difference.
