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iPlum is the best Sideline alternative if you’re looking for a cost-effective second phone number with robust business features.
It supports international calls and includes features like business hours, auto attendant, and HIPAA compliance (more on iPlum features below), none of which Sideline offers.
In this post, we’ll break down why iPlum is the top Sideline alternative, especially for professionals and teams.
We’ll also explore five other options worth considering.
But first, let’s take a closer look at Sideline’s strengths and weaknesses, based on what real users are saying.
Sideline Reviews: What Are Users Saying?
Sideline reviews vary across different platforms.
While some users appreciate the app's ability to help them separate personal and business calls, others point out recurring issues with call quality, customer service, and billing.
To give you a clear picture, we’ve zeroed in on what users like and dislike about Sideline based on user reviews from platforms like G2, Capterra, Software Advice, and Getapp.
❌ Call quality can be unreliable
"I think I have had a total of 3 calls that were of unacceptable quality." – Ross A., GetApp
❌ Customer service is slow or unresponsive
"No one to talk to personally, ever... it will stay wrong for hours or days." – Arin A. Wallington M., GetApp
❌ Issues with billing and broken promises
"Sideline raised their monthly rate 50% overnight." – Joel K., GetApp
❌ Doesn't support multiple incoming lines
"The app does not allow for the use of multiple lines coming in (even in the paid version)." – W. Shawn W., GetApp
❌ Voicemails can be delayed
"Sometimes the voicemails take a while to come through." – Liz B., G2
❌ Account blocked after high call volume
"They had no right to block my number because I made too many business calls." – Verified Reviewer, Capterra
❌ Number porting can be slow
"The number porting took some time." – Mark, Software Advice
✔ Lets you carry a second line on your phone
"Sideline works as a separate line on my phone. I use it as my business mobile number." – Pamela C., GetApp
✔ Easy to use with clean interface
"The display/interface is clean and easy to navigate." – Hillary B., GetApp
Sideline Pricing
Here’s a breakdown of Sideline pricing based on the information found on their website.
- Monthly Plan – $14.49/month
- 6-Month Plan – $69.99: You pay for the full six months at once.
- Annual Plan – $129.99: You pay for the full year upfront.
Sideline Features
Sideline features revolve around calling and texting. Here are the most notable functions:
- Second Phone Number: Adds a dedicated business number to your phone.
- Caller ID: Identifies calls to your Sideline number.
- Calling: Makes and receives calls using your mobile minutes.
- Texting: Sends SMS and MMS messages.
- Separate Inbox: Keeps business texts and calls in a separate app.
Why Look for a Sideline Alternative?
Here are reasons to look for a Sideline alternative if the user reviews are anything to go by:
- Text message delays.
- Poor and inconsistent call quality.
- No desktop or web version available.
- Failure for contacts to sync properly.
- Customer support is slow or unresponsive.
- Pricing is significantly high for what you get.
- Fewer features compared to competitors like iPlum.
- Saved contact names not showing when you receive calls.
Best Sideline Alternatives
Now that you have a bird’s eye overview of what Sideline can do and the cost, let’s look at its alternatives and competitors.
But before we go into the details, here’s a table summarizing how Sideline competitors compare.
1. iPlum (Best Value)
While Sideline and iPlum offer a second phone number for calling and texting, the latter delivers a more feature-rich experience.
Let’s start with the basics. Sideline gives you:
- A second number
- Unlimited texting
- Calling through your mobile network
- Voicemail customization
- Auto-reply to missed calls or texts
Sure, that’s enough for solo and small business use. However, once you need more structure or robust business features, Sideline’s limitations start to show.
iPlum, in comparison, is built for business from the ground up. It includes everything above and adds tools Sideline doesn’t support at all:
- Toll-free numbers (800, etc.)
- International calling and texting
- Cloud voicemail with email alerts
- Call recording and logging
- Call transfers, extensions, and music on hold
- Business hours and forwarding rules
- Full auto attendant (IVR) with custom greetings
Indeed, Sideline’s auto-reply feature is good. But iPlum allows you to:
- Send custom replies based on business hours
- Auto-text missed calls
- Include clickable links, logos, and contact info
- Build out a full call routing system with multiple paths
In addition, iPlum’s functionality is a notch higher when it comes to a team management angle. It supports:
- Multi-user business accounts
- Cloud-based group management
- REST APIs for integration
- Role-based controls and team inboxes
Sideline doesn’t offer any of these.
Security and compliance are another significant differentiator. iPlum is:
- Fully HIPAA and HITECH compliant
- Protected with AES-256 encryption
- Backed by Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) for healthcare use
Sideline, by comparison, isn’t designed for regulated industries and doesn’t meet any of these standards.
With iPlum, you also get added perks like faxing, scheduled texts, pinned conversations, and a broader device range (including tablets and Chromebooks). Plus, iPlum is available in 23 languages and works across 200 countries. Sideline is mobile-only and U.S.-focused.
Pros
- Affordable pricing
- 50+ business features
- HIPAA compliant
- Supports toll-free and international numbers
- Easy number porting
Cons
- No video conferencing (feature coming up soon)
iPlum Pricing
iPlum pricing reflects a cost-effective solution designed for professionals, small businesses, and healthcare providers who need advanced phone features without the high cost of a full phone system.
Here’s how much iPlum costs:
- Standard Plan – $8.99/user/month: Packaged for mobile calling, texting, voicemail, phone tree, and business hours setup.
- Professional Plan – $14.99/user/month: Ideal web access, secure texting, archiving, and HIPAA compliance. Includes all Standard features.
- Premium Plan – $19.99/user/month: Packaged for industries needing call and text compliance like finance, legal, and sales. Includes all Professional features.
Let’s now compare iPlum pricing to Sideline’s.
iPlum offers more value than Sideline for less money.
Sideline charges between $14.49/month or $129.99/year per user for a second number, unlimited texting, and basic calling.
iPlum’s Standard Plan, in comparison, is $8.99/month, nearly 38% cheaper than Sideline’s monthly price. And, it comes with more features such as call routing, voicemail, auto-replies, spam blocking, and the option for a toll-free number.
If you need HIPAA compliance or voicemail transcription, iPlum’s Professional Plan will cost you $14.99/month—just 50¢ more than Sideline monthly.
How to Port Your Sideline Number to iPlum
One of the most common complaints we encountered in Sideline reviews is the difficulty of porting a number.
iPlum makes it easy to port/transfer your number. To do so, follow the simple steps explained in the video below.
Ready to port your Sideline number to iPlum? Click the button below to get started.
Port Your Sideline Number to iPlum
2. RingEX
RingEX is a Sideline alternative for businesses looking for a full unified communications platform.
On one hand, Sideline suits solo users who need basic texting and calling. On the other, RingEX brings together calling, texting, video meetings, and team messaging in a single AI-powered app.
Sideline gives you a second number, unlimited texting, and voicemail. However, it lacks integrations, team features, and flexible call options.
RingEX, in comparison, supports over 400 integrations, including Salesforce, Google, and Microsoft Teams. It also adds AI call summaries, real-time transcriptions, and a shared space for team chat and file sharing.
In addition, RingEX offers enterprise-grade security, 99.999% uptime, and compliance support. Sideline, by contrast, is built around simple mobile VoIP and doesn’t support regulated industries or scalable infrastructure.
If you're a solo user looking for a simple second number, Sideline may get the job done.
But RingEX is a worthwhile upgrade for growing teams that want to combine calls, messaging, meetings, and automation in one platform.
Pros
- All-in-one design
- 400+ integrations
- AI-powered summaries
- Scalable
Cons
- Expensive
- Takes time to learn
RingEX Pricing
RingEX offers three pricing tiers:
- Core: $20/user/month
- Advanced: $25/user/month
- Ultra: $35/user/month.
3. Dialpad
Dialpad positions itself as a platform that offers fast, AI-driven communication across voice, video, and messaging. Sideline, on the other hand, is primarily a second phone line provider.
With Sideline, you also get unlimited texts, voicemail, and auto-replies. However, it’s mobile-only with no desktop access and doesn’t natively integrate with third-party apps.
Dialpad takes a very different path. It transcribes calls as they happen, creates summaries, and suggests action items, features meant to improve conversations. It also comes with messaging channels, video meetings, and integrations with Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Zendesk.
For teams, using Dialpad means less app switching and more visibility. Managers can review call analytics and coach in real time, something Sideline doesn’t support.
Dialpad offers 24/7 support, a 100% uptime SLA, and robust disaster recovery. In comparison, Sideline provides none of those guarantees.
That said, Dialpad is a strong Sideline Alternative if you’re looking to collaborate, track calls, and improve customer experience with built-in AI.
Pros
- Real-time AI transcriptions
- Wide range of integrations
Cons
- AI features need higher-tier plans
- Best experience requires a desktop app
Dialpad Pricing
Dialpad offers three plans packaged to meet different team sizes and communication needs as follows:
- Standard – $15/user/month
- Pro – $25/user/month
- Enterprise – Custom pricing
4. Nextiva
Nextiva is a good Sideline alternative for businesses looking for an all-in-one platform that centralizes calls, video, messaging, analytics, and automation.
Users can access it from desktop or mobile, and it supports Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, and Chromebooks. It also includes built-in analytics to monitor communication activity and optimize team performance.
Sideline is significantly different. It adds a second number to your mobile device and focuses only on calls and texts. Plus, you get unlimited texting, calling, voicemail, and a few simple team features.
Both platforms support mobile and cloud deployment. However, Nextiva supports a broader range of use cases across small, medium, and large businesses.
It also offers internal communication features like messaging and email modules, which Sideline doesn’t provide.
So, if your needs lean toward separating work calls from personal ones, Sideline works. But if you want to route calls, run meetings, and stay connected across devices, Nextiva is a strong alternative to Sideline.
Pros
- Unified communication
- Desktop and mobile apps
- Robust analytics
Cons
- Higher monthly cost
Nextiva Pricing
Nextiva offers three pricing tiers designed for different business needs:
- Core – $30/user/month (or $35 month-to-month)
- Engage – $40/user/month (or $50 month-to-month)
- Power Suite – $60/user/month (or $75 month-to-month)
5. Line2
I
f you’re using Sideline and find it limiting, Line2 is a possible alternative. Like Sideline, Line2 offers a second number but more flexibility in how and where you use it.
First, Line2 doesn’t rely on your mobile carrier alone. Instead, it runs over VoIP, which means you can take calls and texts on your computer, tablet, or phone.
But Line2 stands out as a handy Sideline alternative because it supports day-to-day operations. It comes with tools like business hours, auto-attendants, and voicemail transcription, which help ycreate a more professional experience for anyone reaching out to you.
That said, integrations are relatively limited in both platforms because neither connects with popular CRMs or business apps, so keep that in mind.
Sideline may be easier to set up, but Line2 offers more structure. Sure, it isn’t as feature-rich as iPlum, but it’s enough if you’re outgrowing a basic second number and need something with a bit more function.
For that reason, Line2 makes business sense for solo professionals and small businesses that want to do more with their phone system.
Pros
- Works on desktop, tablet, and mobile
- Minimalist interface
- Better structure than Sideline
- Ideal for solo professionals
Cons
- No integrations
- Limited feature set
Line2 Pricing
Line2 offers two simple pricing options, structured as follows:
- Monthly Plan – $9.99/month, billed monthly
- Annual Plan – $7.99/month, billed annually
6. OpenPhone
Sideline gives you a second number tied to your mobile network. OpenPhone, in comparison, operates fully in the cloud, enabling you to access it from your phone, tablet, or desktop browser.
On top of that, OpenPhone supports calling and messaging in both the U.S. and Canada. It also lets you set business hours and manage messages in a shared inbox. Sideline, by contrast, only offers unlimited calling in the U.S. and doesn’t support basic features like scheduled hours unless you’re on its Enterprise plan.
What makes OpenPhone a worthwhile alternative to Sideline, though, is the collaboration features. For instance, you can tag coworkers in threads, use shared numbers, and even record calls. In addition, it integrates with tools like Slack, Zapier, and CRMs, none of which Sideline supports.
Furthermore, OpenPhone enables you to track communication history across your entire workspace and assign responsibility for replies to improve customer satisfaction.
Pros
- Cloud-based access from any device
- Shared inbox
- Slack and Zapier integrations
- Optional AI call agent
Cons
- Key features require higher-tier plans
- Add-ons can be expensive
Openphone Pricing
OpenPhone offers three main plans, all billed annually, plus an AI add-on:
- Starter – $15/user/month
- Business – $23/user/month
- Scale – $35/user/month
- Sona AI Agent (add-on) – $49/month
Best Alternatives to Sideline: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What App is Better Than Sideline?
iPlum is a better app than Sideline. It is especially ideal if you need more business features, better call management, and secure texting. Besides, it supports HIPAA compliance, toll-free numbers, and international calling.
Is Sideline Free to Use?
No. Sideline costs $14.49/month. While that seems affordable at a glance, iPlum pricing starts at $8.99/month and offers more tools for less, making it a more affordable option for business users.
Is The Sideline App Legit?
Yes, Sideline is a legitimate app for adding a second number. However, it is important to note that Sideline doesn't offer HIPAA compliance, which limits its use for healthcare or regulated industries.
Sideline Alternatives: Why Choose iPlum Over Competitors
Sideline thrives on simplicity.
However, its lack of advanced features may not work for today’s business environment where robust communication is paramount.
Furthermore, compared to other alternatives like RingEX, Dialpad, or OpenPhone, iPlum offers a balance of affordability and functionality.
Click the button below to get started with iPlum.
