RingCentral is one of the most popular VoIP platforms on the market. It offers advanced solutions including text, voice, and video communication, and its versatile apps are attractive and easy to use.
It offers advanced reporting and analytics, as well as integrations with numerous third-party platforms. In short, RingCentral is a great option for businesses of all sizes that need advanced VoIP solutions.
PROS
- Free trial
- Third-party integrations
- Excellent mobile apps
CONS
- A little expensive
- Basic plan is limited
Overview
How RingCentral Works
RingCentral Available Features
RingCentral MVP is a popular VoIP system with a wide range of features designed for businesses of all sizes.
Versatile Communication Solutions
RingCentral MVP offers comprehensive messaging, audio calling, and video conferencing capabilities. It’s available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices and supports teams of over 1,000 users. The apps are attractive and easy to use, with modern interfaces and a variety of tools.
A Choice of Phone Numbers
When you start using RingCentral, you can choose from a wide variety of phone numbers. There are over 200 area codes, as well as a variety of toll-free and blank numbers. More advanced plans also let you add virtual numbers from over 100 different countries.
Administration Tools
RingCentral’s business phone system includes a variety of administrative features. These include autoresponder, pre-recorded music, greeting messages, and call monitoring tools. You can assign access permissions to employees and have a variety of data and analytics tools to monitor their performance.
Visual Voicemail
RingCentral’s visual voicemail tool offers accurate text-to-text voicemail solutions. This is a useful option for those who can’t listen to audio messages often, as it allows them to know who tried to call and why.
Security and Reliability
RingCentral is known for its excellent security systems. It uses various security methods, including physical data center security and digital security, to ensure that your sensitive data is never compromised.
For example, all transmissions are protected by encryption and Transport Layer Security (TLS), which ensures that they cannot be intercepted. Zero-knowledge encryption is planned to be implemented soon, which will add an additional layer of protection for businesses that process highly sensitive data.
The entire infrastructure is protected by advanced software and network security measures. These include powerful firewalls, multi-factor authentication for administrative personnel, proactive system monitoring, and advanced intrusion detection systems.
To back up its integrated security procedures, RingCentral holds several security certifications, including ISO 27001, ISO 27017, and ISO 27018, which address data security. It is also fully compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). However, to use it, you must contact RingCentral and request an affiliate agreement.
RingCentral Integrations
RingCentral offers a wide range of integrations through its native app gallery, where you’ll find apps for everything from video conferencing to collaboration and marketing automation.
All apps are clearly categorized, and there’s a search box you can use to find specific options. For example, a quick search in the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) category reveals 94 apps. Here you’ll find integrations with many popular CRM systems, such as Salesforce, Zendesk, ServiceNow, and Zoho CRM. There are also options for everything from productivity and workflow management to instant messaging and email marketing.
Another important aspect is RingCentral’s developer tools. In the RingCentral Developer Center, you’ll find the documentation and tools you need to create your own integrations and connect RingCentral with your company’s other productivity apps. Of course, you’ll need some programming knowledge to do this.
There’s also a portal where you can request new app development. If you know of any integrations with a particularly popular platform that you think could be useful, you can suggest them here.
RingCentral App
The RingCentral mobile app is available for iOS and Android devices. It has an attractive design and is easy to use, although we found it a bit confusing. It lets you send messages, make voice calls, and video conference calls.
The RingCentral app has a few tools that set it apart. You can schedule meetings, make calls over your carrier’s network, manage your contacts, and perform various actions through integrations with third-party apps.
RingCentral Customer Support
RingCentral customer support is available 24/7 via online tickets and phone. While responses through the online ticket system can be slow, the support agents are generally friendly and knowledgeable.
It also offers a wide selection of self-help resources. Opening the live chat bubble will take you to a built-in chatbot. Chatting with it is a surprisingly effective way to find relevant articles and guides quickly and efficiently.
You can also explore the knowledge base on your own. You’ll find everything from video tutorials and tutorials to quick start guides and integration documentation. There’s also a community forum and a comprehensive learning center with internal learning resources.
RingCentral Pricing
Pricing & Special Offers
RingCentral offers four MVP plans (for messaging, video messaging, and phone) designed for businesses. Each plan is available for 1 to 999+ users, and the price per user decreases as you add more team members. Plus, you’ll save up to 31% with an annual subscription and a free trial for up to 5 users.
The Essentials plan, which is the most affordable, includes phone and messaging for up to 20 users, making it a viable option for small businesses. Prices range from $29.99 to $39.99 per user per month. Billed annually, the monthly cost can be as low as $19.99. You’ll have unlimited calling access within the United States and Canada.
Moving up to the Standard plan ($32.99 to $49.99 per user per month) lets you add an unlimited number of users to your VoIP system. It also includes unlimited internet faxing, various third-party integrations, and video conferencing tools that support up to 100 participants.
The Premium plan ($42.99 to $54.99 per user per month) and Ultimate plan ($52.99 to $69.99 per user per month) add more advanced tools. They include additional application integrations, various developer tools, and real-time analytics.
In addition to its VoIP solutions, RingCentral offers video and contact center products. With a subscription to RingCentral Video Pro, you can host meetings with up to 100 participants for free. A subscription to RingCentral Video Pro+ (starting at $14.99 per month) adds several advanced features.
Contact center solutions vary depending on your needs. Pricing is determined on a case-by-case basis, so we recommend contacting the RingCentral team for more information.
RingCentral’s pricing is similar to many of its leading competitors. For example, Grasshopper’s Solo plan starts at $29 per month. However, there are more affordable options, such as Phone by Web.com, which starts at $14.99 per month.
RingCentral vs Vonage
Vonage is another high-end option that, along with RingCentral, ranks among the top VoIP service providers on the market. RingCentral is a bit more expensive, but it also offers industry-leading security and integrations with hundreds of third-party applications.
RingCentral vs Grasshopper
Grasshopper is a more affordable alternative to RingCentral, but it’s also a lot simpler. It doesn’t offer the third-party integrations and video calling capabilities that RingCentral offers. However, it’s still a good option for those who need a basic VoIP voice and text solution.
Ringcentral vs Phone by web.com
Phone by Web.com is a much simpler, simpler VoIP option than RingCentral. The $14.99 subscription gives you access to two numbers, making it a good option for small businesses. However, it lacks advanced features like video calling, third-party app integration, and a support website.
Bottom Line
Overall, RingCentral MVP offers some of the best business VoIP solutions we’ve seen. It’s a bit pricey, but there are options for everyone from freelancers to large enterprises.
RingCentral does everything professionally. Its security measures leave nothing to chance, it’s available for a range of mobile and desktop operating systems, and it integrates with hundreds of third-party platforms.
Plus, you’ll enjoy an attractive user interface. Access controls are available for those managing large teams, and the 24/7 phone support team is efficient and knowledgeable. There’s even a selection of user guides and videos to help you get started.
In short, RingCentral is a VoIP option worth considering for businesses of all sizes. We recommend taking advantage of its free trial and giving it a try if you need advanced VoIP software that supports video conferencing.
