8×8 Plans & Pricing: Full Guide for 2024
8×8 offers a wide range of solutions for cloud, contact center, and UCaaS communication solutions. However, the provider has been hiding its 8×8 pricing since late 2023. Why?
In all likelihood, the provider stopped showing its 8×8 VoIP pricing plans to motivate potential customers to contact their sales team for an easier up-sell. But we won’t let that stop this comparison, so we’ll use 8×8’s last known pricing.
Below, you’ll find an 8×8 cost breakdown of all its pricing plans, a head-to-head comparison with CloudTalk, and the answer to whether 8×8’s subscription cost is worth paying. Keep reading to learn more!
Key takeaways:
- 8×8 offers six plans: X2 starts at $24, X4 at $44, X6 at $85, X7 at $110, and X8 at $140. All plans are paid annually on a per-user/month basis. The provider used to offer a 30-day free trial, but it is no longer mentioned on its site.
- 8×8’s high-end plans include features like Auto-Dialers, Omnichannel communication, Advanced Analytics, and Skill-Based Routing. The provider also offers stand-alone add-ons for its AI Interactive Voice Response.
- When compared to other competitors like CloudTalk, 8×8 doesn’t quite stack up in terms of information availability, price affordability, international numbers, or customer service quality.
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Overview of 8×8’s Plans & Pricing
8×8 offers multiple pricing plans, each catering to a different use case based on your team size, feature, and integration requirements. Its X2 and X4 pricing plans fall under the UCaaS category, while X6, X7, and X8 are qualified as contact center plans. The main 8×8 contact center packages consist of:
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X2 Plan
8×8’s X2 pricing plan is the provider’s cheapest subscription package, offering a good selection of basic VoIP and collaboration features. This makes the plan a good choice for micro-size and SMB businesses starting their call operations on a budget.
The caveat to this 8×8 phone system pricing is that it’s relatively barebones in terms of its call center features. Instead of a complete set, it includes very niche features, such as Live Streaming via YouTube and interactive meeting calls.
KEY FEATURES:
- Unlimited voice calls to 14 countries
- HD video and audio conferencing
- SMS, MMS, and team chat
- Basic Integrations (MS Teams, etc.)
- Call Handling (Caller ID, Transfer, etc.)
X4 Plan
8×8’s X4 plan expands on its base offering with a wider selection of countries for unlimited calls, Supervisor and Call Activity Analytics, and agent coaching features. This makes it a solid choice for SMBs starting out.
However, at nearly double the price of the X2 plan, users may feel disappointed at the comparatively low number of additional features they receive for their money.
KEY FEATURES:
- Unlimited voice calling to 48 countries,
- 8×8 Frontdesk for receptionists and operators,
- Supervisor and Call Activity Analytics,
- Call Monitoring, Barging, Whispering
X6 Plan
Unlike the previous two tiers, the X6 plan is part of 8×8’s contact center pricing and offers an even wider range of tools, including advanced analytics and automation. It’s a good fit for mature SMBs and mid-market companies.
However, as was the case with the X2 and X4 plans, the twice-as-high price point may make some customers feel that they’re not getting their money’s worth. Also, for some reason, the MS Teams integration is missing from this tier, only available as an add-on.
X6 Plan
8×8 highlights the X7 plan as its most popular pricing option. Its main call to fame is the inclusion of a unified interface for all voice and digital interactions. Besides that, it only adds a few new features or integrations beyond what the previous tier offers.
This 8×8 phone system pricing is a solid choice for mid-market companies looking to centralize all their operations into one. However, it may fail to live up to the expectations of users for whom UCaaS isn’t the main concern.
KEY FEATURES:
- Omni-channel support for calls, SMS, e-mail, social media, etc
- Advanced integrations
- Co-browsing
X8 Plan
The X8 plan is 8×8’s most expensive subscription option, offering the final pieces of its advanced features, including an Auto-Dialer, as well as speech and text analytics, making it very desirable for enterprises with extensive outbound efforts.
However, as with all other plans, this package’s value for money may strike some users as unbalanced, considering that 8×8 alternative providers offer similar tools, often at a much lower price point.
KEY FEATURES:
- Speech and Text Analytics
- Quality Management
- Auto-Dialer
8×8’s Add-Ons:
Like its standard packages, the 8×8 VoIP pricing for add-ons is murky at best and completely obscured at worst. As such, we unfortunately can’t comment on the overall value. That being said, here’s what’s locked behind paywalls. 8×8’s add-ons include:
ADD-ONS:
- Media Cold Storage: Archive recordings and other media for <10 years.
- 8×8 Secure Pay: Set up a secure payment gate for your customers.
- Intelligent Customer Assistant: AI-powered call-flow designer for self-service.
- Intelligent IVR: AI-powered IVR for inbound and self-service calls.
- Auto Dialer: Available as an add-on for the X6 and X7 plans.
- Quality Management: Available as an add-on for all plans below X8.
CloudTalk Vs. 8×8:
Which Is the Best Choice for Your Business?
When choosing a provider, it’s important to look at their offering in the context of other options on the market. In this case, we’ll be comparing 8×8 against CloudTalk, so it’s vital we give you some context.
Short Overview of CloudTalk’s Plans and Pricing
CloudTalk has 4 pricing plans on offer, ranging in price from $25 to $50 per user/month, with a special exception for the custom pricing plan, which lets you tailor your solution to your unique business needs. Here’s a breakdown of CloudTalk’s plans:
- Starter: CloudTalk’s most basic plan, designed specifically for micro and small businesses. Easy to set up and easier to use, this plan offers small teams everything they need to kick off their call center operations.
Key Features: Click-to-Call, Voicemail, Call Flow Designer (CFD), Automatic Call Distribution (ACD)
Price: $25 per user/month - Essential: CloudTalk’s equivalent to RingCentral’s advanced plan, focused on growing SMBs and MMBs. This plan helps teams expand their inbound and outbound operations, automate processes, and improve experiences.
Key Features: SMS/MMS, Interactive Voice Response (IVR), Skill-Based Routing, Callback, Integrations + Open API
Price: $30 per user/month - Expert: CloudTalk’s feature-packed plan for growing MMBs and enterprises, or any team that requires robust calling capabilities. This plan helps customer-facing departments streamline outreach and improve performance.
Key Features: Power Dialer, Smart Dialer, VIP Queues, WhatsApp Inbound & Outbound Messages, Call Monitoring
Price: $50 per user/month - Custom: CloudTalk’s ultimate plan for the most demanding of companies, tailored perfectly to their particular business needs. This plan allows you to do it all, from coordinating teams to conquering the world’s many markets.
Key Features: Custom Onboarding, Unlimited Outbound Calls with Flat Rates, Enterprise-Level Security, Developer Support
Price: Varies based on features, number of users, etc.
CloudTalk Vs. 8×8: Direct Comparison
Aspect/Features
CloudTalk
8×8
Starting Price
From $25/user/month
$24 per user/month
Free Trial
14 days
Not available
35+ from Essential
($30 per user/month)
70+ from X2
(basic $24, advanced $110 per user/month)
Multichannel Features
From Expert
(SMS, WhatsApp,
$50 per user/month)
From X7
(SMS, Email, Social Media,
$110 per user/month)
Instant Messaging
Not available
From X2
($24 per user/month)
Conference Calls
From Essential
($30 per user/month)
From X2
($24 per user/month)
WhatsApp Integration
From Expert
($50 per user/month)
Add-On
($29 per user/month)
See How 8×8 Stacks Up
CloudTalk Vs. 8×8: Key Takeaways
We can glean several insights based on our comparison between CloudTalk’s and 8×8’s pricing and plans that paint a clear picture of which competitor is the better option. These include:
- Pricing: While 8×8’s pricing starts at an affordable $24 per user/month, the subscription cost quickly balloon to a relatively high point for a VoIP provider. In comparison, CloudTalk’s full suite comes in at an affordable $69 per user/month.
- Features: While 8×8 benefits from offering a combined array of collaboration and multichannel tools, its call center features may be lacking. Meanwhile, CloudTalk offers a comprehensive VoIP toolset.
- Integrations: Although 8×8 has a broader integration ecosystem, their availability is a little confusing due to the unclear distinction between basic and premium integrations. All of CloudTalk’s integrations are available at just $30.
- International Numbers: CloudTalk offers a more extensive selection of international, toll-free, and local numbers, which are vital for growing companies with a global customer base.
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8×8 Best Features
As we’ve discussed, 8×8’s packages are quite varied in terms of features and use cases. However, there are a few that rise above the rest. Based on online reviews and testimonials, 8×8’s top 3 best features include:
- Auto Dialer: 8×8 enhances outbound calling efficiency by offering preview, progressive, and predictive dialing modes. These modes automate the dialing process, increase connection rates, and enable faster agent handling, thereby boosting productivity.
- Omnichannel Capabilities: The platform supports omnichannel skills-based routing, allowing agents to manage interactions across voice, web chat, email, SMS, messaging, social media, and video. This integration ensures a consistent customer experience and streamlines communication workflows.
- Intelligent Interactive Voice Response (IIVR): This feature utilizes speech recognition and NLP to allow customers to interact with the system using their natural language, improving the efficiency of the self-service experience and reducing the need for live agent assistance.
8×8 Pros & Cons
Based on everything discussed so far, we can draw several conclusions regarding 8×8’s strongest and weakest aspects. These include:
PROS:
- Affordable X2 Plan: Ignoring all other plans and associated costs, 8×8’s X2 plan is on par with most other affordable subscription alternatives.
- Omnichannel Features: The 8×8 platform allows users to centralize their operations across calls, SMS, email, social media, and more.
- Ease of Use: According to multiple users across the G2 and Capterra review portals, 8×8 is very easy to deploy and use, perfect for onboarding new teams.
CONS:
- Hidden Costs: As previously mentioned, 8×8 deliberately obscured its pricing plans, forcing potential customers to contact their sales team directly.
- Limited VoIP Features: Perhaps because 8×8 offers tools for omnichannel and collaboration, its call center tool selection can be a bit barebones.
- Customer Support: Based on testimonials from 8×8’s review portals, customer support is the most commonly criticized aspect of its service, due to poor quality and long wait times.
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Despite its solid choice of features, collaboration tools, and integrations, several things are holding this provider back. Mainly, 8×8’s pricing per user is unclear and, based on past costs, quite expensive.
If you’re looking for a UCaaS solution or need tools that suit both your internal and external communications, 8×8 may be a provider worth considering.
But if you’re more interested in creating exceptional customer experiences worldwide, streamlining workflows, and closing more deals faster without breaking the bank, you should look no further than CloudTalk.
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FAQs
How much is 8×8 per user?
8×8 pricing starts at $24 per user/month. Premium plans and add-ons increase the cost significantly.
Is 8×8 free to use?
No, 8×8 offers only paid plans. A 30-day free trial was previously available but is no longer advertised.
Is 8×8 good or bad?
8×8 is widely used for UCaaS, but some users find its customer support lacking and its costs high compared to its competitors.
How to buy an 8×8 license?
Contact 8×8 sales directly to purchase licenses or discuss pricing options.
Is 8×8 still worth it?
8×8 offers strong UCaaS features but compares costs and needs against alternatives like CloudTalk for value.
What is the best alternative to 8×8?
CloudTalk is a popular alternative, offering competitive pricing, global numbers, and VoIP flexibility.
What is the rate limit for 8×8?
8×8 does not disclose rate limits; contact their support to confirm custom needs.
What things should you keep in mind before committing to 8×8?
Consider hidden add-on costs, limited VoIP features, and check if all needed tools are included.
How does 8×8’s pricing compare to other VoIP providers?
8×8’s plans start low but increase with add-ons; CloudTalk and others may offer better base features at lower costs.
Can 8×8 pricing plans scale with business growth?
Yes, 8×8’s tiered plans can scale, but costs may rise with required add-ons for advanced features.