dialpad-pricing

Dialpad is one of the cheapest phone calling systems on the market, with an entry-level plan priced at just $15. But do the costs end here?

Choosing cloud-based call center software based only on the price can be risky. It’s not always possible to anticipate all the frustrations and hidden costs that come as a consequence of taking something home for the lowest price you can find.

To help you avoid making this mistake when choosing a phone system for your business, we’ve taken a deep dive into Dialpad’s pricing and plans to show you what’s really behind the numbers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dialpad Connect offers three plans: Standard ($15 per user/month), Pro ($25 per user/month), and Enterprise (price on request) plans, with plenty of add-ons available.
  • Dialpad users will find several usage limitations on its two entry-level tiers and key features tucked into add-ons, leading to extra fees that can catch businesses by surprise.
  • Dialpad’s low price comes at the expense of its feature offerings. CloudTalk, on the other hand, offers a competitive price point while providing AI features, smart dialers, and advanced routing at no additional fees.

See why others are switching to CloudTalk

Overview of Dialpad Pricing and Plans

Dialpad offers three main plans, each designed to support different levels of business communication needs. However, only two of these plans (Standard and Pro) come with publicly available pricing. 

The third Enterprise plan includes Dialpad’s most advanced features but hides its pricing behind a quote request. The provider also heavily relies on paid add-ons, which obscures the actual price you’ll have to pay for Dialpad’s full suite of features.

Below is a quick look at Dialpad’s available plans and their price points.

Feature

Standard

Pro

Enterprise

Annual Pricing

$15 per user/month

$25 per user/month

Per request

Unlimited Calling

Additional Numbers

Unlimited Meetings

<10 participants

<10 participants

<10 participants

Meeting Duration

<45 minutes

<45 minutes

<45 minutes

Domestic SMS, MMS

International SMS

Call and Voicemail Transcriptions

Web and Chat Support

Phone Support

Google Workspace Integration

CRM Integrations

Analytics and Reporting

Ring Groups

3 max

25 max

Unlimited

Hold Queues

Priority Routing

Single-Sing-On (SSO)

Office Locations

1

<10

Unlimited

Dialpad’s Standard plan starts at $15 per user per month (or $27 for monthly billing) and serves as an excellent entry-level option for businesses seeking streamlined internal and external communication without advanced contact center features. 

Key features:

Missing from this tier:

Best for

Well-suited for micro and small businesses looking for a platform that integrates calling, messaging, and video capabilities.

Dialpad’s Pro plan, priced at $25 per user per month (or $35 if billed monthly), builds upon the Standard plan by offering enhanced features tailored for growing businesses. It offers better support and tools to enhance customization and streamline workflows.

Key features:

Missing from this tier:

Best for

Designed for organizations expanding across multiple locations or managing larger teams that need more flexibility and scalability in their communication solutions.

Dialpad’s Enterprise plan is crafted for global organizations that need advanced communication features, with pricing available only by contacting their team. It offers a 99,9% uptime guarantee to ensure continuous support for critical operations.

Key features include:

  • Single-Sign-On (SSO)
  • Unlimited office locations
  • Unlimited ring groups
  • Priority live agent support

Missing from this tier:

Best for

Best suited for large businesses and enterprises needing reliable communication tools for operations without geographic limitations, with multiple office locations.

Dialpad’s Add-Ons:

Although Dialpad’s upfront cost is appealing, many of the handy features are locked behind add-ons. This approach can quickly escalate the overall cost as additional features are added.

Some of the most common add-ons include:

  • Internet fax: License (pricing unknown) + $0.10 per page when you exceed the monthly limit. 
  • Meetings for 10 – 150 participants: Starts at $15 user/month.
  • Meetings with 45+ minutes: Starts at $15 user/month.
  • Platinum Support: Per request.
  • Global Unlimited Calling: After reaching 1500 minutes/month, international calls are billed through Calling Credits.
  • Dialpad Business Intelligence (BI): Per request.
  • Manage a Coaching Team: Per request.
  • Ai CSAT (Customer Satisfaction): Per request.
  • Conference room line: Starts at $15/number/month.
  • Additional local numbers: Starts at $5/number/month.
  • Additional international or toll-free numbers: Starts at $15/number/month.

Exposing Dialpad’s Hidden Fees

While Dialpad makes a great set of features “available,” there are hidden fees that can catch businesses off guard, especially when it comes to additional features and calling credits. 

These costs, not always transparent in the initial tier descriptions, can quickly add up and impact your budget. Here’s a closer look at Dialpad’s extra charges and what you should consider before signing up.

Restrictions Behind Features

Many of Dialpad’s features come with limitations. For instance, if your team requires extended meeting durations, Advanced Analytics Reports, or International Calling options, you’ll likely need to purchase additional add-ons. This can be frustrating for teams that expect these features to work fully.

The Real Limits of ‘Unlimited’ Calling

Although the Global Unlimited Calling add-on suggests limitless use, it provides 1,500 minutes of international calling per month. Once this limit is reached, additional international calls are charged via Calling Credits, which require advance top-ups. If credits run out, ongoing calls could be interrupted, potentially compromising business communications.

Better Help Comes at a Price

Need faster, hands-on support from Dialpad? Be prepared to pay extra. With Premium Support as an added charge, companies looking for priority access to specialists, dedicated onboarding, or customized training will find these services aren’t included in standard plans. For businesses with a high demand for timely assistance, this add-on can make Dialpad’s true cost higher than expected.

Other Dialpad Plans: AI Focused

Dialpad offers its AI-driven tools in separate plans tailored to specific business needs. These specialized options let businesses select features aligned with their goals, with customized pricing for each unique focus area.

  1. AI Meetings: Video meetings, with a Free plan for personal use and a Business plan that provides unlimited meetings, advanced AI tools, and CRM integrations.

    Price: $15 per user/month, available in the Free and Business plans
  2. AI Contact Center: Designed to enhance customer support operations through intelligent automation and AI-driven insights. Tailored for businesses of all sizes, it enables efficient management of customer interactions across various channels.

    Price: Essentials plan at $80 per user/month; Advanced plan at $115 per user/month; and Premium plan at $150 per user/month. 
  3. AI Sales: Crafted to boost sales team performance by integrating AI-driven insights and automation into the sales process. It suits businesses wanting to streamline their sales operations and improve overall productivity.

    PriceEssentials plan at $60 per user/month; Advanced plan at $95 per user/month; and Premium plan at $150 per user/month.

Explore Top 10 Dialpad Alternatives

Messages illustration

Overview of CloudTalk’s Plans and Pricing

CloudTalk offers four main plans ranging from $25 to $49 per user per month, plus a custom option for more specialized needs. Here’s a breakdown of the choices:

Check the pricing.

  1. Starter: Ideal for small and micro-businesses, the Starter plan is easy to set up and provides essential features to get your call center operations up and running.

    Key Features: Click-to-Call, Voicemail, Call Flow Designer (CFD), Automatic Call Distribution (ACD).

    Price: $25 per user/month.
  2. Essential: This plan supports growing SMBs and MMBs by enhancing both inbound and outbound operations with advanced automation and customer experience features.

    Key Features: SMS/MMS, Interactive Voice Response (IVR), Skill-Based Routing, Callback, Integrations + Open API.

    Price: $29 per user/month.
  3. Expert: Geared towards MMB and scaling businesses, the Expert plan equips teams with advanced tools to improve customer interactions, boost productivity, and drive operational efficiency.

    Key Features: Power Dialer, Smart Dialer, VIP Queues, WhatsApp Inbound & Outbound Messages, Call Monitoring.

    Price: $49 per user/month.
  4. Custom: For companies with complex, large-scale requirements, the Custom plan offers a fully tailored solution, allowing businesses to scale seamlessly and operate across diverse markets.

    Key Features: Custom Onboarding, Unlimited Outbound Calls with Flat Rates, Enterprise-Level Security, Developer Support.

    Price: Based on selected features, team size, and other requirements.

CloudTalk vs. Dialpad: Head-to-Head on Features and Value

Deciding between Dialpad and CloudTalk? Here’s a straightforward comparison of both platforms, covering key aspects like cost, flexibility, and features to help you make the best choice for your business needs.

Features

CloudTalk

Dialpad

$25 – $49/user/month + custom solution

$15 – $25/user/month + custom solution

160+ countries

70+ countries

Additional Numbers

Available in all plans

From the Pro plan ($25 per user/month)

From the Essential plan ($29 per user/month)

From the Advanced plan ($25 per user/month)

From the Essential plan 
($29 per user/month)

From the Pro plan
($25 per user/month)

Domestic Calls

500 / 1,000 / Unlimited
Based on plan, worldwide

Unlimited within your country, the US and Canada

From the Expert plan ($49 per user/month)

From the Enterprise plan (custom price)

Available in all plans

Available in all plans

Available in all plans

Available in all plans

CloudTalk Vs. Dialpad: Key Takeaways

Picking the perfect communication tool for your business isn’t easy—we get it! That’s why we’ve broken down each platform’s top perks so you can see exactly what each offers and make the best choice with confidence.

  • Price transparency: CloudTalk offers clear pricing, giving you access to a solid set of features across all plans without any surprises. In contrast, Dialpad’s lower entry-level costs hide key features behind add-ons or the custom-priced Enterprise plan, making the true cost add up fast.
  • Primary capabilities: CloudTalk enhances phone communication with features like auto-dialers, intelligent routing, and advanced analytics, improving customer interactions and agent efficiency. Dialpad, while limited in calling features, excels in video conferencing and workflow integrations, ideal for companies prioritizing collaboration over high call volumes.
  • Better-served business: CloudTalk appeals most to small and medium-sized businesses looking for an affordable, user-friendly solution for outbound and inbound calling. Dialpad targets mid-to-large companies, but its top features are tied to higher-tier, custom-priced plans, which may deter smaller organizations.

Give it a go—see what happens

Dialpad’s Best Features

Despite the costs, Dialpad offers powerful features that can benefit certain types of businesses.

  1. AI-Driven Insights: Dialpad’s AI suite provides call transcriptions, sentiment analysis, and coaching insights.
  2. Seamless Integrations: Integrates well with Google Workspace, Office 365, and popular CRM platforms.
  3. Video Conferencing Tools: Its capabilities offer high-quality, reliable connections and features such as screen sharing, real-time messaging, and AI-powered transcription.

Dialpad Pros & Cons

Feature

Pros

Cons

AI Package

Can be added to any plan

Handy features start at $80 /user/month

Customer Service

24/7 Support

Restricted to chat and email for entry levels

Analytics & Reporting

Basic analytics and reporting for all the plans

AI analytics available only as additional plans

Features

Strong video conferencing capabilities

Limited default calling features

56% of Organizations Regret Their Tech Purchases—Don’t Let Yours Be One of Them*

With more than half of organizations regretting their tech buys, taking the time to explore your options thoroughly is crucial. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?

With that in mind, you don’t want to jump to conclusions based only on figures. Dialpad may seem appealing with its low starting price, but essential tools like advanced analytics and international calls often require costly add-ons, making it a no-go for businesses wanting straightforward value.

CloudTalk, on the other hand, offers a competitive price point for plans that include AI-Powered Features, Smart Dialers, wider coverage, and Intelligent Call Routing. No hidden fees, just the tools your team needs. 

For companies looking to avoid regret and get the most for their investment, CloudTalk is the way to go.

Sources:

You won’t regret giving it a try

Gabriel Romio
22 Nov 2024