For years, Zoom has been known as the conferencing king, with a 55.9% market share*. But can it do the same for calling, or are its affordable plans too good to be true?
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of all Zoom phone rates, including a head-to-head comparison with CloudTalk. Discover the answer to whether or not Zoom’s cost is worth paying!
Key Takeaways:
- Zoom monthly costs range between $8 and $20 per user/month, with annual pricing available but without a free trial on offer.
- Zoom Phone plans mainly focus on outbound and international calling, with limited advanced call management and automation features available.
- Compared to call center competitors such as CloudTalk, Zoom Phone struggles to compete in terms of international numbers, integrations, and features despite its pricing.
Explore what phone calls of the future are like.
Overview of Zoom Phone Plans & Pricing
Although the provider offers multiple Zoom Phone plans, they all contain essentially the same features, with the main difference being their focus on small-scale calling and unified global call center operations.
The main Zoom calling plans include:
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Zoom Phone Pro Plan
Zoom Phone Pro is the provider’s basic plan for small-scale outbound operations. It is focused on empowering micro and SMB businesses to enter new markets and land deals in foreign countries through advanced phone features.
The comparatively low $8 per user/month Zoom subscription costs come with a clear caveat however. This Zoom Phone license does not come with a stand-alone number or SMS capabilities, meaning it doesn’t work well for larger call center operations.
Pro features include:
- Outbound calling
- Advanced features
- Extension-to-Extension Calling
- Bring Your Own Carrier (BYOC)
Zoom Phone Global Select Plan
This Zoom Business Phone plan is the provider’s answer to more traditional call center solutions available on the market, with features covering both outbound sales and inbound support use cases with stand-alone numbers for each purchased license.
However, the Zoom Contact Center pricing, regardless of its affordable $20 per user/month pricing, it can’t quite stand up to other modern Zoom Phone alternatives in terms of international numbers, features, or integrations.
Global Select features include:
- Advanced features
- One management portal
- Metered international calling
- One free number in a selected country
- Unlimited domestic calling in a selected country
Zoom Phone Add-Ons:
While the basic Zoom pricing plans include the majority of the provider’s advanced features, users can purchase additional add-ons to increase their solution’s calling capabilities for an unfortunately unknown Zoom monthly fee. These include:
- Additional phone numbers
- Unlimited calling to 19 countries
- Zoom Phone Power Pack AI add-on
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CloudTalk Vs. Zoom Phone:
Which Is the Best Choice for Your Business?
When choosing a provider, it’s important to consider their offering in the context of other options on the market. We’ll be comparing the Zoom Phone price to CloudTalk’s offering in this case.
Short Overview of CloudTalk’s Plans and Pricing
CloudTalk has 4 pricing plans on offer, ranging in price from $25 to $49 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 Zoom Phone 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: $35 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. Zoom Phone: Direct Comparison
Feature/Aspect
CloudTalk
Zoom Phone
Starting Price:
$25 per user/month
$8 per user/month
CloudTalk Vs. Zoom Phone: Key Takeaways
We can glean several insights based on our comparison between CloudTalk’s and Zoom’s VoIP cost. These include:
- Pricing: Both Zoom phone plans come at a lower price point than CloudTalk, although that comes at the cost of not offering a full call center solution.
- Features: While the Zoom Phone international calling service delivers a solid base of advanced features, it simply cannot compare to CloudTalk’s robust suite.
- Integrations: Although Zoom’s 5 integrations include very popular 3rd party software, CloudTalk’s ecosystem allows for a far more centralized experience.
International Numbers: CloudTalk offers a significantly more extensive selection of international, toll-free, and local numbers for global growth and expansion.
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Zoom Phone Best Features
As we’ve discussed, Zoom’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, Zoom Phone’s top 3 best features include:
- Bring Your Own Carrier (BYOC):
The Pro plan lets businesses save on costs by integrating their existing carriers, making Zoom Phone flexible and budget-friendly. - Advanced Call Handling:
Features like call monitoring, call transcription, and voicemail provide a comprehensive suite for call management and analysis. - Unlimited Domestic Calling:
The Global Select plan includes unlimited domestic calling within a selected country, perfect for businesses with local-focused operations.
Zoom Phone Pros & Cons
Based on everything discussed so far, we can make several conclusions regarding Ringover’s strongest and weakest aspects. These include:
- Low Entry Pricing: Starting at $8 per user/month, Zoom Phone Pro is one of the most affordable VoIP solutions available.
- Flexible Add-Ons: Offers AI features, additional numbers, and unlimited international calling for tailored scalability.
- Familiar Ecosystem: Easily integrates with other Zoom products like Zoom Meetings and Zoom Chat.
- Basic Features in Pro Plan: No standalone DID numbers, SMS, or unlimited domestic calling without upgrading to Global Select.
- No Free Trial: Unlike many competitors, Zoom Phone doesn’t offer a free trial to test its service.
- Missing Advanced Features: Lacks key tools like Skill-Based Routing, Smart Dialer, and campaign management found in alternatives.
The Choice for Superior Service Worldwide
While the Zoom Phone provides an affordable entry point for businesses into VoIP and call management, there is a reason why this provider is mainly known for its conference calling capabilities.
If all you’re looking for is a price-effective solution with base-line advanced features, Zoom Phone may be the choice for you. But if you care about creating exceptional inbound and outbound customer experiences around the world…
Then look no further than CloudTalk.
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When Customers Call You for Help, They Are Already Frustrated
When customers pick up the phone to call your company, it’s usually because they haven’t been able to resolve their issue on their own. 63% of people typically try to find solutions on a company’s website before calling. By the time they reach out to you, frustration is already part of the equation.
This is where phone extensions can make a big difference. Instead of forcing your customers to wait through endless transfers or navigate confusing menus, extensions give them a free pass to someone who can help them. You don’t want to pile up the stress of a frustrated customer.
A good phone extension system shows your customers you respect their time and care about solving their issues quickly. When you make it easy for them to get help, you turn what could have been a terrible experience into a positive one. That’s how you build loyalty and keep them coming back!
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