8x8 vs Dialpad
We give 8x8 a 2.0 GPA and Dialpad a 2.8, out of 4.0. Dialpad grades higher on the free plan and ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Dialpad
AI business phone with live call transcripts and call summaries
How we grade them
| 2.0GPA8x8Fair | 2.8GPADialpadGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo published price on record: 8x8's site turned our reader away and its help center lists none, so you'll be getting a quote. With no figure it sits at the ordinary grade, and there's no per-head cost for five to give. | C$15 a head for five on Standard, billed yearly. That's just over this category's cheaper quarter ($14), and it includes the live transcripts and AI summaries. Monthly billing jumps to $27, and CRM links need Pro at $25. |
| Free plan and trial | FNo free plan or free trial on record. With no prices either, there's no way to see it before talking to 8x8. | CA 14-day free trial of Dialpad Connect, and no free plan. The listing doesn't say whether the trial needs a card. |
| Features | BCalls, voicemail, texts, team chat, fax and video meetings in one app, with auto attendants, ring groups, queues, a receptionist console and CRM links. That's the whole job. Frontdesk needs an X4 license or higher. | BUnlimited US and Canada calls, texting, team messaging, video meetings, phone menus with several ways to route calls, and transcripts and summaries on every call. It covers the whole job. Fax and extra numbers are add-ons. |
| Ease of use | D3.78 from about 8,700 App Store ratings for 8x8 Work, just under the 3.8 line. A score that low from that many people is worth noticing. | B4.6 from about 4,600 App Store ratings. Good, and a notch below the very best-rated phone apps here. |
| Platforms and integrations | AWindows, Mac, iPhone, Android and the browser, with Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, ServiceNow, NetSuite and Microsoft Teams, plus a public API. | AWindows and Mac apps, iPhone and Android, a web app, a Chrome extension and desk phones, plus Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Teams, Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk and Slack. |
| Best for | busy front desks and Microsoft Teams offices | calls that transcribe and summarize themselves |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: 8x8 and Dialpad. How we grade
Where they differ
- Only Dialpad lists a browser extension.
- Dialpad also covers transcription.
At a glance
| 8x8 | Dialpad | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free trial |
| Starts at | Not published | $15 per user / month, billed annually ($27 billed monthly) |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 14-day free trial of Dialpad Connect |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | 8x8 | Dialpad, Inc. |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | dialpad.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
Who each one suits
8x8
- Companies that want phone, chat and meetings from one provider
- Offices with a receptionist handling many incoming calls
- Businesses that use Microsoft Teams but need a phone carrier
Dialpad
- Teams that want every call transcribed and summarized automatically
- Small businesses starting on a low per-user price
- Companies that may later add a contact center or sales dialer
Worth knowing
8x8
- 8x8's website turned our reader away with a bot check and its help center lists no prices, so what it costs could not be confirmed.
- Features depend on the X Series license: the Frontdesk receptionist console needs X4 or higher.
- Texts are charged by message segment, and business SMS needs a campaign registration set up in the Admin Console.
- The contact center is a separate 8x8 product with its own agent and supervisor apps.
Dialpad
- CRM integrations need the Pro plan or above, as do 24/7 support and managing more than one office.
- Extra local or toll-free numbers and internet fax are optional add-ons on every plan.
- The contact center (Dialpad Support, from $89 per user a month) and sales dialer (Dialpad Sell, from $39) are separate products.
- Monthly billing costs more: $27 instead of $15 for Standard and $35 instead of $25 for Pro.
Key features
8x8
- 8x8 Work app
- Calls, voicemail, SMS and MMS, team messaging with group chat rooms, and fax in one app for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and the browser.
- Auto attendants and ring groups
- Admins build call menus, ring groups and call queues with schedules in the 8x8 Admin Console, and route calls to voicemail or outside numbers.
- 8x8 Meetings
- Video meetings from the same app, with a Google Calendar plug-in, custom branding, live streaming to YouTube and an analytics dashboard for admins.
- 8x8 Frontdesk
- A receptionist console in the desktop app that handles up to six calls at once, shows who is available and transfers callers. It needs an X4 license or higher.
- Voice for Microsoft Teams
- Connects 8x8 phone service to Microsoft Teams, so a business can keep Teams as its only app while 8x8 supplies the phone lines.
- CRM and helpdesk integrations
- Integrations for Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, ServiceNow and NetSuite log calls and pop up caller records.
Dialpad
- Business calling
- Every user gets a direct line with unlimited calling in the US and Canada, voicemail transcribed to email, call forwarding and changeable caller ID.
- Live transcripts and AI Recaps
- Calls are transcribed in real time, and AI Recaps summarize each call and meeting with decisions and action items once it ends.
- Texting and team messaging
- Business SMS and topic-based team messaging with threads and file sharing sit in the same app as calls.
- Call routing
- Departments with phone menus, simultaneous ringing, round-robin and longest-idle routing, and open, closed and holiday hours.
- Dialpad Meetings
- Video meetings inside the same workspace. Dial-in numbers, larger meetings and toll-free meeting lines are add-ons.
- Apps on every device
- Desktop apps for Windows and Mac, iOS and Android apps, a progressive web app, a Chrome extension and certified desk phones.
Plans
8x8
Pricing could not be confirmed. See 8x8.com.
Dialpad
Standard$15
per user / month, billed annually ($27 billed monthly)
Unlimited US and Canada calling, texting, team messaging, video meetings, real-time transcripts and AI call summaries.
Pro$25
per user / month, billed annually ($35 billed monthly)
Adds CRM and helpdesk integrations, 24/7 support, management of several offices and automatic recording on shared lines.
EnterpriseCustom
Adds single sign-on, user access controls, unlimited office locations and a 99.9% uptime commitment. Sold through sales.
Ways to pay less
8x8
No public discounts listed.
Dialpad
- Annual discount
Lower price with annual billing
Dialpad's pricing page lists Standard at $15 per user a month billed annually against $27 billed monthly, and Pro at $25 against $35.
- Nonprofit
30% off for nonprofits
Through the Nonprofit Support Program, selected nonprofits in the US or Canada may get 30% off Dialpad billed annually, on up to 50 seats.
- Startups
Dialpad for Startups
Dialpad for Good offers free seats and discounts to startups through partner accelerators, incubators and investors.
