Dialpad vs Nextiva
We give Dialpad a 2.8 GPA and Nextiva a 2.2, 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
Nextiva
Business phone, texting and video with an optional AI receptionist
How we grade them
| 2.8GPADialpadGood | 2.2GPANextivaFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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. | C$15 a head for five on Core with a 12-month term, or $23 paid monthly. That's just over this category's cheaper quarter ($14). Recording, a toll-free number and fax are add-ons on Core, and Engage is $25, or $50 paid monthly. |
| Free plan and trial | CA 14-day free trial of Dialpad Connect, and no free plan. The listing doesn't say whether the trial needs a card. | FNo free plan and no free trial of the phone plans. Only the XBert AI Receptionist add-on has a 14-day trial. |
| Features | 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. | BCalls with an auto-attendant, texts, video meetings, team chat and one inbox for calls, texts, email, social and reviews. Scale adds a call center and AI call notes. That's the whole job, though CRMs are add-ons on every plan. |
| Ease of use | B4.6 from about 4,600 App Store ratings. Good, and a notch below the very best-rated phone apps here. | CNo App Store rating on record. Core is self-serve, but Engage and Scale go through a sales demo, and there are phone menus to build before you're running. |
| Platforms and integrations | 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. | AWeb, Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android, more than most here, with Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, HubSpot, Outlook and Google Contacts. |
| Best for | calls that transcribe and summarize themselves | phone, texts, video and web chat from one provider |
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: Dialpad and Nextiva. How we grade
Price against what you get
Dialpad starts at $15 a month for each person and scores 3.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Nextiva starts at $15 a month for each person and scores 3.0.
Dialpad scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other business phone systems on the chart, none scores higher than Dialpad for less, and none scores higher than Nextiva for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Dialpad starts at $15 per user / month, billed annually ($27 billed monthly). Nextiva starts at $15 per user / month, billed annually ($23 billed monthly).
- Only Dialpad lists a browser extension.
- Only Nextiva lists a Linux app.
At a glance
| Dialpad | Nextiva | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Paid |
| Starts at | $15 per user / month, billed annually ($27 billed monthly) | $15 per user / month, billed annually ($23 billed monthly) |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial of Dialpad Connect | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Dialpad, Inc. | Nextiva |
| Price read from | dialpad.com | nextiva.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
Who each one suits
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
Nextiva
- Small businesses that want phone, texting and video from one provider
- Teams leaving a phone contract that qualify for free months
- Businesses that also answer website chat and online reviews
Worth knowing
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.
Nextiva
- Annual prices apply to new small businesses with 1-100 employees on a 12-month term; paid monthly, Core is $23 and Engage $50.
- On Core, call recording, a toll-free number, fax and Microsoft Teams are add-ons; Salesforce, HubSpot and other CRMs are add-ons on every plan.
- There is no free trial of the phone plans; Engage and Scale are offered through a demo with sales.
- Contact center plans, from $75 per agent a month, are a separate product line on the Enterprise tab.
Key features
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.
Nextiva
- Calling and phone menus
- Unlimited calls with an auto-attendant and call menus on every plan. Smart call routing comes with Scale or with the call center add-on on Engage.
- Business texting
- Texts from the business number: 100 per user a month on Core, 500 on Engage and unlimited on Scale. Customers texting the team needs Engage.
- Video meetings and team chat
- Video calls with screen and file sharing and team messaging sit in the same app. Recording video meetings needs Engage or Scale.
- Shared inbox and reviews
- One inbox gathers calls, texts and email, with shared team email accounts and a set number of connected social media and online review accounts per plan.
- AI call notes on Scale
- Scale transcribes calls in real time, writes call notes and summaries, and suggests answers during calls. Other plans get voicemail transcription.
- XBert AI Receptionist
- An add-on that answers calls, texts and chats around the clock. It costs $99 a month for 100 AI conversations and has a 14-day free trial.
Plans
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.
Nextiva
Core$15
per user / month, billed annually ($23 billed monthly)
Calls, 100 texts per user a month, video meetings, team chat and phone menus. Annual price needs a 12-month term.
Engage$25
per user / month, billed annually ($50 billed monthly)
Adds call recording, a toll-free number with up to 2,000 minutes, 500 texts per user a month, live chat, fax and Microsoft Teams. Sold through sales.
Scale$75
per user / month, billed monthly or annually
Adds unlimited texts, real-time transcription, AI call notes and summaries, a built-in call center and smart routing. Sold through sales.
Ways to pay less
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.
Nextiva
- Annual discount
Save up to 50% with annual pricing
Nextiva's pricing page lists Core at $15 per user a month annually against $23 monthly, and Engage at $25 against $50.
- Other savings
Switch and Save: up to 12 months free
Businesses under 200 employees leaving another provider's contract get free months matching its remaining term, with proof and a 12-month Core or Engage plan.
