Dialpad vs RingCentral
We give Dialpad a 2.8 GPA and RingCentral a 3.0, out of 4.0. RingCentral grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, 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
RingCentral
Cloud phone system with texting, fax, video meetings and team chat
How we grade them
| 2.8GPADialpadGood | 3.0GPARingCentralVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| 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$20 a head for a team of five on Core, billed yearly ($30 monthly), which is the price for 1-5 users. That's just past this category's dearer quarter ($19.99), so middle of the road, not cheap. Automatic recording and CRM links need Advanced at $25. |
| 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. | CA 14-day free trial for new subscribers, with texting left out of it. No free plan, and the listing doesn't say whether the trial needs a card. |
| 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. | BUnlimited US and Canada calls, phone menus, call queues, fax, 300-person video meetings, team chat and an AI assistant for call notes. That's the whole phone job, though Core's 25 texts a person a month is stingy. |
| Ease of use | B4.6 from about 4,600 App Store ratings. Good, and a notch below the very best-rated phone apps here. | A4.83 from about 78,000 App Store ratings, which is about as good as it gets for a work phone app. |
| 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, iPhone and Android, with Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, ServiceNow, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace and Slack on the integrations list. |
| Best for | calls that transcribe and summarize themselves | calls, texts, fax and meetings in one app |
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 RingCentral. 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. RingCentral starts at $20 a month for each person and scores 3.7.
RingCentral scores higher, and starts $5 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other business phone systems on the chart, none scores higher than Dialpad for less, and none scores higher than RingCentral 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). RingCentral starts at $20 per user / month for 1-5 users, billed annually ($30 billed monthly).
- Only Dialpad lists a browser extension.
At a glance
| Dialpad | RingCentral | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | $15 per user / month, billed annually ($27 billed monthly) | $20 per user / month for 1-5 users, billed annually ($30 billed monthly) |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial of Dialpad Connect | 14-day free trial for new subscribers; texting is not included in the trial |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Dialpad, Inc. | RingCentral |
| Price read from | dialpad.com | ringcentral.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
RingCentral
- Businesses that want calls, texts, meetings and chat in one app
- Teams spread over several offices or locations
- Companies using Microsoft Teams that want RingCentral calling inside it
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.
RingCentral
- The listed prices are for 1-5 users; the page switches to other prices for 6-100 users, and 100+ users must contact sales.
- Automatic call recording and CRM integrations need Advanced; Core records calls on demand only.
- Add-ons are extra: AI Receptionist from $39, Business SMS Booster $25 and Call Queues Booster $35, as shown on the pricing page.
- Texting needs TCR registration, which may carry fees, and is not available during the free trial.
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.
RingCentral
- Calling and numbers
- Unlimited calling within the US and Canada. The plan includes one company number; each extra local or toll-free number costs $4.99 a month.
- Business texting
- Texts from the business number: 25 per user a month on Core, 100 on Advanced and 200 in the bundles. SMS needs carrier (TCR) registration first.
- Call menus and routing
- Multi-level phone menus, call queues and rules by business hours or availability, managed for several locations from one admin portal.
- Video meetings, chat and fax
- The same app runs video meetings for up to 300 people, team messaging with file sharing, and fax from the business number.
- AI assistant
- Included at no extra cost: real-time call and meeting notes, transcription, meeting summaries, and help writing and translating messages.
- AI Receptionist
- Answers calls around the clock, handles FAQs, books appointments and routes callers to staff. An add-on starting at $39, included in the bundles.
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.
RingCentral
Core$20
per user / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly)
Price for 1-5 users. Unlimited US and Canada calling, on-demand call recording, 100 toll-free minutes, 25 texts per user a month and 300-person meetings.
Advanced$25
per user / month, billed annually ($35 billed monthly)
Price for 1-5 users. Adds CRM integrations, multiple sites, automatic call recording, reports, 1,000 toll-free minutes and 100 texts per user a month.
AI CE Bundle with AIRCustom
AI Customer Engagement Bundle: adds AI Receptionist, the SMS and call queue boosters, Webinar, 10,000 toll-free minutes and 200 texts per user a month.
AI CE Bundle with AIR and ACECustom
Adds AI Conversation Expert: call scoring, coaching, automatic call summaries and multi-level reporting on top of the bundle above.
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.
RingCentral
- Annual discount
Save up to 33% by paying annually
The pricing page lists Core at $20 per user a month billed annually against $30 billed monthly, and Advanced at $25 against $35.
