RingCentral vs Spruce (2026): which should you pick?

Pick RingCentral if

• Fits if you want calls, fax, meetings and chat from one company on one bill
• Works for Microsoft Teams shops that want RingCentral calling inside Teams

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you text customers a lot, with 25 texts a person a month on Core
• Pricey if you add the extras: AI Receptionist from $39, SMS Booster $25, Call Queues Booster $35
• Not for you if you want to try texting first, since it isn't in the free trial
• Tight if you want calls recorded automatically or logged in a CRM, as both need Advanced at $25
• Watch out: listed prices are for 1-5 users, they change for 6-100, and texting needs TCR registration that may carry fees

Pick Spruce if

• Fits if you want one shared inbox for calls, texts and faxes
• Works for a practice that already has an EHR and needs the phone side

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you want scheduling, charting or billing, as it needs a separate EHR
• Watch out: business text sending needs a one-time A2P 10DLC fee of $19.50 per organization
• Pricey if you want call flows, integrations or the API, all on Communicator at $49
• Watch out: desk phone hardware for VoIP is extra

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.

Spruce

• It does not do scheduling, charting or insurance billing; a practice still needs a separate EHR.
• Sending business SMS requires a one-time A2P 10DLC registration fee of $19.50 per organization.
• Integrations and API access are limited to the $49 Communicator plan, and VoIP desk phone hardware is an extra.
• The free trial includes Basic features but not SMS sending, which needs the registration process first.

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 on Ultra and the bundle. 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 AI Customer Engagement Bundle.

Spruce

Phone, text and fax in one inbox

Calls, SMS, e-fax, app-based secure messages and video visits arrive in a customizable shared inbox, with new or ported phone and fax numbers.

Secure messaging and team chat

Staff can message patients inside the Spruce app, share files, and talk to each other in internal chat on the same plan.

Automations for common replies

Auto-replies, saved and scheduled messages and bulk text broadcasts cut down repeat typing.

Call routing

Phone trees and extensions come with Spruce's phone system. Self-service call flows, urgent escalation and after-hours triage are on Communicator.

AI transcription

Voicemails are transcribed on both plans. Communicator also transcribes and summarizes call recordings and audio messages.

BAA and security claims

Spruce says every eligible organization gets a HIPAA BAA at signup with no extra fee, and describes the platform as SOC 2 Type II audited.

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, 300-person meetings and MCP connectors.

• 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.

• Ultra$35

  per user / month, billed annually ($45 billed monthly)

  Price for 1-5 users. Adds 10,000 toll-free minutes, 200 texts per user a month, RingCentral Webinar, historical and real-time insights and unlimited storage.

• AI Customer Engagement BundleCustom

  Everything in Ultra plus AI Receptionist, AI Conversation Expert call scoring and coaching, automatic call summaries and the SMS and call queue boosters.

Spruce

• Basic$24

  per user / month, billed monthly

  Phone, text, video, fax and team chat, a shared inbox, auto-replies and AI voicemail transcription.

• Communicator$49

  per user / month, billed monthly

  Adds call flows (IVR), urgent escalation and after-hours triage, integrations and API access, VoIP phone service and AI call summaries.

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, Advanced at $25 against $35, and Ultra at $35 against $45.

Spruce

No public discounts listed.