The 8x8 Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about 8x8 in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
8x8
The Insider’s Guide
Cloud phone system with team chat, meetings and a receptionist console
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among business phone systems, read from 8x8’s own pages.
Made by 8x8 · checked Oct 17, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from 8x8’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on 8x8’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 1 of the 19 other business phone systems we grade
8x8 sells a cloud phone system, the X Series, used through the 8x8 Work app on desktop, mobile and the web. The app combines calling, voicemail, business texting, team messaging, fax and video meetings, and admins set up auto attendants, ring groups and queues in a central console. 8x8 also sells a contact center and can run its phone service inside Microsoft Teams.
To get you started, here are 7 things to know about 8x8, taken from its own pages and our grades.
A score that low from that many people is worth noticing.
- 1
Best for busy front desks and Microsoft Teams offices
8x8 covers the whole office phone job: calls, texts, fax, chat, meetings and a receptionist console that juggles six calls at once.
- 2
It runs on 5 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
- 3
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.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
A 2.0 GPA, above 1 of 19
That is against the other business phone systems we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 7
Keep it
To replace 8x8 you would be making phone numbers and calls carried over the phone network. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
8x8 at a glance
- Pricing
- Paid
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- 8x8
- Category
- Business Phone Systems
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
- Store rating
- 3.8 on the App Store, 8,654 ratings
The report card
Best for busy front desks and Microsoft Teams offices
8x8 covers the whole office phone job: calls, texts, fax, chat, meetings and a receptionist console that juggles six calls at once. But 8x8 doesn't publish its prices where we could read them, and its app has the lowest App Store rating of the big names here. Get a quote before you get attached.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | No 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. |
| Free plan and trial | F | No free plan or free trial on record. With no prices either, there's no way to see it before talking to 8x8. |
| Features | B | Calls, 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. |
| Ease of use | D | 3.78 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. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and the browser, with Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, ServiceNow, NetSuite and Microsoft Teams, plus a public API. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who 8x8 is for
- Great if a receptionist handles lots of calls and needs to see who's free
- Handy when you want to keep Microsoft Teams and just need phone lines inside it
- Good for companies that want phone, chat and meetings from one provider
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want to see a price before talking to sales, as none is published
- Not for you if you want a well-liked phone app, at 3.78 on the App Store
- Tight if you text a lot, since texts are charged by message segment
Good to know
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
8x8's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site.
With no figure it sits at the ordinary grade, and there's no per-head cost for five to give.
We could not confirm 8x8’s current prices from its own site, so this guide lists no plans. 8x8.com has them.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
Cloud phone system with team chat, meetings and a receptionist console. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, team chat, video calls, business phone line, business texting.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Salesforce
- HubSpot
- Zendesk
- ServiceNow
- NetSuite
- Microsoft Teams
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Google Calendar
8x8 is made by 8x8.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
1/19
Other business phone systems it is graded above
8x8's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 1 of the 19 other business phone systems we grade, and level with 2.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (A, above 9 of 19) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 20 business phone systems we grade, cut by the letter each got. 8x8’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 3 of 19
- FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 19
- BFeaturesAbove 10 of 19
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 19
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 9 of 19
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace 8x8 you would be making phone numbers and calls carried over the phone network. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 16 of the 19 other business phone systems grade higher.
What you could not
- Phone numbers and calls carried over the phone network.
- Video calls.
- Chat that a whole team counts on staying up.
- Texts from a business number, registered with the carriers.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Salesforce, HubSpot and Zendesk among them, and has an API.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: roles and permissions.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. 8x8’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
RingCentral, Dialpad, Nextiva, Vonage Business Communications and Microsoft Teams
The 5 tools 8x8 is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
RingCentral
Free trial · from $20/mo
Cloud phone system with texting, fax, video meetings and team chat.
- RingCentral also covers transcription.
- 2.8GPA
Dialpad
Free trial · from $15/mo
AI business phone with live call transcripts and call summaries.
- Only Dialpad lists a browser extension.
- Dialpad also covers transcription.
- 2.2GPA
Nextiva
From $15/mo
Business phone, texting and video with an optional AI receptionist.
- Only Nextiva lists a Linux app.
- Nextiva also covers transcription.
- 2.4GPA
Vonage Business Communications
From $19.99/mo
Business phone lines with texting, video meetings and team chat.
- Only Vonage Business Communications lists a browser extension.
- Vonage Business Communications also covers transcription.
- 3.0GPA
Microsoft Teams
Free plan · from $4.00/mo
Chat, video meetings and calling tied into Microsoft 365.
- Microsoft Teams has a free plan. 8x8 does not.
- 8x8 also covers business phone line and business texting.
- Microsoft Teams also covers transcription, noise cancellation, whiteboard and file sharing.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is 8x8 free?
No. 8x8 is a paid product.
What platforms does 8x8 work on?
8x8 is available on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
How is 8x8 rated?
8x8's iPhone and iPad app averages 3.8 out of 5 from 8,654 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
Does 8x8 have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. 8x8 is listed for Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Is 8x8 open source?
8x8 is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
Does 8x8 have an API?
Yes. 8x8 offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does 8x8 integrate with?
8x8's listing names Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, ServiceNow, NetSuite, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Dynamics and Google Calendar.
Who makes 8x8?
8x8 is made by 8x8.
What are the alternatives to 8x8?
The closest alternatives to 8x8 in our directory are RingCentral, Dialpad, Nextiva, Vonage Business Communications and Microsoft Teams.
How does 8x8 compare with other business phone systems?
8x8's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 1 of the 19 other business phone systems we grade, and level with 2.
Could I make my own version of 8x8?
To replace 8x8 you would be making phone numbers and calls carried over the phone network.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from 8x8’s own pages on Oct 17, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 17, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from 8x8's own help pages on 17 October 2026, and its App Store rating. 8x8's website turned our reader away again on 18 October 2026, so no price could be checked. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by 8x8. Prices change, so check 8x8.com before you buy.
- help.8x8.com/docs/8x8-work.md
- help.8x8.com/docs/business-phone.md
- help.8x8.com/docs/download-8x8-work-for-desktop.md
- help.8x8.com/docs/8x8-frontdesk.md
- help.8x8.com/docs/meetings.md
- help.8x8.com/docs/messaging-in-8x8-work-applications-faq.md
- help.8x8.com/docs/how-are-sms-and-mms-usage-charges-determined.md
- help.8x8.com/docs/8x8-voice-for-microsoft-teams-overview.md
- help.8x8.com/llms.txt
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
1,880
Tools graded, in 47 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
1,880
tools graded
47
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- 8x8, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/8x8
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "8x8: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 17, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/8x8
Know someone choosing between business phone systems?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/8x8/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded business phone systems after 8x8, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Business Phone Systems Insider's GuideEvery one of the 20 business phone systems we grade, compared
- Grasshopper Insider's GuideVirtual business number on your own phone, priced per account3.0 GPA
- RingCentral Insider's GuideCloud phone system with texting, fax, video meetings and team chat3.0 GPA
- Dialpad Insider's GuideAI business phone with live call transcripts and call summaries2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what 8x8’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. 8x8 is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by 8x8. Prices and plans change: check 8x8.com before you buy.