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RingEX vs. Vonage

RingEX and Vonage are top-notch business phone systems but which will suit your small business better?

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Written by: Jeff Hale, Senior AnalystUpdated Jun 24, 2024
Adam Uzialko,Senior Editor
Business News Daily earns compensation from some listed companies. Editorial Guidelines.
RingCentral company logo
Editor's Rating9.5/10
Vonage company logo
Editor's Rating8.7/10
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Businesses are rapidly replacing analog landline phones with cloud-based business phone systems that do much more than make and receive calls. These platforms add extensive calling features, video conferencing capabilities, messaging options and integrations with popular business applications — everything a modern business needs to communicate effectively.

RingEX (formerly RingCentral MVP) and Vonage are two of the most popular unified communications (UC) platforms on the market. Both offer similar features for essential phone, video and messaging across devices. However, they distinguish themselves with features like plan customizability and available artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools. We’ll compare the upsides and downsides of these two robust business phone systems to help you determine which suits your business best.

RingEX vs. Vonage

Criteria

RingEX

Vonage

Price

$20 to $35 per user, per month

$13.99 to $27.99 per user, per month

Ease of use

Easy to implement and use

Not difficult to implement and use

Video conferencing

Up to 200 participants

Up to 200 participants

AI-powered features

Some

Available with add-ons

Third-party integrations

300-plus

20

Who Do We Recommend RingEX For?

We recommend RingEX for businesses seeking a feature-rich business phone system that fosters better collaboration. This cloud-based business phone system boasts an impressive set of features and software integrations.

We were impressed that the platform features AI meeting transcriptions, more than 300 prebuilt integrations and unlimited calling in the United States and Canada. We also like that you can call, text, fax or chat using the same application across multiple devices. RingEX is affordable, with three service tiers ranging from $20 to $35 per user, per month, including an annual discount. 

Some of RingEX’s most impressive features include the following:

  • The ability to host video conferences with up to 200 guests
  • Full-featured mobile app for iOS and Android 
  • Live support for migration, implementation, integrations and adoption
  • Unlimited audio conferencing for up to 1,000 people 
TipTip
Check out our detailed RingEX review for more information about the platform's features, usability, setup and customer support.
RingEX collaborative meetings

RingEX supports collaborative team meetings with visual cues that encourage participants to interact during calls. Source: RingCentral 

Who Do We Recommend Vonage For?

We recommend Vonage Businesses Communications for companies that want to pick and choose the individual features they need to create a customized, effective phone system that suits their unique needs. This cloud-based phone system impressed us with its flexible feature list, integrations and add-ons.

The company offers more than 50 voice and UC features with desktop and mobile apps to keep teams connected across devices. Its customer and employee experience features shine with tools like Call Announce, which tells your agents the reason for each call before they answer it. Prices for the smallest businesses range from $13.99 to $27.99 per line per month, depending on the plan and number of licenses you purchase. 

Here are some of Vonage’s top features:

  • Simple implementation and scalability
  • AI virtual assistant
  • Unlimited meetings for up to 200 people
  • Custom caller ID
FYIDid you know
Our comprehensive Vonage review explains how well this platform lends itself to customization with numerous available add-on features and application programming interfaces (APIs).
Vonage caller ID

Vonage’s custom caller ID feature helps agents identify inbound callers to prepare responses better. Source: Vonage

RingEX vs. Vonage Comparison

RingEX and Vonage are two of the best business phone systems available but they have distinct differences. Here’s how they stack up in head-to-head comparisons of price, ease of use, video conferencing, AI features and third-party integrations. 

Pricing

RingEX

Pricing for RingEX plans starts from $20 to $35 per monthly user with an annual subscription plan. Annual subscribers save up to 33 percent on their total bill. Other discounts are available for companies that need more than 100 user accounts. RingEX customers can pay with Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover credit or debit cards.

Vonage

Vonage service plans start between $13.99 and $27.99 per monthly user with an annual subscription. Annual subscribers save 30 percent on their total bill. Vonage offers discounts for companies purchasing five or more user accounts and accepts all major credit cards, debit cards, electronic payments and checks.

Best for Pricing
Vonage
Vonage offers lower prices at all subscription levels. However, given Vonage's extensive list of paid add-ons, it's possible to build a far more expensive platform than what you'd find with RingEX.

Ease of Use

RingEX

RingEX is easy to set up and implement across all devices. Plus, professional implementation is available to help you design your business phone system and troubleshoot problems as they arise. We also think the training tools provided by RingCentral University are an excellent way to ensure everyone gets up to speed quickly.

RingCentral University

RingCentral University provides excellent free training tools to help users and administrators get the most out of their business phone system. Source: RingCentral

Vonage

As with most UC products, installing Vonage on your internet-connected devices is fast and easy. For complex issues, you can add personalized remote information technology support with Vonage Support PLUS powered by Soluto for $9.99 per month.

RingEX drop down menu

RingEX’s intuitive drop-down menu options make it easy to add new devices or change other phone system features. Source: RingCentral

Best for Ease of Use
RingEX
We found RingEX to be the more usable, user-friendly platform. While Vonage is far from difficult to use, RingEX's numerous integrations and educational resources give this business phone system the edge when it comes to ease of use. 

Video Conferencing

RingEX

RingEX’s notable video conferencing features include the following: 

  • Large meeting support: RingEX supports unlimited high-definition video conferencing for up to 100 participants with its Core and Advanced plans while Ultra subscribers can host video meetings for up to 200 participants. We appreciate that RingEX offers a separate webinar platform for up to 10,000 participants and 100 panelists if you need even larger meetings.
  • Noise reduction: We like how well the AI-powered noise reduction filter cleans up unwanted background noise like trash trucks and barking dogs that can interrupt remote workers during conversations. 
  • Engagement features: We liked RingEX’s built-in features that can improve meeting engagement, including whiteboards, participant reactions, break-out rooms and team huddles. 
RingEX AI Assistant

RingEX’s AI assistant boosts engagement by taking detailed notes during meetings and providing pertinent action items for everyone on the call. Source: RingCentral 

Vonage

Vonage’s video conferencing features include the following: 

  • Meeting participant support: Vonage’s entry-level plan does not support video meetings, but its Premium and Advanced tiers offer excellent video conferencing features for up to 200 participants.
  • Helpful meeting tools: Vonage’s no-download meeting platform includes modern tools like whiteboards, virtual and blurred backgrounds, reaction emojis and recording. 
  • Flexibility: We like how easy and seamless it is to jump from a team messaging chat to a video call, helping reduce potential communication barriers between remote workers.
Best for Video Conferencing
Tie
RingEX and Vonage can support the same number of video participants with their higher-level plans and have similar limitations with their entry-level plans. If price is your most significant factor, Vonage would take a slight edge. If productivity features are your top priority, RingEX would take a slight edge.
Key TakeawayKey takeaway
RingEX and Vonage offer very similar video conferencing tools with nearly the same core features. You'll find a bit more AI functionality with RingEX, but you'll also pay more for it.

AI-powered Features

RingEX

RingEX launched a handful of new AI-powered features through RingSense AI in 2024. This set of tools is designed to function like an AI assistant during meetings and calls. RingSense AI can increase efficiency and improve customer outcomes with the following features: 

  • Real-time note-taking
  • Conversation insights 
  • Searchable transcripts for reviewing past conversations

We like how RingEX’s AI tools allow meeting participants to stay engaged and focused on the conversation instead of jotting down notes or worrying about forgetting an important detail. Unfortunately, many of RingEX’s AI-powered tools are still in development and may not be available to all subscribers. 

RingSense AI for RingEX

RingSense AI for RingEX includes automated note-taking that frees participants to engage and concentrate on the call. Source: RingCentral

Vonage

Vonage’s AI Virtual Assistant add-on utilizes conversational AI to provide voice-enabled self-service and routing capabilities. This tool is designed to function like a digital workforce that enhances your human staff by freeing them from repetitive tasks. It has the potential to do the following: 

  • Reduce hold times
  • Ensure confidentiality
  • Improve customer engagement
  • Optimize customer service 
  • Deliver highly personalized answers at scale

The highly customizable package includes setup, monitoring and a dedicated conversational designer with pre- and post-sale support. Advanced add-on features include tools that can help you take a conversational approach to voice-enabled customer self-service.

Vonage Virtual Assistant

Vonage’s AI Virtual Assistant can be customized to your business’s specific needs, including setting up customer self-service solutions. Source: Vonage

Best AI-powered Features
Vonage
While these tools serve very different functions, Vonage provides far more AI-powered capabilities than RingEX. As a more powerful AI platform, you can also expect to pay more for AI tools with Vonage than RingEX.
Did You Know?Did you know
Vonage is also among the best phone systems for medical offices, offering tools like short message service and multimedia messaging service messaging, an auto attendant and "follow-me" functionality, which ensures all calls are answered, even if you leave the office.

Third-Party Integrations

RingEX

With more than 300 prebuilt integrations available at most subscription levels, RingEX has one of the largest and best app marketplaces of any business phone service provider we’ve reviewed. In addition to all of the best customer relationship management (CRM) software, bots and marketing automations, this app gallery also includes many industry-specific integrations for healthcare, legal and education. 

If you have a skilled developer at your disposal, there’s nearly endless potential for more system customization with APIs for voice, video, messaging, faxing and other communications data.

RingEX third-party integrations

RingEX offers one of the biggest and best third-party app marketplaces with more than 300 easy-to-install integrations. Source: RingCentral

Vonage

Vonage offers 11 free and nine paid integrations for its UC plans. Free integrations cover key platforms like G Suite, Microsoft 365, Zapier, HubSpot and Slack. Paid integrations range from $4.99 per month for Salesforce to $150 per month for VisuWell telemedicine.

Vonage Salesforce integration

Vonage’s Salesforce CRM integration can help you integrate voice interactions into essential Salesforce workflows. Source: Vonage

Best Third-Party Integrations
RingEX
RingEX offers more pre-built integrations than any business phone system platform we've reviewed. It functions incredibly well with hundreds of third-party software applications, making it an excellent solution for businesses that prioritize collaboration. 
FYIDid you know
RingEX is considered among the best restaurant phone systems because it can help employees in multiple locations collaborate on menu changes, supply chain interruptions and marketing campaigns.

RingEX vs. Vonage Recap

Choose RingEX if:

  • You want international phone numbers in more than 100 countries.
  • You need to integrate with a large number of third-party software solutions.
  • You’re looking to improve collaboration between remote and hybrid employees.

Choose Vonage if:

  • You want a low-cost business phone system.
  • You need APIs to drive revenue or support customers.
  • You’re looking for a business phone service provider that lets you customize your plan with many available add-on features.

FAQs

If you're looking for alternatives to Vonage or RingEX, check out our Nextiva review, Ooma review, Dialpad review and 8×8 review. These four providers have slightly different features and pricing, but all allow employees to communicate effectively with team members and customers from almost any internet-connected device or location.
Vonage boasts an uptime of 99.999 percent, which is fairly standard among major business phone system providers. Because it's a cloud-based phone system, its call quality can be affected by a poor internet connection. You can expect high call quality and clarity with Vonage Business Communications if you have a reliable broadband internet connection.
RingEX relies on seven layers of security and redundant data centers. All sensitive customer and call data is protected with industry-leading encryption, standards and protocols. The company's geographically diverse data centers are monitored to protect against operational errors, cybercrime and natural disasters.
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Written by: Jeff Hale, Senior Analyst
Jeff Hale is a communications and content marketing expert with extensive experience leading teams as a managing editor. He has deep knowledge of B2B communications technologies, including business phone systems and customer relationship management (CRM) software. Jeff is also an entrepreneur who knows the realities of launching and managing a small business, where he serves as a Content Director and SEO Consultant. At Business News Daily, Jeff primarily covers business technology, including VoIP phone systems, remote PC access software and CRMs. Jeff is also an entrepreneur who knows the realities of launching and managing a small business, where he serves as a Content Director and SEO Consultant. In his role as an entrepreneur and professional, Jeff has identified new market opportunities for Fortune 500 clients and developed communications strategies and digital branding for tech startups and small businesses. Jeff holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California, Irvine, and an MBA from Chapman University.
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