RingCentral dominates enterprise communications, but if you're running an eCommerce store, you've probably noticed something: the features you actually need aren't the same as what Fortune 500 companies want.
You need SMS for order updates, Shopify integration, and the ability to scale for Black Friday without paying for agents year-round.
Most "RingCentral alternatives" articles treat every business the same. They compare video conferencing features and Salesforce integrations.
That's not helpful when your customers are asking "where's my order?" at 2 AM.
This guide focuses on what actually matters for online stores: pricing flexibility, SMS capabilities, eCommerce platform integrations, and seasonal scaling options.
Editor’s note: Want to hear some sample support calls made for your Shopify store?
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Why eCommerce stores need different RingCentral alternatives for VoIP features
Enterprise VoIP systems like RingCentral are built for predictable call volumes and CRM integrations.
Ecommerce operates differently.
Your call volume can spike 10x during Black Friday. You might hire seasonal support staff for two months and need them gone by January.
Your customers expect SMS shipping updates, not just phone support. And the integration you actually need is Shopify, not Salesforce.
The gap between what RingCentral offers and what ecommerce stores need creates real operational problems.
Per-user pricing forces you to pay for peak-season staff all year. SMS limits cap your order notifications. And without native Shopify integration, your support team can't pull order data during calls.
Where RingCentral falls short for ecommerce
RingCentral isn't a bad product. It's just built for a different type of business.
Per-user pricing hurts seasonal businesses. At $20-35 per user per month, adding five temporary agents for the holidays costs $100-175 monthly, even if they only work for six weeks.
That pricing model assumes stable headcount, which most ecommerce stores don't have.
SMS limits don't match ecommerce needs. The Core plan includes just 25 SMS messages per user per month.
If you're sending order confirmations, shipping updates, and delivery alerts, you'll burn through that in days. Higher-volume SMS requires upgrading to more expensive tiers.
No native Shopify or WooCommerce integration. RingCentral connects to Salesforce and HubSpot out of the box.
For ecommerce platforms, you need Zapier workarounds or custom API development. Your agents can't pull order status directly during calls.
Support slowness during peak periods. Users on G2 and Reddit report multi-week waits for number porting and 43+ minutes of downtime during incidents.
When Black Friday hits and your phones go down, that's revenue lost.
What to look for in an ecommerce phone system
Before comparing alternatives, here's what actually matters for online stores:
Pricing flexibility. Per-minute or usage-based pricing beats per-user pricing for seasonal businesses.
You want to pay for what you use, not for headcount you might need once a year.
SMS capabilities. Ecommerce stores send order confirmations, shipping updates, and delivery notifications. You need unlimited SMS or high volume limits, not 25 messages per user.
Ecommerce integrations. Native Shopify or WooCommerce integration means your AI or agents can access order data in real-time.
Zapier workarounds add friction and cost.
Seasonal scaling. Can you add and remove users without annual contracts? Can you handle 10x call volume without overhauling your setup?
Support quality. Uptime guarantees matter. When your phones go down during a flash sale, you lose orders.
AI features. Transcription is table stakes. The real question is whether AI can actually handle calls, not just transcribe them.
These criteria matter more for online stores than enterprise feature counts
Comparison table: RingCentral alternatives for ecommerce
Here's how the seven alternatives stack up for ecommerce-specific needs:
The table tells part of the story. What it doesn't show is that only one option (Ringly.io) was built specifically for ecommerce from the ground up.
7 best RingCentral alternatives for ecommerce stores
1. Ringly.io
Best for: Ecommerce stores wanting AI-powered phone support that integrates directly with Shopify.
Ringly.io takes a different approach than traditional VoIP. Instead of giving you a phone system and expecting humans to answer, it provides Seth, an AI phone agent that handles calls 24/7.
Seth answers questions, looks up order status in real-time from Shopify, processes returns, and only escalates to humans when necessary.
The ecommerce focus is the differentiator here. Seth isn't a generic AI voice bot trained on everything.
It's trained specifically on ecommerce scenarios: order inquiries, return requests, shipping questions.
That specialization shows in the results. Ringly.io reports that Seth resolves about 73% of calls without human intervention.
Ecommerce-specific features:
- Native Shopify integration pulls order data in real-time
- Handles returns, exchanges, and "where's my order" queries automatically
- 30+ language support for international customers
- Setup takes about 3 minutes via the Shopify app
Pros:
- Only solution built specifically for ecommerce
- No per-user fees (pay for minutes, not seats)
- 14-day free trial with full features
- Seth escalates when unsure instead of making up answers
Cons:
- Newer platform (founded 2024)
- Best suited for phone support, not full unified communications
- Shopify-focused (WooCommerce support requires custom integration)
Ecommerce verdict: This is the only solution on this list built specifically for online stores. If your main goal is automating phone support for order inquiries and returns, Ringly.io is the obvious choice. The minute-based pricing also means you're not paying for seasonal staff year-round.
2. Nextiva
Best for: Growing ecommerce stores that need a full communication suite with reliable support.
Nextiva is one of the most established VoIP platforms, operating across 8 data centers with a 99.999% uptime guarantee.
It's a full unified communications platform: phone, video, messaging, and contact center features in one system.
For ecommerce, the appeal is reliability and comprehensive features. If you're scaling a support team and need enterprise-grade uptime, Nextiva delivers.
Their 24/7 U.S.-based support (rated 9.0/10 on G2) is a real advantage during peak seasons when you can't afford phone issues.
The limitation is the per-user pricing and lack of native ecommerce integrations.
You'll need Zapier to connect to Shopify, and adding seasonal staff means monthly costs that continue even after the holidays.
Pros:
- 99.999% uptime across 8 data centers
- Comprehensive feature set (phone, video, messaging)
- Strong customer support rated 9.0/10 on G2
- Deep CRM integrations with Salesforce and HubSpot
Cons:
- No native Shopify integration
- Per-user pricing adds up during seasonal staffing
- SMS limits on lower tiers (only 25/month on Digital and Core)
- No AI phone agent (humans must answer all calls)
3. Dialpad
Best for: Stores that want AI-powered transcription and call analytics without paying extra.
Dialpad positions itself as the AI-first business phone system.
The standout feature is real-time transcription included on all plans, even the $15/user/month tier. Most competitors charge $40+ for transcription.
The AI features go beyond transcription. Dialpad offers sentiment analysis (flagging frustrated callers), automatic call summaries, and real-time coaching prompts for agents.
If you want detailed analytics on your support calls, this is strong.
The catch for ecommerce: the AI features analyze calls, but they don't integrate with your order data.
A frustrated caller triggers an alert, but your agent still has to manually look up their order in Shopify.
Pros:
- Real-time AI transcription on all plans
- Sentiment analysis flags unhappy callers
- Clean, modern interface
- HIPAA compliance available
Cons:
- No direct ecommerce platform integrations
- AI is call-centric, not order-centric
- Limited SMS compared to competitors
- Per-user pricing still applies for seasonal scaling
4. Quo (formerly OpenPhone)
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Best for: SMS-heavy ecommerce stores and startups that need unlimited texting.
Quo (recently rebranded from OpenPhone) stands out for one feature: unlimited SMS/MMS on all plans.
If you're sending order confirmations, shipping updates, and promotional texts, the unlimited SMS is a real advantage over competitors who cap messages or charge per text.
The platform also includes Sona, an AI receptionist that can answer basic calls and qualify inquiries.
It's not as ecommerce-specialized as Ringly.io's Seth, but it handles simple tasks without human intervention.
For Shopify integration, you'll need to build it yourself via Quo's API. That's feasible if you have development resources, but it's not plug-and-play.
Pros:
- Unlimited SMS/MMS included on all plans
- Sona AI receptionist handles basic inquiries
- Modern, intuitive interface
- Full API for custom integrations
Cons:
- API integration required for Shopify (not native)
- Sona AI is general-purpose, not ecommerce-trained
- Smaller integration ecosystem than enterprise competitors
- Per-user pricing still applies
5. Zoom Phone
Best for: Budget-conscious stores already using Zoom for video.
Zoom Phone offers the lowest entry price on this list at $10/user/month for metered calling.
If you're already paying for Zoom Meetings and want to add phone capability, the integration is seamless.
The budget pricing comes with tradeoffs. SMS costs $0.01 per message (not included), which adds up fast for ecommerce order notifications.
There's no AI call handling. And the metered plan means unpredictable costs if call volume spikes.
For stores with low call volume that already use Zoom, it's a reasonable budget option.
For serious ecommerce phone support, it's too basic.
Pros:
- Lowest entry price at $10/user/month
- Seamless integration with Zoom Meetings
- Familiar interface for Zoom users
- Easy to add/remove seasonal users
Cons:
- SMS not included (charged per message)
- No AI call handling or automation
- No ecommerce-specific features
- Metered plan creates unpredictable costs
6. Aircall
Best for: Ecommerce stores with dedicated sales teams doing outbound calls.
Aircall is designed for sales and support teams that need power dialer features and deep CRM integration.
The platform serves 22,000+ companies and offers 260+ integrations, making it one of the most connected options.
For sales-focused ecommerce (think high-ticket items with phone-based selling), the power dialer and call analytics are valuable.
The AI Voice Agent can qualify leads and handle basic inquiries autonomously.
The pricing is the barrier for smaller stores. At $30/user/month minimum with a 3-user requirement, you're paying at least $90/month before making a single call.
That's expensive if you just need customer support.
Pros:
- Power dialer for outbound sales campaigns
- Deep Salesforce and HubSpot integrations
- WhatsApp messaging built-in
- AI Voice Agent for autonomous call handling
Cons:
- 3-user minimum ($90/month floor)
- Higher price point than alternatives
- Sales-focused, not customer service-focused
- No native Shopify integration
7. Ooma
Best for: Small ecommerce stores on a tight budget that need basic phone service.
Ooma is the budget-friendly option for stores that need basic VoIP without the bells and whistles.
At $19.95/user/month, it includes unlimited calling and a virtual receptionist on all plans.
The 100+ features on the base plan cover the basics: call recording, voicemail, call forwarding, and mobile apps.
For a small store handling a few calls per day, it gets the job done.
The limitations are significant for growing ecommerce: no AI features, minimal integrations, no SMS mentioned in pricing, and no ecommerce platform connections.
This is a phone system, not an ecommerce communication platform.
Pros:
- Affordable entry price
- Virtual receptionist included on all plans
- Easy setup for non-technical users
- Unlimited calling (no per-minute charges)
Cons:
- No AI features or automation
- Limited integration ecosystem
- No native ecommerce integrations
- SMS capabilities not mentioned
How to choose the right RingCentral alternative
The right choice depends on your specific situation.
Choose Ringly.io if you want AI that actually handles calls (not just transcribes them) and you're on Shopify.
The native integration means Seth can look up orders and process returns without human involvement. The minute-based pricing also works better for seasonal businesses than per-user models.
Choose Nextiva if you're building a support team and need enterprise-grade reliability.
The 99.999% uptime and 24/7 support matter when you're handling high volumes.
Choose Dialpad if call analytics and transcription are your priority. Real-time transcription on all plans is a real advantage for training and quality control.
Choose Quo if SMS is central to your operations. Unlimited SMS/MMS for order notifications beats every competitor's limits or per-message pricing.
Choose Zoom Phone if you're budget-constrained and already use Zoom. It's the cheapest option, but limited.
Choose Aircall if you have a sales team doing outbound calls. The power dialer and CRM integrations are built for sales, not support.
Choose Ooma if you need basic phone service and nothing more. It's affordable but lacks ecommerce-specific features.
Seasonal staffing consideration: Per-user pricing (Nextiva, Dialpad, Quo, Aircall, Ooma) means paying for peak-season staff year-round.
Minute-based pricing (Ringly.io) or metered options (Zoom Phone) offer more flexibility for seasonal spikes.
Automate your ecommerce phone support with Ringly.io
Most RingCentral alternatives are built for generic businesses. They work fine, but they weren't designed with online stores in mind.
Ringly.io is different. Seth, the AI phone agent, connects directly to your Shopify store.
When a customer calls asking about their order, Seth already knows their order status, shipping information, and return options. No human lookup required.
That native integration means Seth handles about 73% of calls without escalating to your team.
For a typical ecommerce store, that's a significant reduction in support workload.
The pricing model also fits ecommerce better than per-user alternatives. You pay for minutes used, not seats filled.
During slow seasons, your costs drop. During Black Friday, you're not scrambling to provision new user licenses.
Start your 14-day free trial and see how Seth handles your customer calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best RingCentral alternatives for ecommerce stores?
The top RingCentral alternatives for ecommerce include Ringly.io (best for AI-powered Shopify support), Nextiva (best for reliability and support teams), Dialpad (best for call transcription), and Quo (best for unlimited SMS). The right choice depends on whether you prioritize AI automation, pricing flexibility, or specific features like SMS.
Which RingCentral alternative has native Shopify integration for ecommerce?
Ringly.io is the only RingCentral alternative with native Shopify integration for ecommerce. Seth, the AI phone agent, connects directly to your Shopify store to pull order data, track shipments, and process returns in real-time during calls. Other alternatives require Zapier or custom API development.
What's the cheapest RingCentral alternative for ecommerce businesses?
Zoom Phone offers the lowest per-user price for RingCentral alternatives in ecommerce at $10/user/month. However, SMS costs extra ($0.01/message), which adds up for order notifications. Ringly.io's $99/month flat rate (including 250 minutes) may be more cost-effective for stores focused on phone support automation.
Do any RingCentral alternatives for ecommerce include unlimited SMS?
Quo (formerly OpenPhone) includes unlimited SMS/MMS on all RingCentral alternative plans for ecommerce, starting at $15/user/month. This is significant for stores sending order confirmations, shipping updates, and promotional texts. Most competitors cap SMS or charge per message.
Which RingCentral alternative is best for seasonal ecommerce scaling?
Ringly.io is the best RingCentral alternative for seasonal ecommerce scaling because it uses minute-based pricing instead of per-user fees. You pay for actual usage rather than maintaining seats year-round. This model works better for Black Friday spikes and holiday seasons than traditional per-user pricing.
Can AI handle customer service calls for ecommerce stores?
Yes. Ringly.io's Seth AI handles about 73% of ecommerce customer calls without human intervention. Seth can look up orders, track shipments, process returns, and answer FAQs. For complex issues, it escalates to human agents. Other RingCentral alternatives offer AI transcription but not autonomous call handling.
What features should I look for in RingCentral alternatives for ecommerce?
The key features for RingCentral alternatives in ecommerce are: native Shopify/WooCommerce integration, unlimited or high-volume SMS for order notifications, flexible pricing for seasonal scaling, AI automation for common inquiries, and reliable uptime during peak periods like Black Friday.
