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Nextiva is a voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) service created to leave antiquated calling systems in the dust. The software aims to simplify your internal and external communication through a series of tools jam-packed into one simple package. Read on to discover how a Nextiva VoIP number can help your business succeed.
>> Check out Nextiva today to take your business’s voice calling to the next level.
Nextiva Review: Verdict
Anyone looking to use Nextiva for VoIP can call anywhere in the US or Canada without restriction to maximize business potential. When receiving calls, a customizable auto-attendant makes it easy to funnel them just where they need to go.
Only higher-tier plans have call recording or SMS capabilities, and the service does not offer HD video. Should you ever have issues, the Nextiva customer service team is always on hand via phone, chat, or email to assist you.
Pros
- 24/7 phone, chat, and email customer support
- Unlimited calling within the US and Canada
- Customizable auto-attendant
Cons
- Call recording only available on higher-tier plans
- No HD on video calls
- No SMS with the lowest tier
>> Maximize your customer interactions with one of Nextiva’s affordable plans
Nextiva at a Glance
Nextiva has a wide range of options for businesses to work with. Let’s look at who can benefit most from the VoIP phone service and how each pricing tier stacks up.
Who the Product is Best For
Nextiva offers excellent VoIP service for anyone working in the United States or Canada. Furthermore, any business can benefit from the Nextiva support team, willing and able to help optimize the VoIP software for you. Collaborative tools and integrations help keep all your data in one place for easy access, and only the largest organizations may find some features lacking.
Nextiva Pricing
Pricing varies heavily depending on the number of users you have and the frequency you pay for your VoIP service. The most cost-effective option requires an annual subscription and more than 100 team members signed up. Below are yearly price breakdowns for teams of 20-99 individuals.
- Essential: Essential is Nextiva’s introductory plan, available at $18.95/user per month. It offers unlimited voice calling, up to 1,500 toll-free minutes, and a rudimentary auto-attendant for directing calls. 24/7 Nextiva customer service is available even at this tier to help with questions. Several important features are missing, such as unlimited conference calls, mobile SMS, and call recording.
- Professional: For $22.95/user each month, you can boost your Nextiva service to include unlimited conference calls for up to 40 participants, introduce SMS capability, and add in a slew of integrations with your other software. Teams also have access to a multi-level attendant and up to 3,000 toll-free minutes.
- Enterprise: The Enterprise plan pulls out all the stops, allowing an unlimited number of participants to join conference calls and adds the call recording feature for training or revisiting old conversations. This is the only plan to integrate with Microsoft Teams and lets you create three professionally recorded greetings, all for $32.95/user monthly.
Nextiva Features
Nextiva isn’t afraid to dish out the features. Here are some of the top tools available for your business.
Voice Calling
A VoIP service would not be complete without voice calling, and Nextiva delivers here in a big way. Teams can dial any number in the United States or Canada through crisp and clear high-definition voice capability. The system boasts 99.999% uptime and protects you and callers with TLS and SRTP encryption.
Every tier of service comes with a free local and toll-free number to stay connected with the masses. When phoning in, customers can make use of up to 12,500 toll-free minutes depending on the plan you choose. If you already have a number you like to use, Nextiva doesn’t charge to port those digits over.
Meetings
Whether for internal or external use, Nextiva offers several tools for connecting with large groups through a single medium. Conference calls only become available at the Professional tier and are limited to 40 participants. For anything larger, you’ll have to invest in the Enterprise plan where there are no such limits.
Unlike audio conference calls, video meetings are available no matter which level of Nextiva service you opt for. You’ll need to limit video conversations to 45 minutes and keep the participant size to 250 or less. Built-in tools include screen-sharing and a conference bridge for those not using the Nextiva app. The software does not take advantage of HD video that some others include as standard.
When scheduling meetings, you can either use Nextiva’s own calendar system or integrate your Google or Outlook schedule to keep your team on the same page. No matter your choice, staff or clients can join with no more than a click.
Team Collaboration
Nextiva goes above and beyond with crucial collaboration tools designed to facilitate brainstorming and dialogue. Within the VoIP software, it’s possible to create specific groups to bring together teams through chat, audio, or video. Once in a group, individuals can share screens or files all from one location. When the session is over, you can save these conversations for future reference.
Auto Attendant
Gone are the days of having a person screen and direct incoming calls to the appropriate place within your organization. The Nextiva auto attendant functions as an automated answering service with the ability to get clients to the correct department quickly. This frees up team members to focus on more important matters at hand.
As you upgrade your service, the auto-attendant grows from a simple keypad prompt to a multi-level system with submenus. The tool is fully customizable and allows you to build a unique greeting when customers call. The virtual assistant can handle multiple calls simultaneously, even as your company grows.
Contact Management
With Nextiva, you can store up to 500 contacts across all accounts for marketing or communication purposes. If you need more, it’s possible to integrate with Google and Outlook contact lists to expand your area of reach. There are areas to create notes on contacts to list pertinent information or personalize customer conversations.
Voicemail
If team members aren’t available or customers call after hours, your auto-assistant can put them through to your Nextiva voicemail. You can check these messages when you become available, but Nextiva can notify you by email or SMS if a particular message comes through. The system can also transcribe messages for easy reading when listening isn’t ideal.
Mobility
Whether you’re in the office or on the road, there are a series of methods you can use to stay connected. On the computer side, there’s a Nextiva app for both Mac and Windows or software that runs through your browser. For mobile devices, you and your team can download the Nextiva mobile VoIP app for iOS or Android as needed.
Call and Video Recording
The Nextiva app comes with video conference recording for documenting meetings or capturing training sessions for future viewing. You can also turn on call recording for quality assurance purposes, hold team members accountable, and minimize legal risks. Be aware that call recording is only available in Nextiva’s highest tier of service.
Integrations
Through a laundry list of integrations, Nextiva helps you connect all parts of your business within the Nextiva app. While those investing in the Essential plan only have access to Outlook and Google Contacts, higher tiers unlock software such as Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft Teams. Nextiva even has its own CRM system you can interface with to extend customer reach.
Nextiva Support
The Nextiva Support Center is second to none, with a website full of setup guides and answers to common questions. The platform also has regular webinars to learn more about getting the most from your setup.
Should these tools not provide the information you’re looking for, you can contact the Nextiva customer service team any time day or night for assistance. There’s someone on hand 24/7 via chat, phone, or email to address your needs. The crew consistently wins awards for stellar Nextiva support in helping its customers succeed.
Alternatives to Nextiva App
Nextiva stands near the top of the VoIP podium, but its features may not resonate with everyone. Below you’ll find some suitable alternatives to consider instead.
RingCentral
Like Nextiva, RingCentral features unlimited calls throughout the United States and Canada. All its plans contain high-definition voice and video quality for clear images and unbroken dialogue.
The service’s collaborative services really stand out, with built-in communication tools and document sharing capability. Some plans allow for up to 24-hour meetings and automatic call recording.
Its four tiers of service start at $19.99 per user per month but increase to $49.99 per user depending on the features you need. Prices are for an annual subscription but do not change whether you have one or 1,000 users.
RingCentral does VoIP calling well but can be a bit of a bear to set up the first time through. If you’re a new company trying out the base plan, there’s not even an option to contact customer support for help.
Pros
- Unlimited calls within the US and Canada
- Built-in team messaging and document sharing
- HD voice and video
Cons
- Can be over complicated for first time users
- Base plan lacks support
- Integrations unavailable at lower tiers
8×8
8×8 has plans as low as $15 per user each month and offers a no-risk 30-day trial to test the waters for yourself. This introductory tier only allows up to five users and has a basic auto attendant, voicemail, and HD audio and video conferencing.
Moving up the ladder enables meetings of up to 500 participants, a multi-level assistant, and SMS support for chatting with clients. By the time you reach its highest-paid plan at $140/user, you’ll have full access to the gamut of features the software avails.
If you’re moving from another system, 8×8 grants self-service number porting, so your clients don’t have to learn new digits. Beware of occasional upsells on features and occasional spam calls that 8×8 is unable to filter out. Unlike Nextiva, customer service isn’t always on hand to address concerns as they happen.
Pros
- Self-service number porting
- HD video conferencing for up to 500 participants
- SMS support for messages
Cons
- Some features cost extra
- Limited protection from spam calls
- Customer service not available 24/7
Dialpad
Dialpad divvies out a local phone number to each of your users while offering toll-free support throughout the United States and Canada. It’s possible to carry over local or toll-free numbers to Dialpad’s service if you have digits you like, and there are no limitations on the number of calls or videos you can perform each month.
Similar to Nextiva, Dialpad lets teams create groups for collaboration and project work. While your users work amongst themselves, your virtual assistant can handle initial phone conversations with ease.
Plans start at $15/user monthly, but this tier contains a multi-level auto attendant and, call recording, and SMS messaging normally found on more expensive plans. The Pro plan at $25/user has local number support in over 70 countries and 24/7 support.
Conferencing isn’t one of Dialpad’s strong suits, limiting participants to just 10 per meeting. Should you need additional phone lines for any reason, expect to pay a significant rate.
Pros
- Local number support
- Unlimited calls and video
- Create ‘ring groups’ for teams
Cons
- Additional phone lines are pricey
- Lower tier has only web and chat support
- Meetings are limited to 10 participants
Grasshopper
Grasshopper differs from the competition with flat monthly rates for each of its plans. At the low end, $26 per month nets you one phone number and three unique extensions. By the time you need the small business tier at $80 per month, Grasshopper gives five phone numbers and unlimited extensions for your team.
All plans include the same features, centering around VoIP calling, voicemail, and custom greetings. The service lists a free 7-day trial to see if these tools are enough for you.
Being more laser-focused on VoIP calling, Grasshopper doesn’t contain conferencing tools or the ability to record calls. Things like international calling and US-based receptionists come at an additional cost.
Pros
- Flat rate per month
- Free 7-day trial
- Number porting
Cons
- Lacks conferencing and call recording
- International calling comes at extra cost
- Limited number of users on some subscriptions
Nextiva Review – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This section contains answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the Nextiva app.
What does Nextiva do?
Nextiva is a voice-over-internet protocol service providing a range of calling and video options to connect you with your client base. Through one interface, you can make and receive calls from anywhere in the United States and Canada. In addition, the platform contains a wealth of additional tools to help businesses collaborate and grow.
Is VoIP cheaper than a landline?
VoIP is traditionally cheaper than landline phones, as VoIP makes use of a current internet connection rather than a separate system. There’s no need for additional hardware, as the platform converts seamlessly from analog to digital and back.
What are the disadvantages of using VoIP?
VoIP is completely dependent on your internet connection. Low-quality internet often leads to broken-up conversations or dropped calls. On the flip side, strong connections can lead to crystal-clear communication. The Nextiva app has a 99.999% uptime to prevent problems.
Can you text a VoIP number?
There’s no issue texting a VoIP number if the service provider accepts SMS. For larger texts, pictures, and videos, the provider would have to support MMS also.
Bottom Line on Nextiva Review
Nextiva can revolutionize your phone system by rolling voice calls, SMS, conference calls, video, and more into one app. Since you can run Nextiva from a computer or mobile device, there’s no need to invest in the expensive hardware that landline signals require.
Beyond calling, Nextiva contains several extra features for team collaboration, integrating software, and improving the overall customer experience. With plans designed to scale well with any size business, Nextiva can be your go-to source for client connection indefinitely.
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