8×8, a leading provider of cloud-based communications and customer engagement solutions, has established itself as a prominent player in the business telephony market. For UK businesses evaluating their options, understanding 8×8’s pricing and product offerings is essential to making an informed decision. This guide offers a comprehensive review of 8×8’s pricing structure, alongside a breakdown of their key business telephony products.
Overview of 8×8’s business telephony offerings
8×8 provides a range of telephony solutions designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. Their products fall into several categories, including business phone systems, video conferencing, contact centre solutions, and team messaging. All of these services are built on a cloud-based platform, which offers flexibility, scalability, and ease of use.
The core product line includes:
- 8×8 Express: A simple, affordable phone system ideal for small businesses.
- 8×8 X Series: A range of plans offering increasingly advanced features, from basic telephony to comprehensive communications and collaboration tools.
- 8×8 Contact Centre: A sophisticated contact centre solution designed for customer service and support teams.
8×8 pricing list
| Plan | Monthly Cost (per user) | Target Audience | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8×8 Express | £10 | Small businesses/startups | Unlimited UK calling, auto-attendant, voicemail, mobile & desktop apps |
| X1 (X Series) | £15 | Small to medium-sized businesses | Unlimited calling in 14 countries, HD audio/video, team messaging, CRM integration |
| X2 (X Series) | £22 | Medium-sized businesses | Everything in X1, video conferencing (100 participants), advanced call handling |
| X4 (X Series) | £32 | Larger organisations | Everything in X2, unlimited calling in 47 countries, supervisor analytics |
| X6 (X Series) | £45 | Enterprises/contact centres | Everything in X4, basic omnichannel contact centre, CRM integration |
| X7 (X Series) | £60 | Enterprises/contact centres | Everything in X6, advanced analytics, speech analytics, AI tools |
| X8 (X Series) | £85 | Large enterprises/contact centres | Everything in X7, full omnichannel capabilities, advanced customer engagement tools |
| 8×8 Contact Centre | Custom pricing | Medium to large businesses | Customisable contact centre solutions, real-time analytics, quality management |
This table provides a snapshot of the estimated costs and key features associated with each plan. Prices are approximate and may vary based on specific needs, contract length, and any additional customisation required.
8×8 pricing plans – What to expect
8×8’s pricing structure is subscription-based, with costs varying depending on the features included in each plan. Here’s a breakdown of their key offerings:
8×8 Express
- Price: From £10 per user, per month
- Target: Small businesses or startups looking for an entry-level solution
- Features: Includes unlimited calling within the UK, auto-attendant, voicemail, and mobile and desktop apps.
X1 (Part of the X Series)
- Price: From £15 per user, per month
- Target: Small to medium-sized businesses needing basic phone functionality
- Features: Unlimited calling in up to 14 countries, HD audio and video, team messaging, and integration with popular CRM tools like Microsoft Teams and Salesforce.
X2 (Part of the X Series)
- Price: From £22 per user, per month
- Target: Businesses requiring more advanced communication tools
- Features: Everything in X1, plus video conferencing for up to 100 participants, advanced call handling, and analytics.
X4 (Part of the X Series)
- Price: From £32 per user, per month
- Target: Larger organisations with more complex needs
- Features: Includes all X2 features, plus unlimited calling in 47 countries, supervisor analytics, and call quality reporting.
X6 to X8 (Part of the X Series)
- Price: From £45 to £85 per user, per month
- Target: Enterprises and contact centres with advanced requirements
- Features: These plans offer the most comprehensive set of features, including omnichannel contact centre capabilities, speech analytics, and advanced AI-driven tools for customer engagement.
8×8 Contact Centre
- Price: Custom pricing
- Target: Medium to large businesses with dedicated customer support or sales teams
- Features: Customisable contact centre solutions with omnichannel support, CRM integration, real-time analytics, and quality management tools.
Factors influencing 8×8 pricing
When evaluating the cost of 8×8’s services, several factors can influence the final price:
- Number of users: As with most SaaS products, the more users you have, the lower the per-user cost may be due to volume discounts.
- Contract length: Committing to a longer-term contract can reduce monthly fees.
- Customisation and add-ons: Businesses requiring bespoke solutions or additional features may see higher costs.
- International calling requirements: Plans offering international calling options are typically more expensive, but necessary for businesses operating across borders.
Comparing 8×8 with competitors
While 8×8 offers a robust suite of features at competitive prices, it’s crucial to compare their offerings with other providers in the market. Competitors like RingCentral, Zoom Phone, and Microsoft Teams also provide cloud-based telephony solutions with varying pricing structures and feature sets.
For instance, RingCentral‘s entry-level plan starts at around £7.99 per user per month, which is slightly cheaper than 8×8 Express, but may lack some of the advanced features that 8×8 includes even in its basic packages. Zoom Phone, on the other hand, integrates seamlessly with Zoom’s video conferencing platform, which could be a deciding factor for businesses already embedded in the Zoom ecosystem.
Final thoughts on 8×8 pricing – Is it right for your business?
8×8’s pricing and product offerings are well-suited to businesses that value scalability, reliability, and comprehensive features. The ability to start with a basic plan and upgrade as your needs grow makes 8×8 a flexible option.
However, it’s essential to carefully assess your specific requirements and compare them against the features and costs of 8×8’s plans. For businesses with global operations or those looking for advanced customer engagement tools, the higher-tier X Series or the 8×8 Contact Centre might be the best fit.
In conclusion, 8×8 offers a versatile and competitively priced range of telephony solutions that can accommodate the needs of most UK businesses, from small startups to large enterprises. As always, consider your unique communication needs, budget constraints, and future growth plans when choosing the right telephony system for your business.
For more, visit the 8×8 website and read our guide to the best business VoIP systems.
8×8 pricing FAQ
8×8 Express costs £10 per user, per month. This plan is designed for small businesses or startups looking for a simple and affordable phone system.
8×8’s X Series offers several pricing tiers:
X1 costs £15 per user, per month
X2 costs £22 per user, per month
X4 costs £32 per user, per month
X6 costs £45 per user, per month
X7 costs £60 per user, per month
X8 costs £85 per user, per month
Each tier includes different features and is tailored to varying business needs.
Yes, 8×8 offers international calling options in its X Series plans. For example, the X1 plan includes unlimited calling in up to 14 countries, and the X4 plan offers unlimited calling in 47 countries. These options start at £15 per user, per month and increase depending on the plan.
The pricing for 8×8’s contact centre solutions is custom and varies depending on the specific needs of your business. While a standard X6 plan with basic contact centre features starts at £45 per user, per month, more advanced solutions will require a custom quote.
8×8 pricing is typically per user, per month, starting at £10 for 8×8 Express and going up to £85 for the X8 plan. The more users you have, the total cost increases, but volume discounts may be available, particularly for larger organisations.
Yes, 8×8 often offers discounts for businesses that commit to longer-term contracts. While exact discounts can vary, committing to a 12-month or longer contract can reduce the monthly per-user cost, especially on plans that start at £15 per user, per month, like the X1 plan.
Yes, 8×8 plans can be customised to meet specific business needs. Customisation may involve adding extra features or integrating with other systems, which can increase the base pricing. For example, adding advanced analytics or CRM integration to a plan like X4, which starts at £32 per user, per month, may result in additional costs.
8×8 Express is priced at £10 per user, per month and is suitable for smaller businesses. In contrast, the X Series plans start at £15 per user, per month for the X1 plan and can go up to £85 per user, per month for the X8 plan, with each tier offering increasingly advanced features.