RingCentral vs Dialpad: which should you choose?
Quick answer: RingCentral is built for enterprise, while Dialpad suits ai-features. For most users Dialpad is the stronger default, but RingCentral can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. Dialpad has the lower entry price.
RingCentral and Dialpad look similar on the surface; the differences show up in practice. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| RingCentral | Dialpad | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Ucaas | Ucaas |
| What it's known for | Flagship cloud UCaaS combining business phone, SMS, video and team messaging with the broadest integration ecosystem and enterprise reliability. | AI-native business phone and contact center with real-time transcription, live call summaries and sentiment analysis built into the core product. |
| Pricing | ~$20/user/mo Core, ~$25/user/mo Advanced, ~$35/user/mo Ultra (annual) | ~$15/user/mo Standard, ~$25/user/mo Pro (annual); enterprise custom |
| Best audience | Mid-market and enterprise teams that need deep CRM/app integrations and proven reliability. | Sales and support teams that want AI call intelligence built into the core phone. |
| Best for | enterprise, integrations | ai-features, sales-teams |
| Entry price | ~$20/user/mo (annual) | ~$15/user/mo (annual) |
| Biggest strength | Broadest integration ecosystem in the category (330+ apps). | Native AI (transcription, summaries) included rather than charged as an add-on. |
| Main caveat | Most CRM/third-party integrations locked to Advanced and Ultra tiers. | Standard plan only integrates with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. |
Features compared
The feature sets only partly overlap. Here is what each one actually gives you:
RingCentral key features
- Cloud business phone with unlimited US/Canada calling, voicemail-to-text, call queues and auto-attendant
- Team messaging, SMS and HD video meetings (up to 100 on Core, 200 on Ultra)
- Automatic call recording and advanced call monitoring (whisper/barge) on Advanced+
- AI features (RingSense) for call summaries and analytics
Dialpad key features
- AI-native business phone with real-time transcription on every plan
- Live call summaries, sentiment analysis and AI call coaching (Dialpad AI)
- Real-time assist and custom moments (keyword triggers) on Pro
- Call recording, advanced analytics and unlimited calling
Pricing tiers side by side
RingCentral plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ~$20/user/mo (annual) | Unlimited US/Canada calls, 25 SMS/user/mo, 100-participant video |
| Advanced | ~$25/user/mo (annual) | Auto call recording, CRM integrations, 100 SMS, 1,000 toll-free min |
| Ultra | ~$35/user/mo (annual) | 10,000 toll-free min, unlimited storage, 200-participant video |
Dialpad plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | ~$15/user/mo (annual) | Transcription, basic summaries, Google/Microsoft integrations |
| Pro | ~$25/user/mo (annual) | Real-time assist, sentiment analysis, CRM integrations, call recording |
| Enterprise | Custom | Quote-based |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where RingCentral wins
The most integration-rich, enterprise-reliable UCaaS platform in the market.
- Broadest integration ecosystem in the category (330+ apps).
- Enterprise-grade reliability and feature depth.
That makes it the stronger pick for mid-market and enterprise teams that need deep CRM/app integrations and proven reliability.
Where Dialpad wins
Built-in AI transcription, summaries and sentiment analysis on every tier.
- Native AI (transcription, summaries) included rather than charged as an add-on.
- Low Standard entry price for an AI-first product.
That makes it the stronger pick for sales and support teams that want AI call intelligence built into the core phone.
Verdict: choose by fit
There is no single winner; it depends on where you sit.
- Choose RingCentral if you fit its core audience — mid-market and enterprise teams that need deep CRM/app integrations and proven reliability.
- Choose Dialpad if you fit its core audience — sales and support teams that want AI call intelligence built into the core phone.
FAQ
Is RingCentral better than Dialpad?
Dialpad is the stronger default for most users, but RingCentral can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between RingCentral and Dialpad?
RingCentral is the most integration-rich, enterprise-reliable UCaaS platform in the market. Dialpad is built-in AI transcription, summaries and sentiment analysis on every tier.
Which is cheaper, RingCentral or Dialpad?
Entry pricing differs: RingCentral starts at ~$20/user/mo (annual), while Dialpad starts at ~$15/user/mo (annual). Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for RingCentral and Dialpad: