If you're having trouble balancing your communications with clients and team members, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application could allow you to streamline all of your messaging through a single cloud-based application.
VoIP provider Nextiva (opens in a new tab), used by over 100 businesses, bills itself as designed for "non-technical business owners, not IT wizards." In our review, we look at the different plans available, their features, how easy the software is to use, and how it stacks up against its competitors. You can then use this information to decide if Nextiva could offer the best VoIP solution (opens in a new tab) for your business.
You can choose a plan based on the size of your business and your specific needs (Image credit: Nextiva)
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Nextiva VoIP: plans and prices
- Nextiva Subscription Options:
- 1 month plan – €20 per month (€20 total cost) (opens in a new tab)
If you decide to purchase VoIP software through Nextiva, you can choose from three types of plans: Essential, Professional, and Enterprise.
All plans include voicemail transcription, unlimited Internet faxing, and video calls of up to 45 minutes each as part of the plan. Upgrade to Essential and you'll get 1500 free minutes for €17,95 to €30,95 per user per month, depending on how many employees you have in your organization and whether you're willing to commit to an annual subscription to keep prices low.
Mid-tier professional members get up to 3000 minutes for €21,95-€35,95/user/month, while the premium Enterprise plan offers 12 minutes for the price of €500-31,95 €45 per user per month
Exact pricing is based on whether you have 1-4, 5-19, 20-99, or 100+ employees. The savings for annual fees is between 17% and 28%.
A 14-day free trial is available, which is pretty standard, but nothing special. If you're not sure if a VoIP service is right for your business, there are companies that offer free trials for at least twice as long.
Nextiva claims to offer HD quality calls (Image credit: Nextiva)
Nextiva VoIP: features
If you choose Nextiva, you can make unlimited calls to any phone in the US or Canada. Its real-time presence feature also lets you see which of your contacts is currently available, while the call queue lets you manage calls during peak hours.
Nextiva claims that its calls are HD quality to eliminate static, although this is quite common by today's standards.
Previously, Nextiva offered different levels of video conferencing depending on the plan, but that has changed and each plan comes with video call support for up to 250 participants, with a 45-minute time limit. Like most video conferencing solutions (opens in a new tab), Nextiva allows you to share screens and files during your conferences. You can also use Nextiva's video feature to live stream virtual events and webinars (Opens in a new tab).
If you receive a voicemail, the message will be sent directly to your email inbox and the software also gives you the option to record your outgoing voicemail. Some plans also add SMS notifications.
If you choose Nextiva, you can send and receive unlimited text messages with your clients, which can allow you to do things like send updates and schedule appointments.
If you are chairing a meeting, this feature will allow you to set up a dedicated line for that event. In addition to setting up these appointments, you can moderate your conferences and record them in HD.
The software also allows you to send and receive unlimited faxes just like you would email. You will receive a text alert each time a new fax arrives.
If you choose one of the more expensive Enterprise or Ultimate plans, you can also benefit from voice analysis. Voicemail transcription, standard on all paid plans, allows you to keep complete written records of your calls, which can be useful for keeping recordings without the need for large audio files.
The company's Sales Pipeline CRM - opens in a new tab - lets you create and manage contacts and accounts, as well as see a consolidated view of all your customer conversations.
If you choose the Ultimate plan, you'll benefit from automated surveys and analytics related to your customers' journeys through the sales process, which can provide valuable insights into their user behavior.
The dashboard is clear and intuitive (Image credit: Nextiva)
Nextiva VoIP: interface and use
When we signed up for a free trial with Nextiva, we found the process extremely easy and were able to access their services without any difficulties.
While the system's dashboard layout isn't particularly dynamic and its graphics can look a bit dated, the system was clearly designed with ease of use and functionality in mind. By dividing its tools based on communication, sales, and service, the company allows you to find the features you need as soon as you log in.
You'll also get various integrations with the software, which vary depending on the plan you choose. We really like the integration of Google Contacts and Microsoft Outlook, which is standard across the board, since being able to maintain one central database instead of having multiple digital phone books helps prevent mistakes.
There are plenty of other integrations reserved for mid- or high-spec plans, like Salesforce, Zendesk, and Netsuite, to name a few.
According to the company's website, their systems experience 99,99% uptime. It's also one of the most widely adopted platforms, with apps for Windows and Mac, as well as iOS and Android. It's on top of the browser's web app (reduced).
The company's website has product guides and blogs (Image credit: Nextiva)
Nextiva VoIP: support
If you have any questions about your plan, you can contact Nextiva by phone, online ticketing system, email or online chat. When we used the online chat feature, we received a courteous reply with all the information we needed.
We previously criticized Nextiva for average support - there was nothing out of the ordinary. The tables have turned and the company now offers 24/7 access to phone, email, and chat support for all paying customers. Many other companies reserve this for their highest paying clients.
If you have a more general question, the website has a selection of product guides and a blog with articles on relevant business topics such as communications, customer experience, leadership, marketing, productivity and sales.
Nextiva VoIP: security
When dealing with potentially sensitive business information, security and privacy can be of paramount importance.
Nextiva's interface gives you the ability to whitelist authorized IP addresses, allowing you to grant users access to your system only through trusted computers.
The system allows you to block email addresses from problematic accounts (Image credit: Nextiva)
You can also use your centralized account management system to block email addresses from accessing your services.
If you opt for a plan through Nextiva, your communications will also be encrypted via TLS and SRTP, both of which are designed to protect your privacy when communicating over the Internet. Working in real time, this protection ensures that your conversations are not vulnerable to eavesdropping in the always-on environment of cyberspace, and can also protect information such as your call history.
Competition
Despite its undoubtedly impressive features, Nextiva is far from your only option if you are considering a VoIP service for your business.
RingCentral MVP (formerly RingCentral Office) is one of the most popular options on the market, with prices starting at €19.99 (normally €29.99) per user per month for two to 20 users on an annual plan. Like Nextiva, the company offers a full range of plans depending on your organization's needs, and many customers praise its user-friendly design and interface. Read our Nextiva vs. RingCentral.
If CRM is a priority for your business, you might consider purchasing a plan through Aircall, which allows you to set up a call center in minutes and includes a wide range of support features.
final verdict
If you're considering cloud-based communication for your employees and customers, Nextiva certainly has a lot to offer, including flexible pricing plans and a range of features to match many of its rivals. We also like its wide range of third-party integrations and the fact that the basic plans don't just include the basics – Nextiva seems pretty generous all around.
Nextiva's 24/7 support is also vital for businesses managing complex IT solutions, which is a big step up from previous years. If you're still undecided, it may be worth signing up for the trial to see if Nextiva is the right solution for your organization.
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