If you've been following this blog, you'll know we've written about choosing a VoIP phone system before.

For the first battle, we pit Wildix against Microsoft Teams. (Turns out they get along just fine.)

Then, for round two, we threw in another competitor – Cisco Webex. But that was all in preparation for round three – the battle royale. Yes, this is where we break all the rules. We're going to throw SIX of the most popular cloud communications solutions together to duke it out. If you're of a nervous disposition, look away now. Blood may spill.

1. Wildix

Nickname

The Estonian Stunner

Strengths

- An affordable and highly scaleable browser-based platform

- Can be used as a software-only solution

- Integrates well with key business software

- Has a suite of innovative tools available to help boost sales

- Awesome handsets

- Unlimited free calls to UK landlines and mobiles

Weaknesses

- A relatively little-known brand – may be off-putting for some users

- Lacks widespread adoption

- Can be difficult to set up

Verdict

A capable and flexible fighter. Great for SMEs in particular, but scaleable enough for any web-savvy business.

2. Microsoft Teams

Nickname

The Bluechip Bruiser

Strengths

- Well liked and widely used

- Intuitive, user-friendly interface

- Integrates seamlessly with Microsoft's cloud-based software suite

- Advanced video conferencing features

- Incorporates innovative technologies like Cortana text-to-speech

- Cutting-edge security from Microsoft, one of the biggest tech companies in the world

Weaknesses

- Collaboration can be difficult outside of the Microsoft ecosystem

- Capabilities overlap with other Microsoft apps

- Requires on-site software installations for the best experience

- Limited VoIP features and handset options

Verdict

A relative newcomer, but already a heavyweight. Teams is a solid, easy-to-use option for businesses of all sizes – especially if they already use Microsoft's cloud suite.

3. Cisco Webex

Nickname

Silicon Larry

Strengths

- Cisco is a hugely successful and widely trusted company

- Software is feature rich and easy to use

- Powerful and intuitive collaboration capabilities

- Works with a wide range of VoIP handsets

- Unlimited free calls to UK landlines and mobiles

Weaknesses

- Not the cheapest platform on the market

- Missing integrations with several key apps

Verdict

When it comes to features, Webex runs rings around most of the competition. But it's best for bigger businesses – it might be overkill for SMEs.

4. Nextiva

Nickname

WRECKtiva

Strengths

- Integrates well with key software like Hubspot and Salesforce

- Powerful auto-attendent scripting features

- Pricing structure is designed for cost-effective scaling

- Users report excellent uptime and audio quality

- A wide range of good-quality first-party handsets

Weaknesses

- Not the most secure solution on the market

- Nextiva's mobile apps are said to be unreliable

- Starter plans are a little pricey

Verdict

A good all-around contender. But be prepared to invest in third-party security solutions if you want total peace of mind.

5. 8x8

Nickname

Two-by-four

Strengths

- Like Nextiva, it has great auto-attendent functionality

- Boasts excellent security, out of the box

- Managers can access detailed analytics

- Cheap pricing tiers are available for small business users

Weaknesses

- Users have reported dropped calls, despite having fast internet connections

- Some key features are complicated to use

- Not the easiest platform to set up

Verdict

8x8 is going for grassroots support with competitive SME pricing plans. But will that see it through to the final round? Its tricky UI and intermittent dropouts might be its downfall.

6. Zoom

Nickname

The Pandemic Punisher

Strengths

- Extremely easy to use

- Nails the basics – VoIP, video, instant messaging, webinars…

- Intuitive integrations with novel "app store" approach

- A popular and widely adopted platform

Weaknesses

- Zoom's native VoIP offering is still young

- Key services are sold as bolt-ons – may prove pricey

- Web app has limited functionality compared to desktop app

- Some have raised privacy concerns as a result of "Zoombombing" incidents

Verdict

The fast-rising star of the VoIP world, Zoom saw a huge spike in users during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its intuitive interface gives it a fighting chance, but it's still playing catchup on VoIP and other key features.

The final results: who wins?

OK, time to 'fess up. We knew our favourites from the beginning – Wildix, Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex.

But before you cry foul, allow us to explain.

We've been in the cloud communications game for a long time – more than a decade, in fact. In tech years, that's about three centuries.

So we know a good solution when we see it. We have our favourites, sure. But they're our favourites for a reason.

We've chosen our three cloud phone systems because experience has proven that they're secure, reliable, and provide all the features that web-savvy businesses need. (Oh, and let's not forget – they're all on the Gartner Magic Quadrant for UCaaS.)

Each has its pros and cons, but that's why we haven't put all our clouds in one basket. Between Wildix, Webex and Teams, we're able to provide a solution to suit any organisation, no matter its size or sector.

Still, we hope you found our analysis useful. We're hardly unbiased observers, but we've tried to be as fair as possible in our judgements.

The fact is: no VoIP solution is perfect. Switching to a new phone system is a big decision, and it's important to weigh up their strengths and weaknesses carefully.

Need a little help? Feel free to get in touch.

We might have our favourites, but – above all – we just love to talk tech. And we don't do hard sells. It's just not our style.

Useful links

Learn more about our three favourite phone systems – Wildix, Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex.

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