Most Dialpad alternatives lists rank phone systems by features. That is the wrong way round for a small store, because the thing that actually decides your bill is how many seats the vendor forces you to buy.
Dialpad’s Standard plan is $15 per user per month on annual billing, with no multi-seat minimum and AI call summaries included. That is a hard deal to beat for one or two people. Where it stops being the best option is if you need several phone numbers, a flat price for a growing team, or cheaper texting, and that is where the alternatives below come in.
I pulled every price in this article from each vendor’s own pricing page on 22 September 2026, and the texting registration rules come from Twilio’s A2P 10DLC documentation. I read the data the page loads rather than the rendered page, because most of these sites toggle between monthly and annual prices. I run Ecommerce Paradise and a high-ticket store of my own, and in this model the phone matters more than most people think. A customer about to spend $5,000 on one order usually calls first.
Still the Cheapest Way to Get AI Call Summaries
Dialpad Standard is $15 per user per month on annual billing, with transcription and AI recaps on every call and a 14-day free trial.
The Quick Comparison
Prices are per month. “Annual” means the monthly equivalent when you pay for a year up front.
| Phone system | Entry plan (annual / monthly) | Priced per | Seat minimum | Call summaries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dialpad | $15 / $27 | User | 1 (3 on Pro) | Included on every plan |
| Quo | $15 / $19 | User | None stated | Business plan and up |
| Grasshopper | $14 / $18 | Account | None | Recorded calls, Solo Plus and up |
| Talkroute | Monthly only: $19 | Account (users included) | None | Only via beta AI Receptionist add-on |
| RingCentral | $20 / $30 | User | None stated | Included on every plan |
| Nextiva | $15 / $23 | User | None stated, 12-month term for annual price | Top plan only ($75) |
| Aircall | $30 / $40 | License | 3 (4 on monthly billing) | $9 add-on, included on Professional |
What It Actually Costs at 1, 3 and 5 People
This is the table I wish every comparison had. Entry plans only, annual billing, per month.
| Phone system | 1 person | 3 people | 5 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dialpad Standard | $15 | $45 | $75 |
| Quo Starter | $15 | $45 | $75 |
| Grasshopper Solo Plus | $25 | $25 | $25 |
| Talkroute (monthly price) | $19 Basic | $39 Plus | $49 Plus |
| RingCentral Core | $20 | $60 | $100 |
| Nextiva Core | $15 | $45 | $75 |
| Aircall Essentials | $90 | $90 | $150 |
Two things jump out. Grasshopper’s Solo Plus plan is priced per account, not per person, so it stays at $25 a month whether you have one user or five. And Aircall’s 3-license minimum makes it six times the price of Dialpad for a solo operator. The Talkroute column uses its Plus plan, which includes 3 users, plus $5 per extra user.
If you want AI call summaries on every call, the picture changes again, because several of the cheap entry plans do not include them.
| Cheapest plan with AI summaries on every call | 1 person | 3 people |
|---|---|---|
| Dialpad Standard | $15 | $45 |
| RingCentral Core | $20 | $60 |
| Quo Business | $23 | $69 |
| Aircall Essentials plus AI Assist | $117 | $117 |
| Nextiva Scale | $75 | $225 |
So for one person who wants AI summaries, Dialpad is still the cheapest here, and at 3 people it still beats RingCentral and Quo Business. Grasshopper is the wild card. Solo Plus at $25 includes call summaries too, but Grasshopper describes them as a quick recap of recorded calls, so they only cover the calls you record, and it does not label them as AI. Read the Grasshopper section before you jump, because a flat price is flat for a reason.
The Fees Nobody Puts in the Headline Price
Before the individual reviews, three costs sit outside almost every plan price in this list, and they are the reason your first invoice rarely matches the pricing page.
Texting registration. If you want to text customers from a normal local US number, US carriers require the business and its messaging use to be registered through the A2P 10DLC system run by The Campaign Registry. That is an industry rule, not a vendor quirk, and it is why Quo, Grasshopper and Talkroute all publish one-time registration fees and small monthly campaign fees. Registration can take several days, so start it before you launch, not the week your first customer asks to text you.
Telecom taxes and regulatory fees. Most VoIP providers pass through charges like the federal Universal Service Fund fee, which funds phone and internet access programs administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company, plus E911 and state or local taxes. RingCentral lists these on its page as fees that may apply on top of the plan price. Talkroute is the exception that says it includes them. Budget a little above the sticker price for everyone else.
Calls and texts outside the US and Canada. Every “unlimited” calling promise in this list is limited to the US and Canada. If you sell into the UK or Australia, or you call suppliers overseas, those minutes are billed separately at each vendor’s international rates. As a digital nomad running stores from abroad, this is the line I check first, because the app works anywhere but the free minutes do not.
None of these are reasons to avoid any particular provider. They are just the reason to compare real invoices rather than headline prices, and to ask each vendor for a quote with taxes and fees included before you commit to a year.
1. Quo: Best for Texting-Heavy Stores
Quo, the company formerly called OpenPhone, is the closest like-for-like alternative to Dialpad. Starter is $15 per user per month on annual billing or $19 monthly, Business is $23 or $33, and Scale is $35 or $47.
Where Quo beats Dialpad is texting. Quo lists messaging within the US and Canada as unlimited on every plan, subject to its fair use policy, where Dialpad charges per SMS. You still pay the carrier registration fees Quo publishes, a $19.50 one-time review fee and $1.50 to $3 a month, but you are not paying per message. If you follow up on quotes and orders by text, that difference adds up.
Where Quo loses is AI. On Starter, AI call summaries and transcripts only cover calls handled by Sona, Quo’s AI agent. To get summaries on every call you need Business at $23. Phone menus, call transfers and CRM integrations also start at Business. Extra numbers are $5 a month each, which is useful if you run several brands, and there is a 7-day trial.
I compared the two head to head in Quo vs Dialpad.
2. Grasshopper: Best Flat Price for a Small Team
Grasshopper prices per account rather than per user. True Solo is $14 a month on annual billing or $18 monthly for one user. Solo Plus is $25 or $32 with unlimited users, and Small Business is $55 or $70 with unlimited users and 4 numbers.
That per-account pricing is the whole story. Solo Plus includes call recording, a phone menu, summaries of recorded calls and AI call sentiment, and on paper you can add as many users as you like at no extra cost. For a store owner with a VA and a part-time salesperson, that is a lot of phone system for $25 a month.
The trade-offs are real. Solo Plus includes 1 number and 3 extensions, with extra numbers at $9 a month on annual billing. True Solo has no call forwarding beyond a single number of your choosing, and it does not include the AI features. Business texting carries a $19.50 one-time registration fee plus $1.50 a month. International calls are billed per minute. Grasshopper offers a 7-day free trial, and it is the only vendor here that says outright no credit card is required. My Grasshopper pricing breakdown covers the plans in detail.
Want the Whole Stack Set Up for You?
Our done-for-you builds launch with the phone system, routing and follow-up process in place, because in high-ticket the phone is where the sale closes.
3. Talkroute: Best All-In Price With No Contract
Talkroute sells plans that include a set number of users. Basic is $19 a month for 1 user, Plus is $39 for 3 users, and Pro is $59 for 10 users, with extra users at $5 a month each. Only month-to-month prices are published. Talkroute says annual plans exist but does not list the price.
Two things make Talkroute stand out. First, it says its price is all-inclusive: “We do not add separate charges for telecom taxes, the Universal Service Fund (USF), or other regulatory fees.” Most VoIP providers add those on top, so this is a real difference on your actual invoice. Second, calling covers unlimited US and Canada minutes, local and toll-free, on every plan.
Texting is capped at 500 messages a month on Basic, 2,000 on Plus and 5,000 on Pro. Call recording is Pro only, and Basic has no phone menu. Talkroute’s core plans list no AI summaries for normal calls. Its AI Receptionist, which does include call summaries for the calls it handles, is a beta add-on from $39 a month. The trial is 7 days, and Talkroute is clear that refunds are not issued after it ends. My Talkroute review goes further.
4. RingCentral: Best for AI on Every Plan at a Bigger Brand
RingCentral Core is $20 per user per month on annual billing or $30 monthly, and Advanced is $25 or $35. The pricing data the page loads also includes an Ultra tier at $35 or $45.
RingCentral matches Dialpad on AI: its AI Assistant, which transcribes calls and takes real-time notes, is included on every tier including Core. Calling is unlimited within the US and Canada. It costs $5 a user more than Dialpad, and the entry plan is thinner in ways a store notices. Core includes 25 business texts per user per month and on-demand call recording only, and CRM integrations are not included on Core.
RingCentral’s own page is also inconsistent in two places. Its FAQ says the 14-day trial supports “up to 20 phone lines”, while the disclaimer on the same page says the trial “is limited to a maximum of five users” and that SMS is not available during the trial. And the Advanced plan’s texting allowance shows as 100 per user per month in the comparison table but 50 in the plan card. Assume the lower numbers until you confirm. The page also lists regulatory fees and taxes that may be added to the plan price.
5. Nextiva: Cheap Entry, but Watch the Contract
Nextiva Core is $15 per user per month on annual pricing or $23 monthly, Engage is $25 or $50, and Scale is $75 either way.
The catch is in the eligibility line. Nextiva’s annual small business pricing requires “a paid 12-month or longer minimum term agreement”. Read that carefully before you sign, because it is a contract, not just a billing preference.
The bigger issue for a store owner is how much is gated. On Core, texting is capped at 100 messages per user per month, call recording is an add-on, a toll-free number is an add-on, and CRM integrations are an add-on on every plan. Real-time transcription and AI call summaries are only on Scale at $75 per user. If AI summaries matter to you, Nextiva is the most expensive way to get them in this list. More in my Nextiva review.
6. Aircall: Best for a Real Sales or Support Team
Aircall Essentials is $30 per license per month on annual billing or $40 monthly, and Professional is $50 or $70. Aircall requires a minimum of 3 licenses, and its own page says a “Minimum of 4 licenses for monthly billing”.
That makes the real floor $90 a month on annual billing or $160 a month on monthly billing, even for one person. For a solo store owner, that rules it out. AI call summaries are the $9 per license AI Assist add-on on Essentials and included on Professional. Texting includes unlimited inbound and 4,000 outbound messages per user per month.
Where Aircall earns its price is a team that works inside a helpdesk or CRM all day, with Professional adding a power dialer, voicemail drop, smart routing and Salesforce CTI. If you are hiring your first two sales reps, it is worth a look. My Aircall vs Dialpad comparison covers that decision.
What I Left Out and Why
I left Phone.com out because its pricing page blocked every automated request when I checked, so I could not verify a single price, and I will not publish numbers I have not checked. I also left Zoom Phone out: Zoom’s own pricing data returned two different sets of phone plans depending on how the page was loaded, and I would rather skip it than guess which one is live.
How I Would Choose
Solo operator who wants AI summaries: stay on Dialpad Standard at $15. Nothing here beats it for one person. My Dialpad pricing breakdown covers the monthly versus annual maths.
Owner plus a VA or one rep, on a budget: Grasshopper Solo Plus at $25 a month flat, as long as one number and three extensions are enough.
You text customers constantly: Quo, because texting is not metered per message the way it is on Dialpad.
You want no surprises on the invoice: Talkroute, because its price includes telecom taxes and regulatory fees.
You have a real sales or support team: Aircall Professional or RingCentral Advanced.
Whatever you pick, get a proper local or toll-free number before you start talking to suppliers. Some distributors check. I cover that in how to get a business phone number suppliers will accept.
The full supplier process, from finding brands to getting approved, is in my step-by-step supplier guide.
If you are still earlier than that, a phone system can wait. Pick the niche first with the high-ticket niches list. Then get the company set up properly with my business formation guide.
If the model itself is new to you, start with what high-ticket dropshipping actually is.
One Person? Dialpad Is Still the Pick
$15 per user per month on annual billing, no multi-seat minimum on Standard, AI call summaries included.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Dialpad alternative?
It depends on your team size. For one person, Dialpad Standard at $15 is hard to beat. For a small team on a budget, Grasshopper Solo Plus is $25 a month per account with unlimited users. For heavy texting, Quo. For a real sales team, Aircall or RingCentral.
What is the cheapest Dialpad alternative?
Grasshopper True Solo at $14 a month on annual billing for one user, and Grasshopper Solo Plus at $25 a month for any number of users. Neither True Solo nor the cheapest plans from Quo or Nextiva include AI summaries on every call.
Is Quo cheaper than Dialpad?
On annual billing both start at $15 per user. On monthly billing Quo Starter is $19 against Dialpad Standard at $27. But AI summaries on every call need Quo Business at $23, while Dialpad includes them at $15.
Does Aircall have a minimum number of users?
Yes. Aircall requires at least 3 licenses, and its page says a minimum of 4 licenses on monthly billing. That makes the entry cost $90 a month on annual billing.
Which Dialpad alternative has unlimited texting?
Quo lists US and Canada messaging as unlimited on every plan, subject to fair use, plus carrier registration fees, and Grasshopper’s comparison table lists business texting as unlimited on every plan. Dialpad, RingCentral, Nextiva, Aircall and Talkroute all cap or meter texting in some way.
Do these prices include taxes and fees?
Mostly not. Talkroute says its price is all-inclusive of telecom taxes and regulatory fees. RingCentral lists regulatory fees and taxes that may apply on top, and texting registration fees apply at Quo and Grasshopper.
Related Articles
- Dialpad Pricing 2026
- Dialpad Review 2026
- Quo vs Dialpad
- Aircall vs Dialpad
- Talkroute Alternatives 2026
- Best Business Phone Systems for Ecommerce Support Teams
Trevor Fenner is an ecommerce entrepreneur and the founder of Ecommerce Paradise, a platform focused on helping entrepreneurs build and scale profitable high-ticket ecommerce and dropshipping businesses. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Trevor specializes in high-ticket dropshipping strategy, niche and product selection, supplier recruiting and onboarding, Google & Bing Shopping ads, ecommerce SEO, and systems-driven automation and scaling. Through Ecommerce Paradise, he provides free education via in-depth guides like How to Start High-Ticket Dropshipping, advanced training through the High-Ticket Dropshipping Masterclass, and fully done-for-you turnkey ecommerce services for entrepreneurs who want a faster, more hands-off path to growth. Trevor is known for emphasizing sustainable, real-world ecommerce models over hype-driven tactics, helping store owners build scalable, sellable, and location-independent brands.
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