Sangoma vs. Nextiva, RingCentral, Zoom for Business Communications

Most comparison tables look the same, but the differences under the surface are what matter. If you need flexible deployment, built-in reliability, and support that doesn’t disappear after sign-up, the gaps between vendors get real fast. Here’s how the leading unified communications and UCaaS providers compare. 

Core UC Features

Feature / Capability	Sangoma	Nextiva	RingCentral	Zoom
Calling / VoIP	✅ VoIP with SIP trunking (built-in)	✅ VoIP	✅ VoIP	✅ Zoom Phone (add-on)
Video Conferencing	✅ Sangoma Meet (browser-based, secure)	✅ Native video	✅ RingCentral Video	✅ Zoom Meetings
Team Collaboration (Messaging)	✅ TeamHub (chat, file sharing, SMS)	✅ Built-in messaging	✅ Glip (integrated)	✅ Zoom Team Chat
CRM Integration	✅ Salesforce, Zoho, MS Teams, Zapier + Integration Studio	✅ Salesforce, Hubspot	✅ Salesforce, Zendesk	✅ Salesforce, Zendesk, MS Teams
AI Features	✅ GenAI in TeamHub, Transcription	✅ Basic Nextiva AI	✅ RingSense + AI summaries	✅ Zoom AI Companion

Business Continuity

Feature / Capability	Sangoma	Nextiva	RingCentral	Zoom
Deployment Models	✅ Cloud, Hybrid, On-Prem (Only vendor with full flexibility)	❌ Cloud only	❌ Cloud only	❌ Cloud only
Survivability & Failover	✅ 4G/5G failover, POTS backup, local survivability	❌ No local survivability or backup	❌ No failover or QoS for phones	⚠️ Basic survivability only with upgrades
Uptime SLA	✅ 99.999% (Cloud + Hybrid + On-Prem)	✅ 99.999% (Cloud)	✅ 99.999% (Cloud)	❌ 99.99%
Support Availability	✅ 24/7 Live Support (No premium tiers)	✅ 24/7	✅ 24/7	⚠️ 24/7 (paid plans only)
Customer Support Quality	✅ US-based expert support with 90%+ CSAT	❌ Poor response, limited support staff knowledge	❌ Offshore support, poor dispute resolution	⚠️ Limited full access support

Cost & Contracts

Feature / Capability	Sangoma	Nextiva	RingCentral	Zoom
Pricing Transparency	✅ Transparent, no hidden fees or auto-renewals	❌ Hidden fees, forced renewals, price hikes	❌ Complex pricing, surprise contract terms	❌ Limited transparency, upsells for key features
Contract Flexibility	✅ Month-to-month terms available	❌ Requires 12–36 month contracts	❌ Auto-renewals and rigid service terms	❌ Limited contract flexibility
SMS/MMS Support	✅ Unlimited SMS across all tiers	❌ 100–250 texts/month depending on plan	❌ SMS caps between 25–200 texts/user/month	⚠️ Only via Zoom Phone, add-on required
International Calling	✅ Unlimited international dialing (select countries)	❌ No unlimited international dialing or phone numbers	❌ All international calls metered	❌ Metered international calling
E-Faxing	✅ Built-in Fax via UCaaS	✅ eFax available	✅ Included	❌ Not native

Ownership & Control

Feature / Capability	Sangoma	Nextiva	RingCentral	Zoom
Technology Ownership	✅ Fully owned UC & CC tech stack (no BroadSoft)	❌ Dependent on BroadSoft platform	❌ Uses third-party phone makers	❌ No owned hardware or UC stack
Porting Process	✅ Hassle-free porting with full phone/email support	❌ Difficult porting with slow response	❌ Porting issues with long delays	⚠️ Porting delays tied to subscription status
Vendor Lock-in	✅ No lock-in; uses owned tech and open integrations	❌ Locked into BroadSoft infrastructure	❌ Dependent on external vendors	⚠️ Lock-in with Zoom-certified devices
Hardware / Desk Phone Options	✅ Sangoma phones or BYOD	✅ BYOD + devices	✅ Partner phones + BYOD	✅ Zoom-certified devices

Usability & Experience

Feature / Capability	Sangoma	Nextiva	RingCentral	Zoom
App Quality & Usability	✅ Streamlined, stable apps with continuous updates	❌ App issues include crashes and instability	❌ App is clunky and overwhelming	✅ Great video, weak phone app experience
Contact Center (CCaaS)	✅ Optional Add-On (modular, scale when ready)	✅ Optional Add-On	✅ Native CCaaS (bundled in premium plans)	⚠️ Limited CCaaS (Zoom CC extra cost)

What This Comparison Tells You

Most providers offer similar surface features—video meetings, chat, VoIP. But once you look closer, deployment flexibility, integration capabilitites, cost structure, and real support can make or break your daily operations. 

Deployment Flexibility: One Size Doesn’t Work for Everyone

Zoom, Nextiva, and RingCentral are cloud-only. That’s fine if your whole team is remote and your setup is simple. But most businesses aren’t built that way. Some need physical infrastructure. Some deal with compliance. Some need their phones to work when the internet doesn’t.

Sangoma is the only vendor in this group offering cloud, hybrid, and on-prem unified communications deployment. That means you can:

• Run a fully cloud-based system and scale fast.
• Use hybrid for local survivability and failover—ideal for hospitals, schools, and distributed operations.
• Choose on-prem if you need maximum control over your environment or want to reuse existing hardware.

Real example: Strategic Health Care saved $2,100/month by switching to Sangoma’s on-prem platform. That’s the kind of impact flexibility makes.

Contact Center Options Without the Complexity

Some businesses need full contact center tools; others need basic routing and analytics. Zoom offers limited CCaaS features unless you bolt on their Contact Center (at extra cost). RingCentral bundles CCaaS into higher-tier plans, whether you want it or not.

Sangoma keeps it flexible. Need IVR, call recording, or queue management? It’s available when you’re ready for it. You don’t pay for it until you need it, and it integrates directly with your unified communications setup, so agents and front-line teams work from the same interface.

Healthcare teams, for example, can automate triage, route calls based on urgency, and reduce wait times without adding more software.

Integration Without the Headaches

Disjointed apps slow teams down. That’s why integrations need to actually work—without custom development, third-party middleware, or steep learning curves.

Sangoma supports:

• Native CRM integrations with Salesforce, Zoho, Zendesk
• Direct integration with Microsoft Teams for full voice calling inside your existing Teams interface
• Zapier compatibility for automating workflows across popular tools
• Integration Studio for building tailored workflows without writing code

When a customer calls, your team sees their history immediately. After the call, notes and data sync—no toggling, no missed details.

Security and Support You Can Count On

Most vendors list security acronyms. But not all of them offer the same level of transparency or service.

Sangoma builds and runs its own systems in-house. That means no outsourced infrastructure, no finger-pointing, and no support tiers.

• Security: HIPAA, PCI, encryption, and private networking—all standard.
• Uptime: 99.999%, even for hybrid and on-prem deployments.
• Support: 24/7 live human support—no paywall, no premium add-ons.

Who It’s Best For

• Sangoma: Best for SMBs or enterprise businesses that need flexibility and control—whether that’s compliance, local failover, or reusing existing hardware. It’s scalable and built for real-world complexity.
• Nextiva: A good option for small, cloud-only teams with basic needs.
• RingCentral: Suits mid-to-large enterprises that want bundled UC + CCaaS and are willing to pay more for it.
• Zoom: Best for video-first teams that prioritize meetings over calling or contact center functions. Strong for webinars and virtual collaboration, but limited if you need full voice infrastructure or built-in CCaaS without extra costs.

The Bottom Line

Sangoma stands out because it doesn’t force you into a single way of working. You choose the deployment model—cloud, hybrid, or on-prem. You decide when to scale into contact center features. You get integrations that reduce friction. And if something breaks at 3 a.m., you get real support—not a chatbot.

The tools work together, the pricing is transparent, and your communications stay reliable no matter how your business grows or where your team works.

Book a call with our unified communications experts.