Cisco Hosted Unified Communications Services vs. RingEX

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Cisco Hosted Unified Communications Services
Score 10.0 out of 10
N/A
Cisco offers hosted unified communications as a service.N/A
RingEX
Score 7.7 out of 10
N/A
RingEx is a cloud-based VoIP solution available via computer mobile application. It features video and audio conferencing, desktop phone rentals, collaboration tools, and integrations with other business applications. Plans are available on a monthly, per user subscription basis.
$19.99
per month
Pricing
Cisco Hosted Unified Communications ServicesRingEX
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Essentials (up to 20 users)
$19.99
per user/per month
Standard
$27.99
per user/per month
Premium
$34.99
per user/per month
Ultimate
$49.99
per user/per month
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Cisco Hosted Unified Communications ServicesRingEX
Free Trial
NoYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsPricing above is per/month paid annually. Pricing increases when paid monthly. Essentials - $29.99/month (paid monthly) Standard - $37.99/month (paid monthly) Premium - $44.99/month (paid monthly) Ultimate - $59.99/month (paid monthly)
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Cisco Hosted Unified Communications ServicesRingEX
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
Cisco Hosted Unified Communications ServicesRingEX
Cloud PBX
Comparison of Cloud PBX features of Product A and Product B
Cisco Hosted Unified Communications Services
-
Ratings
RingEX
7.9
131 Ratings
4% below category average
Hosted PBX00 Ratings7.474 Ratings
Multi-level Interactive Voice Response (IVR)00 Ratings8.199 Ratings
User templates00 Ratings7.491 Ratings
Call reports00 Ratings7.9117 Ratings
Directory of employee names00 Ratings8.6116 Ratings
Call Management
Comparison of Call Management features of Product A and Product B
Cisco Hosted Unified Communications Services
-
Ratings
RingEX
8.2
140 Ratings
3% below category average
Answering rules00 Ratings7.9128 Ratings
Call recording00 Ratings8.5120 Ratings
Call park00 Ratings8.2102 Ratings
Call screening00 Ratings8.4111 Ratings
Message alerts00 Ratings8.0132 Ratings
VoIP system collaboration
Comparison of VoIP system collaboration features of Product A and Product B
Cisco Hosted Unified Communications Services
-
Ratings
RingEX
7.8
123 Ratings
6% below category average
Video conferencing00 Ratings7.293 Ratings
Audio conferencing00 Ratings8.3107 Ratings
Video screen sharing00 Ratings7.564 Ratings
Instant messaging00 Ratings8.176 Ratings
Mobile apps
Comparison of Mobile apps features of Product A and Product B
Cisco Hosted Unified Communications Services
-
Ratings
RingEX
8.6
120 Ratings
3% above category average
Mobile app for iOS00 Ratings8.5105 Ratings
Mobile app for Android00 Ratings8.788 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Cisco Hosted Unified Communications ServicesRingEX
Small Businesses
Nextiva Business Phone Service
Nextiva Business Phone Service
Score 9.1 out of 10
CloudTalk
CloudTalk
Score 9.5 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Nextiva Business Phone Service
Nextiva Business Phone Service
Score 9.1 out of 10
CloudTalk
CloudTalk
Score 9.5 out of 10
Enterprises
Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Call Manager)
Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Call Manager)
Score 8.6 out of 10
Cisco Business Edition 7000 (discontinued)
Cisco Business Edition 7000 (discontinued)
Score 9.1 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Cisco Hosted Unified Communications ServicesRingEX
Likelihood to Recommend
8.2
(1 ratings)
7.8
(149 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
8.9
(15 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
8.3
(11 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
7.9
(79 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
8.0
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
4.7
(26 ratings)
In-Person Training
-
(0 ratings)
7.3
(1 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
7.8
(5 ratings)
Configurability
-
(0 ratings)
7.0
(1 ratings)
Contract Terms and Pricing Model
-
(0 ratings)
1.0
(1 ratings)
Ease of integration
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
6.0
(1 ratings)
Professional Services
-
(0 ratings)
1.0
(1 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
-
(0 ratings)
4.0
(1 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
-
(0 ratings)
8.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Cisco Hosted Unified Communications ServicesRingEX
Likelihood to Recommend
Cisco
It is well suited for: Clients with call managers that want to continue using Cisco and want to minimize the new CAPEX. Clients that want to outsource the platform management and support. Clients that have a variation on the number of extensions. Although, Cisco HCS, is a solution that has a higher opex than the ones supported in ISP IP Centrex.
Read full review
RingCentral
The reporting part is essential in our line of business, we must measure everything and report it, which is why it is one of its main strengths. They are fast and adapt to the needs, also the ease of being very easy to use, which entails relatively short training for new agents who would use this platform.
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Pros
Cisco
  • VoIP best practices
  • UC and IM
  • Centralized management and provisioning
  • Reduced OPEX/CAPEX in the implementation
  • Security and integration with other UC platforms using SIP (Except Lync)
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RingCentral
  • VOIP calling - call quality is excellent and has replaced our traditional landline phones
  • Video meetings - video quality is great(provided you have a good webcam) and the video features(multiple hosts, screen sharing, multiple room management) is 2nd to none.
  • Screen sharing - As an unexpected benefit, the ability to do a screen share has helped our IT crew in being able to remotely diagnose and fix problems with faculty or staff machines.
Read full review
Cons
Cisco
  • Integration with contact center plaforms
  • Integration with other UC platforms
  • Lower the tennant size and clusters capacity
  • Cisco's pressure to buy more and more licences, even not having a stale client pipeline (From the ISP point of view)
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RingCentral
  • Pricing for SMB space is high compared to other solutions
  • Still lagging behind 8x8 with desk phone support and integrations
  • UI for managing Limited Extensions is significantly more cumbersome than user extensions
  • Video meeting software still lags behind industry leaders (such as Zoom and MS Teams)
  • No licensing option for Common Area Phones with routing features
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Likelihood to Renew
Cisco
No answers on this topic
RingCentral
We are grandfathered into our unlimited toll-free minutes plan. We are very unlikely to switch because of that. It has been the major factor saving us a lot of money compared to switching to other solutions. I don't know any other company that still offers these unlimited plans.
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Usability
Cisco
No answers on this topic
RingCentral
They were working on updating a few of the modules while we were going live, so this made usability difficult to train on once they did go live with those changes. Now that the changes are in place, we have really enjoyed the usability of the platform
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Reliability and Availability
Cisco
No answers on this topic
RingCentral
The self-service ticketing system and SR creation is extremely simple and intuitive to use. The online University resource is invaluable - we often find a resolution to our query through existing KBs, thus negating the need to even raise a new support request. On the occasions we have raised a new SR, the support staff are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. The response times are some of the best I've ever experienced.
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Performance
Cisco
No answers on this topic
RingCentral
Occasional bandwith issues. In addition to this, I have one individual whose calls are blocked. We were not able to determine whether this was a RingEX or a carrier issue.
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Support Rating
Cisco
No answers on this topic
RingCentral
I have called RingEX a few times for assistance in setting up call handling or implementing changes in our call handling structure. The wait time to speak with an agent is usually minimal and the ones I have spoken to are excellent at walking me thru what changes I am trying to make as well as ensuring I understand what is being done so I can handle it myself next time if the need arises.
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In-Person Training
Cisco
No answers on this topic
RingCentral
I really didn't know all the capabilities
Read full review
Implementation Rating
Cisco
No answers on this topic
RingCentral
If someone has an existing system I tell them to keep that running initially and keep RingEX separate initially until the system is configured and tested to one's satisfaction. After testing and configuration is completed, then roll over the main phone numbers to the new RingEX system. I've seen one person who immediately flipped over to RingEX without properly configuring/testing the software and had many issues with missed customer calls until I helped him sort out his configuration.
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Alternatives Considered
Cisco
Cisco HCS platform is to be seen as a centralized UC platforms, that can be scalable as an IP Centrex solution and as rich in functionalities as a Cisco CUCM. If you're looking for a solution and your main focus is IM & P functionalities rather than voice, Lync is a good solution. If your focus is voice and telephony, Cisco is a better solution
Read full review
RingCentral
RingCentral MVP provided a more cost effective and complete solution than the competitors we evaluated. Reliability and call quality was of paramount concern for us. RingCentral provided a higher level of reliability than many of the
competitors we evaluated.

The completeness of their product offering was also unrivaled. Other competitors offered similar features but they nickel and dimed their customers and licensing became very difficult. The MVP licensing plan was simple to understand and implement.
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Contract Terms and Pricing Model
Cisco
No answers on this topic
RingCentral
not to sign up for it or give them any money for a product that does not work
Read full review
Scalability
Cisco
No answers on this topic
RingCentral
There is a browser version which allows the product to be used by almost anyone.
Read full review
Return on Investment
Cisco
  • Reduces the need to have a higher CAPEX in order to buy all the licenses at the start of the project.
  • The licensing is perpetual, the only associated cost with the licenses are SWSS.
  • Desktop sharing isn't a functionality.
  • Cisco SMB series can be used only with the higher cost licensing (Foundation/Standard).
Read full review
RingCentral
  • Better connectivity and communication with team messaging.
  • Enhanced customer experience with call routing, after-hours messaging, and emergency routing.
  • Better privacy for my team by not having to share their mobile numbers as users within RingEX.
  • Easier onboarding of new teammates as new users in RingEX.
Read full review
ScreenShots