If you happen to be shopping around for a business phone system, chances are that bOnline and RingCentral have popped up on your radar.
Both VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) providers aim to modernise the way your business handles its calls, but their approaches look a little different from each other.
While one is lean and built with the small business owner in mind, the other is a fully-fledged communications platform with the feature depth to match. Of course, price alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
Choosing the one that suits your business will depend largely on the size of your team, how complex your needs are and what your long-term goals are. Here’s what you need to know before you make the decision.
Who Are bOnline And RingCentral Aimed At?
bOnline has built its reputation almost entirely around small businesses. Think sole traders and micro-teams who need a straightforward phone system which is affordable and has minimal technical fuss.
On the other hand, RingCentral is a global unified communications platform. Their plans are aimed at businesses who scale quickly, from sales teams to multi-site companies. Simply put, it’s the ideal provider for those who want a system that can do more than just calling.
VoIP Features: Simplicity vs Depth
bOnline provides the essentials from unlimited inbound calls and call forwarding to access via desktops and mobile apps. Higher-tier plans also include video calling and unlimited outbound calls to UK landlines and mobiles. For small businesses, it covers their day-to-day needs.
RingCentral offers a much more feature-rich proposition. Think voice calls, SMS, video conferencing and team messaging all in one place. Higher-tier plans will give you automatic call recording, advanced call monitoring and integrations with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools.
However, set up is a bit more complex given the fact that these features are advanced and can take longer to do. It just requires a business to invest the time in learning the system properly. For small teams who just need the phone to ring, bOnline is more than enough.
The Price Conversation
At entry level, bOnline is highly competitive. Plans usually start from £7 per user per month or pay-as-you-go but their Unlimited Calling plan is the most popular coming in at £9 which includes unlimited UK landline and mobile calls.
Users can also opt for a bundle option that includes a cordless Wi-Fi handset for £16.95 per user per month. Small teams get the value that they’re paying for, especially with the 2027 PSTN switch-off around the corner.
RingCentral’s pricing is higher, with plans starting at £12.99 per user per month for the entry-level Core plan. However, annual billing can mean a fair amount of savings – roughly 33% compared to monthly. If you know you’re committing for a year, the cost becomes much more manageable.
Both providers have add-ons which cost extra, including toll-free numbers and SMS coverages for RingCentral.
Ease Of Use And Setup
One of bOnline’s major selling points, highlighted often in their reviews, is how easy it is to get up and running. With a 4.5 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot from over 15,000 reviews, it’s a meaningful signal for a UK provider at this price point.
RingCentral’s setup is slightly more complicated and requires a bit more effort, but it’s undoubtedly a powerful platform once it’s configured. With that said, it’s worth considering having a dedicated IT team to manage it.
Which Provider Should You Choose?
Both bOnline and RingCentral are strong VoIP providers in their own right, but it’s worth noting that they serve completely different markets and types of businesses.
If you’re a solo founder or a small team with five or less members that wants an affordable phone system which is easy to set up and minimal hassle to manage, bOnline is the choice to go for.
They handle the basics well and the pricing is pretty hard to beat at entry level. The handset bundle is also a nice practical touch.
If you’re running a bigger operation that’s fast-growing which needs a unified communications solution, RingCentral would be more beneficial. While the higher price tag means a slightly more capable product, you need to be ready to use those capabilities in order to get the full value of it.
In short, bOnline is ideal for those just getting started while RingCentral is suited to those who have outgrown a simple phone system.
