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Communication · head to head

KakaoTalk vs RingCentral Video

KakaoTalk logo

KakaoTalk

Communication

The default messaging app in South Korea, bundled with payments, taxi hailing and other Kakao services

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
RingCentral Video logo

RingCentral Video

Communication

Connected cloud communications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: KakaoTalk kakaoTalk has minimal relevance outside South Korea, so it is the wrong tool for reaching audiences anywhere else.; RingCentral Video unlimited calling is limited to the US and Canada markets; other international calls are charged per minute at the published international rates table
  • They diverge on capability: KakaoTalk covers Plus Friend business accounts, RingCentral Video covers HD video conferencing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which KakaoTalk and RingCentral Video actually diverge.

Attributes where KakaoTalk and RingCentral Video differ
AttributeKakaoTalkRingCentral Video
Pricing modelFree to download, paid emoticons, gifting and business messagingsubscription
PlatformsiOS, Android, Windows, macOS, WebWeb, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown1999

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Communication).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in KakaoTalk

  • Plus Friend business accounts
  • KakaoPay integration
  • Gift sending
  • KakaoT integration
  • Emoticons
  • Open chat

Only in RingCentral Video

  • HD video conferencing
  • Voice and video calling
  • Screen sharing
  • Virtual backgrounds
  • Recording and transcription
  • Chat and messaging
  • Calendar integration
  • Meeting attendee controls

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

KakaoTalk

  • A business entering the South Korean consumer market that needs a Plus Friend account to message customersnot RingCentral Video
  • An individual living in South Korea who needs the app almost everyone else there uses by defaultnot RingCentral Video
  • A brand running a digital gifting campaign through KakaoTalk during a Korean holiday periodnot RingCentral Video
  • A company integrating KakaoPay as a checkout option for Korean customersnot RingCentral Video

RingCentral Video

  • Cloud business phone system with video meetings and team messagingnot KakaoTalk
  • Replacing on-premise PBX hardware for distributed teamsnot KakaoTalk

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

KakaoTalk

  • KakaoTalk has minimal relevance outside South Korea, so it is the wrong tool for reaching audiences anywhere else.
  • Standard chats are not end to end encrypted by default; a Secret Chat mode with encryption exists but must be turned on per conversation.
  • Concentration of messaging, payments, banking and mobility data inside one company creates a single point of both convenience and risk that has drawn scrutiny from Korean regulators.
  • Plus Friend business messaging costs scale with volume, so a company messaging its full Korean customer base regularly can face a meaningful recurring bill.
  • A 2022 data centre fire caused a multi-day outage across KakaoTalk and related Kakao services, which showed how much everyday activity in Korea depends on a single provider staying online.

RingCentral Video

  • Unlimited calling is limited to the US and Canada markets; other international calls are charged per minute at the published international rates table
  • The free trial is only for new subscribers and is capped at five users and two desktop phones, with SMS unavailable during the trial
  • Trial hardware must be returned within 21 days of trial cancellation to avoid hardware charges
  • Phone rental is available only with a multi-year contract
  • Automated, high volume or marketing SMS costs extra as RingCentral High Volume SMS, and TCR registration is required for SMS and MMS
  • A Mobile User extension is free to add but is billed at the same monthly rate as a Digital Line in any month it is used to make or receive a call
  • The Webinar 500 discount lasts one year on a one year commitment, after which pricing reverts to $75 per host per month or the then current retail price
  • Taxes and recovery fees including the Federal Universal Service Recovery Fee, E911 Service Fee and Compliance and Administrative Cost Recovery Fee are added on top
  • The advertised savings of up to 33% require paying annually

Pricing, plan by plan

KakaoTalk

Free
  • KakaoTalkFree
    • Free messaging and calling
    • Emoticon packs typically cost a few thousand won each
    • Plus Friend business messaging is billed per message beyond a free allowance

RingCentral Video

Free
  • AI Receptionist$39/month
    • Starts at $39
  • Conversational Intelligence$60/month
    • Starts at $60
  • Call Queues Booster$35/month
    • $35 per month
  • Business SMS Booster$25/month
    • $25 per month

Which should you pick?

Choose KakaoTalk if

  • You need plus friend business accounts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web.
  • You also want kakaopay integration.
KakaoTalk review

Choose RingCentral Video if

  • You need hd video conferencing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
  • You also want voice and video calling.
RingCentral Video review

Questions people ask

Is KakaoTalk or RingCentral Video better?
Neither clearly leads. KakaoTalk starts at Free and RingCentral Video at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, KakaoTalk or RingCentral Video?
KakaoTalk starts at Free and RingCentral Video at Free.
Does KakaoTalk or RingCentral Video run on more platforms?
KakaoTalk runs on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web. RingCentral Video runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
Can I use KakaoTalk for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is KakaoTalk best used for?
KakaoTalk is most often used for a business entering the south korean consumer market that needs a plus friend account to message customers, an individual living in south korea who needs the app almost everyone else there uses by default, a brand running a digital gifting campaign through kakaotalk during a korean holiday period, a company integrating kakaopay as a checkout option for korean customers. Of those, a business entering the south korean consumer market that needs a plus friend account to message customers and an individual living in south korea who needs the app almost everyone else there uses by default are not what RingCentral Video is typically brought in for.
What can KakaoTalk do that RingCentral Video cannot?
KakaoTalk covers Plus Friend business accounts, KakaoPay integration, Gift sending, KakaoT integration. RingCentral Video covers HD video conferencing, Voice and video calling, Screen sharing, Virtual backgrounds.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

KakaoTalk: Is KakaoTalk free?

Yes to download and for standard messaging and calling. Emoticons, gifting and business messaging are paid.

RingCentral Video: How much does RingCentral Video cost?

AI Receptionist starts at $39 per month, Conversational Intelligence starts at $60 per month. Main video plan pricing requires entering your user count on the website for personalized quotes.

Source
KakaoTalk: Is KakaoTalk encrypted by default?

No, standard chats are not end to end encrypted by default. A separate Secret Chat mode offers encryption but has to be enabled per chat.

RingCentral Video: Does RingCentral offer discounts?

Yes, save up to 33% by paying annually instead of monthly. A 14-day free trial is available for new subscribers with up to 20 phone lines.

Source
KakaoTalk: Do I need KakaoTalk to do business in South Korea?

Not legally, but a very large share of Korean consumers expect to interact with businesses through a Plus Friend account, so most consumer brands operating there use one.

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