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Software · head to head

RingCentral vs Webex by Cisco

RingCentral logo

RingCentral

Software

Unified communications platform for enterprise

From
$24.99/month
Rated
-
Webex by Cisco logo

Webex by Cisco

Software

A simpler, smarter way to work

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Webex by Cisco has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: RingCentral the pricing page shows no per user rate until you enter a user count, so the headline plan cost is not published outright; Webex by Cisco listed on UK G-Cloud at £6 per user per month for Cisco Webex, via reseller Conscia Group UK Ltd (ITGL)
  • They diverge on capability: RingCentral covers VoIP calling, Webex by Cisco covers Video and audio conferencing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which RingCentral and Webex by Cisco actually diverge.

Attributes where RingCentral and Webex by Cisco differ
AttributeRingCentralWebex by Cisco
Starting price$24.99/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Ios, AndroidWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android
Founded19991984

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 RingCentral

  • VoIP calling
  • Video conferencing
  • Team messaging
  • SMS/MMS
  • File storage
  • Call recording
  • Analytics
  • Zoom

Only in Webex by Cisco

  • Video and audio conferencing
  • Screen sharing and annotation
  • Virtual backgrounds
  • Recording and playback
  • Meeting transcription
  • Chat and messaging
  • Calendar integration
  • Breakout sessions

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Slack
  • Google Workspace
  • SOC2

What people use each for

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

RingCentral

  • Cloud phone system with business numbers, extensions and call routingnot Webex by Cisco
  • Combining voice, video meetings and team messaging in one subscriptionnot Webex by Cisco
  • Adding contact centre and analytics capability to a distributed workforcenot Webex by Cisco

Webex by Cisco

  • Video conferencingnot RingCentral
  • Webinarsnot RingCentral
  • Virtual eventsnot RingCentral
  • Trainingnot RingCentral
  • Enterprise communicationnot RingCentral

Where each one falls short

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

RingCentral

  • The pricing page shows no per user rate until you enter a user count, so the headline plan cost is not published outright
  • The advertised saving of up to 33 percent requires paying annually rather than monthly
  • Cost centre management, multiple support admins, custom roles and adoption analytics are limited to the Advanced and Ultra packages
  • AI Receptionist starts at $39 a month, Conversational Intelligence at $60 a month, the Call Queues Booster is $35 a month and the Business SMS Booster is $25 a month, all charged on top of the plan
  • SMS is excluded from the free trial

Webex by Cisco

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud at £6 per user per month for Cisco Webex, via reseller Conscia Group UK Ltd (ITGL)

Pricing, plan by plan

RingCentral

$24.99/month
  • Essentials$24.99/month
    • Calls, meetings, messaging
    • Video conferencing
    • File sharing
  • Standard$34.99/month
    • Everything in Essentials
    • Advanced features
    • Call recording

Webex by Cisco

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited 1:1 meetings
    • Group meetings (40 min limit, 100 participants)
    • HD video
  • Pro$13.5/month
    • Unlimited meetings (500 participants)
    • Cloud recording and storage
    • Advanced scheduling
  • Business$18/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Custom branding
    • Advanced security
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Unlimited everything
    • Dedicated account manager
    • Custom deployment

Which should you pick?

Choose RingCentral if

  • You need voip calling.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
  • You also want video conferencing.

Choose Webex by Cisco if

  • You need video and audio conferencing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
  • You also want screen sharing and annotation.

Questions people ask

Is RingCentral or Webex by Cisco better?
Neither clearly leads. RingCentral starts at $24.99/month and Webex by Cisco at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, RingCentral or Webex by Cisco?
Webex by Cisco has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $24.99/month for RingCentral and Free for Webex by Cisco.
Does RingCentral or Webex by Cisco run on more platforms?
RingCentral runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android. Webex by Cisco runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
Can I use Webex by Cisco for free?
Yes. Webex by Cisco has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. RingCentral starts at $24.99/month.
What is RingCentral best used for?
RingCentral is most often used for cloud phone system with business numbers, extensions and call routing, combining voice, video meetings and team messaging in one subscription, adding contact centre and analytics capability to a distributed workforce. Of those, cloud phone system with business numbers, extensions and call routing and combining voice, video meetings and team messaging in one subscription are not what Webex by Cisco is typically brought in for.
What can RingCentral do that Webex by Cisco cannot?
RingCentral covers VoIP calling, Video conferencing, Team messaging, SMS/MMS. Webex by Cisco covers Video and audio conferencing, Screen sharing and annotation, Virtual backgrounds, Recording and playback. Both handle Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Google Workspace.

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