8x8 vs Dialpad for Startups
Choose Dialpad for Startups if your company qualifies for its 10 free lifetime seats; choose 8x8 if you want to build a custom communications package around business calling, contact center, and communications APIs. Both offer calling, meetings, messaging, and contact center products, but Dialpad publishes per-user prices while 8x8 asks buyers to request a quote.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | 8x8 | Dialpad for Startups |
|---|---|---|
| Startup seat offer | NA | 10 free lifetime Connect and Meetings seats for qualified companies |
| Startup eligibility | NA | Investment and partner-affiliation rules; 25-employee free-tier cap |
| Business communications price | NA | Connect Standard $15/user/month, billed annually |
| Contact center price | NA | Support Essentials $89/user/month, billed annually |
| Meeting capacity | Up to 500 active participants in a standard meeting | Up to 150 participants on Meetings Business |
| International calling | Unlimited calling to up to 48 countries on eligible plans | 65-country add-on; 8,000 minutes per license monthly |
| Contact center | Omnichannel routing and agent workspace | Separate Support plans with voice and digital routing |
| Communications APIs | Voice, video, messaging, and authentication products | Voice, SMS, analytics, and contact center APIs |
| Microsoft Teams | Teams calling and Teams-certified contact center options | Calling integration on Connect Pro or Enterprise |
| Apps and deployment | Cloud-based; desktop, mobile, and web apps | Cloud-based; desktop, mobile, and desk phones |
| Integrations | Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, and Google Workspace | Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, and Google Workspace |
| Support | Global 24/7 support | 24/7 customer support on Connect Pro |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose 8x8 if
- Teams seeking one vendor for business calling, contact center, and communications APIs
- Organizations that want to mix and match communications products through a custom quote
- Teams that need meetings with up to 500 active participants
Choose Dialpad for Startups if
- Eligible startups seeking 10 free lifetime Connect and Meetings seats
- Buyers who want published per-user prices before contacting sales
- Small teams prioritizing built-in call transcription and AI recaps
- Teams that prefer a 14-day Connect trial
The verdict
The deciding factor for a qualifying early-stage company is the startup offer: Dialpad publishes 10 free lifetime seats for Connect and Meetings, subject to eligibility rules. Pick 8x8 when your priority is a tailored package spanning its unified communications, contact center, and APIs, and you are comfortable getting a quote before comparing costs. Dialpad also sells contact center plans, but its startup seat offer does not list those plans as free.
8x8 vs Dialpad for Startups: common questions
- Which is a better fit for a startup with fewer than 25 employees?
- Dialpad for Startups is worth checking first if the company meets its investment, partner-affiliation, and other eligibility requirements: qualified companies can receive 10 free lifetime Dialpad Connect and Meetings seats. 8x8 does not publish a comparable startup seat offer on its website.
- Are Dialpad’s 10 free seats available to every startup?
- No. Dialpad for Startups requires an application and lists conditions including startup status, accredited angel or venture investment, partner affiliation, and a limit of 25 employees for the free tier. Dialpad lists separate exceptions to the investment requirement for its Tech for Black Founders and Diversity in Tech programs.
- How much do 8x8 and Dialpad cost?
- 8x8 does not publish a per-user price on its current plans page and directs buyers to request a quote. Dialpad lists Connect Standard at $15 and Pro at $25 per user per month with annual billing; qualified startups may receive 10 free lifetime Connect and Meetings seats.
- Does the Dialpad startup offer include its contact center?
- Dialpad identifies Connect and Meetings as the products covered by its 10 free lifetime startup seats. It offers discounts on additional products, but does not list Dialpad Support contact center seats as part of the free-seat offer.
- Which product supports larger video meetings?
- 8x8 publishes a 500-active-participant limit for standard 8x8 Work meetings. Dialpad Meetings Business supports up to 150 participants; Dialpad also offers a separate Large Meetings add-on.
- Can both products work with Microsoft Teams?
- Yes. 8x8 offers Teams calling and a Teams-certified contact center option. Dialpad offers a Teams calling integration for Connect Pro and Enterprise, as well as eligible Support and Sell users; requirements depend on the integration selected.
- Can either product handle international calls?
- Yes, but coverage depends on the package. 8x8 publishes eligible unlimited-calling plans covering up to 48 countries. Dialpad offers a Global Unlimited Calling add-on covering 65 countries, with 8,000 international minutes per license each month before additional charges apply.
- Can I try either product before buying?
- Dialpad publishes a 14-day free trial for Connect. 8x8 offers product demos and custom quotes on its current plans page but does not state a trial length there.