This 8x8 review focuses on what businesses usually want to know before switching phone systems: what is included, how the plans are sold, how secure and compliant it is, and how well it handles teams and customers spread across countries. 8x8 is a long-established cloud communications provider. Its 8x8 Work product combines a cloud phone system with video meetings and team chat in one app, and it also sells contact centre software and communications APIs. Its reputation rests on global reach, and that is the reason we rate it for international teams.

NerdBible has not run its own hands-on trial for this piece. It is an editorial assessment drawn from 8x8's own product pages, Microsoft's app certification record for 8x8, and the published findings of independent reviewers, all linked where they are used. 8x8's live website blocked automated requests, so its product and pricing pages are cited from recent public archive copies.

8x8 review: our verdict

8x8 is a strong choice for businesses that make a lot of calls across borders or have staff in several countries. Reviewers credit it with unmetered calling to dozens of countries on the right plans, reliable voice and video, large meetings and serious security and compliance credentials. The downsides are a buying process that runs through sales quotes rather than a public price list, setup that can take time, an interface some find dated, and AI and analytics extras that cost more. If international calling is a real line in your budget, 8x8 deserves a quote. If your team only calls locally, simpler and cheaper systems will do the job.

What 8x8 is and who it is for

8x8 Work is a unified communications platform: one app for desktop, mobile and browser that handles business phone calls, video meetings, private messaging and team chat. On the phone side, 8x8's business phone page lists an enterprise-grade cloud PBX with auto attendants, voicemail, call recordings, ring groups, call queues, monitoring, multi-site support and role-based admin controls, all managed from a single administration platform.

It suits:

  • Companies with offices or clients in several countries, where included international calling can lower costs.
  • Mid-sized organisations that want phone, meetings and chat from one vendor with one admin console.
  • Regulated industries that need documented compliance, such as healthcare and finance.
  • Businesses planning a contact centre, since 8x8 sells contact centre software that works alongside 8x8 Work.

TechRepublic suggests it may be too advanced for the smallest businesses, and Tech.co notes that the pricing is not published, which also tends to favour larger buyers who negotiate.

Key features

Cloud phone system

8x8's business phone page lists unlimited calling, SMS and fax, multi-level auto attendants, call recordings, visual voicemail, local number porting and direct dial numbers, call forwarding and transfer, call waiting and parking, three-way calling, overhead paging and music on hold. Admins get user provisioning, cost centres, multi-site support and a mobile admin view.

International calling and global coverage

This is 8x8's signature feature. Business.com describes unmetered international calling and local service in dozens of countries, and TechRepublic reports that one unified communications package includes unlimited calling to 14 countries while the other extends it to 48. Tech.co lists the UK, Canada, Australia, France and Germany among the included destinations. Confirm the exact country list in your quote, because it varies by package.

Video meetings and team chat

Business.com says all 8x8 subscriptions support audio and video conferences of up to 500 attendees, and TechRepublic notes that video, team chat, texting and fax are on every plan. 8x8 says you can move from a call to a chat to a screen share without changing apps, and it offers integrations with Microsoft Teams and CRM systems.

Analytics and conversation intelligence

8x8 lists usage and performance dashboards and a conversation intelligence product among its phone features. PCMag noted that the analytics dashboard cannot be customised and that an AI bot for reporting call sentiment is a paid add-on, and Business.com observed that the strongest AI tools are sold separately.

Emergency calling

8x8's emergency services page says it routes emergency calls from mobile users to the nearest location for assistance and helps organisations meet federal emergency dialing requirements. For any cloud phone system, keeping each user's emergency address up to date is an admin task worth assigning to a named person.

How much does 8x8 cost?

Our page shows prices from our own data where we have them, but 8x8 itself no longer publishes a price list. Its pricing and packages page invites you to mix and match products and request a quote, across four groups: 8x8 Contact Center, 8x8 Engage for customer-facing teams outside the contact centre, communications APIs, and 8x8 Work for unified communications, plus an offering for Microsoft Teams users.

TechRepublic describes the structure behind those quotes as two unified communications packages and three contact centre tiers, with higher tiers adding more countries for unlimited calling and more advanced routing, reporting and dialler features. Business.com says plans can be mixed by user type, so not every employee needs the same licence. Because pricing is negotiated, ask for the per-user cost, contract length, included countries and the cost of any AI or analytics add-ons in writing.

Is 8x8 secure and compliant?

8x8's security credentials are one of its strengths. In Microsoft's 365 App Certification record, which is based on information 8x8 supplied, 8x8 states that its app is ISO 27001 certified, holds a SOC 2 Type 2 report, complies with HIPAA and HITRUST CSF, undergoes annual PCI DSS assessments and is CSA STAR certified. The same record says it is not FedRAMP compliant, which matters if you sell to US federal agencies.

8x8's business phone page also points to secure, fully redundant data centres to support business continuity. TechRadar rated the security systems as excellent and TechRepublic called the security and compliance top-tier. Healthcare organisations should still confirm a business associate agreement before putting patient calls on any platform.

What could be better

  • No public pricing. Tech.co and TechRepublic both list unclear pricing as a drawback, and comparing quotes takes more effort.
  • Setup takes time. TechRepublic found deployment complex, which fits a platform aimed at multi-site organisations.
  • Interface polish. TechRadar found the interface sometimes confusing and PCMag called it a bit basic.
  • Paid extras. Advanced AI and analytics cost more, and the analytics dashboard is not customisable.
  • Support and apps. TechRadar described support as variable, and Business.com found the mobile apps can be buggy after updates.

Who should choose something else

If your team rarely calls abroad, you will pay for global coverage you do not use; a simpler VoIP provider with published prices will be easier to buy and run. Very small businesses that want to sign up online in minutes may prefer providers with self-serve plans and free trials. Organisations that need FedRAMP authorisation should look elsewhere. And if your team already lives in Microsoft Teams and only needs calling added, compare 8x8's Teams offering with other direct routing options.

Is 8x8 worth it?

Yes, for businesses where international calling and compliance genuinely matter. Included calling to dozens of countries can offset a higher per-user cost, and the combination of phone, video and chat in one app simplifies administration across sites. For a local team with simple needs, the quote-led sales process and setup effort are harder to justify.

Bottom line

8x8 earns its place as our pick for international teams. It offers reliable calling and meetings, wide global coverage and strong compliance credentials in a single platform. Go in prepared: get a detailed quote, check the included countries against your call records, and budget time for setup. If the numbers work, it is a dependable foundation for a business that talks to the world.

What other reviewers found

  • PCMag (republished by Yahoo Tech) called 8x8 Work a dependable workhorse for small and mid-sized businesses with reliable voice and video, but disliked paying extra for AI features and the fixed analytics dashboard.
  • TechRadar rated it an excellent VoIP solution with excellent security and many pricing tiers, while noting variable support and a sometimes confusing interface.
  • Business.com saw it as a strong fit for companies that need one phone system across borders, but found fewer built-in AI tools than rivals and buggy mobile apps after updates.
  • TechRepublic praised video, chat, texting and fax on every plan and top-tier compliance, but listed unclear pricing and complex deployment.
  • Tech.co highlighted the large integration catalogue, responsive round-the-clock support and included international calls, but criticised non-transparent, reportedly high pricing.

Where they agree: 8x8 is reliable, strong on security and compliance, and especially valuable for international calling. Most also find its pricing hard to pin down. Where they differ: support is described as responsive by Tech.co but variable by TechRadar and weaker than some rivals by Business.com, and TechRadar thinks prices are reasonable while Tech.co reports them as expensive. For a buyer, that means the platform itself is not the risk; the quote and the onboarding are, so negotiate carefully and ask how support will work during rollout.

Frequently asked questions

Does 8x8 include international calling?

On many plans, yes. Independent reviewers report that 8x8's unified communications packages include unlimited calling to a set list of countries, with one package covering 14 countries and a higher one covering 48. Business.com describes unmetered international calling and local service in dozens of countries. The list varies by package, so confirm the included destinations in your quote.

Why doesn't 8x8 show prices on its website?

8x8's pricing and packages page now asks buyers to mix and match products and request a quote from sales rather than showing a price list. Independent reviewers note this makes comparisons harder. When you ask for a quote, request the per-user price, contract length, included countries, number porting costs and the price of any AI or analytics add-ons.

Is 8x8 HIPAA compliant?

In its Microsoft 365 App Certification record, 8x8 states that its app complies with HIPAA and HITRUST CSF, is ISO 27001 certified and holds a SOC 2 Type 2 report. A healthcare organisation should still sign a business associate agreement with 8x8 and confirm configuration details with its own compliance lead before using the service for patient communications.

Does 8x8 include video meetings and team chat?

Yes. 8x8 Work combines a cloud phone system with video meetings, private messaging and team chat in one app for desktop, mobile and browser. Business.com reports that all subscriptions support audio and video conferences with up to 500 attendees, and TechRepublic notes that video, chat, texting and fax are included on every plan.

Is 8x8 good for small businesses?

It can be, particularly for small firms with international clients or staff. PCMag described 8x8 Work as a workhorse for small and mid-sized businesses. However, quote-based pricing, setup effort and features aimed at multi-site organisations mean very small teams with only local calling may find simpler providers with published prices and free trials easier and cheaper.

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