8x8 combines a business phone system with contact-centre features on one platform. We look at where it shines, where it costs more, and who it suits.
8x8 is a global unified communications (UCaaS) and contact-centre (CCaaS) platform, sold in the UK through its X-series plans. Its strength is combining everyday business calling with genuine contact-centre capability — call queues, analytics, supervisor tools and international calling — on a single platform. That makes it a strong choice for multi-site businesses, support teams and anyone with a contact centre. For a small office that just needs desk phones and a mobile app, 8x8 can be more capability, and more cost, than necessary.
8x8 is an app-based system, not a like-for-like replacement for BT One Phone's native SIM calling. If you need true FMC, see BT One Phone alternatives →
8x8 is a cloud communications provider offering unified communications and contact-centre services on one platform, marketed as XCaaS. In the UK it is sold through X-series plans, typically ranging from X2 (unified comms with international calling) up to X4 and the contact-centre tiers (X6–X8).
The platform includes voice, video, messaging, mobile and desktop apps, analytics and integrations with tools like Microsoft Teams and popular CRMs. Higher tiers add unlimited international calling to selected countries and full contact-centre functionality such as skills-based routing, queues, wallboards and quality management.
8x8's positioning is 'one platform for UC and contact centre'. If your business has, or is heading towards, a contact centre — or you operate across multiple sites and countries — that integration is genuinely valuable. If not, a simpler hosted phone system may serve you better for less.
8x8 no longer publishes a public UK price list — pricing is quote-based and negotiated per business, and depends heavily on the plan tier and whether you need contact-centre features. The figures below are indicative only:
| Plan | Typical price (per user/month) | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| X2 (unified comms) | From ~£15 | Voice, video, messaging, international calling to selected countries |
| X4 (advanced UC) | From ~£35 | Advanced call handling, analytics, supervisor tools |
| X6–X8 (contact centre) | From ~£45+ | Skills-based routing, queues, quality management, wallboards |
| Microsoft Teams integration | Add-on | Direct Routing / native Teams integration |
| Contract term | 12–36 months | Varies by plan and commitment |
8x8 does not publish UK per-user pricing; the figures above are indicative, drawn from third-party sources as of 2026, and exclude VAT. Always request a tailored quote — 8x8 pricing is negotiated per business.
How 8x8 compares to the main alternatives available to UK businesses:
| Provider | Contract | Pricing | Handsets | Support | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8x8 reviewed | 12–36 months | Quote-based (~£15+) | Wide range | UK support | Contact centre & multi-site |
| GoYap recommended | 12 months | From £8.95/user | 300+ models | UK direct | Best value SMEs |
| Gamma Horizon | 12–36 months | From ~£9.99/user | Wide range | UK direct | UK SMEs needing SLA |
| Vonage Business | Flexible | From ~£12/user | Wide range | UK/global | Integrations & flexibility |
| Microsoft Teams Calling | 12 months | From £12.50/user | Teams-certified | UK direct | Microsoft 365 users |
8x8 is a strong fit for multi-site businesses, support and sales teams, and any organisation that runs — or plans to run — a contact centre. The value is in having unified communications and contact-centre tools on one platform, with the analytics and routing to manage call volumes properly.
If you are a small or mid-sized office that mainly needs reliable desk phones, a mobile app and standard call features, 8x8 is likely more than you need and more than you need to spend. In that case, GoYap or Gamma Horizon will usually deliver what you want for less. And if you need native SIM calling to replace BT One Phone, neither 8x8 nor most UCaaS platforms provide it — see our BT One Phone alternatives page.
Tell us about your business and we'll match you to the right solution — no obligation, and we compare 8x8 against GoYap, Gamma, Microsoft Teams and more.
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