Aircall vs 8x8: Why sales and support teams are moving from “all-in-one” to specialized voice

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Choosing between 8x8 and Aircall comes down to a fundamental question: do you want an all-in-one communications suite designed for internal use, or a specialized voice platform built to drive revenue through sales and support conversations?

8x8 is a broad UCaaS platform combining voice, video, and chat—often selected by IT teams focused on vendor consolidation. Aircall, by contrast, is purpose-built for external communication, helping sales and support teams move faster with deep CRM integrations, faster setup, and fewer workflow compromises.

Below, we compare Aircall vs. 8x8 across setup speed, integrations, pricing transparency, and real-world use cases—so you can choose the platform that actually supports how your teams work.

This is where the battle between 8x8 vs. Aircall begins. It is a choice between an “all-in-one” suite designed for general internal communication, and a specialized, high-performance voice platform built to integrate deeply with the tools your revenue teams actually use, including extensive Aircall integrations.

Let's break down exactly how these two platforms compare on setup speed, integration depth, business phone system API integrations, and hidden costs, so you can decide which tool will actually help your business grow.

Quick verdict: Aircall or 8x8?

• Choose 8x8 if you need a general all-in-one suite (video, chat, voice) for internal office communication.

• Choose Aircall if you need a specialized, high-performance cloud phone system for sales and support teams using HubSpot or Salesforce.

The core difference: Specialization vs. generalization

To understand the difference between these two platforms, you have to look at what they were built to do.

8x8 is a “Unified Communications as a Service” (UCaaS) platform. Its goal is to replace your entire office communication stack. It wants to be your Zoom, your Slack, and your desk phone all at once. While that might sound efficient on paper, the reality is often “bloatware.” Most modern teams already love Zoom or Microsoft Teams for video and Slack for chat. When you force them to use 8x8’s versions of these tools, adoption suffers. You end up paying for features your team ignores.

Aircall takes the opposite approach. Aircall is the “Master of Voice.” It doesn't try to replace Slack or Zoom. Instead, it integrates seamlessly with them. Aircall focuses all of its research and development on building the best possible phone system for external communication, sales calls and customer support, supported by robust CRM Integrations.

• Aircall is best for: Sales and customer support teams who live in their CRM and need a phone system that works as a revenue engine, and who need deep CRM integrations.

• 8x8 is designed for: General IT administrators looking to consolidate vendors for internal office staff who make occasional calls.

In short: Aircall is best for sales and customer support teams that rely on their CRM and need voice to function as a revenue engine. 8x8 is designed for general office environments where employees make occasional calls and internal collaboration is the priority.

Setup & Implementation: Aircall vs. 8x8 Deployment Speed

Aircall is significantly faster to deploy—often in minutes—while 8x8 typically requires days or weeks of IT-led configuration.

Because 8x8 is built on legacy architecture designed to replace physical PBX systems, setting it up often feels like a major IT project. It can involve porting delays, complex hardware configurations, and a steep learning curve for administrators. Adding a new user or a new international number often requires submitting a ticket to IT and waiting days for a resolution.

Aircall changes the game with agility. It's a 100% cloud-based solution designed to be self-managed by the teams who use it. You can instantly purchase numbers in over one hundred countries and assign them to users with a single click. Aircall’s Power Dialer software also accelerates outbound efforts for sales teams.

For a fast-growing agency or a sales team scaling up for Q4, this speed is critical. You can't afford to wait two weeks for a phone line when you have leads to call today. With Aircall, you can onboard a new hire in the morning and have them making calls by lunch.

The “hidden” costs of 8x8: Why “free” isn't free

When comparing the cost of 8x8 vs. Aircall, you have to look past the sticker price. 8x8 often lures buyers in with low entry-level pricing or promises of “free” video meetings included in the bundle.

But “free” isn't free when it kills productivity.

The first hidden cost is complexity. Because 8x8 is vast and complex, the interface is often dense and difficult to navigate according to some users. This leads to poor adoption rates. If your sales reps find the tool clunky, they won't use it, and your CRM data will have gaps.

The second hidden cost is access. 8x8 often gates essential features behind expensive upgrades. For example, if you want to integrate with Salesforce or access their API to build custom workflows, you typically cannot stay on the base plan. You are forced to upgrade to their “X-Series” enterprise tiers, which significantly jumps the cost per user.

With Aircall, transparency is key. You get access to over 200 Aircall integrations out of the box. You aren't punished for growing or wanting to connect your tech stack. You pay for a high-performance phone system, and that is exactly what you get, without the bloatware tax.

Cost takeaway: While 8x8 may appear cheaper upfront, teams often pay more over time due to poor adoption, paid upgrades for CRM/API access, and unused bundled features. Aircall’s pricing reflects exactly what revenue teams need—voice performance and integrations—without the bloat.

Critical use cases: Who wins where?

Different teams have different needs. Let’s look at how Aircall and 8x8 perform in specific high-stakes environments.

8x8 vs. Aircall for SDRs and Sales teams

For SDRs and sales teams, the phone is a revenue tool—not an accessory. Every delay, dropped call, or missed CRM log directly impacts pipeline. That’s where the difference between Aircall vs 8x8 becomes obvious.

Aircall is built for the modern sales floor. Features like the Power Dialer software allow reps to dial through a list of numbers automatically, saving huge amounts of time on manual entry. Critical features like Click-to-Dial work seamlessly on any webpage. For a breakdown of the difference between Power Dialer and predictive options, see Power Dialer vs Predictive Dialer.

Most importantly, Aircall’s interface is intuitive. 8x8’s interface, cluttered with internal chat and video features, distracts from the core task: selling. SDRs don't need a tool for internal meetings; they need a tool that helps them book external ones. Aircall’s seamless logging means every call, note, and outcome is instantly captured in the CRM, keeping sales leaders happy without slowing down the reps.

8x8 vs. Aircall for agencies

Agencies face a unique challenge: they need to spin up new lines for clients instantly. If you land a new client on Monday, you need to be answering their customer support calls by Tuesday.

With 8x8, this agility is often missing. The administrative burden of adding new lines or configuring separate routing rules for different clients can be heavy. Aircall is a favorite among agencies because of its dashboard simplicity. An agency manager can create a new “team,” purchase a local number for the client’s region, and assign agents to it in seconds, all without needing to call IT support.

Integrations and API: The connectivity barrier

Your phone system cannot live on an island. It has to connect to your other tools, either natively or through an API. This is where the difference between “native integration” and middleware becomes clear.

Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) is the technology that links your phone system with your computer. Aircall has mastered this. When a customer calls, Aircall triggers a “screen pop” inside HubSpot, Salesforce, or Zendesk. The agent immediately sees the caller’s name, photo, and entire history before they pick up.

8x8 offers integrations, but they often feel like an afterthought. Users frequently report that the integration is shallow, meaning it might log a call, but it will not reliably pull up the contact record, or it requires a third-party connector to work properly.

Furthermore, API access is often restricted on 8x8. If you have a custom internal tool you want to connect, you might hit a wall unless you are on their most expensive enterprise plan. Aircall’s business phone system API integrations are developer-friendly and open, allowing you to build the workflows that fit your business processes.

8x8 vs. Aircall: Feature comparison table

To make your decision easier, here's a side-by-side look at the critical differences that matter to revenue teams.

Final verdict: When to choose Aircall or 8x8

The decision comes down to your goals.

If your priority is consolidating vendors and you need a single tool for internal chat, video conferencing, and general desk phones for administrative staff, 8x8 is a capable solution. It checks the box for “office communication.” For teams interested in looking around before you commit, see our 8x8 alternatives guide.

However, if your phone system is a revenue generator; if it's used by sales reps closing deals or support agents retaining customers; you can't compromise on performance. You need a tool that's fast, intuitive, and deeply integrated with your CRM. For support use cases, explore Aircall for Support teams.

If your phone system plays a direct role in closing deals or supporting customers, performance matters more than consolidation. Aircall is built for high-velocity sales and support teams that need speed, reliability, and deep CRM integration.

Learn how Aircall supports modern support organizations by exploring Aircall for Support Teams, or book a demo to see the difference firsthand.

Frequently asked questions

Is Aircall cheaper than 8x8?

While 8x8 may offer lower introductory sticker prices on basic plans, Aircall often provides better long-term value. Aircall includes unlimited calling packages and essential CRM Integrations in its core plans, whereas 8x8 often charges extra for calling minutes, specific features, and essential integrations, or forces you into higher-tier X-Series plans to unlock them.

Can I use physical phones with Aircall?

Yes, Aircall supports specific SIP-enabled physical phones, but the platform is designed to be “softphone first.” This means the best experience comes from using the desktop or mobile APP, which allows for instant CRM screen pops, Click-to-Dial, and easier call logging—features that traditional desk phones simply cannot match. 8x8, by contrast, relies heavily on legacy desk hardware infrastructure.

Which integration is better for Salesforce?

Aircall offers a superior Salesforce integration for high-velocity teams. It offers deep, native functionality that allows reps to log calls automatically, view caller details instantly via screen pops, and even pause call recordings directly from the Salesforce interface. 8x8’s integration is often more limited and can need plan upgrades to access.

Published on January 28, 2026.