The 8x8 Contact Center platform has changed the game for business communications, but even the best system needs backup sometimes. By integrating an answering service for 8x8 Contact Center, you create a communication powerhouse that's always on. Need to stretch your availability, boost customer happiness, or just handle those overflow calls better? The right answering service partner makes all the difference when paired with your 8x8 setup.

Criteria for Selecting an Answering Service for 8x8 Contact Center

Choosing the right answering service for your 8x8 Contact Center requires careful consideration. It must integrate seamlessly with your existing technology, as a Zendesk study shows that businesses using integrated communication systems see a 25% boost in customer satisfaction. Cost is another crucial factor—beyond the base price, it's important to evaluate per-minute charges, overage fees, and contract details. Ultimately, the best value isn’t just about finding the cheapest option but selecting a service that aligns with your actual call patterns.

Features make or break the deal:

• Can they offer AI responses that sound like your brand?
• Will they book appointments directly into your system?
• What kind of reporting will you get?
• Your answers will narrow down your choices fast.

Top 8 Answering Services for 8x8 Contact Center

Smith.ai

Overview

Started in 2015 in Palo Alto, this service has redefined receptionist solutions for small businesses, providing professional and reliable call handling. With a team of highly trained U.S.-based receptionists, it serves over 7,000 businesses across various industries. Known for its efficiency, it boasts an average call answer time of just 11 seconds and an impressive 94% client retention rate, making it a trusted partner for seamless customer interactions.

Pricing

• Basic Plan: $240 monthly for 20 live calls ($12/call)
• Business Plan: $450 monthly for 50 live calls ($9/call)
• Professional Plan: $900 monthly for 100 live calls ($9/call)
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for 200+ calls with volume discounts
• Additional calls: $7 each on Basic, $6 each on Business, $5 each on Professional
• Setup fee: $95 (often waived during promotions)
• Free spam blocking and wrong number filtering on all plans
• Monthly rollover of up to 20% of unused calls
• 14-day money-back guarantee

Features

• 24/7 virtual receptionist service combines AI smarts with human operators
• Routes and prioritizes calls based on your rules
• Lead qualification ensures you focus on promising prospects
• Scheduling feature syncs with your calendars to prevent double-bookings
• Live website chat included with all plans
• Bilingual support (English and Spanish) at no extra charge
• Custom call scripts tailored to your business
• Outbound calling capabilities for follow-ups and confirmations
• SMS follow-up messages after calls
• AI-powered call summaries and transcriptions

Integration Capabilities

• Smith.ai's integration with 8x8 creates a smooth experience where callers never realize they're talking to a third party.
• Client data shows businesses using Smith.ai with existing contact centers see 30% better lead conversion rates.
• Direct integrations with 30+ CRMs, including Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho
• Calendar integrations with Google Calendar, Outlook, and Calendly
• Payment processing through Square, Stripe, and PayPal
• API access for custom integration needs

GoodCall

Overview

Goodcall launched in 2024, this AI-first answering service is revolutionizing customer interactions with cutting-edge technology. Backed by $4M in venture capital funding, it processes over 500,000 calls monthly and serves more than 2,000 businesses across retail, service, and professional sectors. Its advanced natural language processing, developed by ex-Google and Amazon engineers, ensures seamless and intelligent communication for businesses of all sizes.

Pricing

Pricing plans for Answering Service are as follows:

Starter Plan - $59 Monthly (Per Agent)

• Unlimited minutes and tokens
• 1 form
• 1 logic flow
• 3 team members
• 3 directory contacts
• 7 days of call & customer details
• 100 unique customers monthly ($0.50 per customer after 100)

Growth Plan - $99 Monthly (Per Agent)

• Unlimited minutes and tokens
• 3 forms
• 3 logic flows
• 9 team members
• 25 directory contacts
• 30 days of call & customer details
• 250 unique customers monthly ($0.50 per customer after 250)

Scale Plan - $199 Monthly (Per Agent)

• Unlimited minutes and tokens
• 25 forms
• 25 logic flows
• 50 team members
• 500 directory contacts
• Unlimited call & customer details
• 500 unique customers monthly ($0.50 per customer after 500)

Features

• AI phone assistant sounds remarkably human—many callers don't catch on that they're talking to an automated system
• Customize responses to match your company's voice and protocols
• 24/7 availability ensures every call gets answered, no matter when it comes in
• Multi-language support with 7 languages including English, Spanish, French
• Call transcriptions and summaries delivered to email or dashboard
• Sentiment analysis identifies urgent customer issues
• Custom call flows with conditional logic
• Voicemail-to-email and SMS notifications
• Interactive voice response (IVR) capabilities
• Call recording with secure storage for 12 months

Integration Capabilities

• Goodcall lets calls flow to their system during off-hours or busy periods
• Keeps complete call records within your existing dashboards
• Integrates with 20+ business tools including Salesforce, HubSpot, and Shopify
• Zapier connection enables 1,000+ additional integrations
• Custom webhook support for advanced integration needs
• Real-time data synchronization with your CRM

Ambs Call Center

Overview

Dating back to 1932, this family-owned business brings old-school experience to modern communication challenges and is now in its third generation. With HIPAA compliance and SOC 2 Type II certification, it ensures secure and reliable service. Operating with over 200 professionally trained operators across four U.S.-based call centers covering all time zones, the company handles more than 1 million calls annually while maintaining an impressive 98.7% average customer satisfaction score.

Pricing

• Basic Package: $200-$300/month for 100 calls with standard scripting
• Professional Package: $400-$600/month for 250 calls with custom scripting
• Enterprise Package: $700-$1,200/month for 500+ calls with dedicated agents
• Per-Call Pricing: $1.25-$2.75 per call, based on complexity and volume
• After-Hours Answering: $195/month base fee plus $0.95-$1.45 per call
• Medical Answering: $250/month base fee plus $1.50-$2.25 per call
• Appointment Scheduling: $100/month plus $1.75 per appointment
• Bilingual Service: Additional 15% on base rates
• No Setup Fees: Standard implementation included at no cost
• 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Risk-free trial for new customers

Features

• Round-the-clock live answering with real humans trained across multiple industries.
• Perfect for complex call handling
• Appointment scheduling works with most calendar systems, including those that connect with 8x8
• Order processing and messaging capabilities trigger workflows directly in your business systems.
• Custom call scripts with regular updates
• Bilingual services in 12 different languages
• Secure message delivery via email, SMS, or direct to CRM
• Quality assurance monitoring on all calls
• Real-time reporting dashboard with call analytics
• Call recordings are accessible for 90 days

Industry Specialization

• Teams specialized in healthcare, property management, and professional services
• Operators train extensively in HIPAA compliance and other regulations relevant to different fields.
• Healthcare: Medical offices, home health agencies, clinics, hospitals
• Property management: Residential, commercial, emergency maintenance
• Legal: Law firms, solo practitioners, legal aid organizations
• HVAC and plumbing: Emergency dispatch, appointment scheduling
• Financial services: Securities-licensed staff for investment firms
• Non-profit: Donation processing and information lines

TurnkeyISP

Overview

Operating since 2005, this service specializes in technical support for managed service providers and internet companies. With a U.S.-based NOC and support center in Iowa, it employs over 150 highly skilled technical support specialists, all holding a minimum CompTIA A+ certification. Each agent has an average of 7+ years of technical experience, ensuring expert assistance. Running 24/7/365 with redundant facilities, the service maintains a 93% first-call resolution rate for common technical issues, making it a reliable partner for tech-driven businesses.

Pricing

• Basic Tech Support: $495/month for 25 hours of support ($19.80/hour)
• Standard Tech Support: $895/month for 50 hours of support ($17.90/hour)
• Premium Tech Support: $1,695/month for 100 hours of support ($16.95/hour)
• Enterprise Plans: Custom pricing for 200+ hours at reduced rates
• Overflow Support: $22.95/hour for as-needed coverage
• Additional Hours: $18-$25 per hour, depending on plan and technical complexity
• After-Hours Emergency Support: Additional $35/hour premium
• Dedicated Agents: $4,500-$6,000/month per full-time equivalent

Features

• Certified staff with credentials like Network+, CCNA, and MTCNA
• Provides real technical support, not just message-taking
• U.S.-based team with American accents for clear communication
• Research from CustomerThink shows this improves customer satisfaction
• Tiered technical support (L1, L2, L3) with escalation protocols
• Knowledge base development and maintenance
• Network monitoring integration for proactive issue resolution
• Ticket management and detailed documentation
• Custom troubleshooting scripts tailored to your products
• Security-cleared staff for handling sensitive operations
• Quality assurance with call monitoring for service consistency

Integration Capabilities

• Handles standard technical issues with 8x8 integration
• Escalates complex problems to your internal team when needed
• Connects with major PSA tools like ConnectWise, Autotask, and ServiceNow
• RMM integration with SolarWinds, Kaseya, and NinjaRMM
• Seamless ticket synchronization between systems
• Supports single sign-on capabilities for easy access
• Custom API development for proprietary system integration
• Direct access to your knowledge base systems for accurate support

Vonage

Overview

Operating since 2001, the company has evolved from a residential VoIP provider into a complete business communications platform. As a publicly traded company on NASDAQ (VG), it serves over 100,000 businesses globally with 99.999% uptime reliability. With a workforce of 2,400+ employees across 14 global office locations, it processes over 1 billion API calls daily. Recognized as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for UCaaS, the company continues to set industry standards for innovation and reliability.

Pricing

• Business Communications Starter: $19.99/month per line (1-4 users)
• Business Communications Professional: $29.99/month per line (5-19 users)
• Business Communications Advanced: $39.99/month per line (20+ users)
• Contact Center Basic: $24.99/month per agent + base platform fee of $199/month
• Contact Center Professional: $49.99/month per agent + base platform fee of $299/month
• Contact Center Enterprise: $89.99/month per agent + base platform fee of $499/month
• Implementation Fees: $0-$5,000 depending on solution complexity
• Professional Services: $150-$250/hour for custom development
• Annual Contract Discounts: 10-15% off monthly rates
• 30-Day Free Trial: Available for Business Communications plans

Features

• VoIP-Based Unified Communications: Integrates voice, video, and messaging into a single platform
• Advanced Call Routing: Supports complex decision trees and conditional forwarding based on time, caller ID, or other factors
• CRM Integrations: Natively compatible with platforms that connect to 8x8
• Call Analytics & Reporting: Provides detailed insights into call performance and trends
• Team Messaging & Collaboration: Enables seamless internal communication
• Video Conferencing: Supports up to 100 participants for virtual meetings
• Mobile Applications: Available for iOS and Android devices
• Virtual Receptionist: Customizable greetings for a professional caller experience
• Call Recording: Securely stores recorded conversations for compliance and reference
• Custom Hold Music & Messaging: Enhances caller experience while on hold
• Number Porting: Included with all plans for a seamless transition

Integration Capabilities

• Vonage Business Communications platform works particularly well with the 8x8 Contact Center
• Allows calls to flow between systems based on business rules you define
• Native integrations with 20+ business applications, including Salesforce, Microsoft
• Teams and Zendesk
• Open APIs for custom development
• Zapier integration enables 1,000+ app connections
• WebRTC support for browser-based communications
• SDK availability for mobile and web applications
• Microsoft Active Directory integration
• Single sign-on support
• Custom webhook development

800.com

Overview

Running since 1997, this BBB A+ rated company specializes in toll-free numbers and related services, serving over 50,000 businesses nationwide. It controls one of the largest pools of premium toll-free numbers and ensures reliable communication with a 99.98% network uptime. With proprietary routing technology and a U.S.-based customer support team, it delivers exceptional service, reflected in an average customer tenure of over seven years.

Pricing

• Basic Plan: $23/month includes toll-free number + 100 minutes
• Standard Plan: $47/month includes toll-free number + 300 minutes
• Professional Plan: $97/month includes toll-free number + 750 minutes
• Premium Plan: $147/month includes toll-free number + 1,500 minutes
• Enterprise Plans: $197-$497/month for 2,500-7,500 minutes
• Additional Minutes: $0.06-$0.09 per minute, depending on plan
• Premium Number Selection: $50-$1,000 one-time fee based on number quality
• Vanity Number Search: $29.95 one-time fee
• Additional Phone Numbers: $10/month each
• Advanced Call Routing: $15/month add-on
• Call Recording: $25/month with 90-day storage
• Flexible Contracts: Month-to-month options available
• Annual Payment Discount: 15% off for yearly billing
• 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Risk-free trial for new customers

Features

• Provides both toll-free and local numbers that integrate with your existing phone setup
• Call forwarding can route calls based on time of day, caller location, or other factors.
• Voicemail-to-email converts voice messages to text and sends them to your inbox.
• Analytics give you detailed reports on call patterns and response times
• Advanced call routing with percentage allocation
• Sequential or simultaneous ring to multiple destinations
• Time-of-day and day-of-week routing rules
• Geographic routing based on the caller's location
• Custom greetings and IVR menus
• Real-time call reports and analytics
• Call recording with secure storage

Integration Capabilities

• For 8x8 users, 800.com's services add extra inbound lines and routing options.
• Works with your existing infrastructure, expanding capacity during busy periods
• SIP trunking compatibility with major VoIP systems
• API access for custom integrations
• CRM integration with Salesforce, HubSpot, and others
• Call log synchronization with business systems
• Custom caller ID for outbound calls
• Call tracking for marketing campaigns
• WebRTC integration for browser-based calls
• Call analytics exportable to business intelligence tools

DaySmart

Overview

Started in 1999, this privately held company began with salon software before expanding into broader business solutions. With a team of over 200 employees, it serves more than 20,000 businesses across various service industries, processing over $1.5 billion in client transactions annually. Primarily focused on appointment-based businesses, it offers industry-specific solutions for salons, spas, pet services, and medical practices.

Headquartered in Michigan, with additional offices in Phoenix and Boston, the company boasts an impressive 97% client retention rate, reflecting its commitment to quality service and innovation.

Pricing

• Appointment Pro: $49/month for a single location, 1-2 users
• Business Pro: $79/month for a single location, unlimited users
• Enterprise: $129/month per location, unlimited users, advanced features
• Ultimate: $199/month per location, includes premium support and all features
• Add-on Modules:
• Text Message Marketing: $25/month (500 messages)
• Online Booking Premium: $20/month
• Client Rewards: $30/month
• Advanced Reporting: $35/month
• Payment Processing: 2.75% + $0.25 per transaction
• Email Marketing: $30/month (5,000 emails)
• Phone Answering Service: $99/month base + $1.25-$1.95 per call
• Data Migration: $299 one-time fee
• 14-Day Free Trial: Available for new users
• 90-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Risk-free trial for customer satisfaction

Features

• Goes beyond answering calls to provide comprehensive business support
• The scheduling system includes automated confirmations and reminders
• Customer management tracks interactions across multiple channels
• Payment processing works with major financial platforms
• Point-of-sale system integrated with inventory
• Customer portal for self-service booking
• Mobile apps for business management
• Staff performance tracking and commission calculations
• Marketing tools, including email and SMS campaigns
• Membership and package management
• Customer feedback and review collection
• HIPAA-compliant communications for medical practices

Integration Capabilities

• When connected to 8x8, DaySmart's solutions can handle specific processes like appointment booking or payment collection.
• Frees your agents to tackle more complex customer needs
• Two-way integration with QuickBooks for accounting
• Google and Microsoft calendar synchronization
• Instagram and Facebook appointment booking
• Payment processing through Square, Stripe, and PayPal
• E-commerce platform connections
• API access for custom development
• Single sign-on capabilities

Bland.AI

Overview

Founded in 2021, this newcomer is at the forefront of AI-driven customer communications. Backed by Y Combinator with $2.7 million in seed funding, it features a GPT-4 powered conversation engine designed for seamless interactions. Serving over 300 businesses across various industries, it boasts a 98.5% accuracy rate in test deployments. Established by ex-Apple AI engineers, the system processes more than 50,000 AI-handled calls weekly, continuously learning and improving with each interaction. With an average first response time of just 45 seconds, it sets a new standard for efficiency in automated customer support.

Pricing

• Startup Plan: $0.25 per minute with a $99 monthly minimum
• Growth Plan: $0.20 per minute with a $499 monthly minimum
• Scale Plan: $0.15 per minute with a $1,999 monthly minimum
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for high-volume needs (typically $0.10-$0.13 per minute)
• Setup Fees:
• Basic implementation: $0
• Custom voice development: $1,500 one-time fee
• Industry-specific training: $2,500-$5,000
• Advanced integration: $3,000-$7,500
• No contracts required – monthly billing
• Priority support is available as a $250/month add-on
• 7-day free trial available (limited to 100 minutes)

Features

• Core offering is an advanced AI answering service, using natural language processing for complex conversations.
• Program responses to match your brand voice and protocols
• The system learns continuously, getting better over time as it adapts to common questions
• Natural voice synthesis with 15+ voice options
• Multi-language support for 8 languages
• Custom conversation flows for different caller scenarios
• Sentiment analysis with escalation triggers
• Real-time transcription and call summaries
• Conversational intelligence with intent recognition
• Programmable response logic
• A/B testing of different call scripts
• Performance analytics dashboard

Integration Capabilities

• For 8x8 Contact Center users, Bland.AI integration can handle routine calls
• Smoothly transfers complex situations to human agents
• Creates a tiered system that maximizes efficiency while maintaining quality
• API-first architecture for easy integration
• Native connections to Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zendesk
• Webhook support for real-time data flow
• CRM update capabilities
• Calendar integrations with major platforms
• E-commerce system connections
• Knowledge base integration for information lookup
• Secure data handling with encryption

Conclusion

When selecting a service, consider both immediate pricing and long-term value, as the cheapest option often lacks the best ROI. Many providers offer trial periods or money-back guarantees to minimize implementation risk. For complex businesses, industry-specific expertise may be more valuable than general affordability. The right integration ensures a seamless experience where customers never realize they have transitioned between systems.

Choose a provider based on your business size, call patterns, and customer expectations, and start with one that offers a trial period or flexible terms to test real performance before making a long-term commitment.

Ultimately, the goal isn’t just to answer more calls but to create a consistent, professional experience that strengthens customer relationships at any time of day.