Best 12 Avaya Alternatives for 2024

As businesses adapt to evolving communication needs, the demand for robust and flexible alternatives to traditional enterprise solutions like Avaya has grown. In 2024, organizations are seeking unified communications platforms that not only meet their core telephony requirements, but also integrate seamlessly with modern collaboration tools, provide advanced contact center capabilities, and offer the scalability and cost-efficiencies of cloud-based delivery.

This comprehensive guide explores the top Avaya alternatives that have emerged as strong contenders in the unified communications market, including:

• Distrobird
• Nextiva
• Aircall
• OnSIP
• Phone.com
• Cisco
• Microsoft Teams
• Mitel
• Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise
• Huawei
• Atos Unify (formerly Unify)
• RingCentral

We'll dive into the key features, integrations, and differentiators of each solution to help you determine the best fit for your organization's unique communication and collaboration needs.

Here are 2024's Top 15 Avaya Alternatives: Find the Perfect Communication Solution for Your Business

1. Distrobird

Distrobird combines unified communication features with sales-specific tools. It offers a cloud-based call center, management of all your sales channels (email, phone, SMS, forms) from a single platform, creation of automated sales sequences, and unified inbox.

Distrobird boasts a robust feature set that can handle high call volumes with its unlimited concurrent calls capability. For complex customer interactions, Distrobird facilitates seamless collaboration with its conferencing feature that allows up to five team members to participate in a call.

Distrobird goes beyond the basics of call management by offering features such as call recording with transcriptions for comprehensive conversation capture, ideal for training and feedback purposes. It also utilizes dynamic caller ID to present a local number to your customers, regardless of your location.

Distrobird acknowledges that not all customer inquiries necessitate phone calls. It provides alternative communication channels, including SMS, chat, and email, for handling simpler interactions, potentially reducing call volume.

While both Distrobird and Avaya are communication platforms, they cater to different needs. For businesses seeking a cost-effective all-in-one sales platform; cloud call center, unified inbox, multichannel sequences with automation, Distrobird shines as an alternative.

2. Nextiva

Nextiva is a popular VoIP phone service that offers a comprehensive set of features at a lower starting price compared to Avaya.

Here are some key reasons why Nextiva is a viable alternative:

Nextiva's Professional plan, priced at $30.95 per user per month, offers the best value for money. For just $5 more than the Essential version, you get 1,500 more minutes per month, multisite management capabilities, a call flow builder, SMS/MMS messages, video meetings, CRM integrations, AI voicemail transcription, and screen sharing.

Nextiva's core features include unlimited calling in the U.S. and Canada, international calls, unlimited internet faxing, HD voice and video calls, an auto-attendant service, voicemail transcription, screen sharing, and single-sign-on (SSO). These features are available starting at $18.95 per user per month for the Essential plan.

Nextiva's auto-attendant feature allows you to easily set up an auto-attendant phone system for your website by creating call flows. You can give callers the option to dial specific departments or team members, set timeout lengths, and specify what should happen if no one answers the call.

Nextiva integrates with Microsoft and Google, as well as over 100 other business tool apps. This makes it easy to integrate with your existing workflows and tools.

In summary, Nextiva's combination of affordable pricing, robust feature set including HD audio/video and auto-attendant, and integrations with popular business tools make it a strong alternative to Avaya for businesses looking to upgrade their communication system.

3. Aircall

Aircall is a popular cloud-based business phone system that offers a range of features and integrations at a competitive price point compared to traditional on-premises phone systems.

Here are some key reasons why Aircall is a compelling alternative:

Aircall's cloud-based architecture allows for easy setup and management without the need for any hardware. Teams can be onboarded quickly, and settings can be adjusted as needed from the web, desktop, or mobile apps.

The core features of Aircall include call conferencing, call routing, call recording, and a clean user interface. Call routing can be customized based on skills or time of day to ensure calls are directed to the best available agent. 

Aircall integrates with over 100 popular business tools including CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce, helpdesk platforms like Zendesk, and productivity apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams. This allows teams to streamline workflows and access key customer data directly within the Aircall interface.

Pricing starts at $30 per user per month, making Aircall an affordable option for businesses of all sizes. The ability to scale up or down as needed and eliminate hardware costs provides significant cost savings compared to traditional phone systems.

Overall, Aircall's combination of cloud-based flexibility, robust call management features, extensive integrations, and competitive pricing make it a compelling alternative to on-premises business phone systems. The ease of setup and management is particularly appealing for companies looking to modernize their communications without the hassle of complex hardware deployments.

4. OnSIP

OnSIP is an on-premises VoIP solution that offers a robust set of features at a competitive price point compared to cloud-based alternatives. Here are some key details about OnSIP:

Pricing for OnSIP starts at $49.95 per account per month. This provides access to their full suite of features, including HD audio and video calling, call analytics, and advanced call management capabilities.

One key differentiator is that OnSIP is an on-premises solution, meaning the VoIP infrastructure is hosted on the customer's own servers rather than in the cloud. This can be appealing for businesses that prefer to maintain full control over their communications system.

The one limitation is that video conferencing is not included in the lower-tier plans. Customers would need to upgrade to higher-priced plans to access features like multi-party video meetings.

Overall, OnSIP provides an on-premises VoIP solution with a comprehensive set of business communication features at a reasonable price point. The lack of video conferencing in base plans may be a drawback for some, but the platform's other capabilities make it a viable alternative to cloud-based VoIP services, especially for businesses that prefer an on-site deployment model.

5. Phone.com

Phone.com is a cloud-based VoIP phone system that offers a robust set of features at a very competitive price point compared to traditional on-premises phone systems like Avaya. This makes it an appealing alternative for small businesses looking to upgrade their communications without the high upfront costs and complex setup associated with Avaya.

Pricing for Phone.com starts as low as $9.99 per user per month for the basic plan, which includes 500 minutes, one phone number, video conferencing, and over 50 standard voice features. The more robust Plus plan is $15.99 per user per month and adds unlimited minutes, unlimited SMS, and expanded video conferencing capabilities.

Unlike Avaya, Phone.com requires no special hardware - users can simply connect their existing phones or use the mobile/desktop apps. This eliminates the need for costly on-site PBX equipment and maintenance. The plug-and-play setup makes it easy for small teams to get up and running quickly.

Phone.com's feature set includes essentials like auto-attendant, call routing, call recording, and integrations with popular business tools. While it may not match the full enterprise-grade capabilities of Avaya, Phone.com provides more than enough functionality to meet the needs of most small businesses at a fraction of the cost.

In summary, Phone.com's cloud-based architecture, affordable pricing, and robust feature set make it a compelling Avaya alternative for small businesses seeking a modern, flexible, and cost-effective VoIP phone solution.

6. Cisco

Cisco is a leading competitor to Avaya in the unified communications and contact center solutions market. Cisco offers a comprehensive portfolio of unified communications and collaboration solutions to compete with Avaya.

Cisco provides on-premises and cloud-based call control solutions like Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Cisco Webex Calling, and Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution. These enable advanced call routing, conferencing, and mobility features.

Cisco's collaboration apps include Cisco Jabber for messaging/presence, Cisco Webex for video conferencing, and integrations with productivity tools like Microsoft Office. These enhance team collaboration.

Cisco's contact center solutions, such as Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise and Cisco Unified Contact Center Express, provide omnichannel customer engagement capabilities, including voice, email, chat, and social media.

Compared to Avaya, Cisco is often viewed as having a more robust and innovative product portfolio, stronger brand recognition, and deeper integration with other Cisco networking and security technologies. This makes Cisco a formidable competitor in the enterprise communications market.

In summary, Cisco's diverse range of unified communications and contact center products, deployment flexibility, and strong market position make it a leading alternative to Avaya for organizations seeking a comprehensive, integrated communications platform.

7. Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a leading cloud-based collaboration and communication platform that serves as a compelling alternative to Avaya's on-premises communication solutions. Here's an expanded overview:

Microsoft Teams is part of the Microsoft 365 suite of productivity tools, providing a comprehensive set of features for modern workplace collaboration.

At its core, Teams offers:

• Video Conferencing: High-quality video meetings with screen sharing, virtual whiteboards, and live captions/transcription.
• Chat and Messaging: Persistent chat channels, one-on-one messaging, and threaded conversations.
• File Sharing: Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 apps like OneDrive and SharePoint for real-time co-authoring.
• Workflow Automation: Built-in task management, calendar integration, and automation through Microsoft Power Automate.

Unlike Avaya's on-premises PBX systems, Microsoft Teams is a cloud-based solution. Microsoft has also expanded the telephony capabilities of Teams through its "Teams Calling" feature. This allows organizations to replace their traditional phone systems with a cloud-based voice solution integrated directly into the Teams platform.

Overall, Microsoft Teams' robust collaboration features, cloud-based architecture, and tight integration with the broader Microsoft 365 suite make it a compelling alternative to Avaya's on-premises communication solutions. The platform's ease of use, scalability, and cost-effectiveness are particularly appealing for businesses looking to modernize their workplace communication and collaboration.

8. Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE)

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE) offers a range of on-premises and cloud-based communication solutions that compete with Avaya's offerings. Here's an expanded overview:

ALE provides a comprehensive portfolio of cloud communications solutions to enable flexible, secure, and cost-effective collaboration for businesses. They offer options for fully cloud-based, on-premises, or hybrid deployments to suit an organization's specific needs and infrastructure.

Key cloud communication solutions from ALE include:

• Rainbow CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service): Provides a set of dedicated solutions for industries like healthcare, hospitality, government, and education. Allows customization and access to tailored offerings.
• Rainbow Classroom: Enables collaborative online learning experiences for remote or hybrid learning environments. 
• Rainbow Workflow: Connects people, objects, and processes to build new services and make IoT devices smarter.

For on-premises deployments, ALE offers solutions like the 8328 SIP-DECT Single Base Station. This provides on-site mobile communications for small branch offices and stores.

ALE's cloud-based network management solution, OmniVista Cirrus, allows simple and secure monitoring of switch and access point infrastructure. It also enables IoT notifications, analytics, and alarms triggered by IoT devices.

Compared to Avaya, ALE is positioned as providing a more flexible, "a-la-carte" approach to cloud communications. Customers can choose from on-premises, cloud, or hybrid options to build a customized solution.

Overall, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise offers a versatile range of cloud and on-premises communication solutions that compete with Avaya's portfolio. Their flexible deployment options, industry-specific offerings, and focus on security make them a viable alternative for businesses seeking to modernize their communications.

9. Mitel

Mitel is a leading provider of on-premises communication systems that serve as a viable alternative to Avaya for businesses that prefer an on-site solution. Here are some key details about Mitel's on-premises offerings:

Mitel offers a range of on-premises PBX systems, including the MiVoice Business and MiVoice Office 400 platforms. These provide a flexible, feature-rich foundation for business communications that can be deployed on the customer's own servers and infrastructure.

The MiVoice Business solution is designed for mid-sized to large enterprises, offering advanced capabilities like contact center integration, mobility features, and support for up to 65,000 users and 100,000 endpoints. It can be deployed on dedicated Mitel hardware or virtualized environments.

For smaller businesses, the MiVoice Office 400 provides a cost-effective on-premises option with a simplified feature set. It supports up to 500 users and 1,000 extensions, making it suitable for SMBs and branch offices.

Both platforms integrate with Mitel's MiCollab collaboration suite, enabling features like presence, instant messaging, audio/video conferencing, and desktop sharing. This allows teams to communicate and work together seamlessly.

Mitel's on-premises systems can be enhanced with add-on services like maintenance plans, remote monitoring, warranty coverage, and software assurance. This helps ensure the solution remains reliable and up-to-date as business needs evolve.

For organizations that require full control over their communications infrastructure, prefer to avoid recurring cloud fees, or have compliance requirements that necessitate on-site hosting, Mitel's on-premises PBX systems provide a compelling alternative to Avaya's offerings. The flexibility to scale, integrate with collaboration tools, and add managed services makes Mitel a strong choice for businesses seeking an on-premises communications platform.

10. Huawei

Huawei offers a range of enterprise communication and collaboration solutions that serve as viable alternatives to Avaya's offerings. Here are some key details about Huawei's solutions:

Huawei's Enterprise Communications (EC) platform integrates capabilities like voice, HD video conferencing, instant messaging, presence, corporate directory, and web collaboration. This allows users to access these services conveniently from various endpoints like conference rooms, desktops, and mobile devices.

The EC solution prioritizes user experience with intuitive interfaces and comprehensive functions. Users can easily switch between communication modes like messaging, voice, video, and conferencing using the desktop or mobile client. The same account can be used across devices with synchronized messages and contacts for consistent communication.

Huawei's EC enables efficient collaboration through high-quality HD voice and video. Different endpoints like PCs, phones, and video devices can join convergent conferences with content sharing. This allows face-to-face communication between employees in different locations, reducing travel costs.

The mobile client provides flexibility for remote work by enabling secure access to office communications. Users can make calls, join conferences, access the corporate directory, and share rich media from their mobile devices.

The openness and convergence of Huawei's EC platform aims to make businesses more agile. It provides APIs for integration with third-party applications and supports open standards like SIP and WebRTC.

In summary, Huawei's enterprise communications and collaboration tools offer a robust set of features, mobile flexibility, security, and openness to compete with Avaya's offerings. The focus on user experience and seamless integration across endpoints makes Huawei a compelling alternative for businesses seeking to modernize their communications.

11. Atos Unify

Atos Unify, formerly known as Unify, is a leading provider of unified communications and contact center solutions that compete directly with Avaya's offerings. Here's an expanded overview:

Atos Unify is the brand for communication and collaboration solutions within the Atos group, a global IT services and consulting company. Unify was previously a standalone company that was acquired by Atos in 2016, bringing together Atos' IT expertise with Unify's specialized communications capabilities.

Atos Unify's flagship product is the OpenScape Business platform, an all-in-one unified communications solution designed for small to medium-sized businesses. OpenScape Business integrates features like voice, video, messaging, presence, conferencing, and contact center functionality into a single, easy-to-manage system.

The platform offers flexible deployment options, allowing customers to choose on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid models based on their specific needs and infrastructure. This provides investment protection and the ability to scale as business requirements evolve.

Compared to Avaya, Atos Unify is positioned as offering a more comprehensive and flexible unified communications platform, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses. The ability to deploy on-premises, in the cloud, or in hybrid models is a key differentiator.

Overall, Atos Unify's deep expertise in enterprise communications, combined with Atos' broader IT services capabilities, make it a formidable competitor to Avaya in the unified communications and contact center market.

12. RingCentral

RingCentral offers a comprehensive set of unified communications and collaboration features, including:

• Business phone system with unlimited calling, SMS/MMS, and faxing
• Video conferencing with screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, and transcription
• Team messaging and file sharing
• Contact center capabilities like IVR, call routing, and analytics

This breadth of functionality allows RingCentral to serve as an all-in-one communications platform for businesses.

In terms of deployment, RingCentral offers cloud, on-premises, and hybrid options. This flexibility allows organizations to select the model that best fits their infrastructure and requirements.

RingCentral is known for its user-friendly setup and administration. The platform can be quickly deployed without the need for complex on-site hardware installations.

Additionally, RingCentral seamlessly integrates with over 300 popular business applications, including CRMs, productivity suites, and collaboration tools. This allows businesses to easily incorporate RingCentral into their existing workflows.

Overall, RingCentral's robust feature set, deployment options, easy implementation, and scalable cloud architecture position it as a compelling alternative to traditional on-premises solutions like Avaya. The platform's deep integrations with popular business tools further enhance its value proposition.

Conclusion

When evaluating Avaya alternatives, it's crucial to consider factors such as communication features, deployment flexibility, scalability, ease of use, pricing, security, and vendor support. By carefully assessing these criteria, businesses can find a solution that aligns with their unique communication needs and budget.

While Avaya has been a long-standing player in the enterprise communications space, the combination of financial uncertainty, on-premises legacy, and feature gaps has led many organizations to explore alternative solutions. These alternatives offer more modern, cloud-based capabilities, seamless integrations, and competitive pricing structures.

As you embark on your search for the optimal Avaya alternative, remember to prioritize the features and functionalities that are most important to your business. With the right unified communications platform in place, you can enhance collaboration, improve customer experiences, and drive productivity across your organization.